‘My Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour‘
A very warm welcome to all
Advent 4
Readings: Micah 5: 2-5a; Canticle: The Magnificat (Luke 1: 46b-55); Hebrews 10: 5-10
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45
In today’s Gospel
As you know, Mary & Elizabeth were pregnant at the same time. Elizabeth was quite old and past the age of child-bearing, and Mary was but a young lady; yet, don’t forget what they had in common: they were cousins, they were both on their first pregnancy, they both became pregnant through an almighty act of God, God sent the angel Gabriel to announce both conceptions and births, and they both were given a child who played a key role in God’s plan of salvation. You can bet these two ladies compared notes and thoughts on their miraculous pregnancies. But, then, neither one had anyone else to talk to. Scripture tells us that Elizabeth “became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion”. As for Mary, she had no one to talk to because she was pregnant outside of marriage. I am sure they wept together, laughed together, prayed together, and encouraged one another during the three months they were together.
Presiding
Today (Sunday) we welcome Bishop Anne, who will Preside at our worship. It also gives me great pleasure to announce that in the very near future, +Anne will commission her husband, Fr Roger Dyer, as Assistant Priest to St Mary’s. The full details of Fr Roger’s responsibilities will become clearer in the weeks to come, but I am sure you will join with me in welcoming Fr Roger into our Church community as part of our worship team. Deo Gratias !!
Pews
You will have noticed that the pew arrangements have been adjusted. This is to comply with the recent Government guidance which was circulated yesterday and are now in play. As a result of this recent change, I have decided that our teas and coffees after the service will be suspended until these restrictions are relaxed. I would like to thank those who took time to move the pews so that we can be here today.
Christingle Service
Yesterday, we held our Christingle Carol Service. I would like to thank Mrs Sandra Sinclair, Mrs Gillian Rose, Fr Roger Dyer, and Mrs Anne Farquhar, who took time out to prepare our Christingle Oranges, which were this year, so kindly donated by Asda. I would also like to thank those who attended and took part in our worship and singing. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Raffle Draw
The raffle draw will take place in the Church after our service today. I hope that most of you managed to purchase some tickets for this. All of the prizes have been donated and I am grateful not only for the individual donations from members of our congregation, but also to the local businesses who have also been very generous.
St Mary’s Calendars
St Mary’s Calendars are still available and offered for sale at £8 each. I hope you will consider them as an ideal Christmas/New Year present to a friend or a loved one. You can find them on the pew at the rear of the Church, the foyer, and in the Choir vestry. Please consider purchasing one (or more).
Selection Box Appeal
The collection of confectionary selection boxes in the lead up to Christmas has, in my opinion, been a great success. We have collected in excess of fifty selection boxes and tins of assorted chocolates. Once more, all of you have excelled yourselves in generosity and have considered the needs of others at this festive time. I am deeply grateful to everyone who assisted with this appeal.
Forthcoming Events
You will find a calendar of events on our website at www.stmaryscardenplace.org.uk covering the next several months. We will also place a few of these event calendars around the church for your perusal and diaries
Advent to Epiphany Course
You are invited to participate in an Advent to Epiphany course from the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney this Season. The course is called; “Waiting, Watching, Wondering”. Material to be used each day will be posted on the Diocesan website, beginning on Advent Sunday and running through to Epiphany. For each day there will be a mixture of Scripture, prayers, art, music links and activities. The material can be used as individuals, or by groups reflecting together. The materials will be posted daily on the website, available from https://aoepiscopal.scot/ under the Other News and Resources part of the front page, and the daily materials will remain available throughout the season.
Service of Memorial and Thanksgiving
I am looking at providing a service of memorial and thanksgiving for those who suffered loss during the height of the Corona Virus pandemic, and also to give thanks to the wonderful and dedicated members of our NHS who worked, and continue to do so, in the battle to keep on top of this devastating virus. I am hoping that it can be an ecumenical event with contributions from different faiths and denominations. Please watch this space.
Time Change
Due to a personal commitment, the Said Eucharist service on Christmas Day, originally scheduled for 10 am, will now take place at 9 am. I apologise for the short notice and any inconvenience this might cause. Services on the 26th of December remain unaltered.
St Mary’s AGM and Constitution Change
Just to amend a previous post concerning St Mary’s Constitution. St Mary’s AGM will take place on Sunday the 6th of February 2022 and we are proposing to make a change to our Constitution. St Mary’s Constitution states that we must hold our AGM within three months of our financial year end, which is the 30th of September. We would like to extend this period to six months which effectively brings the Constitution in line with what we have been doing for a number of years. The result of this is that we would be required to hold our AGM by 31st March as opposed to 31st December.
Services/Events at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral w/c Sunday the 19th of December 2021
Sunday 19th December at 8am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry – 1970)
Sunday 19th December at 10 am – 4th Sunday of Advent Sung Eucharist (Cn Terry – 1982) Followed by Raffle Draw
Monday 20th December- Cn Terry – Day off
Tuesday 21st December at 10am – Morning Prayers (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 22nd December at 10 am Holy Communion (Cn Terry-1970)
Followed by Tea and Coffee
Friday 24th December at 10.30 pm – Pre-Midnight Mass Carols
Friday 24th December at 11 pm – Midnight Mass
Saturday 25th December at 9 am – Said Eucharist (1982 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 26th December at 8 am – Holy Communion (1970 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 26th December at 10 am – St Stephen – 1st Martyr – Sung Eucharist (1982 – Cn Terry) Followed by Teas and Coffee
“And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Blessings Always
Rev Canon Terry Taggart
01224588776/07768219984