On Wednesday the 6th of December, from 7.30pm, the Wigan Division will hold it's annual Christmas Carol Service at Pennington Church. Last year, when we held it in Wigan Parish Church, about 20 people turned up ........

This year we have children from our own school and children from Gilded Hollins School singing, the award winning Old Hall Brass Band will play for us and we also have the finest worship music available in churches today from our own Worship Band !

I could appeal to you to come to the service on a Leigh / Wigan divide and 'a lets beat the Pie Eaters stand', I could appeal to you to come and support our school or I could even ask you to come and support me as the Police Chaplain.

However I'm not going to.

I would desperately love you to come to the carol service, 6th of December at 7.30 pm at CCP, because above all it will be an act of worship to our God. Led by our own Vicar , so we know it will be theologically sound, with worship led by Emma and our own Worship Band, so we know there will be superb worship and - pause for drum rolls - FREE MINCE PIES !!!

I know it is a cell night for many people - bring your cell group !!!

I know it is 'another carol service' - it will still be an act of worship and praise !!!

I know we are going to have our own carol service - come and tune up your voice with the coppers !!!

What I am asking is that please, if at all possible, you come and bring your friends and family to this service. Several police divisions have now stopped doing the service because of a fear of offending other faiths or just because of the appalling secularism that pervades our communities, whatever the reason Christian worship for the police is an endangered thing.

If you can, please come and help to keep it alive in Leigh.

Steve Wilkinson
Police Chaplain