3 December The first Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 3 December 2017 The first Sunday of Advent Welcome A warm welcome to everyone, and especially if you are new or visiting. Do please stay on for drinks and to meet people after the 9.30 and services and keep this welcome sheet for your prayers this week. Prayer with the Anglican Communion we pray for the diocese of West Buganda in Uganda; for Archbishop Justin; for Bishops Tim, Jonathan and David for the Sisters of St Andrew in Lyon, among them Sister Katie Seal; members of all religious communities, living with the joys and sacrifices of following Christ so closely our mission giving: 100 a month for Churches Together in Winchester s nominated charities to help refugees: Médecins sans Frontières, Firefly International, Aid to the Church in Need and a British Red Cross project, Hampshire Young Refugees Together the complex issues of immigration; especially care of the marginalised and displaced this season of Advent with its rich themes of watching, waiting and preparing; gratitude for yesterday s Advent Quiet Day thoughtfulness and generosity as we buy presents for loved ones and decide on our charitable giving during this season those who work to keep our roads and railways safe by clearing leaves/debris all in hospital and the staff who care for them, especially those on low wages the unwell: Jess, Caroline Behan, Henry Gaster-Evans, Julia Jones, Laura Liepins, Emma and Mark Miller, Kate Morgan, Sally Owens, Michael Pain, Andy Rann, Jean Reeder, Ruth Scott and Alison Stafford. All awaiting appointments or treatments those who have died recently, including Pat O Leary; all who live with the pain of untimely death; God s comfort for their families and friends Please feel free to put prayer requests on the board at the back of church or them to admin@stmatthewstpaul.org. Lady Chapel is set up for prayer, either alone or with one of the prayer ministry team, after the 9.30 parish communion service.

2 Services today, 3 December 8 am 9.30 am Collect Reading Post Communion am Readings [BCP] Holy Communion Readings: p. 47 Family Communion with DIY crèche Order of service in lilac booklet Rend the heavens and come down, O God of all the ages! Rouse us from sleep, deliver us from our heedless ways, and form us into a watchful people, that, at the advent of your Son, he may find us doing what is right, mindful of all you command. Grant this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near: your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Mark 13: [p. 379] About that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake. O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [BCP] Holy Communion Isaiah 64: 1 9 [p. 377] O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.

3 6.30 pm You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people. Mark 13: [p. 379] But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: keep awake. Advent carols by candlelight

4 Services next Sunday, 10 December The second Sunday of Advent 8 am 9.30 am am 5 pm [BCP] Holy Communion Readings: p. 49 Parish Communion Readings: Isaiah 40: 1 11; Mark 1: 1 8 [p. 380] [BCP] Mattins Readings: Isaiah 40: 1 11; Mark 1: 1 8 [p. 380] Christingle service Building for Life Please pray for the Diocesan Advisory Committee and their response following the meeting last Wednesday the appointment of a suitably qualified archaeologist to undertake some essential paid research Vicky Scott as she makes a pitch to the Rank Foundation on Thurs 7 December the Fund-raising Committee under Bill Lucas leadership, and especially for Nikki Prentice-Jones managing our grant applications process that more volunteers may respond to the invitation to draft grant applications, supported and guided by Nikki (thanks to those who have already expressed willingness) Thank you very much for all the wonderful and generous pledges that we have received. There are two ways you can make your donation to the project: One-off gifts Please either make out your cheque to PCC and leave it in an envelope in the yellow box at the back of church, or make a direct bank transfer into the Building for Life bank account (sort code , account number ) Standing orders Standing order forms are available at the back of church: please take one, fill it in, send it to your bank and let Giles Tibbitts or Bill Lucas know that you have done this If you have any questions or need any help please don t hesitate to contact Giles (Giles.Tibbitts@glory-global.com, ) or Bill (buildingforlife@stmatthewstpaul.org).

5 Mon 4, 2.30 pm 4.30 pm pm 7 pm Tues 5, 9 am 4.30 pm 7.30 pm Wed 6, 10 am 11 am 4.30 pm Thurs 7, am Sat 9, 10 am noon 2.30 pm December Sun 10, pm Mon 11, 8.30 am 10 am pm 7.30 pm Tues 12, 2.30 pm 7.30 pm Wed 13, 10 am 6 pm 8.30 pm Sat 16, 6.30 pm Sun 17, 4 pm Wed 20, 10 am 7 pm Thurs 21, 9.30 am 6 pm Fri 22, 10 am Sun 24, 3 for 3.30 pm pm Mon 25, 8 am 9.30 am am January Sun 28, pm February Sat 3, 9 am 4.30 pm The week ahead Book group Evening Prayer Children s choir Women s group Christmas supper Deanery Chapter meeting Evening Prayer Christian meditation Advent course [BCP] Holy Communion Evening Prayer Toddler group Children s Christmas workshop Carol singing Diary dates Twirties Advent afternoon tea Building for Life steering group Westgate Lower School Year 3 visit Children s choir Peter Symonds carol service Western School Year 4 Christingle Building for Life fund-raising group Advent course Western School carol service Men s group Christmas carol 4 family service Advent course Carol singing Under-fives Christmas celebration Carol singing round the parish Animal nativity (outside) Nativity service Midnight Eucharist Christmas Holy Communion Christmas Family Communion Holy Communion with carols Bring and share lunch Musical workshop, Joseph Bereweeke Ave Roebuck Inn Vestry Bereweeke Court Hall Cathedral Vestry Roebuck Inn Eastacre

6 Coming up Advent course continues on Wednesdays 6, 13 and 20 December, am, exploring the different accounts of Jesus birth. Winchester Fusion Choir presents a Christmas charity concert in aid of St Vincent de Paul for Families, Sebastian s Action Trust and Street Reach at St Peter s on Fri 8 December, 7.30 pm. Tickets 7.50 from , fusionchoirconcerttickets@gmail.com or St Peter s Pastoral Centre. Children s Christmas workshop at, Sat 9 December, 10 am noon, making decorations for the church and Christmas cards, icing biscuits, songs, Christmas story and refreshments. Advent stillness silent light at dusk Winchester Cathedral invites people to gather on St Giles Hill on Sat 9 December, 3.45 pm, to think of the birth of Jesus, contemplate, pray for humankind, those we love, ourselves and everything that makes up the world. Twirties Advent afternoon tea in Hall, Sun 10 December, pm. For all in their 20s and 30s and families with primary school age children and younger (children welcome). A chance to catch up with others amidst the busyness that this time of year and stage of life brings. Christingle service, Sun 10 December, 5 pm. Do come! New Wine A group from the parish plans to go to New Wine in 2018! All welcome! 5 11 August, Bath and West Showground, Somerset. Camping/caravan hire, outstanding youth work and childcare, fairground, indoor beach, running club, sports tournaments, art galleries, cinema, socials and speakers from all over the world, with many types of worship. An opportunity to feed your faith, and very welcoming of non-christian family members. Early-bird discount for bookings before Mon 4 December. Contact Susie Richardson, susannarichardson@hotmail.co.uk, , or Mary Copping, youth@stmatthewstpaul.org, Community Day 2017 We have a date: Sat 12 May; we have a focus for fund-raising: Building for Life; we have lots of volunteers full of goodwill. What we urgently need is someone to lead a planning group. Could it be you? Please contact Peter Seal asap: , peter@stmatthewstpaul.org.

7 Notices Please take a bundle or two of parish Christmas cards from the table at the back of church to distribute to local homes. Advent booklets Do pick up one of these at the back of church, with a reading for every day in Advent, to aid our prayers. Mulled wine and mince pies for Christmas carol service, Sat 16 December. Could you help by providing 12 homemade mince pies or savoury snacks (e.g. cheese straws, smoked salmon) or by serving wine, taking trays round or washing up? Please contact Julia Seal, , julia.seal@ntlworld.com. Thank you very much. Christmas cards for sale at the back of church, or you can order and collect next week three wonderful designs painted by professional artist Milli McGregor for a pack of 8 with envelopes, raising funds for Building for Life. Would you like to go carol singing? Three opportunities do sign up at the back. Sat 9 December, 2.30 pm at Bereweeke Court with Mary Copping Wed 20 December, 7 pm at Eastacre with Stephen Adam Thurs 21 December, 6 pm around the parish with Bill Lucas Coffee Urgent! We re short of helpers to prepare and serve coffee on Sunday mornings at (once every six weeks). Please contact Sue Walker, , nsue.walker@googl .com. It isn t difficult and it s a good way to meet others. Working party to clear the side bank between and LCP by mid-december: volunteer co-ordinator needed. Please contact Geoffrey Burnaby, , birchmore1@talktalk.net, or Peter Seal, , peter@stmatthewstpaul.org. Toddler group is such a lovely offering to the community, but it needs some more helpers in the New Year. Thursdays, term time, am the hope is to have a rota, so you d be helping once a month. Please contact Mary Copping, , youth@stmatthewstpaul.org. Trinity Centre Donations of men s and women s casual clothes, shoes and warm items appreciated; contact lucy@trinitywinchester.org.uk. Nightshelter Please leave donations of black bin bags, tin foil, loo rolls, biscuits, tins of custard and squash in the box at the back of. Winchester women s refuge A safe haven for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Please help by giving towels and toiletries (but not clothes) and leave in the box at the back of church. Thank you.

8 Interested in meeting people/getting involved? Twirties group for 20s and 30s, meeting monthly on Sunday evenings; please contact Katy Charles, Women s group next meets on Mon 4 Dec, 7 pm, at the Roebuck for Christmas supper; please contact Julia Seal, , julia.seal@ntlworld.com Men s group next meets Wed 13 Dec, 8.30 pm, at the Roebuck for a drink and a chat; please contact Chris Sharp, , chrisesharp@gmail.com Daytime book group next meets on Mon 4 Dec, 2.30 pm, at 18 Bereweeke Avenue, studying When bad things happen to good people by Harold S. Kushner; contacts: Talia Hedstrom, , or Christine Bennett, Tuesday homegroup meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, pm, to study the Pilgrim course; for further information please contact James Clay, Meditation group, Tuesdays, 7.30 pm, in the parish rooms; all welcome Thursday homegroup meeting fortnightly, 7.30 for 7.45 pm, studying Jesus: the voice that makes us turn from the York course; please contact Peter and Irene Casey, Contact us Canon Peter Seal, Rector (h) (office) M, Tu, W, Th, peter@stmatthewstpaul.org Revd Mary Copping, Children/Youth Co-ordinator & Assistant Priest M, Tu, W, F, youth@stmatthewstpaul.org Katy Palacio, Parish Administrator M, W, F, admin@stmatthewstpaul.org Ursula Payne, Rector s Assistant & Building for Life Administrator M, Tu, Th, ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org Parish Office, Church, Hill, Winchester SO22 5AB Please make cheques payable to PCC all gifts gratefully received Please send in any notices for the welcome sheet to ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org by Wednesday evening for inclusion the following Sunday Printed on recycled paper