It's Chriiistmaaaas!

Christmas is well and truly upon us - the presents are wrapped, the tree is decorated and the work Christmas parties beckon.

Speaking of Christmas parties, we had our own end of term celebration this Wednesday at Coffee Republic, complete with a special Christmas Quiz and festive 'speed dating' to get to know each other better. I know that the run up to Christmas is a busy time for many, so special thanks to those who made time to come along.

Details about our 2013 programme will follow after Christmas, but I can confirm that our first gathering after the Christmas break will be Wednesday 16th January at Coffee Republic. Further details to follow - its looking like an exciting term.

Many thanks for being part of our community this year - here's to even greater adventures in the months to come!

May God bless you all with peace, joy and fresh hope this Christmas,

Sam & Victoria, Sara, Lizzie and Elaine

Festive cheer

Wow - we had a great evening on Wednesday - two dozen gifts donated, wrapped and labelled ready for the Bohemia's Christmas dinner for older people from local nursing homes.

Thanks to all who came, donated and made it such a success. We filled the front part of the pub, sparked some interesting conversations with other customers and will hopefully make a small but real difference in the lives of the old folks who get one of the presents.

Here's a few snaps from the evening...

   

 

Feltoe's Folk Carols 2012

Friends of Justice Matters, the fabulous Feltoe's Folk are performing another night of carols and cheer at the Elephant Inn, North Finchley this Friday (7th December) from 8pm.

Feltoe's Folk are a foot stomping seven piece band comprising of whistles/melodica/bodhran (Adam Dore), fiddle (Sarah Wu), double bass (Mike Dore), guitars (Andrew Feltoe & Chris Dore), cajon drum (Josh Hill) and vocals (Jo Dore, Chris Dore, Adam Dore)

Last year they packed the pub to standing room only. This year they've promised some great new reels you can sing along to, as well as old favourites.

Come along, bring a friend or two - all proceeds are going towards the great work being done at the North London Hospice, so bring a light heart and a heavy wallet!

Update

Just a quick post to remind you that we are partnering with the Bohemia pub in North Finchley to give presents to isolated older people this Christmas. Pick up a gift for a lady or gent (max spend £10 per gift) and bring it along to the Bohemia on Wednesday 5th December where we will wrap them together. Christmas jumpers and reindeer antlers optional...

This is a practical opportunity to bless our neighbours, support a local business and build community in our area so do make an effort to join us - why not invite your colleagues? Even if they can't came, they might still want to contribute a gift. All the information's on our website. Don't forget to say you're coming on Facebook too!

Plans are underway for our Christmas party - we'll circulate details as soon as they are confirmed.

See you on Wednesday!

Festive cheer

Justice Matters is excited to be partnering with Finchley's favourite new watering hole, The Bohemia, to provide gifts and a Christmas dinner for isolated older people in the Finchley area.

The idea is simple: buy a gift for an older lady or gent (recommended £10 max) and then bring it along to The Bohemia on the 5th December where we will gather from 8pm to wrap the gifts together. If you aren't able to buy a gift, you can pay for a meal ticket (£7 each). Simpls.

We are also waiting to hear back from Wandsworth Prison about the option of sending gifts to the children of prisoners through Prison Fellowship. We'll confirm this option and further details ASAP.

Bringing joy to dark places

While it is definitely too early to be thinking about Christmas (though Tesco and others don't seem to have got the memo), it could be worth thinking about getting behind this fantastic campaign already...

"Sadly, there will also be children in the UK who won’t enjoy the basic luxuries a cosy family home; they will be spending Christmas in a refuge, having escaped domestic abuse – often with few of their toys, games or clothes from the home they have fled. Which is why domestic violence charity Refuge – Red’s partners in the Speak Up Save A Life campaign – run an annual Christmas Present appeal.

Every year, Refuge try to ensure that every woman and child in their refuges receive a minimum of two to three presents each to unwrap on Christmas day. As Refuge say, 'The Christmas gift initiative is vital to ensure that refuges became places of joy on a day that has the potential to very bleak and hard.'

The charity have a gift list at John Lewis for the appeal so it could not be simpler. You can go as small as a counting block for £2.99, to as big as a pair of roller blades for £40. Whatever you pick, you will know that there’s a child in a refuge somewhere who will have a present to open on Christmas morning – thanks to you."

(Source: Red Online - John Lewis Refuge gift list)

In addition, the Prison Ministry at St Barnabas Church is also running the Angel Tree Project again this year - another opportunity to bring light and hope to dark places this winter. We'll share more details about this opportunity as and when we know more.