Pew Sheet 4th December 2011

St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough
& St. Peter’s Chapel, Owlswick

Part of the Risborough Team Ministry

www.stdunstanschurch.com

Vicar – The Revd James Tomkins

01844 275944 (day off Tuesday)

jamestomkins@btinternet.com

The Rectory, Mill Lane, Monks Risborough, HP27 9JE

Welcome!

We hope you will enjoy worshipping here with us.

Please join us for refreshments in the Church Hall immediately after the 10.00am service.  All are welcome.

Today

Sunday 4th December 2011

2nd Sunday of Advent

Today we hear the voice of John the Baptist calling to us from the wilderness.  He calls us to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord.  We pray that as we come to worship God and seek forgiveness and blessing, God will reveal his glory and give to us healing and peace through the Holy Spirit. 

8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)

Readings


First Reading                Isaiah 40:1-11

The prophet brings good news and comfort to the people of Jerusalem to whom the glory of the Lord is to be revealed.

Gospel Reading            Mark 1:1-8

John identifies himself as the voice spoken of by Isaiah.  He is out in the wilderness, calling people to turn to God.  He urges them to prepare themselves for the revelation of God’s glory n the one who is to come after him.

 

10.00 am Christingle Service         

6.00pm   Evensong

Readings:  1 Kings 22:1-28 Romans 15:4-13

Hymns: 57, Psalm 40:14-21, 655, 447



Prayer for the week

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

 

Your prayers are asked this week for:

• Vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and the work of The Children’s Society
• Bucks University College, young people from this area at university
• Peace throughout the world, particularly in Egypt and Syria that people’s human rights might be honoured and respected.
• The Anglican Church of Nigeria
• Cancer charities which work for a medical cure for all forms of this medical condition
• Residents of The Avenue (PR) Oddley Lane (B)
• Those in need who are known in our parish:
• and also further afield for:
• Gordon Haynes; Christine; Deborah Ryley; Joan Male; Richard Irvine; Emma, Matt and Olivia; Sarah and Matt; Sally Maddox, Dewis Smith
• For the recently departed:   
•   Bill Benham, Joan Pitcher
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time particularly:  
•  Barry Mortimer, Eva Plumbe, Ethel Foster, Francis Lambell, Alan Gibson, Joseph Cooper

Please remember the charities that St Dunstan's supports, in particular this week:

Parents and Children Together (PACT), working to build and strengthen families in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and across the UK and internationally. 

Notices

Advent reflection

Welcome to the 2011 Advent Calendar. For each day there is a reading, meditation and prayers based around Mary's journey to Bethlehem, from her meeting with the Angel to the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Please use the link below to subscribe to this site and to help you prepare yourself spiritually for Christmas. James
https://sites.google.com/site/adventsite2011/

Very many thanks.....

to everyone who helped before, during and after the Advent Craft Fair. Thanks to your efforts we raised over £750 for the church, and hosted a happy morning for the community.


Lift to Winchester Christmas Market - Monday 5th

I am meeting some friends near Winchester next Monday and I shall be visiting the market by the Cathedral. If you would like a lift (there and back!) please let me know. Rosemary 344417


Silent Prayer Meeting, 8.00 pm (church hall), December 5th

We need silence to help us to get a proper perspective on our lives; to hear the still, small voice of God, and to refresh our inner being. All are welcome to these meetings of any faith or none. Each meeting lasts about 45 minutes. The meeting starts with some simple relaxation exercises, a short passage from the Bible to reflect upon in the half hour of silence, followed by a time of sharing of our experiences if people wish. James

Fellowship Group Christmas Party December 8th

All welcome at 8 pm

The Bethany House Group

On Wednesdays at 76 Westmead, from 10.30-12.00, we are having four reflective studies: “The Advent Messiah”, adapted from words by David Winter and with music by Handel.  Please come! For more details please ring Su Viney (275461) or Jill Iredale (346488) or James.


Applying for a Grant from Hody’s Charity

This was founded by a rector of St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough in 1706, and added to by his successor Dr Quarles. It provides grants for students in further or higher education or for apprentices who live in the parish or who are on the electoral roll. Applicant must be <21 at the time of their first application and <25 years old on receipt of the last grant. You can apply three times. This is the time of year for applications. Please call Rosemary if you would like to apply. 344417


Christmas Candlelight Concert, December 14th

The Chinnor Band will be performing a variety of seasonal music. Tickets £7 and include interval mince pie and drink. Tickets Rosemary 344417 or David Shuttle


Carol service readers, December 18th and 24th at 6pm

If you would like to volunteer to do a reading at one of these services please let me know. James


Carol Singing around the village, December 19th

Meeting at 6.30 pm at St. Dunstan’s everyone is invited to come carol singing around the village to help raise money for charity. Afterwards refreshments will be served. If you enjoy singing please come along – singers of all standards are welcome!


The Door Newspaper (December issue)

Look out for these stories:

Women Bishops: One step closer - The Oxford Diocesan Synod has voted in favour of the Church of England's proposals on women bishops.

Where there is no imagination, the people perish - The Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga on the importance of imagination and creativity.

Coping with Christmas - advice for helping bereaved children and families over Christmas

Marking the New Year - As Advent marks the start of the new liturgical year, Helen Ann-Hartley writes about what makes Mark, the Gospel for the next 12 months, unique.

Plus win a copy of Helen's Making Sense of the Bible.


New choir director

I am delighted to announce that starting in the New Year we will be welcoming Diogo Cerdeira to the parish as choir director. We look forward to working with him as we build on the long standing musical tradition within the parish. He hopes to be able to come along to the service on Sunday 11th December to meet people. James


Monks Monkeys, Thursdays (term time), 2pm to 3pm

Praise and play for the under fives plus parents/carers in the church hall. Each session includes ‘action’ songs, an interactive Bible story and short prayers. There is also some time for the children to play, adults to chat and refreshments to be served. On the 4th Thursday of the month we meet in the Church for an additional special craft activity. No need to book, just turn up on the day. If you would like more information please contact: Rev James Tomkins (01844) 275944; Sarah Fairall (01844) 344164; Sue Ingram (01844) 275287; Debbie Norie (01844) 345437; Ann Myers (01494) 488479

The Next Couple of Weeks

Morning Prayer takes place on Monday (apart from Bank Holidays), Wednesday and Thursday at 8.45 at St. Dunstan’s

Sun 4th Dec	8.00 am  Holy Communion (BCP) 10.00 am  Christingle Service (No communion) 6.00 pm  Evensong
Mon 5th Dec	8.00 pm  Silent Prayer (church hall)
Thurs 8th Dec	9.30 am Holy Communion 2.00 pm Monks Monkeys 8.00 pm  Fellowship Group Christmas party
Sun 11th Dec	10.00 am  Parish Eucharist 11.30 am  Holy Communion, Owlswick             6.00 pm    Evensong
Mon 12th Dec	11.30 am Funeral service of Joan Pitcher
Wed 14th Dec	8.00 pm Concert (see notices)
Thurs 15th Dec	9.30 am Holy Communion 10.30 am School service 2.00 pm Monks Monkeys
Fri 16th Dec	9.30 am School service
Sat 17th Dec	Decoration of the church (am)
Sun 18th Dec	10.00 am  Parish Eucharist 3.00 am Carol service, Owlswick 6.00 pm  Nine lessons and Carols