Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Third Sunday in Advent

Divine Office

The Daily Office for Advent is used all week.
Morning Prayer is said at 9.00 am Monday - Friday.

Order of service for Morning and Evening Prayer.

Services and Events

Opening Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading

Zephaniah 3.14-20
A reading from the book of the prophet Zephaniah.

14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgements against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time.
And I will save the lame and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned
and praised among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Canticle

Isaiah 12.2-6
R Shout aloud and sing for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
3 With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation. R
4 And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing praises to the LORD,
for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth. R
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel.

Second Reading

Philippians 4.4-7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near.
6 Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Acclamation

Alleluia! The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 3.7-18
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him,
‘You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance.
Do not begin to say to yourselves,
“We have Abraham as our ancestor”;
for I tell you,
God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees;
every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.’
10 And the crowds asked him,
‘What then should we do?’
11 In reply he said to them,
‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none;
and whoever has food must do likewise.’
12 Even tax-collectors came to be baptized,
and they asked him,
‘Teacher, what should we do?’
13 He said to them,
‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’
14 Soldiers also asked him,
‘And we, what should we do?’
He said to them,
‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation,
and be satisfied with your wages.’
15 As the people were filled with expectation,
and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John,
whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying,
‘I baptize you with water;
but one who is more powerful than I is coming;
I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand,
to clear his threshing-floor
and to gather the wheat into his granary;
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
18 So, with many other exhortations,
he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Closing Prayer

We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever.

Your Prayers are asked for

Those in particular need of healing: Stanley, Julia Sister Mary Jean SSC, Beth, Win, Yvonne, James, Phyllis, John, Sheena, Paul, Shelia, ** Sam,Gladys, Reg, Maria, John, Leslie, Michael, Nigel, Daniel, Dominique.

Recently Departed: Jim Cole, Bishop Eric.

Anniversary of Death: Joan Sullivan, Eric Blackman, Gordon Cole, Robin Collins, Brenda Clarke.

Notices and Future Dates

Christmas is Coming – and so are Christmas Cards! If you don’t save the stamps for your own charity, the Chichester Canal Trust will be grateful for them. Fr Peter will gladly collect them.

Christmas Cards – instead of sending everyone in church a Christmas Card why not put one up to the whole church family on the board at the back of church, and give the money you would have spent sending cards to our Christmas Charity.

Mugs – after recently clearing a lot of ‘stuff’ out of the kitchen we have found about 36 white china mugs with a picture of the church printed on them. They will be on sale after church for the next few weeks until they have gone at £1 each.

Dragons Christmas Party – tonight from 6.30pm – 8pm all dragons and others in yr 5 and above welcome! There’s a special treat tonight! Please bring £1 subs this week and a plate of food to share!

Help urgently needed to distribute Christmas Cards around the parish informing people of times of services. Please allow some time to help with this important task. These will be available during the week in church and after the Parish Mass next Sunday.

Bishop Eric – Ever since his retirement as Bishop of Chichester, he has been worshipping at St George’s. His funeral will be held in the Cathedral on Friday 18 th Dec at 11.30am. All are welcome.

Swine Flu - the clergy received an email from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury & York, suggesting to clergy to start distributing the sacrament in both kinds with immediate effect.

Organ update – Manders Organ Builders have sent drawings of their proposals for our new organ. These can be seen on the board at the back of Church.

Day at the Races - Ken Green has kindly offered the prize he won in the raffle last week back to the church. He is inviting closed bids from members of the congregation to win a wonderful day out at Goodwood Race Course. (closes Sunday 20 th December)

Christian Aid - "Many thanks to everyone that helped and supported the enjoyable Quiz Aid evening. We successfully raised £244 for projects to help the poorest people in the world.

Soup lunches are now available at Christ Church (at the southern end of South St.) on Wednesdays12-13.30. Enjoy a hot lunch on market day with all donations to Christian aid. If you would like to help by serving or making soup please contact Judy for further information."

Georgettes Christmas get together - 18th December 8pm in the centre . 

Please bring a plate of food to share and whatever you would like to drink. Any queries contact Carole or Laura . We look forward to seeing you then.

Travelling Crib – Today at the Parish Mass, Mary, Joseph and the donkey begin their long journey to Bethlehem. Mary, Joseph and the donkey are transported by pilgrims from the church family from house to house spending one night with each household. As each household receives the special visitors, prayers are said and hospitality offered. This may take the form of a cup of coffee, a tea party or even supper. Eventually Mary, Joseph and the donkey make their way back to St George’s for the Christingle and Crib Service on Christmas Eve having experienced the hospitality that our Church family has to offer. If you have signed up to host Mary, Joseph during Advent, please remember to check the dates and contact the people who you will be either visiting or welcoming.

Bike Marking – last Sunday after Mass the police marked 22 bicycles. They are going to visit us again after the New Year to offer this free service again.

Late Notices

The Tea and Chat Christmas Party is at 2.30 this Wednesday, 16 December, in the Centre, all welcome.

The Church Christmas cards will be ready later in the week and will be left in the Church porch; they will be packaged into street names. If you can deliver cards to your street, or others, please collect them.

The former SPCK bookshop in St Olave's Church in North Street has been re-opened. We should make use of this facility, when possible, to ensure its continuation.