HOLY INNOCENTS FALLOWFIELD
DECEMBER 2018
December marks the start of Advent. A new church year begins: Year C: the year of Luke’s Gospel. The words, music and images of Advent are particularly rich and well-loved. Powerful readings, reflecting a time of waiting and anticipation are accompanied by a change of liturgical colour and the lighting of an Advent Candle for each of the Sunday leading up to Christmas.
It has been our custom to hold a study course during Advent, but we know that people sometimes find these difficult to attend in an evening as the nights get darker and colder. Richard asked last week for people to come and speak to him if they were interested in attending a course in Advent - times and days to be arranged, so if you would like to be part of a course and weren’t here last week, please speak to him.
As we go into Advent, Richard writes:
Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of Christ, both in the Christmas story and also his second coming, whenever that may be. In. Jesus’ day there were many prophets claiming to know when and how the Messiah would come, building their authority on a special ability to see into the future. But Jesus counsels caution - the future is unknowable, he says, live in the present, the Kingdom is here, now. In our own day we are not awash with religious prophets, but the instinct to dwell on the future is just as strong - from stock market pundits with their head-and-shoulders charts, to political leaders, and we ourselves, wishing away the present in worries and plans for what may come. So let us wait, but in the dark, in openness, in trust, in hope of things unseen, trusting that our loving Father has good things in store for us.
Just tidying up a few things, we need to fill in the annual income survey - an important part of the diocesan financial planning process. The forms and box will be on the back table - please make sure you fill one in this week or either of the following two weeks.
It has been our custom to hold a study course during Advent, but we know that people sometimes find these difficult to attend in an evening as the nights get darker and colder. Richard asked last week for people to come and speak to him if they were interested in attending a course in Advent - times and days to be arranged, so if you would like to be part of a course and weren’t here last week, please speak to him.
As we go into Advent, Richard writes:
Advent is a time of waiting for the coming of Christ, both in the Christmas story and also his second coming, whenever that may be. In. Jesus’ day there were many prophets claiming to know when and how the Messiah would come, building their authority on a special ability to see into the future. But Jesus counsels caution - the future is unknowable, he says, live in the present, the Kingdom is here, now. In our own day we are not awash with religious prophets, but the instinct to dwell on the future is just as strong - from stock market pundits with their head-and-shoulders charts, to political leaders, and we ourselves, wishing away the present in worries and plans for what may come. So let us wait, but in the dark, in openness, in trust, in hope of things unseen, trusting that our loving Father has good things in store for us.
Just tidying up a few things, we need to fill in the annual income survey - an important part of the diocesan financial planning process. The forms and box will be on the back table - please make sure you fill one in this week or either of the following two weeks.
SUNDAYS AND FESTIVALS IN DECEMBER
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Sunday December 2nd Advent 1
President and Preacher: The Revd Canon Michael Ainsworth
Readings: Jeremiah 22:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-end; Luke 21:25-36
Hymns: Hark the glad sound; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Lo, he comes with clouds descending; Come, thou long expected Jesus
Other music: People look East; I look from afar
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Sunday December 9th Advent 2
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; The Benedictus; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Hymns: On Jordan’s bank; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Hail to the Lord’s anointed; The advent of our God
Other music: Comfort, comfort now my people; Wachet Auf
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Sunday December 16th Advent 3
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Zephaniah 3:4-end; Canticle: Isaiah 12:2-end; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
Hymns: Hark a herald voice is calling; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Hills of the north rejoice; The King shall come when morning dawns
Other music: Rejoice in the Lord alway; Rorate coeli
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Tuesday December 18th 9.15am
Advent Eucharist for St James’ School
All are welcome to join the staff and pupils as they explore the themes of Advent
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Sunday December 23rd Advent 4
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Micah 5:2-5a; The Magnificat; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Hymns: The angel Gabriel; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Come thou redeemer of the earth; O come O come Emmanuel
Other music: A tender shoot; There is a flower; I waited for the Lord
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Monday December 24th 11.30pm The First Eucharist of Christmas
President: The Rector
Preacher: The Revd Jane Walker
Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-14
Hymns: Hark the herald angels sing; Christmas Gospel Acclamation; It came upon the midnight clear; O come, all ye faithful
Other music: Before the world began; Stille nacho
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Tuesday December 25th 10am Christmas Day: The Nativity of the Lord
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Isaiah 62:6-end; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20
Hymns: Once in royal David’s city; While shepherds watched their flocks by night; Of the Father’s heart begotten; See amid the winter’s snow
Other music: Little Jesus sweetly sleep; Like a candle flame
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Friday December 28th 12noon The Holy Innocents
President: The Revd Jane Walker
Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Jeremiah 31:15-17; Psalm 124; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Matthew 2:13-18
Hymns: The great God of heaven; Puer Nobis Nascitur; O little town of Bethlehem; The world’s fair rose has blossomed
Other music: Away in a manger; The Coventry Carol
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Sunday December 30th The First Sunday of Christmas
President and Preacher: The Revd Canon Michael Ainsworth
Readings: 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-end
Hymns: God from on high hath heard; Christmas Gospel Acclamation; In the bleak mid-winter; Child of the stable’s secret birth
Other music: How brightly shines the morning star
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Sunday December 2nd Advent 1
President and Preacher: The Revd Canon Michael Ainsworth
Readings: Jeremiah 22:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-end; Luke 21:25-36
Hymns: Hark the glad sound; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Lo, he comes with clouds descending; Come, thou long expected Jesus
Other music: People look East; I look from afar
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Sunday December 9th Advent 2
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; The Benedictus; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6
Hymns: On Jordan’s bank; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Hail to the Lord’s anointed; The advent of our God
Other music: Comfort, comfort now my people; Wachet Auf
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Sunday December 16th Advent 3
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Zephaniah 3:4-end; Canticle: Isaiah 12:2-end; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18
Hymns: Hark a herald voice is calling; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Hills of the north rejoice; The King shall come when morning dawns
Other music: Rejoice in the Lord alway; Rorate coeli
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Tuesday December 18th 9.15am
Advent Eucharist for St James’ School
All are welcome to join the staff and pupils as they explore the themes of Advent
*******************************************************************
Sunday December 23rd Advent 4
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Micah 5:2-5a; The Magnificat; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45
Hymns: The angel Gabriel; Advent Gospel Acclamation; Come thou redeemer of the earth; O come O come Emmanuel
Other music: A tender shoot; There is a flower; I waited for the Lord
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Monday December 24th 11.30pm The First Eucharist of Christmas
President: The Rector
Preacher: The Revd Jane Walker
Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-14
Hymns: Hark the herald angels sing; Christmas Gospel Acclamation; It came upon the midnight clear; O come, all ye faithful
Other music: Before the world began; Stille nacho
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Tuesday December 25th 10am Christmas Day: The Nativity of the Lord
President and Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Isaiah 62:6-end; Psalm 97; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1-20
Hymns: Once in royal David’s city; While shepherds watched their flocks by night; Of the Father’s heart begotten; See amid the winter’s snow
Other music: Little Jesus sweetly sleep; Like a candle flame
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Friday December 28th 12noon The Holy Innocents
President: The Revd Jane Walker
Preacher: The Rector
Readings: Jeremiah 31:15-17; Psalm 124; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; Matthew 2:13-18
Hymns: The great God of heaven; Puer Nobis Nascitur; O little town of Bethlehem; The world’s fair rose has blossomed
Other music: Away in a manger; The Coventry Carol
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Sunday December 30th The First Sunday of Christmas
President and Preacher: The Revd Canon Michael Ainsworth
Readings: 1 Samuel 2:18-20,26; Psalm 148; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:41-end
Hymns: God from on high hath heard; Christmas Gospel Acclamation; In the bleak mid-winter; Child of the stable’s secret birth
Other music: How brightly shines the morning star
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A new face: The Revd Jane Walker: Since late September, Jane has been part of our congregation and preached here for the first time last week. We asked her to introduce herself as she explores whether Holy Innocents might become her new spiritual home:
“I am a self-supporting or non-stipendiary priest: I have a secular job as well as my church duties. I practise as a barrister specialising in children’s cases, based in Manchester but travelling all over the North West and sometimes beyond. I see the work I do (which involves some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society and which, though demanding, is also very rewarding) as part of my ministry too.
I recently completed my curacy at Manchester Cathedral and in the benefice of Gorton and Abbey Hey so have had quite a diverse experience - which also included placements in other churches - prior to my ordination.
I’m a proud mother of two sons (now aged 21 and 18) and have lived in Stockport for the past 29 years, though I hail from Failsworth originally. In what spare time I have I enjoy walking my Miniature Schnauzer pup, going to watch Manchester United, watching sport in general, reading, running, music, travelling and visiting galleries and museums.
I look forward to getting to know as many people as possible and to enjoy serving and worshipping together in this place.”
“I am a self-supporting or non-stipendiary priest: I have a secular job as well as my church duties. I practise as a barrister specialising in children’s cases, based in Manchester but travelling all over the North West and sometimes beyond. I see the work I do (which involves some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society and which, though demanding, is also very rewarding) as part of my ministry too.
I recently completed my curacy at Manchester Cathedral and in the benefice of Gorton and Abbey Hey so have had quite a diverse experience - which also included placements in other churches - prior to my ordination.
I’m a proud mother of two sons (now aged 21 and 18) and have lived in Stockport for the past 29 years, though I hail from Failsworth originally. In what spare time I have I enjoy walking my Miniature Schnauzer pup, going to watch Manchester United, watching sport in general, reading, running, music, travelling and visiting galleries and museums.
I look forward to getting to know as many people as possible and to enjoy serving and worshipping together in this place.”
Our Advent Appeal is for a particular Tear Fund project:
Toilet Twinning is an attempt to provide working toilets in areas where these have not previously existed. For £60 a time, Tear Fund will set up the infrastructure to build first one, then more toilets in villages and outlying rural areas where there has previously been no provision. The effect that this will have on health and wellbeing as well as people’s personal dignity makes the project very worthwhile and one that the PCC felt we should support. If we could raise the money to ‘twin’ our four toilet areas (including the baby changing area) then we would get tiles showing the location of the funded toilets to put up... in our toilers.
So our target amount for Advent is £240... going for four!
Toilet Twinning is an attempt to provide working toilets in areas where these have not previously existed. For £60 a time, Tear Fund will set up the infrastructure to build first one, then more toilets in villages and outlying rural areas where there has previously been no provision. The effect that this will have on health and wellbeing as well as people’s personal dignity makes the project very worthwhile and one that the PCC felt we should support. If we could raise the money to ‘twin’ our four toilet areas (including the baby changing area) then we would get tiles showing the location of the funded toilets to put up... in our toilers.
So our target amount for Advent is £240... going for four!
And finally... ..YALDA!
We did a lot of research into how the Winter Solstice (Friday December 21st) is kept in the Iranian community. We might not be able to manage pomegranates and watermelon at this time of year, but mention is made of dried fruit - safe ground for many a pre-Christmas cook! And we know that stew always goes down well. Holding an event on the actual day might be a challenge. So on Sunday December 16th (Advent 3) we are thinking of holding a Stew and Mince Pie Lunch in church after the service. A warming selection of stews with rice and bread, and a mince pie to follow. Fusion in action. We hope lots of people will want to stay. Volunteers to provide food should speak to Hilary, Hilary or Lynda!
We did a lot of research into how the Winter Solstice (Friday December 21st) is kept in the Iranian community. We might not be able to manage pomegranates and watermelon at this time of year, but mention is made of dried fruit - safe ground for many a pre-Christmas cook! And we know that stew always goes down well. Holding an event on the actual day might be a challenge. So on Sunday December 16th (Advent 3) we are thinking of holding a Stew and Mince Pie Lunch in church after the service. A warming selection of stews with rice and bread, and a mince pie to follow. Fusion in action. We hope lots of people will want to stay. Volunteers to provide food should speak to Hilary, Hilary or Lynda!