HOLY TRINITY CHURCH SEER GREEN AND JORDANS 
DIOCESE OF OXFORD
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Sunday 4 December 2016 
 The Second Sunday of Advent

‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel
 (which means God with us)’      Isaiah 7:14

This Week’s Services

Today
  8 am  BCP Communion (Revd Cassa Messervy)

10 am  Christingle Family Service (Revd Cassa Messervy/Janna Holder) 

  6 pm  Evening Prayer (Linda West LLM)

Wednesday 7 December
11 am  Midweek Communion (Revd Ian Brown)

Sunday 11 December
  8 am  BCP Communion  (Revd Cassa Messervy/Revd Jenny Tebboth)
10 am  Holy Communion with Fun & Faith and Junior Church 
	 (Revd Cassa Messervy /Revd Jenny Tebboth/Linda West LLM)

3.30pm Living Nativity (Janna Holder) Starting at the Baptist Church

   7 pm  Christmas Celebration with Village Voices (Revd Cassa Messervy)

Collect for today

Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour, we may be ready to receive him, who is Lord and our God.
Amen. 

Advent Candle Prayer

Lord, make us one in the love of Jesus, today and for ever. Amen.

Bible Readings 

  8am: Isaiah 11: v1-10,   Pew Bible page 696
           Matthew 3: v1-12,  Pew Bible page 997

10am: Isaiah 11: v1-10,   Pew Bible page 696

Hymns/songs at 10 am:
(Bracketed nos. refer to the choir’s blue hymn books)

  - -    (444)  Like a candle flame
  - -    ( - - )  Sing Christingle
  - -    (366)  It’s rounded like an orange
 317  (479)   Lord, the light of your love is shining (Shine, Jesus, Shine)

Our vision at Holy Trinity is to live and share Christ’s love

Welcome – to everyone this morning. If you are visiting or new, do please introduce yourself to someone. If you would like to know more about any of our activities or services please ask or check out our website (www.seergreenandjordanscofe.org) or ‘like’ our Facebook page.

We welcome children throughout all our services.   If they need a break at any time please feel free to use the crèche facilities in the vestry - toys, toilet etc - coming and going as you wish.  

This week we pray.....
•	for peace in our world especially in Syria and Iraq
•	for all service personnel away from their loved ones serving their country at this festive season
•	for all suffering the long-term and short-term effects of abuse
•	for all our health services, particularly emergency departments and ambulance services
•	for our leaders and our choir as they prepare for our Christmas services
•	for all who will attend Christmas services, that they may find the love of Christ
•	for all who are ill or distressed
•	for all who mourn, especially those spending their first Christmas without a loved one.
 
Are you, a member of your family, or a friend, in special need of prayer?  If so please see the book for your requests on the table by the  pulpit or contact Linda West (673821), Muriel Ward (675024) or Cassa (672496 or email).

The next meeting of the Prayer Group will be on Tuesday 31 January at 2.30pm in the Vestry.   All are welcome to attend the meeting, or ask Linda for the list of concerns for prayer at home.

Ministry Fund: Statement from our Church Wardens
Please see the full statement (on the board at the back of church) from our church wardens about the fantastic news that funds have been raised to set up a ministry fund to increase our ministry hours in the parish. Cassa will now be working full time hours, not part-time hours. Our thanks go to the generosity of church members who have made this possible. If you would like to contribute to the Ministry fund please contact Andy (07814 993234) or Jane (677328) for more information.

House Groups
One of the best ways to grow in discipleship of Jesus is meeting with others and learning together. Any of these existing groups welcome new members:

Tuesdays (weekly)          8.15pm    please contact Paul Bosson (680148)
1st Tuesdays (monthly)   7.45pm    please contact Cassa (672496) or email 
3rd Tuesdays (monthly) 10.30am   please contact Cassa (672496) or email
2nd & 4th Thursdays       8pm	   please contact Jen Lomas (671281)

Notices

Our charity for today and next Sunday is the Children’s Society. To donate to this charity please use the blue envelopes in the pews; and/or use an orange envelope (or give loose cash) to donate to the work of this church.  If you do use an envelope, please fill in your details if you can Gift Aid your contribution.   Any gifts of toys etc. will be given to the Family Support Group of St Andrew’s Church, High Wycombe.

Christmas Open House at the Vicarage: Monday 19 December from 5.30pm. Everyone invited. This is a small way for Cassa to show her appreciation for the many ways people support our church family. 

Living Nativity—Next Sunday 11 December 3-5 pm (rehearsal 10 Dec 9-10.30 am)
Please speak to Janna (07764 490 960) if you can help. 

Christmas service dates and times: See ‘dates for your diary’ lower down for further details but please note: 

Christmas Eve
•	Crib Services: Because of the popularity of our Crib service last year (272 people in church!) we have decided to do two Crib services this year: Saturday 24 December at 3pm and 4.30pm. We are asking people to get a (free) ticket for one of the services so that we can ensure an even balance between the two times. Please contact Cassa(672496) or Janna (07764 490960)for more information

•	Midnight Mass (and Christmas Communion) will be at the new time of 11.30pm.
 
Christmas Day
•	Benefice Service of BCP Holy Communion at Chalfont St Giles 8am – there will be no 8am service here at Holy Trinity. 
•	Christmas Morning Service 10am – a family service followed by an optional communion 

Christmas Help! With extra services at Christmas we would be very grateful for some extra welcomers and people for the refreshment team,.  Please speak to Jane (677328) or Ali i(874152) f you can help on: Sunday 11 Dec 7pm; Sunday 18 Dec 7pm;  Saturday 24 Dec 3pm and 4.30pm; Saturday 24 Dec 11.30pm and Sunday 25 Dec 10am.Thank you! 

Favourite carols service, Sunday 1 January at 10am. If you are planning to attend this service and have a favourite carol, please let Linda know what it is and why it is important to you, no later than Sunday 18 December.  Invitation open to all age groups. Please note: this is the only service on 1 January.

Vicar of Holy Trinity and Associate Priest (Benefice)
Revd Cassa Messervy (672496, cassamesservy@gmail.com). Cassa now works full-time. Her 
rest day is Saturday.

Rector of the Benefice

Revd Ian Brown (01494 872097, rectorcsg@stgileschurch2.plus.com). Ian’s rest day is Monday.

Benefice Curate

Revd Jenny Tebboth (01753 892940, jenny.tebboth@btinternet.com). Jenny works part-time.

Licensed Lay Minister

Mrs Linda West (673821). Linda works part-time, still on limited duties.  

Children and Families Leader

Miss Janna Holder (07764 490960, jannaholder@talktalk.net). Janna works part-time.   

Other contacts

On general church matters please contact our churchwardens: Jane Spoerry (677328) or
Andy Nicholson (07814 993234); and on pastoral matters Jen Lomas (671281).

Dates for your Diary 
 
Sunday      11 Dec   3-5pm     Living Nativity
Sunday      11 Dec    7pm       Christmas Celebration Concert featuring the Village Voices choir
Sunday      18 Dec  10am        Family Carol Service
Sunday      18 Dec   7pm        Carols by Candlelight
Monday     19 Dec 3.30pm    Carols in the Churchyard
Monday     19 Dec 5.30 pm   Vicarage Christmas Open House
Saturday    24 Dec 3pm + 4.30pm  Crib services (3pm red tickets; 4.30pm blue tickets) 
Saturday    24 Dec 11.30pm   Midnight Mass (Note new time)
Sunday      25 Dec   8am        Benefice communion at Chalfont (no 8am communion here)
Sunday      25 Dec 10am       Family Christmas Service (family service; then optional communion)
Sunday        1 Jan  10am       All-age morning service with carols

The next pew sheet will be prepared by Pam Britton If you have any Church/Christian events which you would like included please make sure she has them by close of play Wednesday  (pam.britton24@gmail.com)

Websites
Parish:www.seergreenandjordanscofe.org
Diocese:  www.oxford.anglican.org
Deanery: www.amershamdeanery.com