News and Events
Sunday (and festivals’) Service Sheet
Week by week, please click the link below to see the service content ahead of time. Do join in at 10.30 am each Sunday when you can, or at other times for special services as shown below.
Sunday 14 December. 10.30 am: worship, children’s and youth groups, coffee and chat. The order of service can be found here . You might like to visit our Accessibility page as that explains what to expect when arriving at St Paul’s and what takes place in a typical service here. This service will also be livestreamed, here: https://www.youtube.com/live/KPPTrkdVhs8
7.00 pm St Paul’s Carol Service. Readings, candlelight and carols, followed by mince pies, mulled wine and good cheer. A collection will be taken in aid of Bundles of Joy which provides babies’ items to families who have been referred and are in particular need. There is no printed order of service but a running order for the carol service can be found here.
The carol service will not be livestreamed but a recording will be made and then uploaded to our YouTube channel. However, the atmosphere in church is very special and we encourage you to come along for 7.00 pm and experience it for yourself.
Encounter
Encounter is a twice-monthly evening service of peaceful praise, prayer and space for silence. The service begins at 7.00 pm, on the first Sunday at St Barnabas’ Church and on the third here at St Paul’s.
Encounter returns in January: Sunday 4 January at St Barnabas’ Church, then Sunday 18th at St Paul’s. This is the regular pattern: first Sunday at St Barnabas’, third at St Paul’s; save the dates and come along. All welcome.
Coming Up
Saturday 6 December, 4.00 pm: Light in the Darkness.
A memorial service, when you are invited to come and remember lost loved ones, lost health, lost jobs and anything else worrying you; give your troubles to Jesus. Followed by light refreshments.
Saturday 13th, 9.00 am Second Saturdays - prayer session at St Paul’s
Saturday 13th, 7.00 pm: Pub Carols, beginning at The Crystal Palace
Sunday 14th, 7.00 pm: Carol Service at St Paul’s.
Sunday 21st, 10.30 am: Family nativity service, with dressing up encouraged
Tuesday 23rd, 10.00 am: Coffee and Co (also on Tuesday 30th, brought forward from Thursdays); no service on the 23rd but there is Holy Communion at 12.15 pm on the 30th.
Wednesday 24th, Christmas Eve
4.00 pm: Christingle Service. Bring your friends, make a Christingle orange and learn all about the meaning of this special Christmas tradition.
11.15 pm: The First Holy Communion of Christmas. Join us for Christmas Communion as the clocks strike midnight and we welcome Jesus the Saviour of the World.
Thursday 25th, Christmas Day
10.30 am Christmas Day Holgate’s all-age celebration for everyone, including you!
Sunday 28th, The First Sunday of Christmas
10.30 am joint service at St Paul’s with our partners from St Barnabas’ Church.
St Barnabas’ Church is our partner church, located on Jubilee Terrace,
off Leeman Road and near the River Ouse. What3Words: cloth.early.power
Regular in–person Services or Worship
10.30 am on Sundays at both churches
7.00 pm First Sundays at St Barnabas’
7.00 pm Third Sundays at St Paul’s
Thursdays at 12.15 pm at St Paul’s
Second Saturdays at 9.00 am at St Paul’s
Zoom Prayers ONLINE
Mondays at 8.30 am; Wednesdays at 12 noon (the Wednesday session is cancelled on 24 and 31 December).
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83970109685?pwd=Y0ZTMG53MzFRNTFKdXFrRENzQm9UZz09 .
Second Saturdays: Prayer Session at St Paul’s
9.00 am-10.00 am
Start the weekend well: come along once a month for peaceful prayer together.
Upcoming dates: 13 December, 10 January.
Regular Groups
Baby and Toddler Group
Mondays, 9.30 am - 11.00 am in term time . Parents, grandparents and carers plus their tiddlers for playtime, crafting, company and refreshments; all are welcome.
Mid-Week Children’s and Youth Groups at St Paul’s DMC and Open Table meet on Thursdays in term time.
DMC: Discipleship, Mission, Curiosity: for school years 7-10. Meet in the crypt 6.30 pm– 8.00 pm
Open Table: Pizza and prayer vibes for school years 10-13. Meet in the first floor youth room 7.30 pm– 8.30 pm
For enquiries and further details contact Izzie: youthwork.stpaulsyork@gmail.com
Every Thursday (but on Tuesdays 23 and 30 December).
10.00 am—12 noon: Coffee and Co. Conversation, cake and community. All welcome.
12.15 pm: Holy Communion with hymns (lasts 45 mins). Come in your lunch hour.
Regular Giving at St Paul’s
We now use the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) and would like to encourage everyone who gives regularly to St Paul’s to do so in this way.
The Benefits
Givers benefit from PGS because it is secure, confidential and easy to use
No cost implications to churches (the diocese pays admin fees)
Gift Aid is calculated automatically
Our church volunteers are freed from the usual stewardship admin
If you currently give by bank transfer, thank you!
If you are a new giver, or thinking about giving to St Paul’s, thank you!
Your gift is warmly appreciated...but please transfer to the Parish Giving Scheme by scanning the QR code in chuch.
How it works (an example only)
£50 is donated to St Paul’s
The donation arrives at PGS
PGS claims 25% Gift Aid—£12.50 extra!
St Paul’s receives £50.00 from PGS
PGS forwards the additional £12.50 in Gift Aid to St Paul’s
The full sum of £62.50 enables St Paul’s to grow and plan ahead confidently. THANK YOU
Eco Church at St Paul’s - an Arocha UK Bronze Eco-Church
Arocha UK Eco-Church tips for December: celebrate a simpler and greener Christmas.
As Advent begins, let us turn our gaze to the true meaning of Christmas - God with us, Emmanuel. The humble birth of a child in a stable may seem distant from the way we celebrate today, but it offers a profound reminder of simplicity. This season, let’s reflect on the story that we wish our actions and choices to tell. Consider A Rocha UK’s blog on journeying towards a zero-waste Christmas arocha.org.uk/journeyingtowards-
May our hearts and our celebrations align with the simplicity and beauty of the Christmas story.
Church of England's 2025 Environmental Calendar
Key dates and Events December 2025
5th - World Soil Day
25th - Christmas Day
25 December - 5 January: 12 Days Wild.
Find out more
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/environment-calendar-2025.pdf
Church Heating
Now that the cooler months have arrived, the church heating is generally on for services and events but the nave is a large space with high ceilings, so most of the heat collects up there; please consider bringing an extra layer to wear when you visit.
York Foodbank Donations
Urgently needed: Tinned fruit, tinned rice pudding/custard, cooking sauces, instant mashed potato / instant noodles, rice, tinned meat / veggie alternative
· Running low: Strong carrier bags/bags for life, sponge puddings (not refrigerated), UHT or Powdered Milk, tinned fish, tinned soup, instant coffee, teabags, jars of jam, biscuits
Non-Food Items: sanitary pads, shaving foam/razors, deodorant (unisex), household cleaning sprays, washing up liquid, shampoo, shower gel, nappies size 5 and 6, baby wipes, baby toiletries, laundry detergent
We are well-stocked with (thank you): baked beans, nappies size 1 and 2, tinned spaghetti
We are unable to accept (sorry): out of date or already opened items, homemade items, chilled or frozen products, baby formula milk, medical items (tablets, incontinence pads, fortisip bottles), alcoholic drinks.
Location of food donation points
Waitrose (Foss Islands) 8am-9pm Front of store near exits
Asda (Monks Cross) *In store shoppers only - 24 hours Front of store near exits
Tesco (Askham Bar) *In store shoppers only
24 hours Front of store near exits
Work With York, Castlegate 8:30-17:00 Monday-Friday (10:00-17:00 Wednesday) Point located in entrance hall
Foodbank Warehouse (**Opening for public donations) 9.00-13.00 Tuesday & Thursday at York Foodbank, Unit 5 Sterling Park, Bleriot Way, Clifton Moor, York
YO30 4WU.
The Notices is issued fortnightly on Thursdays; upcoming dates are 18 December and 8 January.
Please send content to the office (see below) by 1.00 pm on Wednesdays.
For general matters please contact the church office: admin@stpaulsyork.org.uk
01904 658820 m: 07735 553679
In case of urgent pastoral need please ring the office mobile
07735 553679.
