There will be an Evening with Christian singing duo, Light Touch at 7.45pm on 18 January at All Saint's Church, Dagnall.

The evening willinclude a buffet supper. Donations of refreshments will be much appreciated.

Also a United Service will be held at St Mary's on 22 January at 4pm.

This year, there were more than 1,000 church attendances at Carol Services, Candle Services and Christmas Day Communion Services at St Mary's, Edlesborough and St Mary's Eaton Bray! It was a very great pleasure to see so many people streaming through the doors and wanting to spend part of the Christmas season close to God in our historic village churches. And, an additional bonus - through this huge attendance at our Christmas services, we have been able to pass on to charity nearly £1,200: £444 to the Churches Conservation Trust who manage Edlesborough Church and about £730 to the Children's Society.

Many thanks to all who contributed to our preparations this year – to those who helped organise our services and participated in them, and also to those who gave us the extras we associate with Christmas - mince pies, mulled wine, beautiful music and singing, flower arrangements and other decorations, only happen through the dedication of those involved. Finally, many thanks to Coralie for all she has done, not just at Christmas but throughout this, her first year with us.

-- Happy 2012 to all! Catherine

This year's annual Charity Christmas Puzzle has now been posted, and is available to download.

This, the 21st annual Puzzle that Gordon Gray has set, has a theme designed to help completion and will appeal to people who enjoy doing Crossword puzzles, such as in the Daily Telegraph (though it is not a Crossword puzzle). Puzzlers have plenty of time to find the answers and Puzzles should be returned, with donation, by 22 January 2012.

Gordon posted Puzzles on 5 December, so those already on the distribution list should receive their copies in the next few days. Anyone else who would like a copy of the Puzzle can access it from the web at www.christmaspuzzle.co.uk. Alternatively puzzles can be collected from St Mary's Eaton Bray.

All the money you donate, except for the prize-money, will go to charity.

The year end is fast approaching and I have been looking at what I consider will be the eventual outcome of our financial activities in the General Fund, i.e. the income and costs of the day to day running of the church. I am pleased to say that with the generosity of an anonymous donor the year we may have around £8/9000 surplus! The PCC have agreed that much of this surplus should go into the Fabric Fund to meet future costs in that direction, so that it still means we need to raise enough income to meet our annual expenditure, not rely on past successes. A big 'thank you' to everyone who has helped in the past year.

In an effort to find ways of producing an income for the church, painlessly, arrangements are now in hand for any unwanted goods to be sold on E-Bay and the sale proceeds to go directly to the church. If you are interested in helping in this way, please speak to me and I will be happy to explain the procedure which has been set up.

There was almost a full attendance at the November meeting.Deirdrea welcomed all the members (and Catherine, who had joined us for the afternoon) and led the devotions on Remembrance.

Judy Venn and Gladys Deamer were given birthday cards,

The highlight of the afternoon was having Joan Fossey once again demonstrating her  fl ower arranging skills, her theme was "Remembrance". She did a beautiful arrangement in a pedestal with red carnations, poppies and an assortment of foliage. A long arrangement was done, which could be for a graveside and then a most delicate round arrangement for a loved one, with pale lemon carnations and tiny orange roses. Joan was thanked and given a card and gift as a thank you, by Marjorie.

Tom Heffer was presented with the cheque for £350 which the members had collected for the Mission to Seafarers. Tom thanked the ladies and went on to explain about the current situation of threats of piracy at sea, most especially near the Somalia border. The members will continue to raise money for this cause each month, with a raffle and bring and buy stall each month.

There was a large assortment of raffle prizes with a pre Christmas theme, plus the two special flower arrangements which were won by Barbara Ilic and Jean Bates.

Details were given out of two outings to World's End and Poplars garden centres.Social time plus tea with a lovely assortment of cakes and savouries followed.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday 14th December, the theme will be "Christmas Celebrations". January will see the start of our new membership year, please come and join us, you will be made very welcome.

St Mary's PCC continues to try to reduce church expenditure and to raise the large sums of money needed to maintain our beautiful village church; our giving to charities however will be maintained and we are currently seeking the views of the congregation regarding which additional charities to support in 2012.

Plans are progressing to build a much needed toilet and kitchen area and some parts of the church sound system may soon need to be replaced, so fund raising will go on.  The very successful Poppy Prom will be followed by the popular Christmas Tree Festival on 3rd & 4th December where at least 30 trees will be on show – in all their various glories!  Also, church calendars and Christmas cards are on sale and might still be available then.

A highly pro-active approach is being taken about metal theft.  The replacement for the stolen manhole cover and other metal objects inside and outside of the church have now been treated with "Smartwater", ensuring that anything taken can be traced and the police can prosecute the criminals.

The church is about to have a full interior clean by volunteers, so spiders beware! Small teams will then keep the church clean on a weekly basis but more teams are needed to reduce any individual person's annual commitment.

Our Vicar is encouraged that many use the church during the week for quiet prayer and contemplation. The church belongs to everyone in the village and all are welcome to pop in and enjoy its stillness.

-- Church Mouse