| We swap up our usual pattern of meeting in December and early January to add some special events! There’s lots of variety over Advent and Christmas, so hopefully you will find something life-giving for you as we celebrate the God of the universe who chose to live amongst us in fragile human skin. Scroll down to the bottom to see a concise list of what’s coming up over the next few months (with links)! Click here to download a printable Simple Celtic Advent Wreath that can be coloured in and used at home with tea lights – we’ll be making these available along with a set of Advent candles to those who attend our in person gatherings over Advent (until we run out!) |
| This year, we’re offering folks this free Advent calendar from Red Letter Christians UK to help invest in hopeful, justice-seeking discipleship during Advent. Download it or grab your printed copy on Sunday, along with a printed Advent wreath and candle set for home.  The 5th of December sees the return of an IGB Christmas tradition … Inclusive Community Carols with local band Eeek. We needed a bigger venue for this one, so please join us at the Old Library in Digbeth at 2:45pm for a 3pm start for a singalong to contemporary versions of carols and classic Christmas hits, cakes and much mirth. We’ll also be streaming to FB Live & YouTube. Read all the details here … This year, Inclusive Carols is in aid of Journey LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers Group – we’re asking folks to bring along a small wrapped gift of cookies or sweets and a personal note to be given out to Asylum Seekers at Journey’s upcoming Christmas party. You can also make donations to support their work on the night. We recognise that a Carol Service with a live band isn’t everybody’s thing. So on Sunday, 12th December we’re back at Five Ways for a quieter, relaxed drop-in gathering with crafts, candles, food and reflection. It’s a great time to chat and connect with others in a Cosy Christmasy space. We’ll also stream a short Advent Reflection to FB Live & YouTube at 3pm. We’d love to see you. On Sunday 19th December we’re joining Wylde Green URC to co-host a traditional service of 9 Lessons & Carols for the LGBTQ+ Community. We’re excited to welcome the Midlands’ Leading LGBTQ+ Choir, Rainbow Voices as our featured guests to perform in Wylde Green URC’s beautifully atmospheric worship space. This event will also be livestreamed, and we’ll also share a short Advent reflection at 3pm on our FB Live & YouTube. On Christmas Eve we’re teaming up with Jazz Community Church and Cambridge Road Methodist Church in Kings Heath to co-host a Jazz Christingle. Join us at Cambridge Road at 4pm. And Christmas morning is MADE for church in your pyjamas … so we’ll be sharing a very short all-ages online reflection at 11am on FB Live and YouTube. Instead of a formal gathering, on Sunday 26th December we’re organising a reflective Boxing Day Walk from wherever you are. Keep an eye on our Connect & Community Group to find some IGB folks planning to walk together and go to the pub in Brum. We’ll also be hosting a New Year Unorthodox Walk on 2nd January (as our building is closed for the holidays!) Again, keep an eye on our Connect & Community Group to find some walking buddies. We’ll be back together at Five Ways on the 9th January for our Vision Gathering. Your concise list of what’s coming up … 28 November (4th Sunday) – 3pm First Sunday of Advent + Real Talk & Afternoon Tea: Climate Crisis & Sustainable Living with Naomi Bennett-Steele at Edgbaston Quaker Meeting House & Online 5th December (1st Sunday) – 3pm Inclusive Community Carols with Eeek at Old Library Digbeth & Online 12 December (2nd Sunday) – 3pm Cosy Christmas – A quieter, relaxed gathering with candles & crafts (plus Advent Reflection which will be livestreamed at 3pm) at Five Ways. 19 December (3rd Sunday) – 3pm Open Table Birmingham – Rainbow Carols featuring Rainbow Voices LGBTQ+ Choir at Wylde Green URC & Livestreamed to FB Live & YouTube 24 December (Friday) – Christmas Eve Jazz Christingle in partnership with Jazz Community Church at Cambridge Road Methodist in Kings Heath 25 December (Saturday)– IGB Christmas Morning Online Reflection for All Ages (11am) 26 December* – 3pm – Boxing Day Unorthodox Walk (in lieu of formal gathering) + Pub Social 2 January* – 3pm – A New Years Unorthodox Walk (in lieu of formal gathering) + Pub Social 9 January* – 3pm New Year Vision Gathering at Edgbaston Quaker Meeting House (Livestreamed to FB Live & YouTube) First IGB Kids Club gathering of 2022 16 January (3rd Sunday) 3pm Official Launch of Open Table Birmingham at Wylde Green URC; 5:15 Neurodiverse Spirituality Zoom 23 January (4th Sunday) 12:30pm Encountering God in Daily Life Course (Edgbaston); 3pm Real Talk & Afternoon Tea with Rev Liz Edman (Queer Virtue) at Edgbaston Quaker Meeting House & Online – IGB Kids Club 29-30 January – IGB Winter Weekender at The Greenhouse at Barnes Close (Bromsgrove) – Registration is Open! 6 February –(1st Sunday) 3pm Inclusive Worship Gathering at Edgbaston Quaker Meeting House (Livestreamed to FB Live & YouTube) IGB Kids Club 13 February (2nd Sunday) 12:30pm Encountering God in Daily Life Course (Edgbaston) 3pm Live Online Gathering – Livestreamed to FB Live & YouTube 20 February (3rd Sunday) 3pm Open Table Birmingham Gathering at Wylde Green URC; 5:15 Neurodiverse Spirituality Zoom 27 February (4th Sunday) 12:30pm Encountering God in Daily Life Course (Edgbaston); 3pm Real Talk & Afternoon Tea with Father Jarel Robinson-Brown at Edgbaston Quaker Meeting House & Online – IGB Kids Club Any questions? Send an email to newchurchbirmingham@gmail.com. |
