Pew Sheet 30th November 2014

St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough
& St. Peter’s Chapel, Owlswick
Registered Charity Number: 1153869.

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

Churchwardens:
Susanne Dodds 01844 342746 susanne@sunfire-uk.com
Charlie Fairall 07584 264573 crmfairall@yahoo.co.uk

Welcome!

We hope you will enjoy worshipping here with us.
Coffees served in the hall after the 10am service
Please see our welcome leaflet on the table for all of our services and activities.

The Junior Church (10 o’clock Club) meet in the Church Hall before coming into Church for Communion.

 

Sunday 30th November 2014
First Sunday of Advent

In Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the Christ child’s birth, we remind ourselves that this Jesus will come again in glory. Let us worship in eager anticipation of his promised return.  

    

10.00 am     Parish Eucharist
Hymns: 128, 408, 480
Psalm: 80v1-7
Communion: 34, 978, 945

First Reading  Isaiah 64:1-9
The prophet pleads for God to reveal himself to his people in acts of power. He acknowledges that the Lord’s apparent absence is a consequence of their sins, but beseeches their Creator to have mercy on his people’s helplessness.     

Second Reading   1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Paul greets the Corinthian Christians, thankful that they have responded to the Gospel and received God’s grace and gifts. Through these they are equipped to live for Christ as they anticipate his return.   

Gospel  Mark 13:24-37 
Jesus tells of his return in glory at the end of this age. He recounts signs that will point to the imminence of his coming, but warns that the exact time is known only to his Father. He urges his disciples to remain vigilant and ready for whenever he returns.

6.00 pm    Churches Together in Risborough Advent Service, Princes Risborough Baptist Church

 
Prayer for the Week
Rend the heavens and come down, O God of all ages! Rouse us from sleep, deliver us from our heedless ways, and form us into a watchful people, that, at the advent of your Son, he may find us doing what is right, mindful of all you command. Grant 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, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Your prayers are asked in the coming week for:

• The people of Iraq and Syria amidst the continuing conflict there
• Those living with HIV/AIDS;
• Funeral directors and all who care for the bereaved 
• St. Theresa’s Close (PR) Highwood Bottom (Sp)
• Those who are in need in our parish:
• And also further afield for:
  • Joan Male, Bill Male, Alastair, Matt Elworthy, Uncle Frank, Katy, Albert and Georgina Cole, Susan Parkin,
• The recently departed: Alice Broadmeadow and Lynn Marshall
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time:
  • Lily Barraclough, Bill Avery, Grace Freed, Barry Mortimer, Joan Pitcher

Please remember the charities that the parish supports:
Grove Rennie Hospice Care, offering specialist and supportive care and advice for patients with cancer and other life threatening illnesses in their homes.

 

Notices

Thank you for last weekend
We were very blessed last week with two fabulous and very different occasions. The first on the Saturday morning was the Advent Fair when we took just over a £1,000 and those who came were able to buy some high quality products in a lovely community atmosphere. The second was the confirmation service on Sunday evening where 31 candidates from across the Aylesbury Deanery and beyond were confirmed and over 250 attended the service. As part of the collection over £600 was raised for the Bishop of Oxford’s Outreach fund. Amongst its many projects this fund supports the education of visually impaired children at the Helen Keller Centre in Jerusalem. Thank you to everyone who made both of these events so wonderful and inspiring.

Drop in
Bereavement can be an isolating and painful experience accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and despair. At St Mary’s Chapter House, Princes Risborough a new group provides a relaxed and informal place to meet, chat and come together. The group will next meet on December 1st. Please contact Rose Williams 274225 for further details.

Two invitations from Monks Risborough School
On Wednesday December 3rd at 7 pm there is a concert with carols in aid of the Salvation Army. On Tuesday December 9th there is the Infant School Nativity Presentation ‘Baubles’ at 10.30 am. Both events take place in the school hall and everyone from the congregation is very welcome.

The Bethany House Group - Advent Course
This continues on Wednesdays at 76 Westmead – 10.30 ~ 12 noon.  Based on Paula Gooder’s book: ‘The Meaning is in the Waiting’, these reflections are taken from the Advent Wreath that is lit weekly until Christmas. Do come and take time to wait, in the company of ‘The Patriarchs’, ‘The Prophets’, ‘John the Baptist’ and ‘Mary’.  We look forward to seeing you.  Jill Iredale 346488

St. Dunstan’s churchyard leaf sweep/hedge planting
At 9.00 am on Saturday December 6th we are looking to clear the fallen leaves from the churchyard, to carry out some general tasks such as pruning trees and maintaining paths, and to plant the new hedge in the churchyard extension. We can provide some tools but if you can bring any yourself that would be extremely helpful. James and Susanne Dodds

Christingle​ Pop Up Factory
This will be happening at 9.45am on December 6th in the Church Hall. Anybody who would like to be part of the production line making Christingles will be very welcome. There will be seasonal nibbles and tea /coffee to sustain the workers.

St. Dunstan's Fellowship
Please join us for our Christmas Party on December 11th in the church hall from 8.00pm. Refreshments - Party Food

Christmas Concert by Candlelight – tickets now available
December 17th 8.00 pm. Tickets £8.00. Complimentary glass of wine/soft drink and a mince pie. Tickets available from Pat Kimber (01844) 273942 or The Elephant’s Trunk (formerly David Shuttle), Duke Street, Princes Risborough.

Congregational Carol Singing, December 22nd 6.30-8.00
Meeting at St. Dunstan’s everyone is invited to come carol singing around the village with the church choir to help raise money for charity. Afterwards refreshments will be served in the church hall. If you enjoy singing please come along – singers of all standards are welcome!

Giving and Receipt of legacy
At the PCC meeting earlier this month it was decided to give an additional £500 to charity in light of the way that we have been blessed by God in our finances this year. The £500 will be sent to Walser’s Tanzania Charity to assist secondary school children in their education. A picture of some other children helped by this charity can be found on the notice board in the porch. Ten days later St. Dunstan’s received an incredibly generous legacy from the late Vera Stopp for just under £29,000. This will be a terrific boost in helping to fund major expenditure in 2015 such as the restoration of the windows above the high altar, the possible replacement of the boiler and/or treatment of the roof, and the completion of the churchyard extension. James

New Church Treasurer Required
After what will be 11 years in the role, Pat Kimber will be stepping down as treasurer at the end of next year. Pat has diligently kept the books for the church and those who have attended PCC and APCM meetings will have been very grateful for her clear explanation and presentation of the figures. With Pat giving a long period of notice this will enable adequate time for a handover period. Pat has not only done all of the bookkeeping but she has also counted and banked the cash for our services. It may therefore be that the role Pat currently performs could be taken on by more than one person. Pat also performs a number of other roles in the church such as preparing the sidesperson rota and selling tickets for events but these are separate from her duties as treasurer. If you wish to have an informal chat with Pat (273942) or myself about being involved in the treasurer-ship of the church we would be delighted to hear from you. James

The Next Few Weeks 

Morning Prayer will take place on Mondays (except Bank Holidays), Wednesday and Thursday at 8.45.

Mon 1st Dec	8.00pm PCC meeting (church hall)
Thurs 4th Dec	9.30am Healing & Holy Communion 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall)
Sat 6th Dec	9.00am Churchyard Working party and hedge planting and Christingle Factory (See notices)
Sun 7th Dec	8.00am Holy Communion 10.00am Christingle Service (without Holy Communion) 6.00pm Choral Evensong
Mon 8th Dec	12 noon Funeral of Alice Broadmeadow 8.00pm ‘Open House’ at The Rectory
Thurs 11th Dec	9.30am Holy Communion 11.00am WW1 Commemoration at the War Memorial 8.00pm Fellowship Christmas Party (Church Hall)
Sun 14th Dec	10.00am Parish Eucharist 11.30am Owlswick Holy Communion 6.00pm Nine Lessons and Carol Service
Wed 17th Dec	2.30pm Friendship Group 8.00pm Chinnor Silver Band concert (see notices)
Thurs 18th Dec	9.30am Holy Communion 10.30am Monks Risborough School Service 2.00pm Monks Monkeys
Fri 19th Dec	9.30am Monks Risborough School Service
Sun 21st Dec	10.00am Parish Eucharist and Baptisms 3.00pm Owlswick Carol Service
Mon 22nd Dec	6.30pm Carol singing (see notices)