During the summer St Andrew’s United Football Team was formed, a more complicated process than you might imagine!  With Matthew Threlfall as Captain and several church members in the administrative roles required by the FA, the team has been playing in the Wallasey League since September. They have met with mixed success but are currently 6^th in their division. There are about 24 young men in the squad, many of whom have never previously had any church connections at all. For some of the players, the Team is providing a focal point and stabilising interest in their lives.

Our work with local schools continues regularly and we find it very rewarding. In November we held an exhibition, “Remember Me”. Years 5 and 6 from New Brighton Primary School and all the children from Elleray Park School visited the church to hear stories from the Minister and church members about rationing, evacuation, local bomb damage, the wartime role of the Mersey ferries, Wilfred Owen and the reason for wearing poppies. In December, Year I from New Brighton Primary School and the children from Elleray Park School came to hear the Christmas story and enjoy our Christmas Tree Festival which we held for the first time this year. Both schools decorated a tree for the festival. A choir from New Brighton Primary School came to the church to entertain us with carols and Christmas Songs which we, and they, all enjoyed. In all, well over 300 children visited St Andrew’s during November and December. We are now preparing for “Experience Easter” in March.

Our Minister, Lorraine, has been asked on several occasions by local schools and social services about a group for parents and very young children, so in November we opened a Toddler Group at our Community Hall. This has proved popular and is going very well. There is very clearly a need for such a group in the area. We have already been asked if we could open for a second session!

We have also been very pleased to welcome 11 people into Membership recently, 6 at a service in November and a further 5 at the Covenant Service.

We give thanks for all that God is enabling us to do in our neighbourhood and community.