Dearest friends,
The third Sunday in Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete simply means ‘rejoice’.
It’s taken from the latin introit for the day’s Mass:
‘Gaudete in Domino semper’
Or in English:
‘Rejoice in the Lord always’
And so today we look at what
we have to rejoice about. Over the last two weeks we have been encouraged to ‘wake up’, then to ‘stay awake’, this week we take joy in our faith and one another.
We have woken in the dark ahead of the coming of The Light – and this week – we lift our heads and remind ourselves that the coming of Jesus Christ is something that we rejoice about.
The introit for the Mass continues:
‘Let your forbearance be known to all, for the Lord is near at hand; have no anxiety about anything, but in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God’
Today we try to take our anxiety and we hand it over to God and in doing so we find a peace that only He can give us.
In that peace we discover the joy of loving God and in that joy – that gift – we should rejoice!
Sometimes it’s hard to find that peace and when it is difficult we must give God everything in prayer – and in opening ourselves to God in prayer we are changed.
That is the power of prayer, not that God changes the world for us, but that we are changed to be more like God.
In love,
Fr. Matthew
Notices
Christmas Explorers
What a wonderful afternoon! 55 people, 25 children – all singing and learning about Jesus Christ in the Nativity. Thank you all so much for all the hard work and help as we proclaimed Christ in Heathfield!
Crib & Christingle @ St. Luke’s
Sadly we’re unable to offer the Crib & Christingle service this year due to a lack of volunteers. We’ll look at it again next year.
Third Advent Lecture
This Thursday (4th) – a talk on the women in the bible. 7pm, Wickham Hall).
Dates for next year
I’m starting to populate dates for January, one of the important ones is the 15th January at St. Luke’s, where we’ll have (our now) customary planning meeting for the coming term, in this case Spring & Easter. It’s also a chance to review the Autumn and Christmas term and see if there are any lessons to learn or new ideas for next year.
O Antiphons
The O Antiphons are ancient Advent chants invoking titles of Christ, expressing longing for the Messiah and highlighting salvation themes in the days before Christmas. They start this week on the 17th December.
Sunday 14th December
3rd Sunday of Advent 🟣
9am – Sung Parish Mass [SJ]
11:15am – Sung Parish Mass [SL]
Psalter Week 3, A(II), Advent 3
Upcoming Dates
December
11th – Advent Course, 3rd lecture, 7pm [WH]
18th – Advent Course, 4th lecture, 7pm [WH]
20th – 9 Lessons & Carols, 6pm, both churches
Solemn Evensong with Benediction, 7pm [SJ]
24th – Live Nativity, 4pm [SJ]
Midnight Mass, 8pm [SJ]
Midnight Mass, 11:30pm [SL]
25th – Christmas Day Mass, 10am [SL & SJ]
January
7th – St. Luke’s PCC
15th – Joint Planning Meeting for Spring & Easter, 7pm [SL]
24th – Rosary Group, 10am [SL]
26th – History of the Anglo Catholics Talk, 6pm [SL]
31st – Burns Night Supper [SL]
Table Top Sale at Wickham Hall every 3rd Saturday at 10am.
St. Luke’s Women’s Group meets first Wednesday of every month.
[SJ] St. John’s | [SL] St. Luke’s | [WH] Wickham Hall
[SC] St. Catherine’s School