Large print service books are available. Please ask at the door. There is an induction loop for those using a hearing aid.

Transcription

1 The United Benefice of Old Shoreham and Kingston Buci The Churches of, St Julian and St Giles For Sunday 2 December 2018 Advent I Welcome to our worship Children: Sunday School in the Parish of Kingston Buci meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month in St Giles hall at the beginning of the service and returns for communion. Toy bags are available in all churches as you come in at the door. Please feel free to make use of these facilities for your children. Need a lift to Church? Please let us know Large print service books are available. Please ask at the door. There is an induction loop for those using a hearing aid.

2 From Bishop Martin One of the aspects of Narnia, in C S Lewis s novel, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, is that it is always winter and never Christmas. We get quite excited about the arrival of winter if it brings snow at just the right time for enjoyment sledging, making a snowman, snowballing. But in Narnia, seasons are suspended in the grip of a ferocious frost. Silence is a pervading atmosphere in Narnia as it is in today s world where justice is denied to prisoners of conscience, and the needs of women, children, the elderly and vulnerable are ignored. Silence is the refuge of the deceitful, just as it can be the medium of corporate grief and respect for our dead. It is the symbol of our sin and our mortality. One of the hallmarks of Christmas, however, is that the silence is broken. It is broken by the cry of a new-born child drawing breath and needing food Jesus Christ, one with us. It is also broken by the song of the angels who announce his birth to people of goodwill. Music can plant a song in our minds, letting it inspire us, as one of God s gifts to us. But we can take music for granted, and too rarely appreciate the skills and contribution of those who are our music-makers. This Christmas, as we sing our carols, let us be grateful for musicians, as they help us to be mindful of the silent places in our world and closer to home, where the good news of peace and hope and justice has not yet penetrated. Those who are frozen in silent poverty and despair, await more than a seasonal handout. They look for a melting of hearts and minds that will bring social and material release and encourage them to join the angel song of peace that we are still trying to learn. 2

3 Today s Worship Collect Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Readings First Reading: Jeremiah The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: The Lord is our righteousness. Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Gospel: Luke There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Then he told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live 3

4 on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. Post Communion: 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. Readings next Sunday: First Reading Malachi Second Reading : Philippians Gospel: Luke For Your Prayers We pray that all who return to Church would receive a warm welcome and encounter the Lord. In the Anglican Communion we pray for the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain (Extra -Provincial to the Archbishop of Canterbury) The Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain (Spain) The Rt Revd Carlos Lopez-Lozano In our Diocese we pray for Administration Team: Swena Weller, Wendy Harding, Alan Bates, Jonathan Dorman. Within our local community we pray for our Mother s Union and for the residents of Park Side, Truleigh Way, Tottington Way and Ashlings Way. Those in need of our prayers specifically at this time: Pauline Packham, John Ramsden, Tania Jackson, Margaret Gilding, Christine Dickinson, Harry Lawrence, Jenny Cooper and Cherry Taylor. Those who have died recently: George Parsons, Lesley Bugden, John Corke 4

5 Notices NEW! Pop-Up Coffee at St Giles Hall every Friday 9.30am-11.30am. Everyone is warmly invited - it will be a great opportunity to catch up with friends for a chat. For more information, or to volunteer to help or make a cake, please contact Susan ( ) or Sarah ( ). The Mother s Union Travelling Crib will be journeying through the United Benefice this year from Advent Sunday until Christmas Eve. From this Sunday there are sign-up sheets in all the churches. If you would like the travelling crib to come to your house for a night please sign up as soon as possible. For more information please talk to Fr James, Pam Wears or Len Batten. Coffee and cakes at St Nics. This months coffee morning will be on Saturday 8th December between pm. Please come along and enjoy the cakes and company and take the.opportunity to buy some gifts and unique mementoes of the church All families are warmly invited to the annual Sunday School Christmas Breakfast & Party. Please get in touch with Rachel or Linda if you are planning to come. Prior booking would be helpful but not essential. Christmas Aid. Please support Christian Aid s Christmas charity appeal to help people recovering from conflict worldwide. This year's theme is 'Be a peacemaker'. By supporting Christmas Aid, you can stand together with those on the frontline of peacemaking, bringing healing, wholeness and hope to people affected by conflict. We will be collecting in all of the churches in our Benefice and also inviting people to hang a dove decoration with a festive message and making a small donation with any money saved on buying and posting cards. Diocesan Family Support Work Please continue to support F.S.W. in their very important work in the diocese with families in need. At present they continue to be in need of food etc (there are boxes in the churches for this) and also new or nearly new games and toys for distribution to needy children for Christmas. Please bring any items you have to church by Advent Sunday (2 nd December) or let me know if you have any so we can arrange how I might get them from you. Deacon Barbara Advent Hope. Tickets are now available for the Christian Aid Carol Service on Monday 3rd December at 7.30pm in Lancing College Chapel. This Christmas Christian Aid is raising money to help frontline peacemakers bring peace to those in places of violence and conflict. For Kingston Buci please contact Jim Askew if you d like to attend ( ) and Gillian Powell for. 5

6 Quiz Night, Saturday 8 December, 7.00 pm until 10:00 pm at St Nicolas' and St Mary's School, Eastern Avenue. Tickets 7-50 to include a fish and chip supper. Bar available. Please contact Gill Powell for tickets or more information. Carol Services in local Care Homes As in previous years we are having Carol Services at New Elmcroft and Kingsland House and need people to lead the singing. These are always joyful occasions and you don t need to be an accomplished singer! So please just come along and take part. The services are at New Elmcroft on Wednesday 12th December at 2.30pm and at Kingsland House on Thursday 20th December at 3pm. If you need any more details please speak to either Margaret Aldred or myself. Deacon Barbara Next Saturday, 8 th December , Shoreham Churches Together will be Carol Singing at the Christmas Farmers Market in town; Please join us if you can. Just come and find us at the market! St Julian s now has a prayer board, which everyone, including one-off visitors, is very welcome to use. It s placed in our little prayer space in the first box pew. Do visit for some quiet time with God. Coffee and mince pies afternoon on Tues 18 Dec at 2pm-3pm at St Nicolas & St Mary s School for local elderly residents to celebrate Christmas with us and to listen to some of the local children singing and be served mince pies. For more information please speak to Fr James. School Sign-up: If your child is starting school in September 2020 it is important that you sign off your attendance of one of our main services (St Nics: 8.30am or 9.45am; KB: 10am or Messy Church). You will need to attend at least once a month for 12 months to qualify for regular attendance. If your child is starting in September 2019 please talk to Fr James to arrange for your form to be signed. Forms will need to be signed by 15 th January Shoreham foodbank is asking for the following donations in the lead up to Christmas, please can you add one item to your next shop and leave in the collection boxes that can be found in all three churches; Christmas Puddings, Jelly Mixes, Long Life Dessert Pots, Powdered Desserts (e.g. Custard), Pickles, Cooking Oil, Salt Pepper and Spices, Jars or Tins of Coffee. Thank you! Our United Benefice is proud to be supporting Recycling in Lancing as well as helping to avoid items going to landfill. There are collection points in all three church halls for items that cannot currently be recycled these include pens and felt tips, 6

7 baby food pouches, nespresso coffee capsules, crisps and snack bags, biscuit wrappers, trigger spray guns, aerosol lids, all-purpose cleaner tops and surface wipe packs. St Nicolas collection point will be available on Sunday mornings or during the Saturday coffee mornings. God of all creation, we pray for the future of our earth. Help us to be good stewards so that future generations may also rejoice in your many gifts to us. Give us the will to cherish this planet and use its riches for the good and welfare of all. Amen This Week Sunday 2nd December Advent Sunday 8.30am 9.45am 10am 6pm St Giles Eucharist Parish Eucharist All Age Eucharist Sung Evensong Monday 08.30am Prayer for Healing Group Tuesday Wednesday 9.30am pm Parish Office Eucharist Clergy Surgery Thursday/ 10am 10.30am 7.30pm St Julian SMDH Parish Centre Holy Communion (BCP) First Thursday Group Patronal Festival Eucharist (trad. language) / Friday am 6.30pm 7.15pm St Giles Pop-up Coffee Junior Choir Senior Choir Saturday 9am 10am pm Morning Prayer Coffee & Cakes Sunday 9th December Advent am 9.45am 10am 7.30 pm St Julians St Giles Eucharist Pilgrims Eucharist Parish Eucharist & Sunday School Taize Service. 7

8 Contact Details Fr James Grant Associate Vicar or Rev d Barbara Wilson Deacon barbara.a.wilson@btinternet.com Rev d Pat Alden Hon. Assistant Priest pat@looksouth.net Mr Len Batten Churchwarden, len.batten1@gmail.com Mrs Tina Robertson Churchwarden, St Julian tinarobertson99@yahoo.co.uk Mrs Penny Joseph Churchwarden, St Giles penejos@gmail.com Kingston Buci Church Office office@parishofkingstonbuci.org.uk For Hall bookings: St Giles Hall: Mrs Sarah Ringshaw stgileshall@parishofkingstonbuci.org.uk St Julian s Hall: Mrs Nancy Knill Notices for the Weekly Newsletter Mr Ian Muzio Ianmuzio2013@gmail.com (deadline 8pm) More information can be found on our websites: & OR visit us on Facebook and Twitter 8