Pew Sheet 13th December 2015

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.
Please see our welcome leaflet on the table for all of our services and activities. Coffee, squash and biscuits are served in the Church Hall after the service

Sunday 13th December 2015
Third Sunday of Advent

At Advent we look forward to the coming of the king. Let us worship him in active anticipation, so that our hearts may be ready to receive him.

10.00am Parish Communion

Hymns: 57, 428, 282

Communion: 978, 633, 949

Psalm: 146

First Reading Zephaniah 3:14-end

The prophet exhorts God’s people to rejoice: God is present among them in his love and power. Zephaniah declares the Lord’s purpose as bringing deliverance, healing and honour.

Second Reading Philippians 4:4-7
Paul encourages the Philippian Christians to take joy in their Lord. He urges them to release all their anxieties into grateful prayer. In so doing, they will experience God’s peace.

Gospel Luke 3:7-18
John calls the crowds coming for water baptism to a repentance that will result in changed lives. He proclaims the imminent appearance of the Messiah, who will judge, refine and baptise God’s people with the Holy Spirit.

11.30am Owlswick Holy Communion
Readings: Zephaniah 3 v 14-end, Luke 3 v 7-18

6.00pm   St. Dunstan's Nine Lessons & Carol Service

Prayer of the week
Almighty God, you sent your Son into a world where wheat must be winnowed from the chaff and evil clings even to what is good. Let the fire of your Spirit purge us of greed and deceit, so that, purified, we may find our peace in you and you may delight in us. 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, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Your prayers are asked this week for:

• Those whose homes and livelihoods have been damaged or destroyed by the flooding in North West England and Scotland
• An end to the fighting in Syria, Iraq and other troubled parts of the world
• Refugees, the homeless and victims of violence
• Those who maintain the emergency response depot at Bicester and enable relief to be given at very short notice in any part of the world.
• Wycombe General Hospital. Doctors, nurses, other staff and patients.
• The Old Garden Centre (PR) Flowers Bottom Lane & Lily Bottom Lane (Sp)
• Those who are in need in our parish:
• And also further afield for:
  • Joan Male, Bill Male, Alastair, Uncle Frank, Anne Clark, Katy, Georgina Cole, Robert, baby Molly, Gabie, Dave Skinner, Andy
• The recently departed: Betty Tomkins, Roy Lawrence, Peter Neaves, Audrey Stonell
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time:
  • Lilian Thomas, Audrey Astley-Cooper, Peter Hoar
  
  

Please remember the charities that the parish supports:
The Princes Centre provides day care services for older people and people with different disabilities     www.princescentre.org.uk.

Notices

Advent Fair
This was a terrific success. There was a bubbly atmosphere with many delightful gifts to buy. The school sang brilliantly and in total £950 was raised. Thank you to everyone who supported and helped out at this event. James

Christingle Service
Thank you to everyone who supported this wonderful service. Over £400 was raised for the Children’s Society

Congregational Carol Singing, December 14th 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!

The Friendship Group
We meet in the church hall on the third Wednesday of the month at 2.30 pm. The next meeting is Wednesday 16th December. All welcome!

Christmas Concert by Candlelight with the Chinnor Silver Band – Sold Out!

Jinglers Grand Seasonal Concert
On Thursday December 17th at The Princes Centre, Clifford Road beginning at c. 12.30, the Jinglers will be singing festive songs and including some poetry as part of their Grand Seasonal Concert. The concert is free but donations are welcome.

Fellowship Group
There will be no walk or Knit-ins in December. These will resume on January 26th and 28th respectively. The next meeting will be a coffee morning on Thursday January 14th at the home of June Timms, The Nag’s Head, Aylesbury Road. All are welcome to the Fellowship’s activities

Coffee and Mince Pies at The Rectory
As in the past everyone is invited for coffee and mince pies at The Rectory after the 10.00am Communion service on Sunday December 27th. Even if you don’t come to the service you are very welcome!

Newsletter – early copy date!
Copy date for contributions is 5th January.  Please send entries to john@jamckay.demon.co.uk or morna.hinch@btinternet.com

Come and discover St. Albans Abbey with an Evening Pilgrimage
On Wednesday March 16th there will be an opportunity to visit St. Albans Abbey. Leaving by coach from the lay-by off the A4010 in Monks Risborough at 5.30 pm, the evening starts with a sandwich and cake buffet in the Abbot’s kitchen at 7 pm. This is followed by a Pilgrimage Prayer Trail around the Cathedral, Compline by candlelight in the Quire before concluding with a silent procession to the Shrine of Saint Alban. We will return to the lay-by in Monks Risborough at about 10.15pm. The cost is £17.50 with limited spaces available. If you would like to book a place please contact Rev James Tomkins jamestomkins@btinternet.com (01844 275944) and send your money with cheques payable to ‘Monks Risborough PCC’ to the Rectory, Mill Lane, Monks Risborough, HP27 9JE

First Aid in the church and church hall
Very occasionally people require first aid either in the church or in the church hall. There are first aid kits and accident report books located in the vestry behind the organ, in the light switch cupboard near to the font and in the church hall. Jackie Highe, Jackie Manthorpe and Sue Ingram are experienced first aiders and can be called upon if necessary during a service. If an accident/incident does occur please can the accident report book be completed nearest to the incident/accident. Thank you, James

The Next Few Weeks 

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

Mon 14th Dec	6.30pm Church Carol Singing (all welcome – see notices)
Wed 16th Dec	2.30pm Friendship Group (see notices) 8.00pm Chinnor Silver Band
Thurs 17th Dec	9.30am Holy Communion 10.30am Monks Risborough School Service 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall)
Fri 18th Dec	9.30am Monks Risborough School Service
Sat 19th Dec	9.00am Christmas Flowers and decoration of the tree
Sun 20th Dec	10.00pm Parish Communion 3.00pm Owlswick Carol Service
Mon 21st Dec	1.45pm Funeral of Roy Lawrence (Chilterns Crematorium, Amersham)
Thurs 24th Dec Christmas Eve	9.30am Holy Communion 3.00pm Crib Service 6.00pm Village Carol Service 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Friday 25th Dec Christmas Day	8.00am Holy Communion 10.00am All Age Family Communion
Sun 27th Dec	10.00am Parish Communion (followed by mince pies/coffee at the Rectory) 3.00pm Owlswick Evensong
Thurs 31st Dec	9.30am Holy Communion 5.00pm Evening Prayer (said)
Sun 3rd Jan	8.00am Holy Communion 10.00am All Age Family Communion 6.00pm Evensong