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† St Andrews
Proclaiming Christ in Clewer
Pews News: December 2015
Advent is the time of year when we think about our preparations for Christmas. It is a time of ‘getting ready’, cards to send, pressies to buy and a time to prepare our hearts as well as our homes. If we are not careful we can get too carried away with all the ‘trimmings’ and lose the meaning. My preparation for Advent this year I am reading Advent in Narnia, based on C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Reflections follow the themes of light and darkness, temptation and sin, forgiveness and hope. How many of us have walked into the wardrobe with our arms outstretched in front of us hoping to feel cold air and hear snow crunching under our feet? Walking into Advent can be like walking through the wardrobe, we long to find a magical time, set apart from ordinary time. The music is different, the smells in the air bring excitement. How many of you have hung a wreath on your front door? We open it to welcome guests, when we come home after a hard day at work or shopping. But walking through the front door is not going to transform our lives the way walking through the door of Jesus himself will. It is Jesus who will lead us to that world we long for, where pain is turned to love, and death to life. (extracts from Advent in Narnia, Heidi Haverkamp)
In Narnia it has always been winter but never Christmas, always waiting for the return of a saviour, until – in the midst of darkness the light came. God came to us in Jesus, he arrived and made His home in us that we might make our home in Him. It is a real awe and wonder moment. Perhaps this year look at your front door is it open and welcoming? And the door to your heart, the door that is Jesus – how can that ‘door’ be an invitation instead of a barrier?
So perhaps there is some way you can open your door and make someone’s darkness more bearable this Christmas?
Remember the Lamppost? The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5). Whatever you are doing or wherever you are travelling to this Christmas, remember the journey of Mary and Joseph, guided by the light, filled with concerns and yet also passion and joy for the task that had been given to them.
My prayer for you all is that you let Jesus open your hearts and make His home in you. Let the arrival of His awesome, wondrous, amazing light shine in your hearts and lives.
“And that is the very end of the adventure of the wardrobe. But if the professor was right it was only the beginning of the adventures of Narnia” (C.S.Leiws)
Wishing you all every blessing for a peaceful and joyous Christmas.
Revd Rosie
Services for the Month
1st Sunday – 6 December – Advent 2
10.30am Family Service
Readings Malachi 3.1-4; Philippians 1.3-11; Luke 3.1-6
5pm Parish Eucharist
2nd Sunday – 13 December – Advent 3
10.30am Parish Eucharist
Readings Zephaniah 3.14-end; Philippians 4.4-7; Luke 3.7-18
5pm Carols for Loved Ones, in memory of those who have died.
3rd Sunday – 20 December – Advent 4
10.30am Parish Eucharist
Readings Micah 5.2-5a; Hebrews 10.5-10; Luke 1.39-45 [46-55]
3pm Children’s Church
6pm Lessons & Carols by Candlelight
4th Sunday – 27 December – Christmas 1
10.30am Parish Eucharist
Readings Exodus 33.7-11a; 1 John 1; John 21.19b-end
5pm BCP Evening Prayer
Midweek Services in December
Fridays 9.30am Prayers & Bears in Church
Thursday 24 December – Christmas Eve
3pm Crib Service (children to come dressed as nativity character)
10.30pm Carol singing (prior to)
11pm Midnight Mass
Readings Isaiah 9.2-7; Titus 2.11-14; Luke 2.1-14 [15-20]
Friday 25 December – Christmas Day
10.30am Family Eucharist
Readings Isaiah 52: 7-10. Luke 2: 1-14/John 1: 1-14
Please see the Christmas Flyer for details.
For your prayers
Healing Prayers: Peter and Katie Dennis, Jack Trigwell, Jenny Evendon, baby Blake, Jim Allen, Roy Taylor, Zena, Terry Shaw, Jasmine, Phoebe, Graham Woods, Roly Cockman.
Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all those who live and/or work in Byron Court, Mayfield Close, Kimber Close, Harrington Close, Sherbourne Drive, Woodland Avenue and Illingworth.
Notices
Thank you to everyone who has been busy delivering the Festival/Christmas services flyer.
Christmas cleaning and Christmas tree/ church decorating Friday 18th from 2pm, all hands on deck to make the church sparkle. Please come along and help out. Coffee and mince pies for everyone!
We would like to offer hospitality to visitors after the carol service on the 20th, volunteers to help with refreshments would be welcomed.
Choir Practice – Tuesday evenings at 6pm in church, please see Heather for details
Beer and Carols – reinstating an age old tradition! Please come along and join us for carol singing and a pint at The Swan on Friday 18th at 8pm, everyone welcome.
Nursing homes carol singing -23rd December
Christmas service at: Winton House at 11.30am and Sandown Park at 2pm
Taking the light of Christ out into the community. Volunteers needed to join the Rector and engage with the residents in their Christmas service and carol singing. All voices welcome!
Carols for loved ones – Sunday 13th at 5pm
St Andrews Clewer Church Family offer our prayers and support to families on this first Christmas without your loved one. And also to anyone who would like to remember a loved one this Christmas.
We would like to invite you to tea at 4pm on the 13th December followed by a special carol service at 5pm.
Posada – The Holy Family have set off on their journey around the parish, if they are visiting you please follow the instructions and enjoy hosting them and let us know how you get on by writing in the journal. Any problems call Revd Rosie.
St Andrews Festival Weekend 28-29 November
My personal thank you to everyone for all their marvellous efforts in making the festival weekend so successful. A big THANKS to Georgine for her organising skills and the support of the fundraising team.
It was wonderful to see the church buzzing with so many people at the fair, the smell of mulled wine and the waffles gave us a real festive smell. And once again I was more than happy to judge the Bake Off! The Home produce, jams and cakes sold well and we had enough cakes to feed everyone at the Confirmation service on Sunday afternoon. The raffle was huge and thank you to everyone who donated, please check your tickets and collect as soon as possible. The new venture with the church calendars has got off to a good start but we have plenty more to sell, so please put the word out and help us make sure they are all sold.
The entertainment carried on throughout the fair with choirs, individual musicians and bell plate ringers all of which helped to raise the atmosphere and showcase our local talent.
The weekend was drawn together with the Advent carol service. The candlelight helped set the tone for reflection and lead us into this time of waiting and preparation. A truly wonderful way to start our Advent journey towards the stable.
We’ll let you know as soon as possible how much was raised towards the roof repairs.
Thank you again to everyone who helped in any way.
Parish Priest: Revd Rosie Webb
St Andrew’s Rectory
Parsonage Lane
01753 852334