Advent 2
A prayer for action on climate change:
Loving Lord, call us out of our sleep
Awaken our hearts and minds to your hope.
Awaken us to be renewed with creation.
Awaken us to the joy of enabling others to live life to the full.
Loving Lord, call us out of our sleep.
Amen.
Today
8.00am Holy Communion
10.00am Parish Communion
4.00pm Church at 4
Diary – Week Commencing 8th December
Monday 9th December
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
9.00am Morning Prayer – Chapel Deanery School
10.00am Bible Study Group – 11 St John Road
7.30pm GMB Bellringers – Church
Tuesday 10th December
The Church Office will be closed today
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
Wednesday 11th December
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church Hall
10.00am The Let’s Group – Committee Room, Deanery School
Thursday 12th December
8.30am Morning Prayer – Church
7.30pm Choir Practice – Church
Filling Station – Sara Jane and Sherralyn
Friday 13th December
8.45am Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice
7.00pm Bellringers Christmas Dinner
Saturday 14th December
Dates for your diary 2019
Ladies who Lunch – Christmas Lunch
On Tuesday 17th December at The Baker’s at Badbury at 12.30pm. So far I have had 9 Menus . if there are any more please let me have them by the Sunday 15th December.
Menus on which to make your choices from Veronica, me or from the Baker’s at Badbury website.
Sunday 15th December 2019
Advent 2
8.00am Holy Communion
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Sidespeople: Gillian Pitter and Sally Speller
10.00am Parish Communion
Preacher: Revd Phill Harrison
Intercessions: Sheila Tubey
Reading: Romans 8. 18-25
Reader: Ann Stone
Gospel: Matthew 11. 2-11
Servers: Kathy Leach and Gillian Pitter
Sidespeople: Colin & Jackie Ash
12.00noon Christening Service for Elodie Courtliff
4.00pm ‘Come along and Join in the Nativity’ – The Church Hall, Priors Hill
Leader: Revd Phill Harrison & Ruth Orman
6.00pm Service of Lessons and Carols
Mulled Wine and Mince Pies will be served after the Service
Floodlighting
The Church will be floodlit on Tuesday 12th December by Jeanne Howland in memory of her husband, Roy.
A Christmas thought…
As we all know, times have changed. We can no longer expect people to come and worship on a Sunday out of a sense of duty, they need to know and experience the power of God in their own lives. This means that we need to reach out to them, wherever they are, and tell them our stories in ways that are meaningful and relevant to their lives. Most Christian mission therefore happens outside the church building. However, once a year the tables are turned. Once a year people come actively seeking us out. They come into our buildings to sing Christmas carols and to hear the story of Jesus. Please pray that they will find a warm welcome and encounter the wonder and mystery of God for themselves.
Community Christmas Card
The children at Church at 4 have made a card for us all to sign sending greetings to our friends in church. Please sign the card and put a donation for The Children’s Society in the box provided.
Climate Emergency – a message from Bishop Viv
On Saturday 16th November members of our Diocesan Synod unanimously agreed to declare a Climate Emergency. We are the first Diocese to make this declaration and to pledge to reach net zero carbon emissions in our life and work, by 2030. Climate change hits our poorest global neighbours first and worst, exacerbating migration and conflict over resources. As Christians we are driven to urgent action by love for our neighbour, our world and our creator God and I know that many of you are already involved in activity to halt this destruction and bring about climate justice.
By declaring a Climate Emergency I hope our practical action and collective voice will send a strong message to our Church and government. There is so much we can do as Christians, in our churches, our homes and our daily lives. The situation is urgent. We must act now.
Carol singing in Wichelstowe
The Stowe church are planning a couple of informal carol singing events in Wichelstowe and wonder if there are people from our Church who would like to join them. It would be great to bless Wichelstowe together in partnership. The two events are
- Wednesday 18th December – at The Bayberry from 7:00pm with an opportunity to stay and join the Christmas pub quiz from 8:00pm.
- Friday 20th December early evening – on the patio area outside the co-op with refreshments.
All singers are welcome of any age, young or old. The desire to love people is more important than the ability to carry a tune!
Carol Singing at Prospect
This year’s carol-singing at the Prospect Hospice and local care homes will be on Wednesday 18th December starting at 2.00pm. The starting point is to be announced soon, but we will end up singing at Prospect at 4.00pm. Anyone welcome, carol sheets and/or music supplied.
Advent Reflections
If you’re looking for stillness and reflection in the busyness of the run up to Christmas, there are a few copies of daily Advent reflections from the christian charity ‘Embrace the Middle East’ on the church chest. Please help yourself to a copy – I’ve found these informative, thought-provoking and inspirational in the past. Alternatively, you can request a daily email version by signing up on their website: https://www.embraceme.org/sign-daily-advent-email-reflections Helena
Pray and Bless Wroughton and Wichelstowe
There will be no ‘Pray and Bless’ meeting in December, we return in January.
This Wednesday – LET’S CHAT
10am – The Deanery CE Academy -Community room
Please share and invite but most of all come along yourself and meet Key Members of the Community! Have some time out enjoy a nice cuppa and have a chat.
Presents for the Filling Station
With the onset of winter, life gets even harder for those living on the streets. The Filling Station would welcome presents for the homeless men in Swindon, which they will distribute nearer Christmas. If you would like to donate something, please pass it to Margaret Penfound or Jack Gower. Suitable items are:
Boxer shorts, socks, gloves, hats, deodorant, baby wipes, toilet roll, Chocolate
They are not ignoring the homeless women, as other churches are being asked to provide for them!
Legge House Christmas Dinner
After a couple of years absence it is again our pleasure to invite you and your guests to our Christmas Dinner on Saturday 14th December, 12.30pm for 1pm start. The cost is £16 per head for a three course meal. Non alcoholic drinks provided but you are welcome to bring your own. To book please contact Mark & Sheila 813273 or email leggehouse@btconnect.com
Plastic Recycling
Wiltshire Air Ambulance are collecting some plastics that the council don’t take at present. We now have a box in the church hall kitchen where you can put clean BREAD BAGS, CRISP PACKETS AND BISCUIT WRAPPERS, which will then be taken to their collection point. The best time to drop them off would be on a Sunday afternoon when the hall is open for Church at 4, or any time you are going to a meeting in the hall.
Wroughton Choral Society
Wroughton Choral Society invite you to their Christmas concert at 7pm on Sunday 8th December at Wroughton Parish Church. The programme is a mixture of folk songs, choir carols, instrumental music, readings and carols for all to join in with. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are £6 and may be obtained from choir members or at the door. For further information contact Janet 01793525856.
Annual Pub Crawl
Everyone is welcome to come along to what has become a tradition on the Saturday before Christmas our annual pub crawl. This has dwindled from visiting every pub in Wroughton to going to two possibly three depending on how we feel! We start at the Brown Jack and continue to the White Hart and finish at the Carter’s. Bring along your friends and family. Times will be announced nearer the time.
Sally
Joyce Mwangi
has asked for help in raising £600 towards her daughter’s exams which she is taking in December. She is asking for our help and our prayers as she and her friends in Kenya no longer have the means to pay the fees.
If you can help please talk to Sally Parker
This week please pray for:-
- Tearfund
- The 4 Let’s group that meet at the Deanery
- For Swindon Food Collective
- The Filling Station
- The family and friends of Elodie Courtliff who will be christened in Church next Sunday
- We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Constance Brown and Gordon Stratford. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.
Christmas dates for your diary
We will be holding a number of specifically ‘visitor friendly’ events this Christmas:
15th December 4pm – Come along and join in Nativity in the Church Hall followed by mince pies (you are invited to dress up as your favourite nativity character).
15th December 6pm – Traditional Carol Service
22nd December 2pm – Blue Christmas Service
in the Church Hall. Aimed at people who are finding Christmas difficult. Please come along yourself an also pray and think about who you might be able to invite.
The Parish Office, Priors Hill, Wroughton, SN4 0RT
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 1.30pm
01793 812050. office@wroughton.com
Revd Phill Harrison – 01793 812301 vicar@wroughton.com
Church Twitter Account
We have Twitter @WroughtonWichel
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