CHURCH OF ST GERMOE: The Rev Len Jepp presided at the parish eucharist service on the third Sunday before Advent, and was assisted at the altar by Joy Gunter and Sue Rayment with the chalices and Jason and Julie Weeks as servers. Lessons were read by Diane Whitehead and Julie Weeks; Muriel Somerfield led the intercessions; the sacristan was Val Greet; Tom Dearden and Muriel Somerfield were sidesmen and organist was Gwynneth Willett.

The congregation was reminded about the Christmas coffee morning on Saturday, December 6, with items needed for the various stalls. Raffle tickets were on sale for the ongoing raffle in aid of the church hall.

PRAA SANDS & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB: At the AGM the chairman retired, the present vice chairman, Tony Apple, was elected as chairman and Martin Beachamp was welcomed as the new vice chairman; the rest of the committee remains unchanged. The annual Christmas Dinner is booked for the evening of December 4 at the Sand Bar. Outings for 2015 will be discussed at the December and January meetings.

There followed a most interesting talk by John Price on New Zealand - Gardening Upside Down. John, a renowned camellia expert, attends the international Camellia Society conferences, whose venues are all over the world, including New Zealand which fascinated him. Despite comments to the contrary, it is NOT like England, the colour is not the same as ours - green there is olive green and evergreens are broadleaved.

The committee and members hope to welcome Vicki Marshall at the Christmas meeting on December 1 at 2pm, when she is booked to talk about Christmas decorations - which will be of the natural kind!

Tea served with homemade mince pies will be available after the talk and there will be the usual Christmas raffle.

Members and visitors are welcome to join us at the Praa Sands Community Centre to start the festive season.