Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, December 27, 2009

The First Sunday of Christmas

Divine Office

The Office for Christmas 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

Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading

1 Samuel 2.18-20, 26
A reading from the first book of Samuel.

18 Samuel was ministering before the LORD,
a boy wearing a linen ephod.
19 His mother used to make for him a little robe
and take it to him each year,
when she went up with her husband
to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say,
‘May the LORD repay you with children by this woman
for the gift that she made to the LORD’;
and then they would return to their home.
26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow
both in stature and in favour with the LORD and with the people.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 148
R Praise, O praise the name of the Lord.

1 Alleluia!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights.
2 Praise him, all you angels of his;
praise him, all his host.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars. R
4 Praise him, heaven of heavens,
and you waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord;
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever;
he gave them a law which shall not pass away. R
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea-monsters and all deeps;
8 Fire and hail, snow and fog,
tempestuous wind, doing his will;
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars; R
10 Wild beasts and all cattle,
creeping things and winged birds;
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the world;
12 Young men and maidens,
old and young together. R
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name only is exalted,
his splendour is over earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up strength for his people
and praise for all his loyal servants,
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Alleluia! R

Second Reading

Colossians 3.12-17
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
13 Bear with one another and,
if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other;
just as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in the one body.
And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
teach and admonish one another in all wisdom;
and with gratitude in your hearts
sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Acclamation

Alleluia! The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him. Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 2.41-52
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

41 Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem
for the festival of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old,
they went up as usual for the festival.
43 When the festival was ended and they started to return,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
44 Assuming that he was in the group of travellers,
they went a day’s journey.
Then they started to look for him
among their relatives and friends.
45 When they did not find him,
they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard him were amazed
at his understanding and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him they were astonished;
and his mother said to him,
‘Child, why have you treated us like this?
Look, your father and I have been searching for you
in great anxiety.’
49 He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’
50 But they did not understand what he said to them.
51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them.
His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,
and in divine and human favour.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth
the life of an earthly home:
help your Church to live as one family,
united in love and obedience,
and bring us all at last to our home in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Your Prayers are asked for

Those in particular need of healing: Stanley, Netty, 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: Rita Reed.

Anniversary of Death: Walter Kidd.

Notices and Future Dates

Christmas Thanks – huge thanks to everyone who has made our Christmas Sooooo special this year, the services were wonderful thanks to our Choir and Servers, the church looked fabulous thanks our Flower Girls and those who decorated the trees and arranged the crib, and delivered parish Christmas cards.

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.

E-mail list for St George’s - We are compiling an e-mailing list of Church members. This will enable the sending out of notices and other information that may be too lengthy, or too late, to include on the weekly bulletin. In addition a copy of the bulletin will be sent to all on the list for those unable to attend the Sunday service. The list will be also available for use by church groups and individuals to publish notices and items of interest. Addresses will be shown ‘blind’ to prevent access by spammers and the list will not be passed to others. Would you reply to Ken if you wish your name to be on the list. Items to be included should be submitted to Fr Stuart. A copy of each notice, other than the bulletin, will be displayed on the notice board for those not on the Internet

Note for your Diaries - The Flower Girls will be holding a Coffee Morning in aid of Flower Funds on Saturday 23rd January between 10 and 12. We also hope to have a raffle and a Bric a Brac stall so please remember us if you have any unwanted gifts to donate.

New Cleaner – after 3 yrs, Rosie has decided to stop being our Church and Centre cleaner, thanks to Rosie for all the hard work she has put in to keep our church looking so neat and tidy. However, this does mean that we need a new cleaner ASAP. If you are interested please talk to Fr Stuart or a Warden.

Children & Communion – On Wednesday 13 th Jan the PCC will decide whether or not we as a parish should allow children to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist, after a teaching course, before confirmation. If you have any strong feelings on this issue please talk, or write to Fr Stuart before that date so your thoughts can be included in the discussion at that meeting of the PCC.

Walsingham 2010 – following the huge success of our first pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, we are booked in for a repeat pilgrimage from Friday 9 th – Sunday 13 th April. Please let us know in the New Year if you would like to take part in this pilgrimage.

Epiphany Mass - Solemn High Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany, Wednesday 6 th Jan 7.30pm.