Dearest friends,
This week I’ve had the deep joy of discussing a Rule of Life with two of our parishioners. They are both women of deep faith who will be renewing their Rule of Life at Mass at St. Luke’s this Sunday.
There are many ways of answering God’s Call in our lives and Advent is a fine time to consider what that may be. It could be a calling to serve as a Deacon, to live a life consecrated to God in a Rule of Life. It could be to the Religious life (a nun or monk), or to be a Priest. It could be to teach, to heal, to love those most in need.
Whatever your calling may be I encourage you to spend Advent praying about it and do come and speak with me about it.
Fr. Matthew
Notices
Susana Crow – YWAM
Susana Crow who works with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) spreading Gods word and doing mercy ministries in Malawi Africa will be sharing what her and her community are guided by God to do and to seek your support. We will be meeting in the Wickham Hall, 6pm on January Thursday 16th
If you would like to support Susanna you can go to the stewardship website:
Stewardship Account: https://www.give.net/20176623
Or contact her at her email address: soozmission@hotmail.com
Christmas Fayre, St. Luke’s
This Saturday! Don’t miss out on this brilliant day of fun, mince pies, Father Christmas, and other treats. We’re kicking off at 11am and the church is open until 3pm.
Confirmation
Bishop Paul will be with us in February. If you’ve not been confirmed (or don’t know what it means!) and would like to discuss being confirmed, please do speak to Fr. Matthew.
Christingle at St. John’s
On the 15th December St. John’s will be hosting and running a Christingle service for St. Catherine’s school (and anyone else who’d like to come along) at 11am. It’s going to be great fun! We’ll be having coffee and doughnuts from 10:30am and it’s a great place to invite friends who don’t usually come to church.
The Bible Course
After the success of Holy Habits and the lecture on St. Mark’s Gospel by Rev’d Dr. Chris Moore, I’m pleased to share we’ll be doing another course in the new year heading into Lent. The Course is ‘The Bible Course’ and will run on Thursday evenings in Wickham Hall at 7pm for 8 weeks starting 23rd January. The final session (13th March) will be taught by the Bishop of Exeter, The Rev’d Dr. Mike Harrison. You’ll be able to sign up to come along in the new year.
Spring Term (and Easter) Planning Meeting
As we look ahead to the next term and to Easter there’ll be another open planning meeting (as we did for Christmas) early in the new year. This is for everyone at both parishes to come along and share your ideas on what you think the parish should be doing – both in terms of social activities as well as our services. We’ll be meeting at Wickham Hall at 7pm on the 9th January.
Sunday 8th December
2nd Sunday of Advent
9:15am – Sung Parish Mass, St. John’s
11am – Sung Parish Mass, St. Luke’s
Divine Office Psalter Week 2, C(I), Advent 2
December
5th – Christingle Planning Meeting, 5pm [SJ]
7th – Christmas Fayre [SL]
11th – Over 60s Christmas Concert [SJ] 2pm
15th – December Parish Lunch [SL]
Christingle Service [SJ] 11am
19th – Cantemos Carol Concert [SJ] 7pm
22nd – Christmas Carols [SL] 4pm
Nine Lessons and Carols [SJ] 7pm
24th – Live Nativity [SL] 4pm
1st Mass of Christmas [SJ] 8pm
Midnight Mass [SL] 11:30pm
25th – Christmas Day Mass [SL & SJ] 10am
29th – Joint Mass at St. John’s 10am with dedication of Holy
Family Chapel
January
8th – St. Luke’s PCC
9th – Spring (& Easter) term planning meeting [all] 7pm WH
12th – St. Luke’s Parish Lunch
16th – St. John’s PCC, 5pm
Susanna Crow YWAM talk, 7pm [SJ]
23rd – The Bible Course (every Thursday), 7pm WH
25th – Jesus, This Is Your Life & Burns Night Supper [SJ]
February
12th – St. Luke’s PCC