| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 07 December 2025 2nd Sunday of Advent |
 WELCOME Second Sunday in Advent A few days into December and yet again the time is flying by. It is so hard to take those moments to reflect and slow down. Some of us are using the Church of England’s Everyday Faith app to give us a moment of quiet reflection every day, our Advent calendar. The reflections are on the Advent O Antiphons; this week the focus has been on O Wisdom. The antiphons have been part of the Church’s liturgical tradition since the early Middle Ages and are usually sung at evening prayer on the seven days prior to Christmas Eve. They are a ‘calling’ on Jesus to come as teacher and deliverer and each antiphon calls on Jesus using a title. So each title is taken from all the different identities given to Christ throughout the Old Testament prophecies – O Wisdom (O Sapientia), O Lord (O Adonai), O Root of Jesse (O Radix Jesse), O Key of David (O Clavis David), O Light of the East (O Oriens), O King of the Nations (O Rex Gentium), and finally, O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel). Remember the famous Advent carol… O Come O Come Emmanuel? Preparing us and helping us to slow down, to point us towards Jesus and to call on Jesus to come, come Lord Jesus. I would encourage you all as you prepare for Christmas, to remember to prepare your heart as well as all the practical things that you want to get ready. This is our slow down and reset season. The second Sunday of Advent the church invites us to reflect on the place of prophets directing us towards Jesus. Not an easy task, but a challenging one, a task that requires saying it as it is, not looking into future predictions, but calling the people of God to account. Our slow down season calls us to take a long hard look at ourselves, our relationship with God and others, only then will we really appreciate the coming of Christ. As we continue through Advent we hear the call of John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord. We offer our lives to the living God. The God who meets us with compassion and great mercy. The first reading is Isaiah 11.1-10, the prophet Isaiah paints a picture of a shoot growing from a stump that seemed dead – we now note that shoot to be Jesus. The heart of his mission are peace and restoration not just for us but for the whole of creation. The second reading is Romans 15.4-13, as we await in great hope for the coming of Jesus we must strive to be like Jesus. Those who are strong and powerful need especially to heed these words. We’re reminded on the inclusive nature of God’s love and call to welcome others as God has welcomed us. The gospel is Matthew 3.1-12, John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus by called everyone to repentance. Blessings for your week Revd Rosie & Canon Brian SUNDAY SERVICES 07TH DEC SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10:30am All Age Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist COLLECT Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour we may be ready to recieve him, who is our Lord and our God. Amen READINGS Isaiah 11.1-10 1 A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. 6 The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Romans 15.4-13 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; 10 and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; 11 and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; 12 and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3.1-12 3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’[3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”’ 4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ NOTICES PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Paul, Diana, Norman, Hilary, Matt, Al,Vivienne, Stef, John F, Joanna, Tom B and Val. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: All those recently departed this life and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Baptisms: Ezra, Sebastian Weddings: Community Prayers: Clewer Green School, Mrs Branch, Mr Seymour, and all the staff, pupils, staff and governors. Busy Buttons CORE Charity and for all the work that they do. For all our Care Homes, for the safety of residents and staff. We pray also for Windsor Christian Action, and the work of the Homeless Project, Street Angels, and FoodShare, under the umbrella of the Alma Beacon Hub. Please pray for the PCC as they work through the Mission Action Plan and discern God’s mission in Clewer. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who live or work in Byron Court, Mayfield Close, Kimber Close, Harrington Close, Sherbourne Drive, Woodland Avenue and Illingworth. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Church of Bangladesh. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Ruwenzori (Uganda), East Ruwenzori (Uganda), South Ruwenzori (Uganda), Sabah (South East Asia), Sabongidda-Ora (Migeria), and Sacred Circle (Canada). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families. A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported, volunteered and came to the St Andrews Festival Fair last Saturday. It was a brilliant community event with over £4k raised and more still coming in! What a fantastic amount to go towards our restoration funds, thank you to everyone! SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8.00am in Church Prayers & Bears – Early Years Liturgy on Fridays at 9.30am in Church The church is open for private prayer 10.00am-dusk daily Sun 07 Dec – 2nd Sunday of Advent 10:30am All Age Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist Sun 14 Dec – 3rd Sunday of Advent 10:30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm 9 Lessons & Carols + Churchyard Light Switch On Sun 21 Dec – 4th Sunday of Advent 10:30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 28 Dec – Christmas 1 10:30am Parish Eucharist UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Prayers & Bears – Early Years Liturgy has restarted Friday’s at 9.30am – please share with those who might like to join Midweek Advent Eucharist followed by lunch on 10th and 17th December Community Walk in aid of St Andrews 6th December Windsor Churches Together – Carols on The Hill Friday 12th December 6.15pm for 6.30pm at the statue of Queen Victoria by Windsor Castle Decorate a Christmas Tree in the Churchyard w/c 7th December ahead of the Churchyard Light Switch On Sunday 14th December – community groups and families across the parish decorate a tree, if you’d like book one please email office@clewerparish.org Lessons & Carols Service followed by Churchyard Light Switch On and Windsor Living Advent Calendar Sunday 14th December, service at 5pm followed by light switchon at 6.15pm Christmas Pudding Club Fellowship & Prayers Monday 15th December from 7.30pm The Alma Beacon Cold Weather Night Shelter 2025/2026 run by the Windsor Homeless Project are looking for volunteers from Monday 15th December 2025 to Sunday 29th March 2026 to help run the shelter. More details and information can be found here. NIGHTSHELTER MEALS A request has come from the Night Shelter for meals for 30 people per night Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the weeks that the shelter is open from 19th December. There is a budget that can be reimbursed by Alman Beacon of up to £60 per night. Please let us know if you can help.  We will be “lighting up” our churchyard once again this Christmas – we are in need of some more outdoor lights. If you have any we’re able to use please bring them to church or email the office@clewerparish.org Can you donate some mince pies? For our Churchyard Light Switch-On after the Lessons and Carols evening service on Sunday 14th December we’d like to offer mince pies along with hot drinks, if you’re able to donate a box or two please bring them to church. CHRISTMAS EVE BOXES Created by the Children & Families at St Andrews Church to raise money at Christmas this brillinat Christmas Eve boxes have everything you need to get ready on Christmas Eve. All details on the poster below. If you don’t need one for yourself we now offer the “pay it forward” option where you can buy a box for someone else and we will ensure its donated to someone who will benefit from it this Christmas.  Carol Singing at the local care homes will take place: Tuesday 16th Dec 11am Sandown Park Tuesday 16th Dec 3pm Queens Court Wednesday 17th Dec 11am Winton House Wednesday 17th Dec 2pm Mountbatten Grange Please pop on some festive attire and come and join us to sing with residents!   Please download the Church of Englands EverydayFaith app ahead of Advent this year. This will be a unique Advent resource exploring the symbolism behind the hymn ‘O Come Emmanuel’ that’ll be great to follow along with together. This will replace our previous WhatsApp Advent daily messages. CHURCH GIVING Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to our church financially as well as through their time and skills. As we see our congregation grow and our community events increase we invite you to prayerfully consider how you might support this ongoing growth. Every contribution helps us serve our parish here in Clewer. Finance Details Parish Giving Scheme – where one off payments or regular giving can be set up. Alternatively, financial contributions can be paid directly to our bank account, the details of which are: HSBC Bank Sort Code: 40-47-37 Account number: 11373366 Account name: PCC St Andrews Church CONTACTS Rector Revd Rosie Webb 01753 852334, email: rector@clewerparish.org Parish Office email: office@clewerparish.org Parish Website: www.standrewsclewer.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/standrewsclewer Churchwarden: Vacant Contact via email: office@clewerparish.org Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |