Parish of Wroughton and Wichelstowe

 

Sunday 24th December 2017, Advent 4

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OR TROUBLE AT CHRISTMAS

Lord Jesus you came to earth

so that all people would know your love

We pray for children who are unloved,

un-cared for and desperate.

We pray for the Children’s Society’s work in bringing love forgiveness and justice to children in our land. Amen.

Today

8.00am        Holy Communion

10.00am       Parish Communion

3pm & 5pm Christingle Services

11.30pm        Midnight Communion Service

Tomorrow

10am           Informal Christmas Communion

Diary – Week Commencing Sunday 24th December

Monday 25th December – Christmas Day

Tuesday 26th December – Boxing Day

Wednesday 27th December

Thursday 28th December

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

Filling Station         – Sarah Jane and Sherralyn

Friday 29th December

8.45am         Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice

7.00pm        Bellringers Practice

Saturday 30th December

Diary – Week Commencing Sunday 31st December

Monday 1st January – New Years Day

Tuesday 2nd January

The Parish Office will be closed today

8.30am         Morning Prayer

6.00pm        Clergy Surgery

Wednesday 3rd January

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Parish Office

Thursday 4th January

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

7.30pm        Choir Practice – Church

Filling Station         – Colin & Fran

Friday 5th January

8.45am         Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice

7.00pm        Bellringers Practice

Saturday 6th January

Parish Office

The Parish Office will close on Friday 22nd December and reopen on Wednesday 3rd January.

Sunday 31st December 2017- Christmas 1

8.00am       Holy Communion

Preacher:      Dr John Godfree

Sidespeople: Gillian Pitter and Sally Speller

10.00am     Parish Communion

Preacher:      Dr John Godfree

Intercessions: Carolyn Perry

Reading:       Galatians 4: 4-7

Reader:        Veronica Garside

Gospel:        Luke 2: 15-21

Servers:        Gillan Pitter and Kathy Leach

Sidespeople: Lillian Wicks and Jean Leo

No Church at 4 this week

Sunday 7th January 2017- Epiphany 

8.00am       Holy Communion

Preacher:      Revd Nicola Such

Sidespeople: Pat Lewis and Dee Vincent

10.00am     Parish Communion

Preacher:      Revd Nicola Such

Intercessions: Margaret Penfound

Reading:       1 John 5: 5-13

Reader:        Tiffany Weighell

Gospel:        Mark 1: 7-11

Servers:        Jean Ford and Louise Sampson

Sidespeople: Sally Parker and June Bradley 

4.00pm       Church at 4

Led by:         Paul Woolley

6.00pm       Evensong

Preacher:      Dr John Godfree

Intercessions: Cheryl Hawkins

1st Reading: Isaiah 63: 7-end

Reader:        Margaret Penfound

2nd Reading:          1 John Chapter 3

Reader:        Malcolm Morrison

Sidespeople: Tony & Julie Edmonds

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Helen Toomer, Sally Speller, Gillian Pitter, Carol Brown, Alayna Eves, Mark Trigg, John Rainey, Kathleen Bond and Eunice Davis on their birthdays during the coming week.

New baby!

Congratulations to Wen and Jeff from our Church at 4 congregation on the birth of their second son, Alfie Ding, on December12th.

Floodlighting

The Church will be floodlit on Christmas Day by Janet Burchell & family in memory of her Dad, Jack Bamford; on Sunday 31st December by Helene Paterson in memory of Frank, on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Vacancy Update

Thank you to everyone who participated in our day of prayer, it was good to spend a day seeking God and asking Him to lead the right person to us. The PCC recently reviewed and agreed the advert and paperwork that will be used in recruitment. The intention is to advertise the post over a period of 4 weeks, starting just before Christmas. Shortlisting and interviews will take place in February.

Do please continue to keep this matter in your prayers, and please circulate the advert as widely as possible in due course. We will continue to keep you updated with any developments. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask Nick Orman or Paul Woolley. 

Community Christmas Card

Sign the brickwork on the chimney to send Christmas greetings to your friends in Church and put a donation for Children’s Society in the chimney pot.

Lansdowne Hill Care Home

Some residents would like to attend our 10am Service. Do you think you would be able to help by picking them up? Please let Janet or Nicola know if you can help.

The Harbour Project

If you are having a clearout before Christmas and are discarding men’s warm coats (Small sizes are particularly needed), please consider donating them to the Harbour Project. During this cold weather, many of the asylum seekers are ill equipped – any gloves and hats will also be gratefully received. Please speak to Margaret Penfound if you can help.

Love and Blessings from New Creation this Advent season! Love and Blessings is the title of a 3-track CD we have just produced to thank Michael Johnson for his support over the years and to mark his retirement. The CD features the song specially written for Michael which we sang after the service in May. There are also two more of our songs, previously unrecorded. We’re giving the disc away free of charge and hope that you enjoy it! We hope it will make you feel happy to make a small contribution to a cause of your choice (perhaps The Children’s Society which is currently one of our chosen charities). Please feel free to ask for more than one copy if you think the album would make a good seasonal gift. Helen Toomer and Andrew Bond are the people to ask.

115 Club Christmas Cake raffle and the winner is ….

Congratulations to Martin Hezlett who won this year’s 115 Club Christmas cake raffle. Thank you to everyone who bought raffle tickets or made a donation, a total of £84.50 was raised. Special thanks go to Kathy Gregory for making and donating the cake. Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year from all at the 115 Club.

Thank you

to everyone who has helped to prepare for our celebration of Christmas this year. Lots of people have been involved in our services– leading and singing- and in many ‘behind the scenes’ ways –cleaning and decorating the church, providing hospitality, audio visual support and many other things. We couldn’t have done it without you! 

Can you help?

Some of you have met Joyce who comes from Kenya and some of you will know that i have been selling beaded bags, the proceeds from which go to the well project that Joyce helps to run. She has been over here working on Berkeley farm and is now childminding while her Kenyan friends are on holiday. She applied for a course in Devon called “Beyond development 2018” and she has been offered a bursary to do the course in Totnes. However she has to find £150 deposit and her bus/ train fare and has asked for our help. Clive and I support her 100% and hopefully some of you will be able to help. Sally Parker

The Children’s Society

This Christmas, more than 2,000 children will go missing from home. Some of them may also be criminally exploited by gangs. Gangs deliberately target vulnerable children, such as those in care or living in poverty. Most are boys, but some are girls. Gangs groom, deceive or threaten these children and young people into carrying and selling drugs for them. Children and young people criminally exploited in this way often also experience child sexual exploitation and abuse, serious violence and psychological trauma.

These young people will often go missing for days at a time, as they are trafficked around the country by gangs.

The Children’s Society, along with Missing People, is providing support to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on young runaways and missing children and adults. In December the APPG is holding an event in parliament to raise awareness of children and young people who go missing because they are exploited by gangs.

Please pray:

• For the safety of children missing from home this Christmas
• That the Children’s Society will be able to make contact with missing children and help them resolve their problems
• For the Society’s influence on the government to tackle the increase in child exploitation
• That every child will have the opportunity to see the light of Christ coming into the world at Christmas

Knitting for Mission to Seafarers

Thanks again to all our keen knitters. I have received a letter from The Mission to Seafarers thanking us for the knitware I sent in September and last week I was able to send off another batch of 22 hats and 21 scarves to the charity. Also thanks to those who have donated wool – there is a good selection in the white boxes on the bench by the choir vestry together with patterns, so please help yourselves if you want to get started on a hat, scarf or gloves. Completed items should be put in one of these boxes. As the weather gets colder and the nights draw in this is an ideal time to get those needles busy. For further information talk to Janet Henderson (525856).

This week please also pray for:-

• The Homeless over Christmas.
• Patients and staff who are in Hospitals and Hospices
• Our Choir and Director of Music
• Our Clergy and Lay Ministers
• People who work over the Christmas holidays
• We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Donald Evans, Lorraine Tuck and Baby Poppy Crannis. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.

 

 

 

Sunday 19^th November 2017

2^nd Sunday before Advent

A PRAYER FOR PEACE

God our refuge and strength,

bring near the day when wars will cease and poverty and pain shall end.

That earth may know the peace of heaven,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

From www.thisischurch.com

Today

8.00am     Holy Communion

10.00am     Parish Communion

4.00pm     Church at 4

Diary – Week Commencing Sunday 19th November

Monday 20th November

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

10.00am       Bible Study – 11 St John Road

7.30pm         Wichelstowe Planning Group- 49, Perry’s Lane

Tuesday 21st November

The Parish Office will be closed today

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

6.00pm        Clergy Surgery

7.30pm         Listening Post prayer meeting – 11 St John Road

Wednesday 22nd November

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Parish Office

7.30pm       Deanery Synod- St Aldhelm’s Centre

Thursday 23rd November

8.30am         Morning Prayer – Church

7.15pm        Choir Practice – Church

Filling Station         – Lucy and Ann Marie

Friday 24th November

8.45am         Morning Prayer – Prospect Hospice

7.00pm        Bellringers Practice – Church

7.00pm        115 Club

Saturday 25th November

Dates for your diary

Christmas Ladies Who Lunch

Ladies who Lunch Christmas lunch is on Monday 18^th December at 12.30pm at the Baker’s, Badbury

Christmas services

Sun 17th Dec 6pm Christmas Carol Service

Sun 24th Dec- Christmas Eve

                       8am BCP Holy communion

                       10am Parish communion

                       3pm and 5pm Christingle services

                       11.30pm Midnight Communion service

 

Monday 25th Dec- Christmas Day

                      10am Christmas Day service

Sunday 26th November 2017

Christ the King

8.00am       Holy Communion

Preacher:      Dr John Godfree

Sidespeople: Alan & Christine Wrixon

10.00am     Parish Communion

Preacher:      Dr John Godfree

Intercessions:Dr John Henderson

Reading:       Ephensians 1: 15-end

Reader:        Ann Stone

Gospel:        Matthew 25: 31-end

Servers:        Cheryl Hawkins and Kathy Leach

Sidespeople: Sally Parker and June Bradley

4.00pm       Church at 4

Led by:         Ruth Orman

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Lorraine Winterflood, Paddy Sansum, Karen Hinder, Lillian Wicks, Esther Woolley and Pam Gower on their birthdays during the coming week.

Floodlighting

The Church will be floodlit on Tuesday 21st November by Bill & Doreen Greenshields in memory of their son, Andrew on his 10th anniversary; on Friday 24th November by Joyce O’Sullivan in memory of her husband, Bill O’Sullivan on his anniversary. 

Vacancy Update

Although over 300 people downloaded the information pack, we have received no applications for the post of Vicar of Wroughton and Wichelstowe. We are obviously very disappointed by this, but we have not lost hope! The Archdeacon has told us that recruitment is currently a major challenge both in the Bristol Diocese and nationally.

So, what happens next? The PCC met on Tuesday to discuss and agree a way forward.

First, we are setting aside Saturday 2nd December as a day of prayer, to ask God to lead the right person to us. The church building will be open from 8am to 3pm, and you are warmly invited to come and spend some time (long or short) in prayer. If you are not able to be there in person, we would be delighted if you would join in this day by praying at home. A prayer guide will be available to support you in this.

Second, we are reviewing the information pack and job advert to see if any changes are needed.

Third, we will be re-advertising the role again in January with the hope of conducting interviews in February. We hope that the beginning of a new year will be a better time to attract candidates looking for new challenges.

We will keep you up to date with developments. In the meantime, please continue to pray. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask Nick Orman or Paul Woolley.

Advent Reflections

These will be held in church on Monday evenings from 6.30– 7.15pm beginning on 27th November and will focus on the four songs found in the gospels around the story of Jesus’ birth.

The Listening Post

This month’s prayer meeting will be on Tuesday, 21st November at 7.30 p.m and will take place at 11 St John Road. Please come if you are able to – we have much to pray for in our church life and for world events!

Filling Station Sandwiches

It is our church’s turn this week to support the homeless in Swindon by providing sandwiches and other food items for The Filling Station. If you are willing to provide a loaf of sandwiches, please sign the list on the church chest and take a reminder card. The items need to be brought to 11 St John Road by 5.00 p.m. on Thursday 23rd November. 

Stewardship Update

We now have around half of the pledge cards returned-

If you have not yet got round to filling yours in, please do return it soon or ask for another if it has been mislaid. Thank you for your generosity.

Please also consider signing up for the Parish Giving Scheme if you currently give by standing order– it will mean very little change for you, but will save the church many hours in admin.

Youth Group

Our monthly youth small group meets on the first Sunday of the month 6.30-8.30pm in the Parish Hall– if you know anyone between 11 and 18 who might enjoy meeting for fun, food and space to think about important questions then do talk to Ruth Orman or Nicola for more info.

Choir Practice

Choir Practice will start at 7.15pm on a Thursday evening until after Christmas.

Christmas Knitting Angels and Stars

As our yarn bombing was such a success last Christmas we thought we would repeat it again this year. So it is time to start knitting again. Please make more of the angels we made last year, or if you can find a pattern we would like to add some stars this year. If you don’t knit well why not try making stars from fabric, as long as they are not too big and are stiff enough to look good when we put them out.  Any questions to Barbara.

An evening of Dickens and Christmas

Three special evenings have been organised in connection with Lion Hudson’s publication of Dr Keith Hooper’s new book on Charles Dickens.  Celebrating the author’s connection with Christmas, there will be readings from his best known works, and insights into the author’s work and life.  Entertaining and informative, the events are as follows:

Tuesday 21st November 7.00- 8.30p.m  Central Library, Swindon SN1 1QG (01793) 466454 (£10.00 includes copy of the book) Wednesday 6th December 7.30 – 9.00p.m Malmesbury Abbey, Wiltshire SN16 9BA (01666) 824331 (£3.00) Tickets are available in advance (recommended) or on the door.

Journey to the Cradle– Thurs 30th Nov 7.30-9.30pm

Holy Trinity, Shaw, SN5 5PY

Join Dai Woolridge and Sound of Wales for an evening of song, stories and festive poetry as we celebrate a journey which changed the world.

This special one-off event by Bible Society is free of charge and is suitable for anyone of secondary school age and above. Flyers are available at the back of church.

CHURCH IN THE WIDER WORLD 

Tearfund

Over the next two months we shall be asking for your prayers for the work of Tearfund (The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund). Their aims:

We’re Christians committed to following Jesus where the need is greatest. God has called us to serve those living in poverty, regardless of race, gender, nationality or religious belief.

We know the gospel has the power to transform lives and heal communities, we see this truth in our work every day. God isn’t giving up on the poor, neither are we. 

Tearfund is working in many countries alongside local groups to alleviate poverty and suffering. Please pray:

• For their workers in areas of conflict such as Syria, Afghanistan, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo who are providing shelter, food and emergency supplies.
• For those helping to build peace in areas such as Nigeria.
• For the staff at headquarters to have wisdom and discernment in distributing funds and people where they are most needed.

Knitting for Mission to Seafarers

Thanks again to all our keen knitters. I have received a letter from The Mission to Seafarers thanking us for the knitware I sent in September and last week I was able to send off another batch of 22 hats and 21 scarves to the charity. Also thanks to those who have donated wool – there is a good selection in the white boxes on the bench by the choir vestry together with patterns, so please help yourselves if you want to get started on a hat, scarf or gloves. Completed items should be put in one of these boxes. As the weather gets colder and the nights draw in this is an ideal time to get those needles busy. For further information talk to Janet Henderson (525856).

This week please also pray for:-

• Tearfund
• The Residents of West Leaze and Cornwood Road
• Deanery Synod taking place this week
• The Filling Station
• We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have died recently especially Margaret Rebbeck, Albert Anderson Trevor Davies, Jean Leader, Emma Turner and John Hoyland. We pray for all who mourn the loss of loved ones.