Christmas at St Mary s : Church Diary Monday - Saturday (except Bank Holidays): 8.30 am Morning Prayer & 5.30 pm Evening Prayer:

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1 Christmas at St Mary s : Church Diary Monday - Saturday (except Bank Holidays): 8.30 am Morning Prayer & 5.30 pm Evening Prayer: Tuesday 20 th Dec am Funeral Service for Mrs Pamela Hook Wednesday 21 st Dec am Holy Communion Thursday 22 nd Dec 9.15 am Holy Communion (in the Church Centre) Friday 23 rd Dec am Holy Communion (at Horsham Hospital) 5.30 pm Children's Candlelight Crib Service Saturday 24 th Dec 9.00 am Holy Communion Christmas Eve 5.30 pm Children's Candlelight Crib Service pm Midnight Mass SUNDAY 25 th Dec 8.00 am Holy Communion with Carols Christmas Day 9.30 am The Christmas Celebration Communion No services between Christmas and New Year (Morning and Evening prayer resumes 3 rd Jan) Sunday 1 st Jan am Choose this Day Parish Covenant Service at Holy Trinity, Rusham s Road Wednesday 4 th Jan am Holy Communion Thursday 5 th Jan 9.15 am Holy Communion (in the Church Centre) Friday 6 th Jan am Holy Communion (at Horsham Hospital) Saturday 7 th Jan 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 8 th Jan 8.00 am Holy Communion Epiphany 9.30 am Parish Communion am We Three Kings Epiphany Kairos Service (informal service for children and their families) 6.30 pm Epiphany Carol Service Monday 9 th Jan 7.45 pm School for Prayer Sunday Intercessions & Prayer Focus for each week: Locally 18 th Dec: We think of all who are homeless in Horsham and pray that they will be able to find long-term security through the support of the night shelter and its partners. 25th Dec: We pray that the good news of Jesus birth will be shared and demonstrated in practical ways to the guests of the night shelter over Christmas, and that they will be touched by God s love and peace. 1st Jan: We thank God for the opportunities Horsham Churches Together and its partner charities have to work in the community and express His love. We pray for those who will be touched by this work in the coming year. In the Wider World 18th Dec: We give thanks for Alejandro Mesco, serving as a missionary bishop in the Arequipa area of southern Peru, and for the support he has received from the Condor Vision Trust. We pray for the Lord s blessing on his ministry. 25th Dec: We give thanks for the Condor Vision Trust s ministry of healing and reconciliation in Huamanga Province. We pray for Maranatha Church and pastor Jose Huaman as they serve the local community. 1st Jan: We thank God for the work of Condor Vision Trust in Peru, and especially the link between our Lighthouse children and the Casa Luz orphanage. We pray for the health and development of the 52 children who live in Casa Luz.

2 Welcome to St Mary s! Especially if this is your first visit we hope you will enjoy the service. If you are new to us please pick up information about all that St. Mary s offers from the Welcome Table near the Church door. Members of the welcome team will of course be delighted to answer any questions you may have. We hope you will be able to stay after the 9.30 service, and join us for a cup of coffee. Please do introduce yourself to one of the clergy or a member of the welcome team, who would love the chance to get to know you better. To find out MUCH MORE about life at St. Mary s please visit (or contact the Church Office on ) Sundays at St Mary s Sunday 18 th Dec Jan 8 th Advent, Christmas & Epiphany Sunday 18 th Dec: 8.00 am Holy Communion (Service Book p 199) 9.30 am Parish Communion (with the Lighthouse in the Church Centre) 6.30 pm Nine Lessons and Carols St Mary s Church Family News Sunday 25 th Dec: 8.00 am Holy Communion with Carols 9.30 am Christmas Celebration Communion (No other services today) Sunday 1 st Jan 2017: am Choose this Day Parish Covenant Service at Holy Trinity, Rusham s Road Sunday 8 th Jan: 8.00 am Holy Communion (Service Book p 199) 9.30 am Church Family Communion 11.30am We Three Kings Epiphany Kairos Service 6.30pm Epiphany Carol Service

3 THIS WEEK St Mary s Christmas Card Delivery please would you take a bundle or two and deliver our church Christmas cards to all the homes in the streets in our part of the parish? They are laid out at the back of church, along with map showing where the roads are. Thankyou so much for your help in this outreach to our town. Tuesday 20 th Dec 11am Funeral Service for Mrs Pamela Hook. Please remember the family in your prayers, and you are most welcome to join them at the service in giving thanks for Pamela s life. Christmas at St Mary s Key services and events are: Sunday 18 th December pm Service of Nine Lessons & Carols; and then Friday 23rd December: 3.30pm 5pm Family Nativity Craft Party in the Church Centre (book with the church office) and 5.30 pm Candlelight Service and Blessing of the Crib; Saturday 24th December - Christmas Eve pm Candlelight Service and Blessing of the Crib and pm The Midnight Mass; Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day: 8.00 am Holy Communion (Traditional Service with Carols) and 9.30 am Christmas Celebration Communion. Sunday 1 st January at 11am: Choose this Day A Parish Covenant Service for New Year s Day at Holy Trinity, all ages are welcome. The service will include Holy Communion and prayers for our shared church life in the new year. FOR YOUR INFORMATION The Church Office will close for Christmas at 12noon Friday Dec 23 rd and will reopen 10am on Tuesday 3 rd January. St Mary's Christmas cards: These are on sale in packs of 10 for 3.50 at the back of the Church and in the Church Office. The proceeds will be shared equally between St Mary's Choir and St Mary's Church Fabric Fund. We hope you will support us as before, thank you. Contact Jo Benson. Phone: jobenson@btinternet.com Some Service Books will now be available in cream. Due to an increased awareness of people living with additional needs, St Mary's are introducing cream service books. Cream paper can be easier to read from than standard white for those living with dyslexia or visual impairment. Please don't hesitate to ask one of the welcome team when you arrive at church. Please do also let the church office know if we can support you in other ways if you have different types of additional needs.

4 Horsham Matters' Tanfield Stop is moving: The new Horsham Matters Superstore opens on 3rd January 2017 at Unit 1, Redkiln Close, Horsham RH13 5QL. There will be more space, more stock and more choice! Do let people know that the Tanfield Shop is moving to Redkiln Way. Thank you. Open the Book Storytellers: The new Bible Storytelling group would like Pashmina shawls of any colour but particularly brown or cream and also brightly coloured fabric. If you have any of these items, please let the office or Fiona know. Thank you. Horsham Churches Together Foodbank Donations: It would be lovely to have something special for the Food bank at Christmas if you are able to donate anything - for example some boxes of chocolates or special biscuits would be super - thankyou. 'Fellowship Sunday' meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month (now through to March 2017) at St Leonard's Hall between pm to share hobbies, games and/or company. Organised by the Mothers' Union for all who would like to share craft and enjoy company. Dec 18th we will celebrate the start of our 3rd year. For more information please speak to Margaret , Sue or see Maureen Mguni. Coming soon Sunday 8th January 2017: EPIPHANY 11.30am We Three Kings Kairos Service All welcome to this informal service for children and their families. 6.30pm Epiphany Carol Service Celebrating The Glory of Christ s Coming all are welcome is the Year of the Bible - launched on Epiphany Sunday. Please see the special programme for details of your personal Bible reading challenge and much more! (Available from mid December.) Monday 9 th January 7.45pm: St. Mary s School for Prayer All the church family are encouraged to join those in any kind of leadership at St. Mary s, in making this monthly prayer meeting a priority in our diaries. Please do come 7.45pm to 9.00pm in church. Thursday 12 th Jan 10am: The Informal coffee morning will take place in the church centre. Next date will be 26 th Jan. All Welcome. Our very warm thanks for all your kind Christmas Greetings and Our prayers for a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year, Guy and Jebs, Jimmy, Alan and all of the St Mary s Team

5 Widen your musical horizons at a Music Workshop led by Frances Novillo, Saturday, 11 February am (registration from 9.30) to 3 pm at The Church Centre, Causeway, Horsham RH12 1HE. This is a day for all who sing or play in worship in congregations, in choirs, in worship bands. We will explore and bring together many styles of spiritual music, including African rhythms, American spirituals, Taize, Iona, classical church anthems and contemporary worship songs. No special skills needed but you are encouraged to bring any instrument you play to a reasonable standard and your own African drum! Cost 10. Please bring a contribution to a shared lunch. Hot and cold drinks will be provided. For further information please contact: Brenda Large brendalarge@btinternet.com Please complete and return the booking form available from the back of church (or via the church office and the church website) with payment to Brenda Large via St Mary s Choir or St Mary s Church Office as soon as possible. Conservation and Renewal Project: If you would like to donate to our Conservation and Renewal Project you can do so via our on-line giving page virginmoneygiving.com/team/stmarysconservationandrenewal Or donations can also be sent to: Conservation and Renewal Project c/o Treasurer, St. Mary s Church Centre Office, Causeway, Horsham RH12 1HE. (Cheques made payable to PCC Horsham No. 1 Account. We are also raising money via easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stmarysconservation. Thankyou. The Oasis Crisis Pregnancy Centre - 'Save the Date' We are hosting a Charity Concert on 4th February 2017 at Christian Life Centre at 7.30pm. We have invited 'No Strings Attached'' to sing for us. 'No Strings Attached' are a five-piece a cappella group based in Sussex. Since 2012 No Strings Attached have performed on over90 occasions throughout Sussex, Surrey, Kent and London. Tickets will be 10.00, which includes a glass of wine or a soft drink and nibbles.