This Week At St Mary’s
Monday
Morning Prayer at 8.30am
Bell Ringing Practice at 7.45pm
Tuesday
Holy Communion at 8.30am
Memorial Service for the late Holly Price at 2.00pm
Wednesday
Full Choir Practice at 7.30pm
Thursday
Holy Communion at 12.30pm
Saturday
Carol Service at Meadbank at 2.30pm
Home Groups (The Parish Office has Contact Details)
Tuesday at 8.00pm (meets every fortnight)
Thursday at 1.30pm in Upper Vestry (Contact: Leslie Spatt)
Sunday at 9.30am (Contact: Evalyn Lee and David Britten)
Next Sunday 17th December: Second Sunday of Advent
8.30am Holy Communion (Traditional Language)
11.00am Parish Eucharist with Nativity Play
6.00pm Parish Carol Service of Nine Lessons & Carols
Followed by mulled wine and mince pies
Please Pray For…
Those who have asked for our prayers:
Ginny Mackenzie, Chloe and Lucien, Sareeta, Ron Nicholls, Ingrid Spatt and William Gallagher
Those who have died recently, their families and friends:
Eleanor Macnamare, Diana Newman, Elizabeth Preston, Jeremy Hutchinson, David Wickham, Phyllis Lowe, Hugh Seymour – Davies, Eddy Beddington, Dan Jackson, Roland Whitby, John Hanly and Paula Suvarne
Bible Reading Suggestions
Monday Isaiah 35
Tuesday Isaiah 40: 1 – 11
Wednesday Isaiah 40: 25 – end
Thursday Isaiah 41: 13 – 20
Friday Isaiah 48: 17 – 19
Saturday 2 Kings 2: 9 – 12
Next Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 61: 1 – 4, 8 – 11; Luke 1: 57 – 66;
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES
4.00pm: Christingle Service: A service with children especially in mind, as we bring gifts for the Children’s Society as well as sharing in the traditional Christingle celebration. Collecting Candles at back of church today.
6.00pm Evening Service will have an Advent feel and Jazz Wilson will be talking about his work with the Leprosy Mission.
FaithWorks 18: If you have heard something about FaithWorks 18 that excites you and you would like to get involved helping to plan one of the events, please contact Simon in the coming days. A volunteer audit will take place soon, but early volunteers are most welcome, especially for the big events that will require some planning.
Everyone 2018: please return your Pledge Card as soon as possible.
Next Sunday: 11am: The service includes a special Children’s Nativity Presentation.
6pm: Parish Carol Service of Nine Lessons & Carols: Please bring your friends and family to our traditional Carol Service. Please sign up at the back to help with refreshments, especially in providing mince pies.
Card Reader Trial: If you would like to give by card, you can do so immediately after the service near the lift at the back of church
Farewell to Tyrone Whiting: If you would like to contribute to Ty’s farewell gift, please send your gift to the Parish Office marked ‘Gift for Tyrone’ as soon as possible.
Katherine Low Settlement are looking for some help with their Contact Club Christmas Lunch for elders on Tuesday 19th December at Dimson Lodge. Various tasks need doing throughout the day, plus a few on Monday 18th December. To offer, please contact Lucie ([email protected]) or Sarah ([email protected]) asap. Thank you!
Glass-Door Night Shelters: Please bring any spare warm clothes, bags and toiletries to church or contact Libby Bradshaw 07956 655 037 or [email protected]
Victor Prazak Memorial: On Friday 22nd December at 10.30am, Felicity Prazak is holding a special memorial service here for Victor and all those killed 25 years ago when Libyan Airlines Flight 1103 was shot down in Libya. The preacher is Bishop Bill Musk, former Bishop of North Africa. You are warmly invited to attend.
Blue Christmas: Christmas isn’t always a happy time for people. On Christmas Eve, at our 11am Service, we are holding a special ‘Blue Christmas’ Eucharist, where we take time to think of those who find Christmas difficult and think about light in darkness and God’s hope in time of trouble. If you know someone who might benefit from coming along to this gentle service, please invite them.
Christmas Services at St Mary’s
Sunday 17th December
11am Parish Eucharist with Junior Church Nativity Offering.
Come and join us as our children lead our worship.
6.00pm A Service of Nine Lessons & Carols
Our traditional carol service led by St Mary’s Choir
Wednesday 20th December
9pm Charity Carol Singing around local pubs and restaurants
Meet at church after choir practice at 8.45pm
Thursday 21st December
Evening Carol Singing at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, West Hill
A long-standing event that has been running for 70 years.
Details: Bob & Carole Cooles ([email protected])
Sunday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
11.00am Blue Christmas Parish Eucharist
Our usual Sunday Morning Service will focus on those who find this time of year difficult, or who have particular reasons why this Christmas is particularly hard. Please invite those you think might find this helpful.
Christmas Services (Sunday 24th & Monday 25th December)
4.00pm Crib Service for Children
11.00pm The Blessing of the Crib & Midnight Mass The traditional Christmas night service with carols
8.30am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) A quiet celebration in the early morning.
11.00am Christmas Morning Festival Eucharist Families of all sorts gather for Christmas morning worship, with carols, time at the crib for children – and a short sermon(!), getting you home in time for the turkey.