St Matthew's RedhillNewsletter
ST MATTHEW’S PARISH CHURCH REDHILL
NEWSLETTER FOR SUNDAY 23rd NOV 2025
Through worship and outreach, God’s love is revealed in the community it serves. Together we navigate and explore the fullness of life offered to us through Christ. Whether strong in the faith or filled with questions and doubts, all can find space here with God. Based on the teaching of Jesus, St Matthew’s is an open, inclusive, and growing church. Please contact any member of the staff or welcome teams to get involved in the life of the church.
You can use this link to sign up to receive the newsletter via email.
This week at St Matthew’s
Sunday 23rd Nov (Christ the King)
8 am Holy Communion
10
am Parish Communion
(
Hymns: Crown him with many crowns; Jesus is Lord; How shall I sing that majesty; In the cross of Christ I glory; Christ triumphant, ever reigning (CR)
Anthem: God omnipotent reigneth - Charles Wood (1866 - 1929)
Voluntary: Pomp and Circumstance No 4 - Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
Monday 24th Nov
8:30 am Morning Prayer
9 am – 3 pm Foodbank
9:30 am Craft Group in the vestry
9:45 am Toddler Group in the Parish Room
2 pm NT Greek Group in the vestry
3 pm – 5 pm Cards for Good Causes
Tuesday 25th Nov
8:30 am Morning Prayer
10 am – 4 pm Cards for Good Causes
3:30 pm Memorial service in church
Wednesday 26th Nov
8:30 am Morning Prayer
10
am Said Holy
Communion
11am – 3pm Foodbank
3 pm – 5 pm Cards for Good Causes
Thursday 27th Nov
8:30 am Morning Prayer
10 am – 4 pm Cards for Good Causes
1:10 pm Lunchtime Music - Piano Recital
2:15 pm Gardening Group
7:00 pm Choir Practice
Friday 28th Nov
9 am – 3 pm Foodbank
3 pm – 5 pm Cards for Good Causes
4 pm Foodbank Christmas party
Saturday 29th Nov
8:30 am Morning Prayer
Sunday 30th Nov (Advent Sunday)
8 am Holy Communion
10
am Parish Communion
(
5 pm Advent Carol Service
Dates for your diary
13th Dec Communications workshop in the church (see below)
5th Jan 2026 Lads at Large Twelfth Night meal out at the Toby Carvery
9th Jan 2026 Ladies Night in the Parish Room
20th – 22nd Feb Parish Retreat to Wychcroft
Advent & Christmas Services
30th Nov Advent Carol Services at 5 pm
7th Dec Messy Christingle Service at 4 pm
21st Dec Nine Lessons & Carols at 5 pm
24th Dec Crib Service at 4 pm
24th Dec First Mass of Christmas at 9 pm
25th Dec Christmas Day Eucharist at 10 am
Rev Anna's contact details - Day Off on FRIDAY
Email here or 01737 511495 / 07960 088613
Parish Administrator Julia Elfred: email or phone 01737 249066
If you would like to include any notices in the weekly newsletter please contact: Tracey Jennings – email or phone 01737 760590 by Wednesdays 10 am but please note that there will be no updated newsletter until Sunday 31st August.
Pastoral Care And Pastoral Support - If you need any help at all please do contact any member of the Staff Team - we are always ready to do what we can to help.
Rev. Anna (Vicar) As above or
Anne Currie (Reader) email here or
Julie Knight (Reader) email here
Advent is nearly here
We are all invited to mark the Advent season and make our preparations for Christmas, with the following resources from the Church of England:
· Everyday Faith app: Read and listen to the Advent and Christmas reflections through the Everyday Faith app, the daily devotional app from the Church of England, which is available to download to your smartphone from your usual app store.
· Advent reflections: O Come Emmanuel:
Available as a full-colour book from Church House Publishing, this resource
invites us to meditate daily on the Advent Antiphons, the scriptures that
inspired them, and Mary’s great song of praise, the Magnificat, which they
frame at evening prayer.
· Women of the Nativity: A collection of nine
imagined stories told from the perspective of women, written by Paula Gooder,
recreating the events of the Nativity. Listen online here.
· Activities for children: Advent activity and colouring
sheets – one for each week of Advent.
· Interactive Advent Treasure
Hunt for children: Find different characters from the nativity each week. They are
hidden around the church. Scan the QR code and discover more about each
character.
· Activities for young people
(11 – 15): Daily reflections on the Advent antiphons are available to
download in colour or in black and white. Take a look at the example near the church
library.
Advent Carol Service: Sunday 30th November at 5 pm. A service of music and carols that is the perfect start to the Advent season.
BETHLEHEM BAUBLES
Bethlehem baubles and Peace lights are handblown using recycled glass by Muslim artisans in Hebron, hand-painted by Christians in Bethlehem before being shipped by Israel.
Bethlehem Baubles, founded over ten years ago, was created to bring together communities of different faiths through shared craftsmanship, and it continues to provide vital income for families today.
By working with Bethlehem Fair Trade, they help ensure artisans receive a fair living wage - something that is vital today. Each design is unique to its year, and every bauble comes with a dated ribbon.
How the church benefits
- For every item purchased with the church code C55, £3.50 will go directly to your church.
- Each sale provides vital employment for families in Hebron and Bethlehem
- Buying these beautiful decorations is an easy way to share the story of Bethlehem and to support both St Matthew’s and Palestinian families.
Please take a leaflet from the back of the church. NB Postage and packing is quite expensive, so why not buy with a friend?
Communications Workshop on 13th December 10:00 - 12:00
Essential Workshop on Hearing Awareness for all who read, lead intercessions or preach
To act on feedback from the recent hearing questionnaire, Robina Wason is leading a workshop to improve our communication and raise awareness of the challenges experienced by those who are hard of hearing. This is a vital opportunity to significantly improve how we communicate in our church services.
Even if you have read for years, there is always something new to learn as we all slip into habits which we may not be aware of. This session will help all readers of all ages, experienced or new, to improve our skill set to ensure we are clear and inclusive for all who worship at St Matthew’s.
Action: Please sign up on the list at the back of the church to confirm your spot.
Thursday 27 November, 1.10pm – Lunchtime Music
Piano Recital – Ben Norris
James Francis Brown - Ingworth
Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Appassionata
Felix Mendelssohn - Song Without
Words, Op. 38 No. 2 in C minor, Lost Happiness
Frédérick Chopin - Ballade No. 4 in F minor
South Nutfield Choral Society
will
be performing Fauré's Requiem, accompanied by organ, at
St Matthew's Church on Friday 5th December at 7.30pm. Other works in the
programme will be Cecilia McDowall's carol cantata, A Winter's
Night; Warlock's
Tickets: £14, Students £7, Under 10s free.
Buy on the door or pre-order at sncscontact@gmail.com or call 07841 827496
www.southnutfieldchoralsociety.org.uk