Pew Sheet 9th December 2012

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.

Sunday 9th December 2012

Second Sunday of Advent

Let us use this time of worship to prepare the way of the lord and to remove all the barriers in our hearts and lives that make us unready for the coming of Christ.  

10.00 am   Parish Eucharist (Merbecke setting)

Hymns: 57, 405, 282
Psalm: Benedictus (page 11 of the green prayer book)
During communion: 655, 356, 949

First Reading                Malachi 3:1-4
The Lord’s terrible judging messenger is coming.

Second Reading           Philippians 1:3-11
Paul gives thanks for the Philippians, and prays that their faith will bear fruit and enable them to come safely before Christ’s judgement. 

Gospel Reading            Luke 3:1-6
John the Baptist, God’s messenger, breaks into the ongoing history of the world.   

11.30 am Owlswick Holy Communion
Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6

6:00pm   Choral Evensong
Readings: Isaiah 40:1-11, Luke 1:1-25
Hymns:  128, Psalm 75, 691, 633

Prayer for the Week

God of our salvation, you straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth the paths made rough by sin.  Make our conduct blameless, keep our hearts watchful in holiness, and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us.  We ask this through him whose coming is certain, whose day draws near your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.  Amen.

Your prayers are asked this week for:

• The troubled lands of the Middle East: for Syria and Egypt, for Israel and Palestine; for the people of Northern Ireland amidst the current disturbances there
• the people of the Philippines, in the wake of the typhoon that struck there this week
• Those who are unemployed and others facing hardship and anxiety because of economic cutbacks
• All who befriend drug addicts, and run rehabilitation programmes and centres
• Residents of: Upper Icknield Way (PR) West Lane (B)
• Those in need who are known in our parish:
• and also further afield for:
  • Gordon Haynes, Joan and Bill Male, Richard Irvine, Alastair
• The recently departed: Betty Bragger
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time:
• Alan Gibson, Joseph Cooper, Roy Faithfull, Rowland Hill
•  

Please remember the charities that St Dunstan's supports, in particular this week: The Church Housing Trust
Dedicated to the rehabilitation and resettlement of homeless people of all ages and backgrounds.

 

Notices

Carol Singing around the village
On Monday December 10th 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!

Help Required for Christmas Events/services
If you can provide or assist with the setting up/serving of mince pies for the carol singing on December 10th or 17th, and/or mulled wine/mince pies for the carol service on December 16th please speak with Janet Griffin (274235). If you can provide mince pies for the concert on December 19th please speak to Rosemary Woodward-Court (344417)

Lighthouse Prayer meeting, December 15th
All are welcome from 10 am to 11.30 at Risborough Baptist Church Lounge. Refreshments provided.

Christmas Concert and Carols by Candlelight
This very enjoyable evening of listening to brass music from across the centuries and singing carols will take place on December 19th 8.00 pm at St. Dunstan’s Church with the Chinnor Silver Band. Tickets £7.00 from Rosemary Woodward Court (01844) 344417 or David Shuttle (01844 273388) to include a glass of wine/soft drink and a mince pie.

Decorating the Church Christmas Tree
Children are especially welcome at 10.00 am on Saturday December 22nd to help in this fun activity. The church tree is a bit bigger than your one at home unless you’re the Queen or Prime Minister!

Do Nothing.  Christmas is coming by Bishop Stephen Cottrell
This small book offers you an Advent calendar with a difference.  From 1st December  all the way through to Christmas Day, you are given short, practical and entertaining steps that you can take each day to slow down, take time out- and enjoy getting ready for Christmas.  £4.50 from Rosemary 344417

Bible reading notes – please take a sample
There are free copies of some Bible reading notes on the table towards the back of the church. These are produced by the Bible Reading Fellowship and contain four different series so that you can pick and choose which style suits you best. James

Stewardship Initiative
Thank you very much for all the responses received so far. Over £10,000 has been given in ‘one off’ donations and more than £5000 in regular standing orders. These amounts will increase significantly since much of what has been given is gift aided. This has and will make a big difference to the ongoing life and ministry of St. Dunstan’s and St. Peter’s.
This is the first phase in ensuring that our finances meet the additional expenditure expected over the next few years that includes repairs to the stonework of the church and opening up churchyard extension. The combined cost of these two projects is expected to cost in the region of £30,000.
It’s not too late to return your giving form whilst also recognising there are many other ways in which people serve and contribute to this church. James

Christingle Thanks
Well done to everybody who was involved in making the
Christingle Oranges. We had a happy production line going, fuelled by Pat's seasonal refreshments. About £500 was raised for the Children's Society at the service. You all played an important part in this. Thank you, Rosemary and James

Petition and statement regarding the General Synod Vote on not consecrating women as bishops and ‘The Door’ newspaper
Following the vote last week I have copied a statement from the Bishops in the Oxford Diocese on to yellow paper for those who wish to read the official reaction to the disappointing news of the ‘no’ vote. If you would like to sign the petition from Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to the House of Bishops please sign your name on the clipboard on the table by the entrance door of the church. The petition reads "As members of the diocese of Oxford we are dismayed by the failure of General Synod to enable women to be bishops in the Church of England. This is in spite of 42 out of 44 dioceses having voted for women bishops. We urge the House of Bishops to bring forward the simplest possible form of legislation because we recognise and affirm the vital importance of women's ministry in the Church." The ‘Door’ newspaper is also available for collection towards the back of the church. James

Advent Fair – Clementine and Grapefruit marmalade
If anyone knows who made this at the Advent Fair please could they let me know as someone enjoyed it very much and would like to buy some more! James.

Westminster Abbey
For those who are interested a series is being shown on BBC2 on Friday evenings at 9.00 pm about the inner workings of Westminster Abbey. BBCi player will no doubt enable you to catch up on the first episode if you missed it.

Family History Enquiry
I have had an enquiry researching details about Colonel & Mrs Robinson who lived in Whiteleaf at the time of World War Two. Mrs Robinson died in December 1943. If anyone has any information regarding this family please could they let me know. James

 

The Next Few Weeks 

 

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

Sun 9th Dec	10.00am Parish Eucharist 11.30am  Owlswick Holy Communion 6.00pm  Choral Evensong
Mon 10th Dec	6.30pm Carol singing (see notices)
Thurs 13th Dec	9.30am  Holy Communion 2.00pm Monks Monkeys 8.00pm  Fellowship Christmas Party
Sat 15th Dec	1.00pm Wedding
Sun 16th Dec	10.00am  Parish Eucharist (Canon Rob Brown) & 10 o’clock club Christmas party 6.00pm  Nine Lessons and Carols
Wed 19th Dec	2.30 Friendship Group Service (church hall) 8.00pm Concert by candlelight (see notices)
Thurs 20th Dec	9.30am  Holy Communion 10.30am Monks Risborough School Service 2.00pm Monks Monkeys
Fri 21st Dec	9.30am Monks Risborough School Service
Sun 23rd Dec	10.00am  Parish Eucharist and Baptisms of Louise and Niamh Powell 3.00pm  Owlswick Carol Service
Mon 24th Dec	Christmas Eve 3.00pm  Crib Service 6.00pm  Village Carol Service 11.30pm  Midnight Eucharist
Tue 25th Dec	Christmas Day 8.00am  Holy Communion 10.00am  All Age Family Eucharist