Thoughts from The Vicarage with stirring, Christ The King & retirement
Greetings! Please open up Pews News giving you the week’s dates, prayers and readings. Diary dates are at the end of this email including Christmas. Services this weekend focus on Christ The King and include the words ‘stir up’ often related to stirring Christmas puddings, this being traditionally ‘Stir Up Sunday’.
This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year and Christians worldwide celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This relatively recent addition to the Church calendar, established in the 20th century, holds a profound purpose—to acknowledge the dominion of Jesus Christ, over all of creation and every aspect of our lives.
The new Church Year begins the following Sunday November 30th – Advent Sunday. Advent marks the beginning of the church year. It is a time for reflection in darkness, for renewal of hope and for a movement towards a beginning as we look ahead in watchful waiting for the birth of Christ – Emmanuel, God with us.
Advent gatherings at Mellors Close and The Vicarage. This year we have a choice of time & a choice of content….
We Believe We say the Nicene Creed in church nearly every week. This year marks the 1700th Anniversary of its original development. Using free resources from the Church of England we will reflect on our belief in God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sessions will be Christine’s home at 2pm on Dec 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd. please contact her venchrisallsopp@gmail.com or 07801 096345
O Come Emmanuel: Reflections on the Advent Antiphons. We will explore the ancient biblical names and images for the coming Messiah. Well-known writers offer a total of twenty-four reflections, one for each weekday of the four weeks of Advent. We will be at The Vicarage at 7pm on Nov 26th Dec 3rd,10th & TBA. Please let me know if you’d like to come.
Lambourn Church of England Primary school was inspected today. We began the day with prayer in the staff room which led the inspector to share this prayer of understanding written by Thomas Aquinas used by all SIAMS inspectors. It seems especially relevant today – so I thought I’d share it!
Instruct my tongue, and pour upon my lips the grace of your blessing. Give me acuteness to understand, capacity to retain, insight to interpret, facility to learn, and eloquence to speak. Guide me in my beginnings, direct my progress, and set your seal upon my conclusions; for you alone are truly God and truly man, and live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Finally a prayer
Christ our King,
whose throne is a cross,
and whose crown is mercy,
help us to see your power in unexpected places.
Teach us the strength of compassion,
the courage to forgive, and the hope of “today.”
Remember us, hold us, and make us people who bring your kingdom
through love that never walks away.
Amen.
God bless
Julie
Diary Dates
- November 30th – Advent Sunday
- December 8th 1.30 pm – Lambourn CE school Christmas celebration – St Michael & All Angels
- December 14th 5pm – Carols & Christingles – St James
- December 14th 6pm – Carol Service – All Saints
- December 16th 6.30 – Jingle & Mingle – St Michael & All Angels
- December 17th – Carol singing – from The Vicarage
- December 19th 3pm – Dress up Nativity service – St Michael & All Angels
- December 21st 6pm – Carol Service – St Michael & All Angels
- December 24th 4pm – Crib service – St James
- December 24th 4pm – Christingle – St Michael & All Angels
- December 24th 11pm – Midnight Mass – St Michael & All Angels
- December 25th 9am – Christmas Day Communion – All Saints
- December 25th 10.30 am – Christmas Day Communion – St James
- December 25th 10.30am – Christmas Day Communion – St Michael & All Angels
- December 28th 10.30 – Holy Innocents Day Holy Communion (said) – St Michael & All Angels