The Collect for: The Fourth Sunday of Advent - 20th December God our redeemer,
who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Christmas Eve – Thursday 24th December Almighty God,
you make us glad with the yearly remembrance
of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer,
so we may with sure confidence behold him
when he shall come to be our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Christmas Night – Thursday 24th December Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Christmas Day – Friday 25th December Almighty God,
you have given us your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him
and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:
grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The First Sunday of Christmas – 27th December 2020 Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. The Epiphany – 3rd January 2021 O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
PRAYER LIST
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MISSION PARTNERS:
(Week 1) SUSIE HART working with CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY to promote training disabled people, around the world and in the UK through the work of “Artizan International” (also Andy, Grace and Rosie) and ALF & HILARY COOPER based in SANTIAGO, CHILE, working with CMS-LATIN AMERICA
(Week 2) The work of the Leprosy Mission and for our link with Kidoka in Tanzania
(Week 3) The Bible Society, Christian Aid and the Town Centre Chaplaincy
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED
Ruth Wyatt Dave Long Lucie Balche Christine Kelly Dawn Brooks Margaret Cheal John Ann Batchelor
David Groombridge
Janet Benford
Michael Baker Sheila Jarvis
Connor Cox
Bernard Clewes Sheila Vickers
Tricia Dyer
Baby Lola
Theresa Groombridge
Maria Martin
Gladys Goodwright
PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS
Georgina Bowen
Martin Robinson
Susan
Alan Munden
Trudi Robinson
Ron & Pat Wiltshire
Elliott
Derek Rumsey Charlie
Yvonne Fowler
Melody Salom
Sylvia Smith
Audrey Noy
Julie Knight
Trevor Wyatt Jackie Hawkins
Ade O'Kubule
Lorraine Mistry
Maureen Hawkins
Vicky Folkes
Edna Bassett
Nick Perfect
Sherry Snowden
Edna Passmore
Megan Ray
Colin Souter
Theresa Hammond
Barbara Perkins
PRAYING FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED
Francies Moore
Donald Edgar Ackerman (30/12 in church)
John Alfred Bassett (4/1)
June Andrew (5/1) Roderick Leonard Wells (7/1) Leonard Binks
Marilyn’s Thought for the Week
As I write this, it looks as though we will be going into Tier 3 with all the additional restrictions that will bring. But we still have a lot to celebrate! Think about all the wonderful news stories we have heard over the last few months: Captain Tom Moore at the age of 100 raising millions of pounds for the NHS; NHS workers risking their lives to nurse people with Covid; neighbours rallying round to help those having to self-isolate; restaurants and cafes distributing meals to those in need; people racing to create a vaccine – the list could go on and on.
Most of all of course, we have the coming of the Christ Child to celebrate. Maybe there is only enough light in the world right now for us to see just the next step on our journey – but Jesus came into the world and walked through his life and He stills walks, hand in hand with us.
Quite a few of us have more time for walking than ever before – so let’s celebrate that and the benefits walking brings – it aids our digestion, improves our mood, reduces stress, releases creativity. So if you are able to walk, as you go try to be conscious of the earth beneath you, Creation around you, God within you and maybe even, sometimes, a friend beside you.
Even if you can only walk around your house, or up and down your garden, imagine you’re walking with Jesus and meditate on that phrase from Micah “Walk humbly with your God”.
And perhaps listen to Martyn Joseph’s song ‘When we get through this, we’ll walk out a little closer together, a little further from doubt ...’
Here is the YouTube Video
Planned Giving Envelopes
For those who use weekly or monthly planned giving envelopes, the new envelopes for 2021 are available for collection on the shelf behind the pews at the back of church. I am aware that some of you switched to making payment by standing order or other online banking during the lockdowns when the church was not open for worship. If you have decided to continue to contribute in that way rather than using the envelopes, you may like to take the envelopes for use on odd occasions in church (eg at special services or for special appeals) when you would like to make an additional contribution. Otherwise, please let me know that you do not require the envelopes and I will collect and recycle them in one way or another.
If you are someone who does not currently use planned giving envelopes but would like to, please let me know. Planned giving using envelopes or a standing order is especially beneficial to the church if you are an income tax payer as the church can reclaim 25p for every £1 given at no extra cost to the giver.
You can contact me by email rperc13@btinternet.com or by telephone 0208 320 1545 - Richard Percival
The Parish Office will close at
1.00pm on Friday 18th December for the Christmas period and reopen at 9.30am Tuesday 5th January
