StFaith slee Weekly Notes 9 th December nd Sunday of Advent

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1 StFaith slee Weekly Notes 9 th ember nd Sunday of Advent The Creeds, part 2: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Welcome to St Faith s. If you are a visitor, we hope you enjoy your time with us. If you would like to know more about St Faith s, please fill in a Welcome Card, found on the desk near the entrance to the church. The next week in the St Faith s Community Sunday 9 th ember 8am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist 11.00am Sundays@ pm Evening Prayer Tuesday 11 th ember 9.30am Rainbow Toddlers 7.30pm Alpha Course 10 Wednesday 12 th ember 10.30am Living in the Light Advent Course 3 Thursday 13 th ember 11.30am Eucharist 2.00pm Cuppa & Company 8.00pm Living in the Light Advent Course 3 Friday 14 th November Funeral of Frederick Furber 6.15pm Choir & Worship Group practices Sunday 16 th ember 8am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist with Prayer Ministry 11.00am Sundays@ pm Carol Service St Faith s Vision Our vision is to be a welcoming progressive Christian community of all ages and all stages of faith, nurturing spiritual growth, and representing God s living presence in our town.

2 Christmas Day Lunch If you know someone who would like to come to the Christmas Lunch, please let them know that it is happening. You can book them a place by calling the church office on Lee Choral Society Christmas Concert Saturday 15th ember at 7.30pm in St Faith s Church Conductor: Richard Dewland Organist: Andrew Cleary Magnificat...John Rutter Christmas Bells are Ringing...Christmas Medley Carols, with audience participation Tickets 10.00, Concessions 8.50 Tickets available from LCS members, the Church Office, on the door, or by ringing Traidcraft The last stall before Christmas, for your purchases and any donations for Traidcraft Exchange, will be next Sunday the 16 th ember. Thank you very much for all your custom in the past year, and particularly over the past few weeks. I hope to be able to tell you how much we can send to the Exchange Christmas appeal very soon. Trading will be resumed on 13 th January, With all good wishes, Cecily Parkinson. Missing Keys - do you have them? We are missing a set of 7-8 keys consisting of 2 brass keys, 2 chrome keys and keys of other types. These are a set of church keys but there are no identifying marks on them to indicate where they can be used. Please check if you happened to use these keys and have forgotten to return them. 2

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4 2018 Christmas Fayre Thank you to the Christmas Fayre committee for all their hard wok in organising last week s Christmas Fayre. A great deal of hard work was involved and it was much appreciated by all those who came to the Fayre. On the day the sum of 2,976 was raised and, in addition to that sum, 400 was raised from the sale of tables to other groups. At the time of writing there are 159 known expenses. Crockery missing from the Parish Centre Have you taken a plate or dish home from the Parish Centre, perhaps with some food in, and not bought it back? We re missing quite a few plates, bowls and other items! If you do have crockery at home, please could you return it? Thank you! 4

5 During Advent, the Revd Ann Leonard, a member of our Ministry Team, will be writing a weekly reflection about this season in the Church Year. Her second reflection is below. Advent Reflection - Week 2 There is no doubt what many of us (though I realise not all) will be doing over the next week or so. The Christmas rush is well and truly on with cards still to write, last minute presents to buy and wrap and post, food preparation, plans for hospitality and visiting stress! Will we be ready in time? Some are consoling themselves with the thought that in just over two weeks it will all be over! Will life be just the same again or will we be changed? If we take Advent seriously I hope we will be changed, because we shall have had the opportunity to reflect again on what it means to say that God became human in the humility and shocking squalor of the birth at Bethlehem and that he still comes into the world in all its mess and pain and joy longing for us to recognise him and welcome him. I want to put the season of Advent and Christmas in perspective, because actually it isn t all over on ember 26 th even though the sales will have begun! Today we are entering the second week of an important nineweek season in the church year. These nine weeks come in three parts Advent, Christmas and Epiphany and culminate in Candlemas the presentation of the baby Jesus at the Temple (at the beginning of February). The whole season together explores how gradually, the meaning of Christ s coming (the Incarnation) is revealed and how key elements in the Christian understanding of God emerge. Advent is the getting ready season; Christmas celebrates the coming of God into our world and into our hearts and lives and although that is the climax of the season it is not the end because we then have Epiphany tide which is the revealing of the mystery of God coming to earth the making known to others of what has happened. (The season of Epiphany begins on January 6 th with the visit of the wise men but continues until Candlemas). 5

6 All three seasons teach us vitally important things about Christ and form part of a whole. Firstly preparation then Christ s coming and finally our response which is to make him known in our world. In a way this pattern of preparation, meeting and making known is repeated each Sunday in our Eucharist. We prepare ourselves by coming to church and confessing our sins and praying together. Then we meet Christ in the word (the gospel) and in the sacrament (the bread and wine) which is the climax, but not the end. The service ends when we are commissioned afresh to go out from church sharing the love, light and hope of Christ with those we meet and making his presence known to the world ever new Epiphanies! The uniqueness of our faith, in comparison with other faiths, is God s coming to us in the flesh (and God s death at our hands). Other faiths are about the people s search for God. Our faith is about God s search for us. He came to find us and dwell with us. That s what Emmanuel means and that is what Christmas is really all about and where our hope lies. Two of the major themes of Advent are hope and the light of Christ coming into the darkness. I came across this thought in a book written by an Irish nun. She says, Hope is daring, courageous; it has the audacity to reach a hand into the darkness and come out with a handful of light. I have seen and been moved by this kind of hope and determination in people who are facing what I think must be unbearable strain in their work or homes and yet they press on regardless, some of them even cheerfully. I have seen it in friends who have been bereaved, who have remarkably found energy to haul themselves along the hard path of grief, not only surviving, but discovering treasures on their journey which they have been able to share with others. I have seen it in some internationally known people; those who have carried amazing beacons of light like the courageous Nelson Mandela, the inspiring Desmond Tutu and the compassionate Mother Teresa. 6

7 Hope is daring, courageous; it has the audacity to reach a hand into the darkness and come out with a handful of light. In these uncertain days of political turmoil in our world let us pray that we can be daring and courageous enough to reach a hand into the darkness and come out with a handful of Christ s light to share with others for whom the darkness feels overwhelming. ************************************* Helpers needed at Christmas Eve Crib and Christingle Services Both of these services will be very large, and we would appreciate help to steward at both. At the Crib Service costumes are available for you to wear! We will need to take the stage down quickly after the crib service, to prepare for the Christingle service, and help is needed with this. Christingle making - Sunday 23 rd ember after Sundays@11 We will be preparing for our Christingle service by making 200 Christingles. All items needed will be provided, although if you could bring an apple corer with you, that would be very useful! To help with any of the above, please sign up on the Welcome Table 7

8 Christmas Services Please do note the Christmas services below, and invite your friends and family to join us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus! Sunday 16 th 6pm Carol Service Christmas Eve 3pm Crib Service 4.30pm Christingle service 11pm Midnight Mass Christmas Day 8am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion 10am Christmas Celebration Services on Sunday 23 rd ember and Sunday 30 th ember are as normal! Remember: the carol service is next Sunday! 8

9 Sunday 9 th ember - 2 nd Sunday of Advent 8.00am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion A traditional communion service using the 1662 order of service President: Michael & Jan Beer Assistant: David Fordham Collect: Page am Parish Eucharist A formal choral service of Holy Communion President: Mary Kells Deacon: Paul Chamberlain Preacher: Trevor Reader Epistle reading: Philippians 1:3-11 Sue Hamilton Gospel reading: Luke 3:1-6 June Witham Intercessions: Carolyn Keyzor Chalice Assistants: Margaret Hunt, Pam Rigg, Dorothie Garratt and Carolyn Marshall Hymns: All the hymns are in the Order of Service or on the screen. Before the service:: Wait for the Lord Choir only Processional: On Jordan s bank the Baptist s cry Page 17 Candle Lighting Hymn: Verse 2 Page 17 Offertory: Hail to the Lord s anointed Page17 Communion Chant: Come to me Choir only Closing Hymn: People, look east to see at last Page am Sundays@11 A service for all ages, with a music group, various media, and activities for adults and children. Leader: Becca Chamberlain Preacher: Mary Kells Kids@11 team: Kevin Dean, Carolyn Marshall, Paul Chamberlain Songs: Praise is Rising, We are Waiting, King of Love, Everyone Needs Compassion, These are the Days of Elijah 6.00pm Evening Prayer A traditional reflective service with music and a sermon Officiant: Steve Dent Opening Hymn: 10 Long ago, prophets knew Psalm: 75 First reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 Jo Drew Second reading: Luke 1:1-25 Jo Drew Homily: Steve Dent Hymn: 18 Ye servants of the Lord Intercessions: Gillian Sinclair Hymn: 16 Wake, o wake! 9

10 For your prayers during the next week Collect for the 2 nd Sunday in Advent O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Those who are unwell: Martin Over, Norah Drew, Pam Dickey, Sue Harrap, Brian Nutting, Rosie Dawson (Trevor & Joyce Dawson s grand-daughter), Malcolm Dean, Maisie & Fred Kitching and Vicki Edwards. Anniversaries of Death: Frances Jane Bennett (9 th ); Virginia Kirby (10 th ); Jimmy Reynolds (11 th ); Joyce Batten & Dora Mills (14 th ); Francis MacDonald, Arthur Dalby & Peter Driffill (15 th ). Those who have died:- Frederick Furber, Shelagh Kenvin and Vic Parrett Lord our God, we seek your face and long to find you. May we find you as your people found you in times past when you drew near with many signs and miracles. May our hearts come before you in awe and trust and draw their strength from you. May many in our time seek you and receive your comfort and help, for you provide strength and courage for the poor and destitute, for the suffering and the dying. Do not let our age pass by in vain, O great and almighty God. A new time must surely come, a new day must be born from this present age. This is your will, and in your will we trust. Amen. 10

11 Sun 9 th Mon 10 th Tue 11 th Wed 12 th Thur 13 th Fri 14 th Sat 15 th Sun 16 th In the Church and Parish Centre 9 th -16 th ember Church Bulson Hall Lowry Room 8.00 Holy Communion Refreshments 9.00am Choir 9.30 Parish Eucharist 11.15am Sundays@ am Sundays@ Sundays@ pm Evening Prayer 8.00 Silent Prayer 8.30 Morning Prayer 5.00pm Evening Prayer 8.00 Silent Prayer 8.30 Morning Prayer 5.00pm Evening Prayer 8.00 Silent Prayer 8.30 Morning Prayer 5.00pm Evening Prayer pm Lee Choral Society 8.00 Silent Prayer 8.30 Morning Prayer Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer 8.00 Silent Prayer 8.30 Morning Prayer Funeral of Frederick Furber 5.00 Evening Prayer pm Choir Practices Lee Choral Society practice pm Lee Choral Society concert 8.00 Holy Communion 9.30 Parish Eucharist with Prayer Ministry Sundays@ pm Carol Service pm Lunch Club pm Yoga Rainbow Toddlers pm Pilates pm Pilates pm Yoga CSPA pm Weight Watchers pm Christmas Wreath Making Yoga Piano Tuner pm Mothers Union Christmas lunch pm Yoga pm Pilates pm Advent Course pm Zumba Gold pm Shall we dance? ballroom dancing Sally s Zumba pm Private Party Lee Choral Society refreshments Refreshments 11.15am Sundays@ Pilates pm Sally s Zumba Dance Fitness Claire s Zumba pm Brownies pm Alpha Course Advent Course pm Sally s Zumba pm Lowry Art Group pm Cuppa & Company pm Lee Voluntary Care Group Christmas Party Jiggy Wrigglers pm Knit & Natter pm Hampshire & IOW Wildlife Trust. 9.00am Choir 11.15am Sundays@ pm Christingle making 11

12 Church & Parish Centre Contact Details Vicar Revd Dr Paul Chamberlain Curate Revd Dr Mary Kells Churchwarden Cliff Rook Pastoral Care Team Co-ordinator Joyce Dawson Curate Revd Steve Dent Director of Music Richard Dewland Churchwarden Rita Morgan Youth Group Team Rebecca Parrett, Jon Booth & Alison Jeanneret Parish Office Church Administrator: Andrew Munro Telephone The Church Office is from 10.30am-12.30pm each weekday. For Church enquiries: For Parish Centre enquiries: St Faith s Church & Parish Centre Victoria Square, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, PO13 9NF