St Mary’s, Shenfield TheLink St Mary’s, Shenfield

Notices

• READINGS: Year C has now started.

• During Advent the GLORIA is replaced by ‘Lord, have mercy…’

• CRISIS: There will be a retiring collection in aid of Crisis after all services today and next Sunday.

• TOY SERVICE (Today at 9.30 am): Just a reminder to bring your toys, preferably unwrapped – to be distributed to the many children of Norway House (for homeless families from the London boroughs).

• MOTHERS’ UNION: Christmas Party on Thursday 10th December, 2 pm in the Parish Hall. Do join us if you can and visitors will be most welcome. Molly Hoyle (226929).

• OPEN BRANCH: Meeting on Thursday 10th December at 8 pm in the Parish Hall, when Rev. David Thomas will speak on ‘Magna Carta’. This is an Open Meeting – husbands and friends are all welcome! Mince pies and a festive glass of punch, plus tea and coffee, will be served. Looking forward to seeing you there. Margaret Morris (217398).

• CHRISTINGLE SERVICES: Two services will be held on Sunday 13th December at 3 pm and 4.30 pm. Christingles will be given to each child in return for a collecting candle in which they can collect money for the Children’s Society. If your child does not attend St Mary’s School, Trekkers or Footprints, contact Helen Dick (229793) for a collecting candle (available until Sunday 6th December).

• ‘TIME FOR TEA’ ANAGRAMS: Now on sale at the £1 per copy in aid of our Charities Fund. Please collect one from me or from the back of the church. First prize £25; second prize £10. Pop one in your Christmas card for friends and relatives! Maureen Laming (216230).

• FOODBANK: Please note that donations of Christmas items should be delivered well before Christmas to enable them to be distributed in time for Christmas - to provide a few Christmas treats! Helen Dick (229793).

• CHOCOLATE FILLED ADVENT CALENDARS are being collected for the FOODBANK on the run up to Christmas – box at the back of the church + collecting from Footprints playgroup and the school. Elizabeth Rouse (226772 or weddingbells1@hotmail.co.uk).

• I am still looking for new PARISH MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTORS. If you are interested, please get in touch! Jo Gurney (Joanneggurney @gmail.com or 414409).

• CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Many thanks to all who worked so hard on the day and in the weeks beforehand to make this such a lively and happy event. We raised a grand total of £2547 for church funds – a record amount! The Bazaar couldn’t happen without your time, goodwill and generous contributions to the stalls and children’s activities. All warmly appreciated. Alison. (220360).

• TREKKERS: We meet in St Mary’s School Hall, opposite the church, during term time on Sundays at 9.30 am (note, we do not meet on the First Sunday of each month due to the family service in church). Craft and other fun activities every week. Suitable for school age children. Come along and join in! Charlotte Monk (charlottevmonk@gmail.com or 214054).

• CREATIVE HELP REQUIRED: The St Mary’s Charities logo needs a refresh and we are looking for someone with experience of designing logos to help create a new version or to update the original. Do you know who created the original logo? Any help would be appreciated! Please contact Juliette Whittaker (295609).

• If you are a NEWCOMER, please fill in a blue card and hand it to a sidesperson.

• Our website contains many more details at: www.stmaryschurch-shenfield.org.uk

TheLink 06 December 2015 1st Sunday

The Second Sunday of Advent

Welcome to our services A special welcome to families with young children and those joining us for the first time today.

Leading our worship today 8.00 am Holy Communion Rev. David Thomas 9.30 am Parish Eucharist Rev. David Thomas 6.30 pm Evensong Paul Betts

Younger members

There is a CRÈCHE in the Turner Vestry at the 9.30 am service every week. If one of the parents would like to accompany their child/children there, please do so during the singing of the Gloria. We suggest just one adult per family due to recent overcrowding in the vestry. Small children, who do not want to go in the crèche, may like to borrow a BOOK or a HAPPY BAG from the box at the back of the church. School aged children are invited to join the TREKKERS group in the School Hall (term time only), except on the first Sunday in the month.

Reminders

• Coffee will be served after the 9.30 am service today.

• Please prepare for worship quietly when the organ is played shortly before the services begin.

• If you have joined us for the first time today, please fill in a blue card, which are in a box by the main door.

• Gift Aid envelopes, for use in the collection by taxpayers, are available in pews. For tax to be reclaimed your details must be written on the envelope.

• If you have a prayer request, please see the prayer tree by the letter rack (near the vestry door).

• Please give any information for TheLink in writing to Paul Betts by 12 noon on Tuesdays for the next Sunday.

Contacts and information

• Ministry Team: Rev. David Thomas 220360, Rev. Eileen Lockhart 822537, Canon Paul Betts 228497, Barbara Alderton 220033, Audrey Butler 224430, and Lesley Cook 224486.

• Churchwardens & Deputies: Norman Randall 232193, John Bridger 219853 Marion Cork 215732, Helen Dick 229793

• Baptism & Wedding enquiries: please contact the Rector (220360).

We encourage you to take this copy of TheLink home with you.

St Mary’s, Shenfield TheLink St Mary’s, Shenfield TheLink

06 December 2015 06 December 2015

8 am Holy Communion

Book Book of Common Prayer (green page 31; black page 287)

Server Pauline Sweetingham

Lay Ministers Paul Betts Stephen Priddle

Epistle Romans 15.4-13 Stephen Priddle

Gospel Luke 21.25-33 Rev. David Thomas

9.30 am Parish Eucharist

Books 'Celebrating Together' Hymns Old & New

Music Setting Thorne

Readings RCL page 676

Theme 'Toy Service'

Servers Brenda Russell William Swire

Lay Ministers Edna Grimble Ann Plumstead Rev. Eileen Lockhart Tom Lorenc

Opening Hymn 302 – Lord, Jesus Christ

Gospel Reading Mark 10. 13-16 Anna & Jocelyn Earl (Trekkers)

Gradual Hymn Make way, make way (WS55) (Children’s Choir)

Sermon Rev. David Thomas

Intercessions Liz Rouse (Footprints)

Offertory Hymn 313 – Love divine, all loves excelling

Communion

Anthem ‘The Candle Song’

Graham Kendrick

Hymn 408 – Peace is flowing like a river

Closing Hymn 576 – When I needed a neighbour

Special services in coming weeks

Sunday 13 December 3pm & 4.30pm Christingle Services (in aid of the Children's Society) (same service - choose which one you'd like to attend) 6.30pm ‘Open Door for Advent’, with seasonal refreshments Sunday 20 December 6.30pm Service of Lessons and Carols Thursday 24 December - Christmas Eve 3pm, 4.15pm & 5.30pm Family Carol Services (same service - choose which one you'd like to attend)11.30pm Midnight Eucharist

6.30 pm Evensong

Books Book of Common Prayer (page 57) Hymns A&M New Standard Parish Psalter

Server Ray Jones

Opening Hymn 27 – On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Psalm 75 (Psalter page 107)

OT Lesson Isaiah 40.1-11 Margaret Swire

NT Lesson Luke 1.1-25 Betty Weavers

Anthem 'How beautiful upon the mountains' J. Stainer

Intercessions Paul Betts

Hymn 29 – The Lord will come and not be slow

Sermon Paul Betts

Closing Hymn 142 (omit vv2,4) – Hail to the Lord's Anointed

Please remember in your prayers

• Those seeking refuge from warfare and violence.

• Peace in the Middle East.

• Norway House, a hostel offering accommodation to homeless families and individuals from the London boroughs (one of St Mary’s Charities).

• The local community in Shenfield, especially those who live in 106-160 & 87-149 Worrin Road, and Fiona McDonagh Robinson & Christie Guest, our representatives there.

• The Mothers’ Union, led by Molly Hoyle

• St Mary’s School, the pupils, staff and governors.

• The residents of Old Shenfield Place.

• The Brentwood Food Bank and its clients.

• The sick & infirm, and those facing or recovering from surgery, especially Gus Agate, Jean Cummins, Audrey Dawes, Chris Green, Babs Hughes, Peggy Lavender, Sheila Lawrence, Lily Mackney, Avril Petchey, Pauline Porter, Sonia Triggs, Brian Waldock, Win West, Olive Wright.

• Those who have died, and their families and friends.

Open Door for Advent (Sunday 13 December, 6.30 pm)

“Advent Journeys”, explored through a kinaesthetic, interactive and meditative devotion based on four stations, each in a different location in the church. It will explore individual reflection on the impact of these journeys for our spirituality in 2015. Do come and join in this special service. Leaders: Pauline Sweetingham and Lesley Cook