‘To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul‘
A very warm welcome to all
Christ the King
Readings: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Psalm 25: 1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13
Gospel: Luke 21: 25-36
In today’s Gospel
Despite the fact that I have been a Priest for a few years now, some things never get easier. Like the readings for the First Sunday in Advent. I do not know of a Gospel lesson that is harder to interpret than Jesus’ words about the Second Coming. He speaks about the end of the world in words and images that are foreign to us. We have a technical word for this ~ apocalyptic, but that is not very helpful. Have a read, you’ll see what I mean
1st Sunday in Advent
So, today is the 1st Sunday of Advent, and as well as the usual 8 am and 10 am services, there will be a Choral Evensong commencing at 4pm. Please consider attending this service which will be a very calming and spiritual end to the daylight as the evenings draw in ever quicker.
Further Services
On the 4th of December at 4 pm, there will be a Carol Service here at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral and we will have some choristers to encourage us along with our participation. On the 18th of December at 3 pm, we will hold a Christingle Carol Service. This service is always appreciated by children so those of you who have children (or grandchildren) why not consider bring them along. A full outline of Services in Advent will form part of a separate document which is now attached to your newsletters and also available on this website.
St Mary’s Christmas Magazine
The St Mary’s Christmas Magazine is currently being put together by Dr Nicola Mills. You have until the 13th of December to submit an article to be published therein. This can be about anything, a favourite Advent / Christmas poem, a story that makes you happy at Christmas, a favourite Christmas recipe; use your imagination and Nicola will ensure it is printed.
Raffle Tickets
Our annual raffle tickets have arrived and they consist of books of five tickets, priced at £1 per ticket. Envelopes of raffle ticket books are in a box next to the font. Please take what you wish and return the stubs together with the relevant amount of payment. We hope to distribute ticket booklets to the many families/individuals who still do not feel ready to return to church, and we hope that those of you who do now attend regularly, consider purchasing what you are able to afford. Details of prizes etc, will be published soon. Watch this space.
St Mary’s Calendars
Mrs Gillian Rose has organised the compilation of a St Mary’s Calendar for 2022 using some of the photographs that were submitted for our recent photograph competition. They are now 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 or 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 continues. When you are next out shopping, please consider buying a selection box to donate towards this appeal. We shall continue to accept donations up until Sunday the 19th of December, after which we shall ensure that they are distributed to an appropriate charity organisation who can help brighten up a child’s Christmas, who may have otherwise missed out on such a small treat.
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.
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral AGM
St Mary’s AGM will take place on Sunday the 6th of February 2022. I also inform you that our Vestry Committee have proposed that we bring our current Constitution in line with other Churches within the SEC concerning the future dates of AGM’s, in that in future years we would like to see this meeting being held in the November (or latest, December). There is a process we must legally adhere to and I shall endeavour to ensure everyone is kept appraised accordingly.
Services/Events at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral w/c Sunday the 28th of November 2021
Sunday 28th November at 8am – Holy Communion (Cn Terry – 1970)
Sunday 28th November at 10 am – 1st Sunday of Advent Sung Eucharist (Cn Terry – 1982) Followed by Tea and Coffee
Sunday 28th November at 1pm – Zoom Brunch
Sunday 28th November at 4pm – Choral Evensong (Cn Terry)
Monday 29th November – Blessing of the Nativity Scene at the Kirk of St Nicholas
Tuesday 30th November at 10 am – Morning Prayer (Cn Terry)
Wednesday 1st December at 10 am – Holy Communion followed by tea and coffee (Cn Terry – 1970)
Saturday 4th December at 4pm – Nine Lessons and Carols (Cn Terry)
Sunday 5th December at 8 am – Holy Communion (1970 – Cn Terry)
Sunday 5th December at 10.00 am – 1st Sunday of Advent sung Eucharist (1982 – Cn Terry) followed by Teas and Coffee.
Sunday 5th December at 1pm – Zoom Brunch
“In all things it is better to hope than to despair”
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
Blessings Always
Rev Canon Terry Taggart
01224588776/07768219984