St John s Cathedral is a place of God s grace, welcoming all, following Christ, and changing lives in the heart of Hong Kong 25TH DECEMBER 2016 CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00am Said Eucharist (See separate service book) Celebrant and Preacher: The Very Revd Matthias Der Reader: Faye Yee 9.00am Sung Eucharist (See separate service book) Celebrant and Preacher: The Very Revd Matthias Der Deacons: The Revd Dwight dela Torre The Revd Desmond Cox Communion Setting: Festive Eucharist (Noel Rawthorne) Psalm: 97 (Hale) Hymns: 30 (v.1,2,6,7), 39, 36, 26 Anthems: A babe is born (William Mathias) Lullaby (Gerald Finzi) Readers/Intercessor: Patricia Hon, William Chan/Kevin She 10.30am Sung Eucharist (in Mandarin) Celebrant: The Revd Canon Peter Koon Preacher: The Very Revd Matthias Der 11.45am Christmas All Age Worship (See separate service book) Celebrant: The Revd Desmond Cox Preacher: The Very Revd Matthias Der 2.00pm Sung Eucharist (in Filipino) Celebrant and Preacher: The Revd Dwight dela Torre There is no 6.00pm service this evening. Welcome to all who worship here today. Visiting communicants, of whatever Christian tradition, are invited to receive communion here. Gluten-free communion wafers are available on request at all Eucharistic services in this Cathedral. Please enquire of the Sidesmen or Servers for directions to the distribution.
THIS WEEK AT ST JOHN S CATHEDRAL MON 26 th December 9.00am (Public Holiday) Said Eucharist TUE 27 th 9.00am Said Eucharist (Public Holiday) WED 28 th 8.00am Said Eucharist 9.30am CLARES 1.00pm One o clock Prayer 1.15pm Lunchtime Recital-Christmas fantasia 2016 2.30pm Evergreen Fellowship (Chinese) (Harold Smyth Room) 6.00pm Said Eucharist THU 29 th 8.30am Said Eucharist 1.00pm One o clock Prayer 1.15pm Said Eucharist 2.30pm Parents and Toddlers FRI 30 th 8.00am Said Eucharist 1.00pm One o clock Prayer 3.00pm Friday Fellowship Group (No meeting) SAT 31 st New Year s Eve 8.30am Said Eucharist 12.30pm Said Eucharist (Filipino) 4.00pm Andrew Fellowship (Cantonese) 4.15pm Youth Fellowship (Cantonese) 6.00pm Sung Eucharist (Cantonese) (Anticipated Sunday Service) 11.00pm Watchnight Eucharist SUN 1 st January 2017 New Year s Day Numbers 6.22-end 8.00am Said Eucharist Psalm 8 Celebrant and Preacher: The Revd Desmond Cox Galatians 4.4-7 9.00am Sung Eucharist Luke 2.15-21 Celebrant: The Revd Wu Wai Ho Preacher: The Revd Desmond Cox 10.30am Sung Eucharist (Mandarin) Celebrant: The Revd Canon Peter Koon Preacher: Mr Adam Mok 11.45am Christmas All Age Worship Celebrant: The Very Revd Matthias Der Preacher: The Revd Desmond Cox 2.00pm Sung Eucharist (Filipino) Celebrant and Preacher: The Revd Dwight dela Torre 6.00pm Eucharist with Hymns Celebrant: The Revd Mark Rogers Preacher: The Revd Robert Martin Information about St John s Cathedral and its ministries can be found at the Welcoming Table after the 9.00 am service, on the notice boards and on the website: www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk. Clergy are here to listen and help - please feel free to speak to one of them after the services, or make contact during the week: St John s Cathedral, 4 8 Garden Road, Central. ( 花園道 4-8 號 ) Tel: 2523 4157 2
PRAYERS FOR YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK In the worldwide Anglican Communion we pray for the Diocese of Kitale, Kenya and The Rt Revd Stephen Kewasis. We pray for the Province of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Province of Hong Kong & Macau); for Paul, our archbishop and primate; and for all bishops, priests and deacons within our diocese and province. We pray within the Diocese for the Morrison Chapel, Macau and the Revd Stephen Durie; For the Morrison Chapel and Macau Anglican College congregations - for God to bring Christian families and leaders to help build the church; For the growth of both the services at 9.00am and 11.00am; For the growth and blessing of the Music Teams, Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Filipino Fellowship, Choir, and all the members and leaders; For unchurched newcomers to be converted, baptised, and confirmed; For the teaching of RE at Macau Anglican College and for students to come to faith in Christ, join the Youth group and Church, and come to Baptism and commitment. Within the Cathedral Parish we pray for our daughter churches; Discovery Bay Church, St Stephen s Chapel, Stanley and Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam; and for their Priests in Charge. We also remember Cathedral Staff, the Cathedral Choir, and SJC Lunchtime Recitals. serving in villages; for the Mission & Evangelism department (The Revd Saw Lo, coordinator & Saw D Yu Da, assistant) PRAYER REQUESTS Please pray for those who are sick: Susan George, Daisy Tai, Jacky Yeung, Marianne Felch, Caius Schwartz, Victor Chan, Josephine Lam Lai Fong, Erick Tai, May Cheng, Toung Ming, Angel Ho, Betty Young, Bp Kenneth Mason, Burke McKinney, Ethel Yu, Shirley Nie Xiao Lian, Irene Lo Oi Lin, William Chen, Christine Chew, Yau Sau Chun, Susan Westlake, Joanna Tsang, Chow Lie Ying, Christian Limon Gasmen, Margaret Pini, Chris and David Hayter, Mark and Helen Bishop, Brenda Bishop and Gerald Bishop, Tony and Edita Bishop. Please pray for those who have died David Ward, Dr Kowk-Yung "Fred" Lo Prayers will be offered for those named above during the weekday Eucharist. To include someone in this prayer list, please contact Elisa, Tel: 2523 4157. REMARKS: Unless Elisa is contacted (deanssec@stjohnscathedral.org.hk) with advice to the contrary, names will be removed from the Prayer Request list after one month. We also pray for our link Diocese of Toungoo, Myanmar; for Kun Ohn Taung Pine Parish (The Revd Sein Luke, priest in charge & The Revd Thee Soe, Assistant Priest); for Kun Ohn Kyauk Gyi a Parish ( Revd Israela, priest in charge & Revd Benjiman, assistant priest); for all catechists 3
NOTICES CHRISTMAS GREETINGS The Dean and Clergy Team of St John s Cathedral would like to wish a Happy and Blessed Christmas to all our parishioners. WATCHNIGHT EUCHARIST A service to welcome in the New Year Saturday 31 st December: New Year s Eve 11.00pm May the presence of the Holy Child of Bethlehem fill your hearts and homes with joy this festive season. 2nd ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE Thank you to all who contributed to our 2 nd Annual Food Drive. This year we collected 402 kgs of food! (a meal for 968 people). A wonderful increase on the 155 kgs collected last year. As we prepare for our own Christmas celebrations, it is important that we remember, and help, those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Thank you for helping to feed the poor and hungry! A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR A short prayer that can be used, wherever you may be, at Midnight on New Year s Eve. Eternal Father, you have placed us in a world of space and time, and through the events of our lives you bless us with your love. Grant that in this New Year 2017 we may know your presence, see your love at work, and live in the light of the your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THANK YOU The Dean and Cathedral Clergy would like to thank all those parishioners who sent to them cards and gifts over the Christmas season. Your kindness and generosity is much appreciated. May God richly bless you and your families as we enter this New Year 2017. 4
NOTICES SATURDAY MORNING EUCHARIST Please note that from Saturday 7 th January 2017 the Eucharist will be celebrated in the Cathedral at 8.30am (English) and 12.00pm (Tagalog) Please note the change of time of the midday Eucharist. RADIO MINISTRY on RTHK4 FM97.6 The Revd Desmond Cox speaking on Reflections at 11.57pm every night Monday-Friday, 26 th 30 th December. on RTHK3 AM567 The Revd Desmond Cox speaking on Thought of the Week at 8.25am on Sunday 22 nd January 2017. THE CATHEDRAL BOOKSTORE If you are looking for that special gift for a friend and loved one, do visit our bookstore where you will find a large selection of devotional gifts. The store is now stocking a special collection of sterling silver jewelry, including Canterbury and Coventry Cross pendants. We also stock a wide selection of books, cards and church requisites. Please pay us a visit after church today! We will open as usual from 10.00am to 2.00pm during the Christmas and New Year s holidays on 25 th, 26 th & 27 th December 2016 and 1 st & 2 nd January 2017. THE BIBLE IN 5 STAGES The broad sweep of the bible story, from Abraham to the end of time, is revealed in this 5 week course. It s a wonderful and exciting story, greatly enriching our Christian faith and understanding. Monday evenings 7.30-9.00pm in the Harold Smyth Room, starting 9 th January 2017. DRAWING EXHIBITION 2016 jointly presented by KeenAble Creation and The Nest We present a series of creative drawings based on the Cathedral s new stained-glass windows created by KeenAble Creation artists. They will be exhibited at The Nest for a month, until mid-january 2017. All are welcome. Please come and have a look! Register for the course with Connie connielee@stjohnscathedral.org.hk Enquiries to Father Mark or Will rogers@stjohnscathedral.org.hk newman@stjohnscathedral.org.hk 5
NOTICES GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE Did you know that the Celtic Cross outside the Cathedral is actually is a war memorial in memory of those who died in the two world wars? The garden itself, which contains the grave of Private Maxwell, is also an officially designated war grave. Access to the garden will now be restricted so that it can be kept as a place of remembrance and treated with the respect it deserves. We will remember them! POVERTY ALLEVIATION Entertain poor seniors with games & assist in serving lunch Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Prayer for A Better Tomorrow (December 2016) God of Love, may the little seed of Love that you have planted in HKSKH bear much fruit. May our words and actions reveal your love, by which each person we encounter may come to know you. Prepare our souls for the coming era, that we may continue to serve you as vessels of your love. Amen. Saturday 21 st January 2017 4.00 6.00pm St Barnabas Society Centre. To register please contact Connie: reception@stjohnscathedral.org.hk Families and Mental Health Support group for people caring for a family member with a mental health issue. If you are interested in this group please contact Fr Mark rogers@stjohnscathedral.org.hk A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT - Songs, music, good feelings? Somehow I realized that songs, music, good feelings, beautiful liturgies, nice presents, big dinners, and many sweet words do not make Christmas. Christmas is saying yes to a hope based on God s initiative, which has nothing to do with what I think or feel. Christmas is believing that the salvation of the world is God s work and not mine. Things will never look just right or feel just right. If they did, someone would be lying.... But it is into this broken world that a child is born who is called Son of the Most High, Prince of Peace, Saviour. Fr Henri Nouwen 6
ST JOHN S CATHEDRAL MINISTRY TEAM Dean: The Very Revd Matthias Der Clergy Ministry Co-ordinators: Fellowship & Community Building The Revd Desmond Cox Nurturing & Spirituality The Revd Will Newman Outreach Ministry The Revd Mark Rogers Pastoral Care The Revd Catherine Graham Liturgy and Worship The Revd Robert Martin Filipino Ministry The Revd Dwight dela Torre Chinese Ministry The Revd Canon Peter Koon & The Revd Wu Wai Ho Honorary Chaplains: The Revd John Chynchen The Revd Hugh Phillipson The Revd Jenny Wong Nam Executive Administrator: Viola Ip Outreach Ministries: Cathedral Bookstore CLARES/Castaways Helpers for Domestic Helpers HIV Education Centre Mission for Migrant Workers Prison Ministry SJC Counselling Centre For further information on the life and ministry of St John s Cathedral, please visit our website at www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk or call the office at 2523 4157. Please complete this form and hand it to one of the Clergy, a Sidesman or the Welcome Table. Surname: First Name: Name of spouse (if applicable) Names and ages of children (if applicable) E-mail: Phone: Please circle as appropriate: I attend the 8.00am/9.00am/10.30am/11.45am/2.00pm/6.00pm service. I am interested in finding out about: Sunday School / Cathedral Choir / CLARES / Baptism & Confirmation / Flower Guild / Sidesman / Servers Guild / Fellowship Group / Stewardship Scheme / Uniformed Group. Other questions / information: Welcome to St John s Cathedral! I do not agree to receive any promotional materials from St John s Cathedral. This information is collected in accordance with the Personal Data Privacy Statement as published on the St John s Cathedral website at www.stjohnscathedral.org.hk. 7