A very warm welcome to all
Psalm 80: “Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.”
Advent Sunday
Readings: Isaiah 64: 1-9; 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9
Gospel: Mark 13: 24-37
In our Gospel today
Welcome to the new liturgical year (Year B, where we hear the Gospel of Mark and John 6) and a new liturgical Season Advent. Advent is the season where we look forward to the Nativity of Jesus, remembering God With Us – Emmanuel, it’s a season of watching, waiting and an invitation to reflect.
This Sunday’s readings are a call to be alert in waiting for the coming of the Lord. The first reading begs the Lord to return to us and save us. The psalm also asks God to look upon us and have mercy. The second reading calls us to remain steadfast in our discipleship. And in the gospel, Jesus advises his disciples to stay vigilant as no one knows when He will return. It’s likened to a man going on a journey who instructs his servants to be watchful in his absence, emphasizing the need to remain prepared at all times. The readings might be asking God for help and mercy, but hope abides in them all (the theme for today’s Advent candle).
Diocesan Advent Course
The Diocesan Advent Course will run from Advent Sunday (3rd December 2023) to the Baptism of the Lord (7th January 2024). The course, written by different members of the Diocese is called “In the beginning was the Word…” with reflections each day on scripture. It will be posted in the ‘other news’ section of the Diocesan website, with some discussion questions posted on Saturday of each week to reflect back on that week’s previous posts.
Christmas Worship
Reverend Roger Dyer recently contacted Bishop Dorsey McConnell about Christmas worship at St Mary’s. The good news is that +Dorsey has offered to be with us for our 11:30pm Midnight Service on Christmas Eve and again at 10am on Christmas Day.
Calendar 2024
The St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Calendar for 2024 is available in church. Single copies can be purchased at the price of £10. If you’d like to purchase more than one, we will offer a 10% discount on the total payable.
Collecting Christmas Selection Boxes
We started collecting Christmas Selection Boxes from Sunday 19th November. Thank you to all that have already contributed. We now have a very nice big pile of selection boxes. These will be distributed to charities such as Barnardos and Cyrenians.
Services/Events Commencing Sunday the 3rd December 2023
Sunday 3rd December 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Sunday 3rd December 10am Advent Sunday (1982 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Wednesday 6th December 10am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Dr Ruth Green
Friday 8th December 6pm Compline: Marin Matsuzaka
Sunday 10th December 8am Said Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Jason Hobbs
Sunday 10th December 10am Advent 2 (1982 Liturgy): Revd Jason Hobbs
Sunday 10th December readings: Isaiah 40: 1-11; Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3: 8-15a
Gospel: Mark 1: 1-8
“One of the essential paradoxes of Advent: that while we wait for God, we are with God all along, that while we need to be reassured of God’s arrival, or the arrival of our homecoming, we are already at home.”
(Michelle Blake)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd. Roger Dyer on 07719 458571
or revrogdyer@btinternet.com