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

Sundays 18th and 25th December 2016 & 1st January 2017
4th Sunday of Advent, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day 

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, 
which means “God with us”.   Matthew 1: v23

Forthcoming Services:

Sunday 18 December
  8am  BCP Communion: Revd Cassa Messervy
10am  Family Christmas Celebration with Carols: Revd Cassa Messervy / Miss Janna Holder
  7pm Carols and Readings by Candlelight: Revd Cassa Messervy

Monday 19 December
3.30pm Carols in the Churchyard

Wednesday 21 December
11am  Midweek Communion: Revd Cassa Messervy

Saturday 24th December, Christmas Eve
    3pm  Crib Service
4.30pm Crib Service
11.30pm Midnight Mass

Sunday 25 December, Christmas Day
10am Two-part Christmas Celebration with Communion

Sunday 1 January, 1st Sunday after Christmas / New Year’s Day
10 am All-Age Morning Service with Carols: Mrs Linda West LLM

Sunday 8 January, Epiphany
8am BCP Communion: Revd Cassa Messervy
10am Holy Communion with Fund & Faith and Junior Church: Revd Cassa Messervy

Collect for 18 December
Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory; 
Bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see, with her, 
Our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen

Advent Candle Prayer
Come Lord Jesus.   Amen

Collect for 1 January
God in Trinity, eternal unity of perfect love: gather the nations to be one family,
And draw us into your holy life through the birth of Emmanuel, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen

Bible Readings 18th December

8am: Isaiah 7: v10-16;   Pew Bible  p692
        Matthew 1: V18-end   Pew Bible p965
10am  Various

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 www.facebook.com/HolyTrinitySGJ. 

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:
•	all the places in the world affected by terrorism or war, especially Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Iraq
•	all refugees and the homeless and for all the organisations  that help them
•	peace in our world and peace in our hearts
•	those who have to be away from loved ones over the Christmas season
•	all our Christmas services that the love of Christ will shine through them
•	all those who will act as welcomers or provide refreshments at our Christmas services
•	all who are ill, awaiting test results or undergoing treatment
•	all who mourn, especially those spending their first Christmas without loved ones.

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 2.30 pm in the Vestry.   All are welcome to attend the meeting, or ask Linda for the list of concerns for prayer at  home.

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)

Today and at all the Christmas services our collections for charity will be divided equally between Padstones (which provides accommodation and mentoring for homeless young people in the Thames Valley area) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (the independent international humanitarian agency). To donate to these charities please use a blue envelope and/or to donate to the work of this church please use an orange envelope (or just give loose cash). If you use envelopes please fill in your details if you can Gift Aid your contribution. 

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 will have 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. Tickets are available from church, the post office, Jordans’ Village Shop and the schools.

•	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 

Favourite carols service, Sun 1 January at 10 am
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.Note: This will be the only service on 1 January.

Thank You.  Cassa, Jane and Andy are very grateful to people who have volunteered to help with welcoming and refreshments over the Christmas period.  We are still looking for some help so do let us know if you are able to offer support at this busy time for our church. 

Alpha: do you have questions about Christian Faith?  Would you like to refresh your understanding of Christian Faith?  We will be running a ‘Churches Together’ Alpha course next year starting in May.  Do look out for the invitation cards available in church.

Just One: our charity for January will be J John’s ‘Just One’ project, please see www.justone.co.uk.  We are hoping to arrange a coach from the parish to go to this event on Sat 8 July at the Emirates Stadium.  On Sunday 15 January the special speaker at our 10am service will be Susie Wilson from J John’s team to speak to us about this event and building the Kingdom of God.

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 is on Advent break from Monday 12 to Friday 16 inclusive.

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 

Monday     19 Dec    3.30pm   Carols in the Churchyard
Monday     19 Dec    5.30pm   Vicarage Christmas Open House
Saturday    24 Dec   3pm and 4.30pm   Crib services 
Saturday    24 Dec   11.30pm  Midnight Mass 
Sunday      25 Dec    8am   Benefice communion at Chalfont (no 8am communion here)
Sunday      25 Dec   10am  Two Part All-Age Christmas Service with communion
Sunday      01 Jan    10am (only)    All-age Morning Service with Carols
Sunday      15 Jan    10am Special Speaker: Susie Wilson from J John’s ‘Just One’ team

The next pew sheet will be prepared by Geoffrey Brand. If you have any Church/Christian events which you would like included please make sure he has them by close of play Wednesday 4 January 2017 (geoffreybrand@waitrose.com)  

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