HOLY TRINITY CHURCH SEER GREEN AND JORDANS 
DIOCESE OF OXFORD

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Sunday 17 December 2017
Third Sunday of Advent

‘Stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’ Luke 21:28

Welcome to everyone, particularly if you are visiting or new - if so, please do introduce yourself to someone.  If you would like to know more about any of our activities or services please ask, check out our website ww.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.

Today’s services 

  8am 			BCP Communion  (Revd Cassa Messervy)
10am 	Family Carol Service (Revd Cassa Messervy/Miss Janna Holder)
11.30am  Baptism
 7pm 	Traditional Lessons and Carols by Candlelight  
			(Revd Cassa Messervy/Revd Paul Henderson)

Collect for today

God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist  to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice,and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible readings: 

8am: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-end; page 748
         John 1:19-28;   page 1061

10am and 7pm: Various 

Hymns  at 10am

 See Service sheet

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

Services and Events this week

Monday 18 December
3.30pm Carols,cookies and hot chocolate in Church

Tuesday 19 December
9am Prayer in the morning
12.30 Seer Green Lunch Club, Christmas lunch. 

Wednesday 20 December
9.15-10.30am Advent Course
11am BCP Holy Communion

Thursday 21 December
2pm to 3.30pm Christmas Tea Party at the Vicarage
5pm-10pm Christmas Open House at the Vicarage

Sunday 24 December: 4th Sunday of Advent / Christmas Eve
Please note there is no 8am service
11am BCP Said Communion
3pm and 4.30pm Crib Service. 
11.30 Midnight Mass

Monday 25 December: Christmas Day

10am Christmas All-Age Service, followed by optional communion.

This week we pray:

•	for peace from all the many conflicts around the world
•	for all who suffer as a result of war, terrorism, famine, natural disaster or weather conditions
•	for our carol service tonight and for all the preparations of our Christmas services
•	that Cassa, our ministry team and our choir may keep well to lead our services during this busy period
•	for Jonny and Emma as they bring Arthur for baptism today
•	that we may not forget to spend time with God as we rush around getting ready for Christmas
•	for those who are sick, awaiting or undergoing treatment, and for their carers
•	that God will comfort those who mourn.
       
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 cassamesservy@gmail.com).
 
Email from the Vicar:   Cassa sends out a monthly email to the church family. If you are not already receiving these and would like to, please email her on                        cassamesservy@gmail.com to let her know.  Thank you.

Today’s charities:  Today and throughout December (including all Christmas services) offerings in blue envelopes will be divided equally between Padstones (our local charity providing accommodation, mentoring and on-going assistance for homeless youngsters in the Thames Valley area) and Medecins sans Frontieres.   Donations to the on-going mission of this church in Seer Green and Jordans may be made by using an orange envelope.   In either case please add the 25% ‘gift aid’ if you can by filling in the details on the envelope (otherwise this is not necessary).

Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the coming/second coming of Jesus, but the ‘busyness’of the season can often take over.  So we are trying to reclaim a little of the Advent season with a challenge of ‘An Hour of Prayer during Advent’.  Can you give up an hour, or even half an hour, of your time between now and Christmas to spend it praying in church?   Please sign the list on the font in church or email Cassa.

No Prayer Day in December: There will not be a Prayer Day in December due to the many activities at this time of year. Please do take part in the Advent Prayer challenge though. 

You are invited: Cassa and Myles would like to extend an invitation to everyone to join them at the Vicarage on Thursday 21 December for a ’Christmas Tea Party’ at 2pm and/or ‘Christmas Open House’ from 5pm   An indication of numbers would be helpful but do just come. 

Sunday 31 December: On the 1st Sunday of Christmas at 10am Cassa will lead a carol sing-along service. Come along on the 7th day of Christmas and choose your favourite carol to sing at a relaxed and enjoyable service. 

Invitation Supper:  On Thursday 11 January at 7.30 pm we will have an invitation supper, hosted at Seer Green Baptist Church, with guest speaker Steve Gaukroger.  It will be an opportunity for us to invite friends who might be interested in participating in the new six-week Alpha course, which starts two weeks later (see below).

Alpha: We have a shorter six-week Alpha course starting on the week of 22 January. Please consider who you might invite to join it, or if you might like to run a group? Please speak to Cassa. 

Vicar of Holy Trinity and Associate Priest (Benefice)

Revd Cassa Messervy (672496) cassamesservy@gmail.com).Cassa works full-time.  Her rest day is Friday.   

Rector of the Benefice

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

Benefice Curates

Revd Jenny Tebboth (01753 892940, jenny.tebboth@btinternet.com)
Revd Paul Henderson (764367,  paul.e.henderson@btinternet.com)

Licensed Lay Minister

Mrs Linda West (673821, rogerlindatootsie@btinternet.com). 
Although semi-retired, Linda is still working part-time.

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

Thursday 21  Dec 2pm: Christmas Tea Party and 5pm: Christmas Open House at the Vicarage

Sunday 24 December, Christmas Eve:
 	11am	Said Communion Service,				
	3pm and 4.30pm 	Crib Services   
		   11.30pm 	Midnight Mass
Monday 25 December, Christmas Day:
 10am 	Two-part Christmas Day Service with Communion. 
Sunday 31 December 10am  Carol sing-along for the first Sunday of Christmas
Thursday 11 Jan 7.30pm  Invitation Supper with guest speaker Steve Gaukroger
Thursday 25 Jan 7.30pm  Alpha course starts
Sunday 28 Jan 10am   	Benefice Sunday Service hosted at Chalfont St Giles
Sunday 18 Feb 10am 	Guest speaker Rev Canon Dr Margaret Whipp

The next pew sheet, covering 24th and 25th December will be prepared by Geoffrey Brand .   If you have any church/Christian matters you wish to submit for the pew sheet, please contact him by close of play on Wednesday (geoffreybrand@waitrose.com)

Websites

Parish:     wwwseergreenandjordanscofe.org
Diocese:  www.oxford.anglican.org
Deanery: www.amershamdeanery.com