The fourth Sunday of Advent

• December 7, 6.00 pm: Advent Carol Service, 'The one who is to come...'
• December 13, 7.00 pm: Svitoch Ukrainian Choir, an Advent concert
• December 14, 4.00 pm: Messy Christingle: Messy Church for Christmas, with a short Christingle service
• December 18, 6.00 pm: The Longest Night: a chance to reflect and remember 
• December 19, 7.00 pm: Carol Singalong in the Brown Cow with Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• December 21, 7.00 pm: Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Christmas Eve, 5.00 pm: Crib Service
• Christmas Eve, 11.30 pm: Midnight Mass

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Please note that we will be taking a short break after Christmas. There will be no midweek Eucharist on either Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve and no Daily Prayer in the church from Christmas Eve until Tuesday 6th January. There will also be no Bible Discussion Group in the week after Christmas. This will restart on Friday 9 January. Sunday services on 28 December (Holy Innocents) and 3 January (Epiphany) will be taking place as usual.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone at St Mary's a very happy Christmas, and a peaceful and healthy 2026. It is a joy and a privilege to serve this community as your vicar and I pray that the joy of the Christmas message will remain with you throughout the year ahead. I don't send Christmas cards, so please don't be offended if you don't get one from me. In lieu of cards, I have made a donation to Shelter, because no-one should be without a home to call their own at Christmas. My Christmas greetings are no less heartfelt for not being accompanied by a card. Happy Christmas and thank you for all you do to support me and the work of the church in LS15.

— Claire

The fun doesn't stop once Christmas is over. Please keep these dates free in your diaries...

• 25 January, 4.00 pm: Assembly Bangers - come and sing all your primary school favourites.
• 31 January, 3.00 pm: Lantern-making for Candlemas - come and make a lantern in the Community Centre. Refreshments available. Followed by a lantern parade into the church. Primarily aimed at primary-aged children.
• 17 February, 5.30 pm: Pancake Party, in the Community Centre.

Please note the arrangements for the funeral of Terry Foster. Terry will be received into church at 4.30 pm on Friday 9 January. His Requiem Mass will be at 11.00 am on Saturday 10 January, followed by a reception in the Community Centre. All who knew Terry are very welcome to attend any part of this commemoration of his life.

Don't miss our legendary Crib Service at 5.00 pm on Christmas Eve, when we will once again be playing a Christmassy pass-the-parcel. Fun for all the family.