Newsletter – Sunday 13th December 2020

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

St Mary’s and St Andrew’s Worshipping Together

A very warm welcome to all our visitors today

Readings:
Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11; Canticle – Magnificat; 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24; Gospel: John 1: 6-8, 19-28

Gaudete Sunday

Today is Gaudete Sunday.  This is a joyous celebration, and although it takes place during the usually penitential period of Advent, Gaudete Sunday serves as a mid-point break from the austere practices to rejoice in the nearness of Jesus’ return. Today we will light the rose-coloured candle. I do not possess rose-coloured vestments so I will remain in purple as will the rest of our Church vestments.  

We are Grandparents

It gives me the greatest of pleasure to announce that my wife Sam and I are Grandparents again. Harriet Jayne was born at 8.59 am in Kettering Hospital on Tuesday morning weighing in at a healthy 7.4 lbs. All went well with no complications and Mother and baby (and Dad) are all doing well. We are so blessed.

St Andrew’s Annual General Meeting

St Andrew’s AGM will be at 1pm today, Sunday 13 December, by Zoom. Further details and papers can be obtained from Ferdinand von Prondzynski. 

Thanks to the Christmas Tree helpers

I would like to thank everyone who helped out on Tuesday afternoon to put up our Christmas tree. Iain Stewart, Athol Jermieson, Faustina Chimara, Matthew McVey and Gillian Rose, I am deeply indebted to you all. Many hands did indeed make light work (with the help of some long stepladders).

Advent Services

The fixed service dates, for Advent and beyond are thus: Sunday the 13^th of December at 10 am, Holy Communion. Sunday the 13^th of December at 6.30 pm, Evening Prayer with a Cantor and musicians, with a Christmas Carol theme. Wednesday 16^th December at 10 am, Holy Communion. Friday 18^th December at 9.30 am, Morning Prayers. Sunday the 20^th of December at 10 am, Holy Communion. (Bishop Anne Presiding and Preaching). Sunday the 20^th of December at 6.30 pm, Evening Prayer with a Cantor, and some accompanying musicians (hopefully). Wednesday the 23^rd of December at 10 am, Holy Communion. Thursday, the 24^th of December at 11.30 pm, Midnight Mass Holy Eucharist (Bishop Anne presiding and preaching).  As I said last Sunday, the cleaning logistics for having the Church ready for a Christmas day service were just too impractical. I cannot, in all honesty, expect people to sanitise the church immediately after Midnight Mass. Therefore there will not be a Christmas Day service. There will be a said Holy Communion at 10 am on Boxing Day the 26^th of December to remember Stephen, Deacon and first Martyr. We will use the 1970 Liturgy on that day. Sunday 27^th December at 10 am, Holy Communion.

Midnight Mass Notice

It is important that should you wish to attend our Midnight Mass on the 24^th of December, you should let me know sooner than later to avoid disappointment. As there will be no Christmas day service, the Midnight Mass service may well be pretty popular. Please let me know so I can put you on the list. Don’t leave it to the last minute.

Evensong 24th January 6:30 pm

For your diaries, there will be an Evensong service here at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Sunday the 24^th of January, commencing at 6.30 pm. This is an Ecumenical service with Bishop Anne, Bishop Hugh (RC) and a yet to be confirmed representative from the Church of Scotland, which falls on the penultimate day of the week for Christian Unity. The maximum attendance cannot exceed 50 (this includes Clergy) and we will obviously need to cater for the other congregations involved. This will require careful liaison in order not to disappoint anyone. 

Christmas cards on sale

St Mary’s Christmas Cards are now on sale. They display the St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral logo in several colours (The Rose Window), and were designed by Mr Stuart Smith of Alt 10, the same local company who designed our new website. They can be purchased in packs of 10 at a suggested donation cost of £8, or individually at a suggested donation cost of £1 per card. All proceeds will go towards the upkeep of the Church. They are located at the left of the West Door as you exit the Church.

Vestry Meeting – Wednesday 16th December

There will be a Vestry Meeting for St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on Wednesday the 16^th of December via Zoom David Rose will send out the link to all Vestry members.  Previous Minutes, Agenda and Rector’s Report will be forwarded in the usual manner in good time before the date in question.

SECMA

Mrs Gillian Rose has asked me to inform you that thanks to some generous donations she was able to send £230 to the Scottish Episcopal Church Mission Association (SECMA), which will go towards projects all over the world. It is not too late to pay to pay for your subscription/ donate

Diocesan Newsletter

The Diocesan Newsletter is now available to read online and you can find it by clicking on this link https://aoepiscopal.scot/diocesan-newsletter-9-november-2020/  (yes, it says November, but it does take you directly to the document) or via the St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral website at www.stmaryscardenplace.org.uk  

Stamps

Could you all consider saving the used stamps on your received Christmas cards through the post. If you could bring them to Church in an envelope or plastic bag and pass them to me I would be most grateful.

Services at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral week commencing Sunday 13^th December 2020

Blessings Always

Rev’d Canon Terry Taggart
Rector