| St Andrews Clewer Pews News 29 November 2020 Advent Sunday and the Feast of St Andrew |
 |
| WELCOME What a Sunday! Our usual practice on this Sunday is to celebrate St Andrew in our principal service and start to Advent with our carol service in the evening. This year we can’t do either in church! So our Pews News includes both today. The gospel reading for St Andrew the Apostle is Matthew 4.18-22, and it tells us nothing about Andrew that differentiates him from the three other fishermen who were called by Jesus to follow him. What we do know about Andrew is that he is the first to identify Jesus as Messiah and then told his brother, Peter, and brought him to Jesus. Jesus didn’t call a set of individuals, he gathered together a group of followers, a core group of four who were fishermen and then 12, 12 of course to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Men who had no theological training but disciples for no other reason than that Jesus called them. Discipleship meant ‘followership’, simple being with Jesus. And Jesus uses the image of fishing to call the disciples to a new life. The calling of Andrew and the other disciples shows us that following is communal, corporate being together with Jesus, feasting on his words and sacraments, rejoicing in the fellowship that the Spirit creates among his people and growing together through the Church’s learning in discipleship, that we are called to be and become. And so to Advent, have you considered how adventurous you are going to be yet? There are many ways we can ‘be with Jesus’ this Advent, maybe not together as we’d like, but we still have the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, that this season brings, so let’s share it, as disciples as best we can in any way we can, for Jesus. Canon Brian has recorded his Advent Sunday sermon for us today, click and enjoy! |
| Here is an introduction to the Advent Season and the first day of our calendar, due out on the 1st |
| Welcome in the name of Christ. God’s grace, mercy and peace be with you. And also with you. Lord, we praise you as our God and King. Open our hearts and minds to recognise and serve you among those who need our love and care. Amen. |
| COLLECT Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. |
| READINGS – RECORDING Please click the blue button below to listen to the Old and New Testament readings |
| READINGS Isaiah 64.1-9 1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence— 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. 5 You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 8 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 80.1-8, [18-20] 1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock; 2 Shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. 3 Stir up your mighty strength and come to our salvation. 4 Turn us again, O God; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. 5 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer? 6 You feed them with the bread of tears; you give them abundance of tears to drink. 7 You have made us the derision of our neighbours, and our enemies laugh us to scorn. 8 Turn us again, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. [18 Let your hand be upon the man at your right hand, the son of man you made so strong for yourself. 19 And so will we not go back from you; give us life, and we shall call upon your name. 20 Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.] 1 Corinthians 1.3-9 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. |
| GOSPEL READING – RECORDING Please click the blue button below to listen to the Gospel Reading |
| GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord. Mark 13.24-end 24 ‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 ‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. |
| REFLECTION – RECORDING Please click the blue button below to listen to Canon Brian’s reflection |
| REFLECTION – TEXT First Reading Isaiah 64:1-9 Jerusalem is desolate and the Temple destroyed. Isaiah begs God to come and be known again on earth. People have sinned, yet they are still God’s creation. Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Paul writes to the church in Corinth, giving thanks for their understanding of the Gospel and spiritual gifts, and their readiness for the day when Jesus comes again. The Gospel Mark 13:24-end Jesus warns his disciples of hard times to come and tells them to remain watchful for the return of the Son of Man. In today’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that the Son of Man is “Coming in clouds”. He is talking to people who lived off the land and the sea, for whom watching clouds was part of daily life and for whom clouds signalled change and the need for action. But he is not only making reference to weather events. His life and teaching are steeped in the Old Testament, showing that he is the fulfilment of God’s promises. St. Paul writing to the church in Corinth, knows that the Corinthians’ understanding of the teaching of Jesus and their spiritual gifts will keep them faithful and ready. “Keep awake,” says Jesus. We can be worn out by all we have to do, by our very real pains and struggles. How to keep awake for the coming of Jesus? R.S. Thomas, the Welsh priest and poet, puts it this way: But the silence in the mind is when we live best, within listening distance of the silence we call God. This is the deep calling to deep… As we prepare for the coming of Jesus, in a stable and with clouds of glory, we need to be awake to notice God’s arrival amongst us and to hear God’s call. Now it’s Advent Sunday so just four things for you to remember, or forget! 1. Clouds in the natural world are a sign of what is to come and we respond accordingly 2. Jesus, as “the Son of Man coming in clouds”, is the fulfilment of all previous prophecies and interventions by God. 3. We are each the work of God’s hand and the Living God is faithful to each of us. 4. There will be many troubles and distractions. To stay awake for the coming of Jesus we need to make time to read the Gospels and listen to the Living God. Amen |
| TIME OF PRAYER – MARTIN CHANDLER Everlasting God, as we come before you at the start of the Season of Advent we ask you to prepare us for the coming, of your son Jesus Christ and to hear us when we pray in faith for the needs of the Church and the world and to thank you for your goodness. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Father God, we pray for those amongst our families, friends and neighbours who will only see in Advent a hectic and worrying run-up to the excesses of a secular Christmas. Help us as we try to set an example of a true spirit of preparation for that incredibly precious gift of the Christ-child. May they see in our services, outreach and ministry, whether in church or online, the true meaning of Christmas and experience your love for them through the giving of your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Merciful God, we pray for those for whom this day will be long and painful, for those in hospital or ill at home, those struggling with despair or depression and for all who care for them. Comfort and heal all who suffer, especially at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Advent Lord, as we move into the new liturgical year, draw near to us, strengthen our faith, deepen our love for you and for our neighbours and open our eyes to the wonder of your creation, so that when our Saviour comes he may find our hearts ready to receive him. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Father we thank you for the Women of Clewer (the 3 remaining Clewer Sisters) and their selfless devotion to Our Lord Jesus Christ His service and His Work Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. We join our prayers with those of our Lady, St Andrew, St Agnes, and all the Saints, as we commend ourselves, one another, and those we have prayed for, to your unfailing love. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. |
| BLESSING Our Lord says, I am coming soon. Amen, Come Lord Jesus. May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting. Amen May God himself, the God of peace, make you perfect and holy; And keep you all safe and blameless, in spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessing of God almighty, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you always. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord In the name of Christ Amen. |
| SUNDAY COFFEE ZOOM AT 11.45am After you have watched or listened to this Sunday’s online service of your choice, we invite you to join us for a chat over coffee via Zoom at 11.45 for about half an hour. We will resend the meeting details later. SUNDAY EVENING PRAYER AT 5pm BCP evening prayer will continue this Sunday at 5pm via a Zoom link. We will send out the order of service later. EP Readings Psalm 25 Isaiah 1.1-20 Matthew 21.1-13 EVENING PRAYER DURING THE WEEK We are continuing to hold Evening Prayer meetings every Tuesday and Thursday at 1700 (5.00pm) via Zoom. The liturgy is Common Worship in contemporary language. The best way to follow along is using the Church of England’s Daily Prayer App. It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. We will resend the meeting details later. WORSHIP FROM DECEMBER After the lifting of restrictions on 3rd December, we will return to church for Sunday Eucharist at 10:30 and Wednesday Holy Communion at 10:00am, and private prayer from 10.30-12.00. |
| OXFORD DIOCESE CHURCH AT HOME https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream 29 November 2020 10am Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ in his incarnation, and also looks ahead to his final advent as judge at the end of time. Today the first Advent candle is lit and we recognise the Advent of Christ, the light of the world. As we prepare for Christmas in our hearts and in our lives, in the very particular context of COVID-19, prayer is likely to be our focus. There are resources we can draw on that are commended by Bishop Steven. Click the Discovering Prayer link, below. Presiding is the Venerable Guy Elsmore, Archdeacon of Buckingham. The address is given by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham. Watch at 10am on church.online Alternative ways to participate in the service are listed below Download the order of service (PDF) Other ways to participate in this service Watch on YouTube Listen to the service online (link available soon) Additional resources Find out about the Discovering Prayer Advent resources Sermon notes (available soon) As ever, the order of service, together with links to view, listen or dial in to this service will be published on this page shortly. Live-streamed and ‘as live’ worship is available for everyone across the Diocese of Oxford, these services complement the prayers, meditations and worship offered bylocal churches. Our principal Diocesan services take place at 10 am each Sunday. https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream Reflections for a Church in Lockdown Episodes are available to listen to now, or download it wherever you get your podcasts (search ‘My extraordinary family’) https://blogs.oxford.anglican.org/podcast |
| PLEASE PRAY FOR The suffering: Blake, Sam, Reuben, Margaret, David, Don, Karl, Hugh, Sarah, Elsie, Lesley, Joanna, Pam, Andy, Holly, Hugo, Frank, Oliver, Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The departed: those recently departed this life and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Community prayers: Clewer Green School, the head teacher Martin Tinsley and all the pupils, staff and governors. For all our Care Homes, for the safety of residents and staff. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who live or work in Little Buntings, Tyrell Gardens, Duncroft, Perrycroft, Ryecroft, Rydings, Ellison Close, and Addington Close. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Pray for the Lusitanian Church (Extra-Provincial to the Archbishop of Canterbury). Please pray also for the Churches in Sekondi (West Africa), Eastern Michigan (The Episcopal Church), Seoul (Korea), Eastern Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada), Seychelles (Indian Ocean), Eastern Oregon (The Episcopal Church), Sheffield (England), Eastern Zambia (Central Africa), Easton (The Episcopal Church), Shinyanga (Tanzania), Eau Claire (The Episcopal Church), Gasabo (Rwanda), and Edinburgh (Scotland). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. |
| NOTICES WhatsApp group finishes on the 4th Dec We hope you have enjoyed receiving the daily prayer and now we encourage you to move to the new Virtual Advent Calendar. The link for this will be sent via email to subscribers group as is our usual custom for pews news. Thank you joining in and please…keep praying! Advance notice There will be no Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve this year. We will review what services we can do once we get the final guidance from the Government and Diocese and then produce a Christmas flyer. Advent Study This year we would encourage you to prepare for the Incarnation by regular reading of the BRF Journeying through Advent with New Daylight: Daily Bible readings and group study material. The cost is £3 if you would like a copy please let Revd Rosie know. We will be coming together each Wednesday, via zoom at 8pm, to do the group sessions. We hope you will be able to join us. Also there will be a said service of Compline/night prayer following at 9pm. You can join for both or either/or. Churches Together in Windsor Virtual Advent Calendar This year we are having to find new and creative ways of sharing the story of the first Christmas. Our annual visit to the Christmas story may look different but the story and the meaning is the same, a story of darkness and light, a story of hope and love. This year you are invited to join us virtually though our Advent Calendar put together by our Churches Together in Windsor community. We hope and pray that this will encourage and help you prepare for an amazing Christmas! You will be able to find it via our email subscribers list, St Andrews website, our St Andrews facebook page and the new CTW Advent Calendar facebook page. Parish Mailing List If you know of anyone who would like to receive the Pews News by email, please ask them to email office@clewerparish.org to be added to the list. We currently have 91 subscribers. If you know anyone without internet access who would like to receive a printed copy of the Pews News, please send their name and address to office@clewerparish.org |
 CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WANTED – Outdoor lights for the churchyard. If you have any that you are not using or would like to donate some new ones, please leave them with Revd Rosie at the Rectory. Our aim this year to make Christmas even more meaningful and memorable, so we’d like to light up the churchyard for everyone to walk through and enjoy. CHRISTMAS EVE – VISIT THE STABLE As we won’t be having a Crib service in church this year, we will be opening the porch and turning it into the stable. Please come along dressed up in Nativity outfits as you usually would and visit, walk through the lights, have a hot chocolate with marshmallows, collect your Christingle in a bag and leave a present for The Annex Project. Their wish list will be posted on the website etc. This is a wonderful charity that supports children who have suffered from trauma, bereavement, attachment issues and more. Their work with children is even more important now as the mental health issues in children is increasing considerably. |
| Church Finances – message from Andrew Thank you to everyone for all you have been able to give in this difficult time. Please consider continuing your regular giving by paying directly to our bank account, the details of which are: HSBC Bank, High Street, Windsor Sort Code: 40-47-37 Account number: 11373366 Account name: PCC St Andrews Church |
| CONTACTS The Parish Office is now closed again. Sharon is on furlough. Stuart will monitor emails. Out of hours office number: 07490 094261 Email: office@clewerparish.org Revd Rosie Webb: rector@clewerparish.org Tel: 01753 852334 Parish website: www.standrewsclewer.org Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Pastoral helpline number: 07946 590223 |