Christ Church C of E Ireton Road Colchester 01206 542307 christ-church-vestry@btconnect.com www.colchesterchristchurch.org.uk Sunday 4 th December 2016 Welcome to Christ Church We extend a very warm welcome to everyone. Services this week Today 8.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel 9.30 am Morning Worship 6.30 pm Spirit Space Wednesday 7 th December 10.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Services next Sunday 11 th December 9.30 am Holy communion 4.30 pm Messy Christmas Refreshments - the service will be followed by refreshments please do stay and share some fellowship together. Prayer - people are available in the Chapel after the service to pray with you for healing or for any other needs Children are always welcome - Flames (Sunday School) meets together in the Headgate Room every Sunday during term time. All primary age children are very welcome and those who are younger too, if accompanied by an adult. Please do ask the door stewards for directions. Hearing loop there is a hearing loop in the building. If you use a hearing aid please set it to t. Christ Church Anglican Congregation Vision Statement Through our worship, mission, nurture and service we want to enable all people to enter into a living relationship with Jesus Christ
The Week Ahead Monday 5 th Dcember 10.00 am Coffee + Tuesday 6 th 9.00 am Morning Prayer 10.00 am Time Together on Tuesday 3.15 pm Messy Crafts Wednesday 7 th 10.00 am Holy Communion Thursday 8 th 9.00 am Breakfast Café Friday 9 th 6.00 pm Messy Games 8.00 pm Splodgy Youth Service notes Each week there will be space here for you to jot down any notes you want to make during the service
Greeting and Welcome: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Isaiah 60:1,2 Faithful one, whose word is life: come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape our lives for the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Lighting the Advent candles People of God: be glad! Your God delights in you, giving you joy for sadness and turning the dark to light. Be strong in hope therefore; for your God comes to save. You are God s children. Lord, make us one in the love of Christ today and for ever. Amen. Hymn: Who can know the mind of our Creator? Our young people and their leaders go out to Flames Sunday School Penitence: Please sit Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Amen. Lord, have mercy. When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins. A pause for reflection Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness May God our Heavenly Father forgive us and free us from our sins, mend and heal us and draw us to his side. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Song: Light of the World Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 Please sit A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash round his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting-place will be glorious. This is the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God
Remaining seated we sing: Reign in me, sovereign Lord New Testament Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 Please sit In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 4 John s clothes were made of camel s hair, and he had a leather belt round his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptising, he said to them: You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The axe has been laid to the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. This is the Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God Sermon Song: River, wash over me
Declaration of faith We say together in faith: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. We believe in God the Father, who created all things: for by his will they were created and have their being. We believe in God the Son, who was slain: for with his blood, he purchased us for God, from every tribe and language, from every people and nation. We believe in God the Holy Spirit: the Spirit and the Bride say, Come! Even so come, Lord Jesus! Amen. Prayers Please sit concluding with the Collect: Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour we may be ready to receive him, who is our Lord and our God, Amen. And the Lord s Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. Notices Song: Into the darkness of this world Concluding prayers Our Lord says, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen.
Prayer of the Week Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that we may be ready to receive Jesus. In his name, Amen. The World Those who lost loved ones in the aircrash involving the Chapeco football team from Brazil The situations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey and Syria. Aleppo where food supplies are running out in the Syrian city. Those areas of the world affected severely with flooding, all those who face lack of clean water, starvation and homelessness. National and Local Our Queen and those who govern our lands. For wisdom and honesty in the political world of our nation. Those from our armed forces who are deployed around the world. Our emergency and security services especially at this time of heightened security levels. Those who have concerns over employment, debt and relationships. Our Church and pastoral needs Rev Paul and Glyn Norrington Our ministry team. Matt and Jennie Stemp Brian Taylor and family as they prepare for his mother's funeral next week Brian Byford, Brian and Marilyn Beattie, June and John Chandler, Pat Miller, Andrew Witard, Pauline Womersley Those undergoing hospital tests, those recovering from surgery or receiving treatment and those who are unwell Those who mourn. Those struggling with everyday life both physically and mentally Streets of the week Please pray for all those who live in Oaks Drive, Hospital Lane, Manor Road Pastoral Prayer Care Groups Please pray for Rod Green, Jill Dyer, May & Alex Macaskill, Marjorie Smith, Katherine & Paul Wakefield