| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 28 December 2025 Christmas 1 / Holy Innocents Day |
 WELCOME Christmas 1 / Holy Innocents Day Into our darkness a light has come, the light has been born. Yet in the light the darkness of repression still holds power. Let us worship the God whose love is stronger than all the worlds hatred. We acknowledge the evil in our world, the tyrants who are allowed to oppress, the wars that destroy, the hatred and the suspicion separate us from one another. The first reading is Jeremiah 31.15-17, in a time of national crisis when death is all around God’s people are urged to hold onto their hope of God’s plan for a better future. The second reading is 1 Corinthians 1.26-29, the smallest and least significant of God’s children matter to God just as much as the great and the powerful. The gospel is Matthew 2.13-18, the joy of the saviours birth comes at a terrible cost. Blessings for your week. Canon Brian SUNDAY SERVICES 28TH DEC CHRISTMAS 1 / HOLY INNOCENTS DAY 10:30am Parish Eucharist COLLECT Heavenly Father, whose children suffered at the hands of Herod, through they had done no wrong: by the suffering of your Son and by the innocence of our lives frustrate all evil designs and establish your reign of justice and peace; through Jesus Christs your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Jeremiah 31.15-17 15Thus says the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. 16Thus says the LORD: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the LORD: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; 17there is hope for your future, says the LORD: your children shall come back to their own country. 1 Corinthians 1.26-29 26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. Matthew 2.13-18 13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’16When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:18‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ NOTICES PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Matt, Stef, and Joanna. 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: Sebastian Weddings: Sarah and Nick 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 Little Buntings, Tyrell Gardens, Duncroft, Perrycroft, Ryecroft, Rydings, Ellison Close and Addington Close. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Anglican Church of Canada. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Sebei (Uganda), Sekondi (West Africa), Seoul (Korea), Seychelles (Indian Ocean), Sheffield (England), and Shinyanga (Tanzania).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families. If you would like anyone added to our Prayer List please email the office office@clewerparish.org SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8.00am in Church (Restarts in the New Year) Prayers & Bears – Early Years Liturgy on Fridays at 9.30am in Church (Restarts in the New Year) The church is open for private prayer 10.00am-dusk daily Sun 28 Dec – Christmas 1 / Holy Innocents Day 10:30am Parish Eucharist Sun 04 Jan – Feast of Epiphany 10:30am All Age Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist Sun 11 Jan – Baptism of Christ 10:30am Parish Eucharist 3.30pm Faith Explorers 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 18 Jan – Epiphany 2 10:30am Parish Eucharist 3.00pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES 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. Faith Explorers (our middle schoolers group) 3.30pm 11th January Wild Worship open to all 3pm 18th January Next Pudding Club Monday 19th January from 7.30pm at Peel Close  Thank you to everyone who has helped with and supported our services over Christmas, we hope you can now enjoy a well earned break. NIGHT SHELTER 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. 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 If you haven’t already please consider downloading the Church of Englands EverydayFaith app to help with daily reflections to inspire, equip and encourage you in your everday faith. 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st_andrews_clewer/ Churchwarden: Vacant Contact via email: office@clewerparish.org Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |