Advent 4, Christmas Eve
TODAY
8am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
3pm CHRISTINGLE SERVICE in Church
Join us at either 3pm or 5pm in church for our popular Christingle Service. We will be singing carols, hearing the Christmas story, having fun and lighting our Christingles. Car parking is limited, so please walk up the hill if you can!
5pm CHRISTINGLE SERVICE in Church
11.30pm MIDNIGHT HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE in Church and on YouTube
SUNDAY 25th DECEMBER 2023
CHRISTMAS DAY
10am ALL AGE HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
Preacher: Revd Chris Hunter
SUNDAY 31ST DECEMBER 2023
CHRISTMAS 1
8am MORNING WORSHIP in Church
Preacher: Revd Barbara Abrey
Sidespersons: Jean Reens and Christine Wrixon
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTu
Preacher: Revd Barbara Abrey
Intercessor: Janet Henderson
Reading: Isaiah 61. 10-62:3
Reader: Lillian Wicks
Altar Servers: Gillian Pitter and Petrina Kingsley
Sidespersons: Tony & Julia Edmonds
SUNDAY 7th JANUARY 2023
EPIPHANY
8am HOLY COMMUNION in Church
Preacher: Mark Tubey
Sidespersons: Pat Lewis and Dee Vincent
10.00am HOLY COMMUNION in Church and on YouTube
Preacher: Mark Tubey
Intercessor: Helen Toomer
Reading: Isaiah 60. 1-6
Reader: Carol Gibbon
Altar Servers: Jean Ford and Petrina Kingsley
Sidespersons: Sally Parker and June Bradley
6pm EVENSONG in Church
Preacher: Revd Chris Hunter
Intercessor: TBC
Sidespersons: Carol Brown and Trish Green
Live streaming the 10am service
The 10am service will be live streamed on You Tube. Please visit our YouTube Channel on https://www.youtube.com/@WroughtonWichelstoweParChurch (or search for Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish church) and press the ‘subscribe’ button.
‘Sunday Club’ dates
Our Sunday morning group for primary school aged children takes place in the Vicarage during the 10am service, usually on the 1st and 3rd Sundays (except in November!). Future dates are:
| Date | Adults- lead/support |
| 7/1 and 21/1 | TBC |
Small Groups
If you would like to join a small group, please contact the leaders of the groups below and find out where there is space. We would love to have everyone involved in a small group.
| 22 Kellsborough Avenue | Mondays 10am-11.30
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Now on break till 8th January 2024 | Lillian Wicks
Louise Bessent |
| 12 Artis Avenue | Tuesdays at 7.30pm | Carolyn Kirk | |
| Church Hall | Alternate Tuesday evenings | Nick Orman | |
| The Vicarage | Wednesday evenings during term time. | Karen & Phill Harrison | |
| Church Hall | Saturday men’s breakfast | Mike Mason |
Why don’t we have flowers in Advent?
Some people have recently questioned why we don’t have flowers in church during Advent. Particularly, why don’t we have flowers at the carol service, when we have lots of visitors in church and want the place to look nice?
The answer is liturgical: it is to do with the shape of our worship.
During Advent, like Lent, we are in a penitential season, calling to mind the things in our lives we wish to reject and leave behind in order to move closer to God. Many people give things up, again similar to Lent, in order to put aside distractions and to focus on prayer and spiritual growth. Acts of abstinence also provide opportunities to offer our resources, so we might take the money we would have spent on chocolate, alcohol, eating out or other indulgences and use this for charitable giving. All of this is part of our activity of preparing to meet Jesus, not only the baby in the manger but the universal king who will one day be revealed in glory.
And, finally, all of this sobriety is our preparation for Christmas, when we really cut loose. When we reach the feast of Christ’s birth, we want to break out as much colour as we possibly can, and to have as great a contrast as possible to fully emphasise our celebrations.
So there aren’t flowers in church during Advent, giving us a chance to put aside distractions, to prepare for Jesus’ coming and to really throw ourselves into our Christmas celebrations at the end of this season. Revd. Chris
Christingle Making
We will be making christingles for the two Christmas Eve services at 9am on Christmas Eve. All help welcome!
Community Christmas Card
To save you sending cards to all your church friends, there is a Community Christmas Card in church for you to sign. As you will be saving some money, there is a box for donations to the Children’s Society.
Church – Heating
As you will be aware the heating system in Church has not been working recently. Many of the radiators have been removed due to the building work. However, we expect the remainder of the heating system to be working again by Sunday 26th November.
Church – Replastering
The North Aisle will not be accessible due to the builders replastering. However we still should be able to have access to the west end for coffee.
Upper Churchyard Working Party
Our next get together will be on Saturday 6th January from 9am – but meeting at the Church Hall and not in the churchyard. The Church Hall grounds are in need of some TLC, so we will begin there, and then if there’s time and enthusiasm move up to the churchyard for a tidy up. (I will bring equipment from the workstore for us to use). 😊 This will only be cancelled if the weather is blowing a gale or very wet…..! Any queries contact me on 07909 882150. Many thanks, Helen
Keeping our Church Open During the Day
We have a rota of lovely volunteers who help keep the church open for visitors and those wanting a quiet space for prayer or reflection during the day. As Andrew is moving away (thank you for all you’ve done Andrew 🙂) we’re in need of volunteers for Wednesday opening and/or closing, and also for closing up on Sundays (when there’s no service). If this is something you can help with please speak to me or let Janet know in the Parish Office. You’ll need to be able to open up or close the church on a weekly basis, but there is always someone to stand in for those weeks you’re unable to do it due to holidays, illness or other commitments. Helena
WILD FLOWERS OF WROUGHTON CALENDARS
High quality desk and wall calendars by Wroughton Monthly’s wildlife writer BOZ. Desk calendars £6.50 and wall calendars £8.50. For delivery or collection call 07884 108434/ 01793 812589 Dr Keith Hooper. Also available at the parish church.
Eco Top Tips – practical ways to take better care of God’s creation
December – Eco Christmas ideas
- Be creative in the gifts you give this Christmas; make sure your desire to be loving is not damaging the environment.
- Getting ready for the festivities of Christmas. Buy as much locally produced, in season food and particularly veg as you can. Try not to over cater and waste food.
- Wrap and rewrap. Why not reuse your wrapping paper. Take a bit of care unwrapping your presents (it adds to the gift experience), save the paper and reuse next year.
- Enjoy the feast of Christmas! Don’t forget to recycle your rubbish. Don’t waste unwanted presents find new homes for them through the charity shop or on ebay.
- Get ready with your environmental New Year’s Resolution. How will your care for creation in the coming year?
Floodlighting
The Church will be floodlit on:
Thursday 21st December by Rebecca Sarjent & Rosemary Nassie in memory of
Rex and Joan Sarjent;
Friday 22nd December by Julie Gabe in memory of Vie & Eric Whyte.
Saturday 23rd December by Joyce Symonds in memory of her dear friend Pauline Kershaw;
Sunday 24th December by Joan Gorringe and Chris Pearce in memory of Ray Gorringe and Peter Pearce both missed very much;
Monday 25th December by Janet Burchell and family in memory of her Dad, Jack Bamford;
Saturday 6th January by John Stow, Chris Stow and Nikki McMahon in memory of Maurice Stow on his birthday.
If you would like the Church to be floodlit for a special occasion (cost £20.00) Forms are available in Church or online please return to Janet in the Office or email office@wroughton.com.
Funerals
We commend to God’s care and keeping those who have, died recently Audrey Ann Smith, Brenda Bottrill and
Elizabeth Hiller. We pray for all those who mourn the loss of a loved one.
| The Church Office will close for the Christmas period on
Friday 22nd December and re-open on Tuesday 2nd January. The Office will be closed on Thursday 4th January 2024.
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| The Parish Office, Priors Hill, Wroughton, SN4 0RT Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 1.30pm
01793 812050 office@wroughton.com Revd Phill Harrison – Vicar 01793 812301 vicar@wroughton.com Revd Chris Hunter – Curate 01793 814987 curate@wroughton.com Church Twitter Account – @WroughtonWichel Find us on Facebook – Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Church Please follow us for all the latest updates from Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Church.
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CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Wroughton & Wichelstowe Parish Church
Christmas Eve – Christingle Service
3pm and 5pm
Join us at either 3pm or 5pm in church for our popular Christingle Service. We will be singing carols,
hearing the Christmas story, having fun and lighting our Christingles. Car parking is limited, so please walk up the hill if you can!
Christmas Eve
8am A quiet Holy Communion service using traditional language
11:30pm Midnight Holy Communion Service
Christmas Day
10am All-age Holy Communion
