Pew sheet 24th, 25th and 27th Decemcer 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. 

Thursday 24th December 2015
Christmas Eve

We gather on this dark night to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  The birth of a child brought light and comfort into the world, two thousand years ago and still does today 

11.30pm Midnight Communion
Readings: Isaiah 9 v 2-7, Titus 2 v 11-14, Luke 2 v 1-14
Hymns: 521, 523, 330, 479
Communion: 971, 326, 861, 321

Friday 25th December 2015
Christmas Day

This is a very special day: today we remember that God’s only Son came to dwell on earth and that he experienced not only the joys of being human, but all the pains, trials and anguish too.

8.00am Holy Communion



10.00am All Age Family Communion
Readings: Psalm 98, Matthew 1 v 18-end
Hymns: 508, 964, 776, 745, 266
Communion: 47, 597, 588, 641

Sunday 27th December 2015
John, Apostle and Evangelist

As we prepare to worship on this first Sunday after Christmas, let us gather as followers of the one who has created a new people around him, Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

10.00am Parish Communion
(followed by mince pies/coffee at the Rectory)
 
Readings: Exodus 33:7-11a; 1 John 1; John 21:19b-end
Hymns: 94 (vs. 1, 2, 4 & 6), 148, 266
Psalm: 117
Communion: 729, 93

3.00pm Owlswick Evensong
Readings: Isaiah 6 v 1-8, 1 John 5 v 1-12
Hymns: 21, 29, 39, 25
Psalm 97


Prayer of the week
As your sons and daughters, O loving God, we come before you in thanksgiving, called and united by your eternal Word. Teach us to ponder the mystery of Nazareth, that we may always find in you the source of our strength and the unity of our families. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, 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 peace of the world with an end to the fighting in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other troubled parts of the world
• Those who do not look forward to Christmas, who have no one to share it with, who are missing lost ones, or for whom the message of Jesus’ birth has no meaning.
• God’s blessing on all victims of terrorism and refugees who flee to escape intolerable situations in their homelands
• Those affected by further flooding in Cumbria
• Those who volunteer in our community and run services on behalf of the sick, the elderly, housebound and children
• Charity shops and all who support them, giving of their own time to organise them
• Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Doctors, nurses, other staff, and their patients.
• Shortborough Avenue (PR) Turnip End (Sp)
• Those who are in need in our parish:
• And also further afield for:
  • Joan Male, Bill Male, Alastair, Uncle Frank, Katy, Georgina Cole, Robert, baby Molly, Gabie, Dave Skinner, Andy
• The recently departed: Audrey Stonell, Roy Lawrence
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time:
  • Philip Kelleway, Amy Wilkins, Peter Carmody, Geoffrey Copcutt, Elizabeth Spittles, Shelagh Bartlett, Doug Crabbe, Richard Farrelly

Please remember the charities that the parish supports:
Relief for Oppressed People Everywhere (ROPE) is committed to combating the impact of poverty across the world. www.rope.org.uk.

Notices

Coffee and Mince Pies at The Rectory
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!

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 from 10am to 12 noon. All are welcome to the Fellowship’s activities

Silent Prayer Meeting – Monday January 4th at 8pm
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 the church hall for these meetings of any faith or none. For further information please contact James

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

Bethany House Group
This restarts on January 13th with ‘Prayers of the Old Testament’ at 76 Westmead, Princes Risborough. For more information please contact Rev. Rose Williams 274225

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 20th January. All welcome!
 ‘Open House’, Thursday January 21st at 8pm at the Rectory
Under the umbrella of “The Jesus lifestyle” we shall conclude our look at the radical teaching found in the Sermon on the Mount and apply it to the 21st century. The DVD lasts approximately 35 minutes and leaves plenty of time for discussion at the end. Everyone is welcome. James

Film Nights at St. Dunstan’s
Saturday January 23rd at 5 pm, ‘Big Hero 6’ (PG): a fabulous Disney film of high tech heroes with free marshmallows. Saturday January 30th at 7 pm, ‘The Second Best Marigold Hotel’ (PG): the next instalment from the hotel that promises everything but usually fails to deliver! Free speciality tea. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults - £3, children - £1. For advanced bookings please contact Johanna Powell 01844 343996 or Rachel Ungi 01844 761535.

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 .

Do you have an interest in flowers?
Join the St. Dunstan’s Flower Team – if you are interested in helping with church flowers we would love to hear from you. We are always keen to recruit and offer workshops, fun and help at all stages. Please contact Gwen Miles on 01844 345230 or Jenny Masterton-Smith 01844 273538.

The Next Few Weeks 

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

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
Mon 4th Jan	8.00pm Silent Prayer (church hall)
Thurs 7th Jan	9.30am Healing & Holy Communion 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall)
Sun 10th Jan	10.00am Parish Communion 11.30am Owlswick Holy Communion 6.00pm Evensong
Mon 11th Jan	11.00am World War One Act of commemoration at the War Memorial
Thurs 14th Jan	9.30am Holy Communion 10.00am Fellowship Coffee morning (see notices) 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall)
Sun 17th Jan	10.00am Parish Communion 3.00pm Farewell Choral Evensong at All Saints High Wycombe for Archdeacon Karen Gorham 6.00pm Evensong
Thurs 21st Jan	9.30am Holy Communion 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall) 8.00pm ‘Open House’ at The Rectory
Sat 23rd Jan	5.00pm ‘Big Hero 6’, Film night in church (see notices)
Sun 24th Jan	10.00am Parish Communion 3.00pm Churches Together in Risborough Service of Christian Unity at Owlswick Chapel