3rd SUNDAY of ADVENT

DECEMBER 12th, 2010


08:00 Eucharist
09:30 Mattins
10:00 Sung Eucharist
18:30 Sung Evensong


Readings at the Eucharist:

First Reading Isaiah 35: 1-10
from Psalm 146 The Lord shall reign for ever!
Second Reading James 5: 7-10
Gospel St Matthew 11: 2-11

Music at the Sung Eucharist: New English Folk Mass

Introit 608 Thy Kingdom come! On bended knee
Gradual 234 Sing we the praises of the great forerunner
Offertory Come down, O Love divine (sheet)
Closing 37 The Lord will come and not be slow

Music & Readings at Evensong:

Office 458 Have faith in God, my heart
Psalm 12 (said - sheet)
First Reading Isaiah 5: 8-30
Second Reading Acts 13: 13-41
Hymn 484 omit v 3 Jesu, priceless treasure
The Advent Prose Drop down ye heavens from above,
and let the skies pour down righteousness

Time is running out to obtain a ticket for the Christmas Raffle. Fabulous prizes will be drawn after the Sung Eucharist next Sunday.


‘What did you expect?’ Jesus asks us in today’s Gospel, referring to John the Baptist. Often we decide the answer before we ask the question, and reject it if it doesn’t fit our expectations. Faith challenges us to think and to act differently for God and for his Kingdom.

Many thanks to those who baked for our Cake Stall at Christ Church Primary School’s Christmas Fayre last Wednesday. We raised £65. There are a few remainders for sale at the back of Church.

Times of all Services this Week are shown on the notices on the doors and at the back of Church. We celebrate the Eucharist on Monday (Lucy of Syracuse, Martyr, 304) at 10:15; on Wednesday at 10:00; on Thursday at 10:00; on Friday (O Sapientia) at 10:00; and on Saturday (O Adonai) at 09:30, followed by Church cleaning and other jobs. There is no Eucharist on Tuesday. Friday is a Day of Abstinence. Confessions after Saturday Evensong or by arrangement.

Friday is the last day of term for schools and colleges. We welcome the Glebe Primary School on Monday for their Carol Service at 09:30 and Christ Church Primary School on Thursday for their Christingle at 14:00. Can YOU help us make them welcome?

Save time, effort and money by sending a Christmas Card to everyone at Christ Church. You can pin your card to the trolley board. If you are feeling generous, you might like to donate the money you save for Christian Aid. Gift aid it and mark it ‘Present Aid’.

Any donations for Christmas Flowers may be left in the plate at the back of Church. Gift Aid it if you can and mark it ‘Flowers’.

The Day of Reckoning is here: please collect your named letter.

Servers and all who dress up: please ensure that your cotta / alb / surplice is washed and ironed for Christmas (or Santa won’t come.)

Our Parish Carol Service is on Sunday, December 26th at 16:00. Come and sing away your indigestion. Refreshments after . . .

Menus and a sign-up list are available for the Parish Christmastide Dinner on Wednesday, January 5th at The Stafford Arms at Bagnall. Please indicate choice of starter and main course and let Edna Day or Glenna Swetnam have your £5 deposit. No deposit = no food.

Fr David, Vicar