Christmas Fayre Fundraising

Ukranian Sunflower Choir
Music Group
Handbell Ringing
Ukrainian Stalls & Crafts
Children’s games
Auction of promises
Mulled wine & cakes
Visit from Father Christmas

The Buttercross Club

At our meeting on Wednesday, November 5th, the speaker was Sandra Jones who is one of our club members. She is an expert in preparing fine food and her comprehensive talk was centred around the preparation of fare we might enjoy during the Christmas holiday period, but also at other times of the year.
She pointed out that sensible short cuts are permissible, such as buying pastry instead of preparing it oneself. Mary Berry, of television fame for her cooking advice, has let it be known that she buys her pastry now rather than making it.
We were also told how to make a vegetarian dish which used six ounces of grated celeriac and three sticks of celery. These ingredients are either poached in water in a saucepan with a little butter or cooked quickly in the microwave until tender. They are allowed to cool. Four ounces of chopped chestnuts can be added as a nod to the time of the year. One can use vacuum packed chopped chestnuts to save time. Grated cheese (4 to 6 ounces of a strong cheese such as mature gouda or strong cheddar) is added plus finely chopped sage leaves. Seasoning can also be used at this stage but one should taste the mixture first to check how much, if any, is required. A shake of Worcester sauce and a sprinkle of grated nutmeg are also recommended.
Take three sheets of filo pastry and some melted butter. Coat a baking tin with the melted butter, then line with paper and also coat that with butter. Put the cheese on first and mix together the celeriac, celery and chestnuts. Leave the sage leaves till last. Keep some cheese to one side to put on top. Place on baking paper which is wider than the mixture. Cook on the highest heat for 10 to 15 minutes if you are intending to eat it on the same day. However, if you are wanting to freeze it do not cook it. The vegetarian version should use a homemade cheese sauce and be served with green vegetables and potatoes. Sandra chose apple strudel as the pudding. She recommended using fresh dates with the apple as they go well together. Toffee rum is also a tasty addition.
The next meeting will be the Buttercross Christmas Party(including entertainment) on Wednesday, December 3rd, starting at 7pm. Guests are welcome. Buttercross members are asked to bring along a plate of savoury or sweet food

Barnack Church, Children and Christmas

Two dates for diaries please! On Sunday December 14th, from 3.30-5pm, we’ll be having another Messy Church at Barnack, this time entited “He’s Here”, as a lead-up to Christmas. Please do come along (again!), and bring friends with you if you like. We’ll have the usual combination of Bible narrative, crafts, singing and prayers, and of course some refreshments too. Please can all chidren be accompanied by a parent and/or carer.
Then on December 24th, Christmas Eve, the Crib Service at Barnack Church will be at 4.30pm. We’ll remember and celebrate the nativity, when Jesus came down to earth and was born as a baby. Chidren are encouraged to dress up! It will be a lovely way for families to start Christmas!
Mike Mills (tel. 07523 312 387)

BARNACK COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION & UFFORD VILLAGE HALL COMMITTEE

JOIN CULINARY FORCES! FESTIVE SOCIAL LUNCH – TUES 16th DEC 12.00 noon
Following the success of the lunch social in March, the BCA along with Emma Thorp from the Ufford Village Hall team, are putting on another lunch social at Barnack Village Hall on Tuesday 16th December 2025 – from 12.00 noon.
Tickets cost £10 each,which includes a main meal and a choice from a range of delicious desserts! All profits from the ticket sales go to Barnack Village Hall to help manage and maintain the Hall.
Emma Thorp and Sally Hullock are also organising another lunch social on Wednesday 28th January 2026 at Ufford Village Hall – these ticket sales will raise funds for Ufford Village Hall.
Residents from all the Parish are obviously welcome to join either or both lunch dates. Please do get in touch if you’re interested in either the Barnack lunch date and/or the Ufford lunch date. Contact either Sally on 07795 565658 or Emma on 07769 587742 to book your ticket/s.
OTHER BCA NEWS:
• Saturday 13th December – Xmas Tree Lights Switch-On and Santa Sleigh – the BCA are supporting the Parish Council again for its annual – see full page advert in this edition for details, including the sleigh route and approximate timings.
• Saturday 20th December – As with previous years, Santa’s Sleigh also hopes to travel around Ashton, Bainton and Ufford on the evening of Saturday 20th December – weather dependent – more details will be circulated direct to these villages nearer the time.
• Friday 6th February 2026 – Please note the 80s night has been rescheduled from November28th, as advertised last month, to Friday 6th Feb 2026 – see revised full page advert on p11 in this edition.

COFFEE STOP CHRISTMAS SING ALONG

The fourth Coffee Stop Christmas Sing Along which will be held on Wednesday 10th December (10.30-12 noon) in Barnack Church. Hot drinks and mince pies will be ‘on the house’.
You will receive a warm welcome at this great informal event which is open to all those in our community and neighbouring villages. It’s a great opportunity to get you in the mood for the Christmas season! You can expect a mix of the usual seasonal singing and other secular favourites, together with opportunities for lots of hilarity with some awful Christmas cracker jokes .. and maybe even some karaoke!
We are pleased that our resident musicians are again available to play for us. However, we would want to encourage any other folk to come and join us who play musical instruments or who may even be up for singing a solo! (If you would like to be involved in this event please would you contact me by 1st December).
To be assured of a table we would encourage people to come a little earlier than 10.30 am if possible. Disabled access and assistance is available and some tables will be reserved near the entrance for those who have mobility issues.
As in previous years there will be a collection for a charity as you leave the church, donations can be made by cash or card. Because of the good and important work that they do, including bringing aid to people in conflict situations, and especially now in Gaza, we have chosen to collect for Christian Aid. The Charity celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.
(Coffee Stop meets every Wednesday at the Millstone Pub in Barnack, 10.30-12 noon. It would be lovely to see you there, please feel free to join us).
Carol Pickering 01780 740438