Sunday 17th December – Third Sunday of Advent

Today

9.00am Said Holy Communion at St Martin’s
Celebrant: Reverend Mark Griffin
Address: Dr Rosemary Walters

10.30am Sung Eucharist at St Paul’s with SundayZone
Celebrant: Reverend Charlotte Sleigh
Address: Dr Rosemary Walters
Hymns: 327, 36, 51, 810 Organist: David Rees-Williams

12.15pm Parish Christmas Lunch

6.30pm Nine lessons and carols at St Paul’s

PARISH PRAYERS: We pray for Rosemary M, Jennifer H, Caroline, Ann, Sophie, Harriet, Dave and Dot, Pat, Joyce, and Nicola. We remember the memorial anniversaries of Peter Thomas and Edith Blundell.

PARISH CONTACTS:
Rector: Rev. Mark Griffin. Email: Rector@martinpaul.org. 01227 504561/768072.
Curate: Rev. Charlotte Sleigh Email: curate@martinpaul.org 01227 768072.
Parish Office Phone: 01227 768072 Email: office@martinpaul.org
Parish Office: Open 10-12 Monday to Friday.
Pilgrim Post email pilgrimpost@martinpaul.org
Special Prayer Requests Gwyn Hartwell 451366 or Doreen Laven 760372.
Senior Visitor Host Email: Jessica Morris visits@martinpaul.org or 768072.

THE COLLECT: O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

POST COMMUNION COLLECT: We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts; kindle in us the fire of your Spirit that when your Christ comes again we may shine as lights before his face; who is alive and reigns now and for ever. We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts; kindle in us the fire of your Spirit that when your Christ comes again we may shine as lights before his face; who is alive and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-end The servant of the Lord said: The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion – to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

MAGNIFICAT My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shew-ed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud, in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy: hath holpen his servant Israel. As he promised to our forefathers: Abraham and his seed for ever. GLORIA (PLEASE STAND): Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

1 Thess 5:16-24 My brothers and sisters, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

John 1:6-8. 19-28 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord”’, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

NOTICES:

NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS: Our Carol Service is TODAY, 17th December at 6.30pm at St Paul’s. Candlelit service with traditional carols & readings, followed by mince pies and mulled wine.

JOIN THE SONG: Each Monday in Advent at 7pm in St Paul’s. This week Christopher Gower.

OPEN HOUSE: Mark and Clare’s open house at The Rectory is on Saturday 23rd from 10-12. Everyone welcome.

LUNCHTIME CAROLS: Thursday at 1pm at St Paul’s- 30 minutes of non stop carols.

GIFTS FOR ST MARTIN’S HOSPITAL: Please bring them in to the Parish Office by Wednesday 20th, so we can take them ready for Christmas. Thank you to everyone who has brought them in today.

CAROL SINGING AT SPRING LANE: On Wednesday 20th at 6pm, we’ll be singing carols with our friends at Spring Lane – do come and join us outside the shops with refreshments to follow at the neighbourhood centre.

CHRISTMAS CHARITIES: At our Christmas services we will be supporting in our collections the Pilgrim’s Way School Bursary Fund and Embrace the Middle East.

NIGHT SHELTER: Sadly the Winter Night Shelter isn’t happening again this year. We will be collecting fruit, biscuits and cakes that we would otherwise have offered them and take them to Catching Lives every Tuesday until the end of February. Any gifts can be left in basket in St Paul’s.

DIARY

Monday 18th December
9.15am Morning Prayer at St Paul’s
7.00pm My Favourite carol and Compline at St Paul’s

Tuesday 19th December
9.15am Morning Prayer at St Paul’s
11.00am Service at Chaucer House

Wednesday 20th December
10.30am Prayer Book Communion at St Paul’s
2.00pm Carols at Highland House
6.00pm Carol Singing at Spring Lane

Thursday 21st December
12Noon Midday Prayers at St Martin’s
1.00pm Lunchtime Carols at St Paul’s
8.40pm Zoom Compline (Online)

Friday 22nd December
9.15am Morning Prayer at St Paul’s
7.30pm Choir practice at St Paul’s

Sunday 24th December – Fourth Sunday of Advent – Christmas Eve
9:00am Said Holy Communion at St Martin’s
10:30am Sung Eucharist at St Paul’s
4.00pm Crib Service at St Paul’s (3.30pm for children to dress up)
11.30pm First Communion of Christmas at St Paul’s