E-Newsletter St Mary's & St Michael's Parish of Shalford & Peasmarsh Advent Sunday 2020
Held - a new art installation comes to St Mary's Do visit St Mary's between now and Epiphany to experience this wonderful burst of colour, and be held. Please spread the word to all your friends too.
Announcing.. St Mary's Online Advent Calendar 2020. Live from this Tues 1st Dec, brighten each day of your Advent December journey by opening a window online into a different Shalford linked group’s video message, as we prepare for Christmas. A window each day, right through to Christmas Day. Don't miss it, and hope and pray it works...! https://stmarysshalford.com/online-advent-calendar-2020/
Dear friends,
Today is a very special Sunday - Advent Sunday - the start of the church's liturgical year, and the start of our great journey through the wonderful season of Advent, to Christmas. The liturgical year doesn't begin with Christmas Day, doesn't begin with the birth of Christ, but it begins here, in the deepest night before dawn, where we wait, wait for the coming of new birth, of new beginnings, new hope, of light. In Advent we're reminded that there is light in the darkness, that the new dawn is coming, hope that lends strength to suffering, hope that adds expectation to the waiting.
This year is unlike other years in ways we all know, and we shall surely experience these weeks of Advent more keenly this year. Yet this year, like all other years, we remind ourselves of Christ's birth among us, that our world is saturated by the presence of God....as we watch and wait through this season of Advent, as we work through confusions and struggles and relationships and changing arrangements, as we yearn for the light and wait for the unknown, and as we come soon to celebrate together however we may... God with us.
We shall no doubt share a different celebration of Christmas in many ways, as a church, as a community, in our family, as individuals. And we will journey through Advent differently too. But we can join still in word, in song, in taste, in ritual, in relationship, in waiting, in celebration....and below in this e-newsletter, are a few opportunities through St Mary's which we hope will help you find rich blessings, comfort and joy as we journey through this season together. Please do pass on news and invitation to St Mary's Online Advent Calendar (starts on Tuesday), the Christmas Tree Festival (and if you'd like to help steward...please get in touch), and the lovely Knitivity Trail, to all you can. with love and prayers and advent blessings, Rev Sarah
Please forward this newsletter to any who you think might be interested, and ask them to email us if they'd like to receive St Mary's e-news regularly.
This Sunday: St Mary's Home Church Advent Sunday 10am, live only, only on zoom Orders of service included in your Spiritual Resources booklet (with variations for Advent) or via website. Joanna will lead parts of the service, Ian lead our prayers, Harriet and Sue read, Maria and Ann lighting the first advent candle, and we'll reflect on the advent journey together as we begin this special season. Bring an image or object relating to 'Advent' with you to show on zoom if you can (no need to speak if you don't want to). Stay for coffee, and to join David & Jenny's Quiz this week. On zoom only, or phone in if zoom is difficult. Click here to join on Zoom ..... https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89585956978 Meeting ID: 895 8595 6978 Phone dial in: +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
The Church of England's national online service this week is led by Rev'd Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin in the Fields (and also a resident of Shalford!). Celebrating the first Sunday of Advent with music, reflection and prayer, you should be able to join here: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChurchofEngland/featured
Bishop Andrew looks at the theme of 'the end of the world', focusing on the lectionary readings for the day and especially the gospel reading from Mark 13:24-end.
More Global Partnership News
Following last week's update from our St Mary's Shalford linked global partnership in India (Sebs Projects, Vellore), this week we are also blessed to be able to read the latest update from our other wonderful global partnership with St Mary's....our friends in Putuke, in Uganda. Alison Hall, founder of the charity Seeds for Development, and Alex Latim from Putuke village, both live in Shalford and lead our growing partnership as we start to make friends across the miles. Read the latest news in Alison's Seeds for Development report here: Latest News from Putuke and Seeds for Development www.seedsfordevelopment.org
Sheila and her wonderful team of knitters have prepared a nativity treat, starting Dec 12th around Shalford village. Please spread the word..... Furtherinfo on St Marys website here
Advent & Christmas Services
St Mary's in person in church, and online at home
Details will be confirmed a little more for you I hope in next week's e-newsletter. Currently we are awaiting the Church of England's new guidelines following the government's announcements earlier this week. We will however be able to resume worship in person in church (as well as online) from next Sunday 6th Dec, and the services listed below will hopefully be possible - but updates next week, and ongoing!
Sunday 6th Dec10am Parish Communion (in person & online) Wed 9th12 noon Midweek Holy Communion (in person only) Saturday 12th Knitivity Trail opens around Shalford….’til Christmas Day
Saturday 12th St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival open.. 'til Christmas Day Sunday 13th: 8am Holy Communion (BCP, in person & online) 10.30am Young St Mary’s (book ahead)
5pm Christingle Service (in person & online - book ahead) Wed 16th12 noon Midweek Holy Communion Sun 20th10am Parish Communion & hopefully Carols somehow(in person & online) Monday 21st6pm Blue Christmas (online & in person - book ahead) Wed 23rd12 noon Midweek Holy Communion Christmas Eve11pm Candle lit Midnight Mass (online & in person - book ahead) Christmas Day10am Christmas Family Communion (book ahead)
Sunday 27th Online All Age Worship with Guildford Diocese
Young St Mary's
Would you like to feature in St Mary's Shalford Nativity: The Movie?
For online (pre-recorded) broadcasting, locked down or not, at Christmas.
Please get in touch this week - casting being done now!
More details to come soon for the coming weeks for young families including either in person or online Second Sunday 13th December, St Mary's Shalford Knitivity Trail, ourOnline Advent Calendar, and something Nativityrelated.
Preview the Christmas Tree Festival crafts stall through Isobel's lovely video here
Still time to add your tree,
as individuals or a family, to St Mary's Christmas Tree Festival
We'd love to include as many decorated trees as possible from individuals and families in Shalford and Peasmarsh. It can be as tiny as you like, something homemade, or something you have in the attic or garden! Just email parish office or leave a message on 565012, before 6th Dec and we'll get back to you with a day you can bring your tree creation to church in week of 7th Dec. Thanks so much. See poster below.
Join Sunrise + St Mary's Worship Together Every Thursday 3.30pm, all welcome to join from home as we join via zoom with our friends at Sunrise care home in Peasmarsh for an informal time of worship and companionship together.
GIVING TO Shalford Parish Just click on the big blue button below (or the one on St Mary's website) if you would like to donate to Shalford Parish church (St Mary's & St Michael's) life, ministry, serving community. Along with so many other areas of life at the moment, churches have been hit hard financially through the pandemic and we would be so grateful for your donations anytime. The button will take you directly to our Justgiving site for one-off or regular online donations, where we can also receive gift aid. If you would be willing to discuss setting up regular giving through direct debit in the Parish Giving Scheme, that would be a wonderful help - please contact Ann Thomas to discuss. Thank you so much for all your support.
other wonderful global partnership with St Mary's....our friends in Putuke, in Uganda. Alison Hall, founder of the charity Seeds for Development, and Alex Latim from Putuke village, both live in Shalford and lead our growing partnership as we start to make friends across the miles. Read the latest news in Alison's Seeds for Development report here: 
