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Ladies Guild On Monday 28th November we enjoyed a combined meeting with the Methodist Monday Night Ladies in their hall. The speaker was Joyce Godfrey who spoke on what she called a Kaleidoscope of Memories in which she recalled events from her earliest years to the present day. This was a fascinating evening which was enjoyed by all. At our Christmas Party we enjoyed the Festive Fare Quiz, readings and carol singing. An evening of friendship and fellowship ended with us all going home with a Christmas gift. Monday 9th January was a New Year get together. Everyone brought food and we enjoyed a real feast! A relaxing and chatty evening to begin the New Year. Anyone is free to join us. Evenings begin at 7.30pm in the Church Centre in Lower Church Street. Next meetings: 13th February – Beverley Hooper-NSPCC The Work of Childline 27th February – Ellie Graham-OSKAR Support Dogs. Christmas Tree Festival The church looked absolutely stunning with the trees lining each of the aisles. Most had lights some of which flashed and some that had a variety of programmes to twinkle and flash. The ingenuity and imagination in the designs was truly amazing. Each person had their own personal favourite. Many of the businesses and voluntary groups from Syston were represented and a good deal of time and talent had gone into creating the decorations. Our thanks go to them for their contributions. During each day refreshments were supplied and these proved very popular, especially the variety of homemade cakes! On Saturday morning there was also a Christmas Bazaar in the church hall. This opened at 10.00am with the Syston Singing for Fun group singing carols. There were the usual selection of stalls and refreshments with the ever popular bacon baps! Running throughout the weekend was the raffle which alone raised £748. This was drawn on Sunday afternoon. The winner of the £100 prize was April Smith. A list of prize winners is available. As well as all this, members of the Singing for Fun Groups in the area gave a concert on Saturday evening. As it was now dark the trees looked all the more attractive. Undoubtedly this was a lot of hard work and sharing of talents but the result was an amazing £2,333.29. Annual Snowdrop Spectacular at Launde Abbey The pretty woodland walk behind Launde Abbey is the setting for this year’s Snowdrop Spectacular at the Elizabethan/Jacobean Retreat House near East Norton in Leicestershire. The Abbey will be open from 2.00pm to 4.00pm every day from 13th February until 18th March 2012, allowing visitors the opportunity to stroll through the gardens and wander amongst the magnificent display of snowdrops. Afterwards everyone is invited to relax in the refurbished dining room over tea, scones and jam. The Abbey’s shop will be open all afternoon, selling locally produced jams, honey and other gifts. The cost is £5.00 per person, which includes tea, scone and jam. A family ticket is also available, 2 adults and 2 children under 12 for £15.00, under 3’s are free. For more information please contact the General Office on 01572 717 254 or visit the website www.launde.org.uk Why not take a drive out one day? Christmas Services On Christmas Eve as usual we held the Christingle and Crib Service. This was very well attended and when the children received their Christingles they circled the church with the candles lit, the effect was magical. The children each put pieces of straw to the crib scene as well as singing many songs. Later the annual Carol service was held in a packed church with extra chairs being brought in. The recently formed Church Choir sang some solos and the hand bell ringers played three tunes. The singing of the familiar and favourite Christmas carols was enthusiastic. At 11.30pm the Mass of the Nativity was held with a number of new people joining members of the regular congregation to welcome the new born King. The following morning the mass was at Barkby. 26th December the mass was at Barkby where combined congregations from Syston and Barkby celebrated together.