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St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough
& St. Peter’s Chapel, Owlswick
Registered Charity Number: 1153869.
Part of the Risborough Team Ministry
Vicar: The Revd. James Tomkins
01844 275944 (day off Tuesday)
jamestomkins@btinternet.com
The Rectory, Mill Lane, Monks Risborough, HP27 9JE
Churchwardens:
Johanna Powell 01844 343996 johanna@powellathome.com
Margaret Hunnibell 01844 274366 mehunnibell01@gmail.com
Welcome!
We hope you will appreciate worshipping here with us. Please take away our welcome leaflet on the table for all of our services and activities. Coffee and squash is served at The Rectory after the 10 am Sunday service.
Sunday 30th December
First Sunday of Christmas
10.00am Parish Communion
(Mince pies and coffee afterwards at The Rectory)
First Reading: 1 Samuel 2.-18-20, 26
Samuel was Hannah’s son, and out of gratitude to God for release from being barren she promised to give him “to the Lord”.
Second Reading: Colossians 3.12-17
Paul tells the Colossians that becoming “God’s chosen ones” involves a clean break with the old way of life. Becoming a Christian means that all actions and words should be in Jesus’ name.
Gospel: Luke 2.41-end
This passage from Luke is the one glimpse that the New Testament gives of Jesus’ boyhood, before the next eighteen years spent growing up in Nazareth followed by his mission on earth.
Hymns: 94, 36, 700, 229 (verses 1, 2, 4, 6 & 7)
Communion: 701, 597, 399
6.00pm Evensong
First Reading: Isaiah 61
Second Reading: Galatians 3.27-4.7
Hymns: 656, 745, 523
Psalm: 132v8-19
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, the source of your 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, in the splendour of eternal light, God for ever and ever Amen.
Your prayers are asked this week for:
- Those whom Christmas will have been difficult, experiencing loneliness, poverty or grief.
- Those in Syria and Yemen whose lives have been blighted by hardship, loss and violence.
- All those affected by the tsunami in Indonesia and the ongoing volcanic activity. For those who have lost loved ones, been injured or had their homes damaged, and for those working to bring aid
- Those who are thinking about volunteering in the coming year and for those who will encourage them.
- The mission, ministry and congregational life of Kimble Free Church.
- Icknield Court Nursing Home (PR) The Old School House (L)
- Those who are in need in our parish:
- Joan Ballance, Pam Johnson, Pam Lidgley, Sue Caudery, Iris Hutchison, Veronica Parker and Pam Strickland
- And also further afield for:
- Alastair, Georgina Cole, Ginny Gibbs, Alex Chauhan, Cathy Owen, Gail, Suzy Cooper and Anna Ballard
- The recently departed:
- Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time:
- Elizabeth Spittles, Shelagh Bartlett, Doug Crabbe, Richard Farrelly, Phil Bowell, Peter Cole, Jane De Rocha Chute.
Please remember the charities
that the parish supports:
The Whitechapel Mission is dedicated to providing a lifeline to the men and women caught in the cycles of poverty, hopelessness and dependencies of many kinds, and to see their lives transformed to hope, joy and lasting productivity. www.whitechapel.org.uk
The Whitechapel Mission is dedicated to providing a lifeline to the men and women caught in the cycles of poverty, hopelessness and dependencies of many kinds, and to see their lives transformed to hope, joy and lasting productivity. www.whitechapel.org.uk
Notices
Coffee and Mince Pies at the Rectory:
As in the past everyone is invited for coffee and mince pies today at The Rectory after the 10.00am Communion service.
The Chandos Ensemble“
A Candlelight Concert of String Music for the New Year” on 5th January at 7 pm. Elgar: Serenade for Strings; Bach: Concerto in C minor for Oboe and Violin; Mozart: Symphony no 29 in A major. There will be a complimentary glass of wine/soft drink and raffle. Tickets £8 (accompanied children under 18 £3) available from Rachel (01844) 761535 or Penny 07762 880219 or Sally’s Sewing Box, Duke Street, Princes Risborough or www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-dunstans-church
Double Edition Pew Sheet (January 6th/13th)
Please bear this in mind when submitting notices
Newsletter
Copy date for the next Newsletter is 10th January. Please send entries to: morna.hinch@btinternet.com or John McKay at penserve@gmail.com
Pew movers required
After the morning service on Sunday January 13th we will need a lot of help to move the pews so that the decorators can start work the next day. If you can help (or know of someone who can) please let James know.
Redecoration of St. Dunstan’s Church
The church is beginning to look scruffy in a number of places and owing to some significant legacies and the continuing generosity of parishioners it will be possible to redecorate the whole church starting from Monday January 14th to Wednesday February 6th. The work is being undertaken by M. Simmonds Decorating Contractors and will take about 3 weeks. During this time services will continue as normal but in different locations. The 10 o’clock service will take place in the Whiteleaf Scout Centre in Courtmoor Close (please park in Mill Lane) and all other services in the church hall. As far as possible it will be ‘business as usual’. James
Dying Matters
Talking about death, dying and funerals raises big questions that it’s helpful to face at some point, but it can be hard to talk to family and friends. On Wednesday January 30th (10 am to 12 noon) or Thursday January 31st (7.30 – 9.30 pm) you are invited to come along to a session at 17 Wellington Avenue, Princes Risborough (home of Revs. Steve and Rose Williams) to think, chat and articulate these questions in a relaxed environment. A series of question cards are used to encourage conversations and to listen to others’ perspectives and experiences in small groups. The sessions are open for people of all faiths, doubts and none. To book a place on one of these sessions please contact Rev James Tomkins jamestomkins@btinternet.com 01844 275944 stating your preferred date.
Confirmation Classes
A Confirmation Service will be held at St. Mary’s Church, Aylesbury on the evening of Easter Eve, Saturday April 20th. If you (or your son/daughter) would like to consider being confirmed please contact James. Confirmation is traditionally seen as the entry point to receive Holy Communion as a person ‘confirms’ the promises made on their behalf at their Baptism. Preparation sessions will take place on Saturday April 6th and April 13th from 10am to 12 noon. James
The Next Few Weeks
The Church is open daily to visit from 9.30am–4.00pm
Morning Prayer usually takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8.45am to 9.05am (except Bank Holidays). During the weeks commencing January 6th and 13th morning prayer will take place on Thursday only in the church (Jan 10th) and at the Rectory (Jan 17th). Everyone welcome
| Sun 30th Dec | 10.00am Parish Communion (Mince pies at the Rectory) 6.00pm Evensong |
| New Year’s Eve | 5.00pm Evening Prayer |
| Thurs 3rd Jan | 9.30am Holy Communion and prayers for healing 2.00pm Monks Monkeys restarts |
| Sat 5th January | 7.00pm Candlelit concert for the New Year (see notices) |
| Sun 6th Jan The Epiphany | 8.00am Holy Communion ; 10.00am All Age Family Communion and Baptism of Oliver Hagger 6.00pm Evensong |
| Mon 7th Jan | 9.00am Dismantling of church decorations |
| Thurs 10th Jan | 9.30am Holy Communion 10.15am Fellowship Coffee morning at 32 St. Teresa’s Close 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall) |
| Fri 11th Jan | Sheeting/protection of organ |
| Sun 13th Jan | 10.00am Parish Communion (followed by pew moving: see notices); 11.30am Owlswick Holy Communion 6.00pm Evensong |
| Mon 14th Jan | Redecoration of church starts |
| Wed 16th Jan | 2.30pm Friendship Group (church hall) |
| Thurs 17th Jan | 9.30am Holy Communion (church hall) 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (church hall) 7.30pm Pilgrim course at The Rectory |
| Sun 20th Jan | 10.00am Parish Communion (in the Scout Hall) 6.00pm Evensong (church hall) 6.00pm Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (PR Baptist Church) 6.00pm ‘Later’ youth group (at Princes Risborough Methodist Church) |
| Thurs 24th Jan | 9.30am Holy Communion (Church Hall); 2.00pm Monks Monkeys (The Rectory) 2.00pm Knitters (church hall) |
| Sun 27th Jan | 10.00am Parish Communion (in the Scout Hall) 3.00pm Owlswick Evensong |
