Clergy. Churchwardens. Safeguarding Officer Ann Beattie Church Administrator Hazel Miller

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1 Please take one It s Free! Worship at St Michael s this Christmas Saturday December 22 5 pm Nine Lessons and Carols. Listen again to the Christmas story told through the traditional nine lessons and carols. Tuesday December 25 Christmas Day 8 am Said Eucharist. 10 am Sung Eucharist with Carols. Monday December 24 Christmas Eve 4 pm Crib Service An informal service round the Christmas Crib pm Midnight Mass The first Eucharist of Christmas. Sunday January 6 8 am and 10 am Epiphany We remember the coming of the Wise Men to present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Holy Child. Welcome Back, Debbie A very warm welcome to Revd Debbie, our Vicar, as she returns from her three month sabbatical. It s great to have you back!

2 St Michael s and All Angels Sycamore Road Amersham HP6 5DR Clergy Vicar The Revd Debbie Oades revdebbieoades@gmail.com. Church Office: Office@stmichaelsamersham.org.uk. (Monday Friday 9.30 am pm) Churchwardens Roland Gillott. Roland.gillott@btinternet.com Associate Priest The Revd Peter Binns peter.binns166@btinternet.com Roger Leslie rogerleslie25@gmail.com Church Administrator Hazel Miller office@stmichaelsamersham.org.uk. Website Safeguarding Officer Ann Beattie ann.beattie@care4free.net Newsletter Editor Kenneth Prideaux-Brune pbrune@olcs.net Worship Sundays 8 am Said Eucharist 10 am Sung Eucharist (Coffee afterwards) Gathered Round all age service 2 nd Sunday. Tuesdays am Said Eucharist Mondays - Saturdays 9 am Morning Prayer The Church is usually open each morning from 9 am for anyone who wishes to meditate or spend time in quiet. 3 rd Saturdays am 1 pm Messy Church The opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the vies of the Vicar or the PCC or the official policy of St Michael s Church. 2

3 COMMENT For All the Saints During a recent holiday in Verona, Alan and I visited a number of its beautiful churches, among them those dedicated to St Anastasia and St Zeno. Having never heard of either of these Saints I decided to try and find out more. St Zeno was from Africa and is the first known black bishop. The story goes that he was a follower of Athanasius, patriarch of Alexandria, whom he accompanied to Verona in 340. Zeno settled there, was ordained priest and became famous for his zeal. When Cricino, the bishop, died, Zeno was elected the eighth bishop of Verona, famous for the numbers of people he baptised and for the miracles he performed. After his death churches were built in his honour, both in Verona and in other Italian and European cities. About Anastasia less is known. Legend has it that she was the daughter of Praetextus, a Roman citizen of patrician rank, and the pupil of Chrysogonus. During the persecutions of Diocletian she was martyred on the island of Palmaria. All this led me to wonder how the custom of dedicating a church to a particular saint came about. Often, in the early days, Christians met for worship around the graves of holy people and saints, so, when a building was eventually constructed, it was named after them. Later, In the early Middle Ages, it became the custom to deposit relics of saints in large churches and the church would be named after the saint whose relics it contained. This is certainly the case in Verona. The most popular names for church dedications are St Mary, St Peter, St Michael, St Andrew and St Paul but in some areas of Britain, such as Cornwall and Wales, where there were many local saints, churches were named after them, for instance Saint Morwenna, the eponymous patron saint of Morwenstow. Whatever the reason for the choice of name, the principle is the same; these were often courageous people who, as we would say now, acted as role models for all their many followers. Di Bacon St Michael s Vision Statement As a Christian community, we seek to engage with the world around us and to be a place of welcome and acceptance for all on a journey to God believers, doubters and those who are seeking. 3

4 In Focus Mike Armstrong, Chairman of Amersham Action Group, introduces the 2018 Amersham Christmas Festival Saturday December 1 The Amersham Action Group s Christmas Festival will take place on Saturday December 1 from 12 noon. We have chosen this date to coincide with Small Business Saturday and we make it our mission to support small local businesses throughout the town. Following the success of last year s event, we are hoping to bring Christmas to Amersham with a fantastic fun-filled family day out. Sycamore Road (from Sycamore Corner to Woodside Close) will be closed to traffic from 8 am to 6 pm to accommodate the crowds and host a wide variety of Christmas themed activities including Christmas Food Stalls, Children s Fun Fair and a fantastic programme of live entertainment. St. Michael s Church and Hall will also play host to the dazzling Christmas Market with local businesses, charities and community groups selling their Christmas wares. We anticipate over 50 local organisations coming together to put on this fabulous community event. And don t forget Father Christmas will also be stopping by to greet the children of Amersham in his wonderful wintry Grotto. All monies raised will go towards the three nominated charities that we are supporting this year which are: MARES Amersham - Radio Christmas - Restore Hope Latimer This is the final article in this series. Our thanks to Alan, Jo and Kate for devising and overseeing these articles. 4

5 Not Going Away Christmas Tree Festival December 4 January 6 From His throne to His footstool unannounced He came only the outcast shepherds were told, and sent by angels to find Him, while, far away, clever men interpreted the stars and set out to find the new born King. The courtiers and religious elite refused to acknowledge Him, but he wouldn t go away. In the end they exterminated Him but He still wouldn t go away, and never will. Joy Tobler The COTHA Christmas Tree Festival will open at St Michael s on December 1 and run until January 6. Trees will be sponsored by local schools and other organisations. Admission will be free but there will be an opportunity to contribute to the three local groups that will benefit from the Festival Workaid, Street Kids Direct and Amersham Youth Activities/Chiltern Youth Projects. Candlelit Compline December 19, 20 AND PM This quiet, reflective 15-minue service in the Lady Chapel makes an ideal preparation for Christmas. Escape from the stresses of the season and prepare to welcome the Christ Child. Closes December 14 A reminder that Cards for Good Causes, selling cards supporting a wide range of charities will be open in St Michael s until December 14. Whatever charity you wish to support you can buy your Christmas cards in the church until then. So please don t delay 5

6 This Baby This baby s skin was silky soft, like any other baby. This baby s hand encircled my finger, like any other baby. This baby sucked his mother s milk like any other baby. This baby soiled his nappy, like any other baby. This baby s first smile, first step, first word would be greeted with joy, like any other baby. This ordinary baby, though, was extraordinary. For this baby s parentage, unlike any other baby, was out of this world. Joy Tobler For children and families this Christmas Messy Church Christmas Party Saturday December am - 1 pm Crafts, song and dance and lunch Crib Service Christmas Eve 4 pm An informal celebration of Christmas Other activities in January Tuesday Jan 1 LUNCH BREAK. Free Church am Wednesday Jan 2 Healing and Wholeness. Lady Chapel. 3, 3.30 and 4.15 pm Friday Jan 4 Wise Choices Film Club Woman in Gold. Wheeler Room. 2 pm Sunday Jan 6 EPIPHANY. Warden: Alan Jarvis ( ) Christmas Tree Festival closes. Tuesday Jan 8 LUNCH BREAK. Free Church am Tuesday Club Annual Lunch. Ramon s. 12 noon for pm. Sunday Jan 13 Baptism of Christ. Gathered Round. Traidcraft stall. Warden: Claire Sinclair ( ) Tuesday Jan 15 LUNCH BREAK. Free Church am Saturday Jan 19 MESSY CHURCH am 1 pm Sunday Jan 20 Epiphany 3. COTHA combined service. Free Church am. Warden: Roger Leslie (726362) Monday Jan 21 Not One for Lunch. Lady Chapel pm Tuesday Jan 22 LUNCH BREAK. Free Church am Friday Jan 25 Pop in and Paint am pm Sunday Jan 27 Epiphany 4. Warden: Roland Gillott (722674) 6

7 St Michael and All Angels Amersham-on-the-Hill DIARY December/January 2018 Regular Weekly Activities Sundays 8 am Said Eucharist 10 am Sung Eucharist Mondays 9 am Morning Prayer. Lady Chapel. Tuesdays 9 am Morning Prayer. Lady Chapel am Said Eucharist. Lady Chapel Wednesdays 9 am Morning Prayer. Lady Chapel pm Choir Practice Thursdays 9 am Morning Prayer. Lady Chapel. Fridays 9 am Morning Prayer. Lady Chapel Saturdays 9 am Morning Prayer. Lady Chapel. Tuesdays. 10 am 12 noon. Wheeler Coffee Pot. Wheeler Room. The Church is usually open each morning from 9 am for anyone who wishes to meditate or spend time in quiet. Other Activities in December Sunday Dec 2 Advent 1. Warden: Alan Jarvis ( ) Tuesday Dec 4 LUNCH BREAK. Challoner s Girls in recital. Free Church pm Wednesday Dec 5 Healing and Wholeness. Lady Chapel. 3, 3.30 and 4.15 pm Friday Dec 7 Wise Choices Film Club The Greatest Showman. 2 pm Sunday Dec 9 Advent 2. Gathered Round. Warden: Andy Connor (723561) Traidcraft stall after 10 am service. Tuesday Dec 11 LUNCH BREAK. Music on Recorders. Free Church pm. Friday Dec 14 Cards for Good Causes closes. Saturday Dec 15 MESSY CHURCH am 1 pm Sunday Dec 16 Advent 3. Warden: Roger Leslie (726362) Monday Dec 17 Not One for Lunch. Lady Chapel pm Tuesday Dec 18 LUNCH BREAK. Christmas melodies. Free Church pm Wednesday Dec 19 (Compline - Friday Dec 21 (Lady Chapel pm Saturday Dec 22 Nine Lessons and Carols. 5 pm. Warden: Roland Gillott (722674) Sunday Dec 23 Advent 4. Warden: Roland Gillott (722674) Monday Dec 24 CHRISTMAS EVE. Crib Service 4 pm. Roger Leslie (726362) Midnight Mass pm. Warden: Alan Bacon (774870) Tuesday Dec 25 CHRISTMAS DAY. Said Eucharist 8 am. Eucharist with carols 10 am. Warden: Roland Gillott (722674) No Lunch Break Sunday Dec 30 Christmas 1. Warden: Roland Gillott (722674) NOTE: For January activities please see page 6. 7

8 Children & Families Page [Grab your reader s attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasize key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.] The Newsletter is published monthly (except January and August). The next issue will appear on Sunday February 3. Material for inclusion should please be ed to the Editor on pbrune@olcs.net by January 22 8