Worship in church this Sunday
We are out of lockdown now, and this means that we are able to return to public worship in church. Being in Tier 3 means that there are still restrictions in place. This is the same as when we were gathering in October. Please get in touch if you have any queries about out safety measures.
Join us in church! Go to our Services & Worship page to see upcoming services and sign up. You can do that by clicking or tapping on this link:
Join us online! Head to our YouTube Channel to join us Live at 10am on Sunday, and access other videos. You can do that by clicking or tapping on this link:
NEW THIS WEEK
Parish Postcards Update
Thank you to everyone who has agreed to deliver the postcards this year. It's been a challenge to organise in these difficult times, so thank you also for your patience. Here is a list of streets and who's delivering so far:
If the space is blank, it means we need someone to take it on. Please add your name if you are able to help, and then collect a bundle of postcards from church when it is open. Your help here is so valuable. Thank you!
A message from Ann Otter
Ann would like to thank everyone for the many cards and good wishes she has received after moving into her new home. Ann sends her love and Christmas wishes to everyone at St Mary’s.
Tech help
We have a small but merry band of people who push the buttons on a Sunday morning, allowing the service to be Live Streamed to those at home. This is so valuable to those who aren't able to get to church.
If you think you might be able to spare the odd Sunday morning helping in this way, please let Ben know (revd.bjarvis@gmail.com). It seems like an intimidating job, but once it has been shown to you it is quite simple.
If you happen to be interested and free on Christmas Eve, we need some help for Midnight mass.
MORE NEWS
Christmas Services
We now have a dedicated Christmas page on the website. Here you can see all of our upcoming services and start signing up now.
100 Club Christmas Draw winners
£100 Ron Noble, £50 Derek Daniels, £30 John Charlton
Our Christmas Appeal
Giving to our chosen charity will be very difficult this year because of social distances and other restrictions. If you go to our Christmas page, you will see a link to our chosen charity for this Christmas: the Disaster Emergency Committee Coronavirus Appeal. Christmas will be difficult enough for us in the UK, and even more so where there aren't the public health resources to cope. Anything you can spare would help make a difference.
2021 Charities
After 3 weeks of voting, the results are in for which charities we will support in 2021.
They are: North East Homeless (local); Mind (national); Christian Aid (international). More information about these causes will be shared next year. Thanks to everyone who voted!
Christmas Cards
Please do not pop Christmas Cards into the pigeonholes in the church vestibule this year as you may have done in previous years. Due to the current virus situation this isn’t an option. If you are really struggling to deliver your cards this year then please do get in touch with the office or the staff team as we may be able to help you with this in some way.
TRAIDCRAFT
As we are unable to run the Traidcraft stall in church at present we would urge you to consider browsing the web site, particularly as Christmas approaches.
Much love, Anne and Rick
Light a Candle!
As in other years we will still be lighting candles on the church windowsills on Christmas Eve in memory of loved ones. The candles will burn continuously for 7 days. Each candle costs £5 and you can pay for a candle by Bank Transfer (BACS) as this would be the safest way during this time of pandemic.
Bank details are: HSBC - Sort code: 40 46 28 - Account no: 01444948
Please add a reference to the payment so we know that it's for the candles. You could also send payment by a cheque made payable to: St Mary’s Monkseaton, PCC and again, please put a note with the cheque to say that it's for the Christmas Memorial Candles. Do remember that the parish office isn't open at the moment so do not bring any cash or cheques into the church building.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Private Prayer
Church is open for Private Prayer from 9am on Wednesdays in church until midday for those who wish to visit during these times and all are welcome to attend. Face coverings must be worn.
The Parish Office
Dot and Carol continue to work from home. Phone messages or emails will be checked regularly and correspondence can be popped through the letterbox in the north door and will be responded to as soon as possible.
The Bay Foodbank
Please continue to donate non-perishable items at Sainsbury’s & Morrison’s.
Plants Sale for Church Funds
Dave Haddock who has been selling his plants to us over the summer has now put all of his new stock on his new website, including an easy order form.
Or you can contact Dave on 0191 2524985 or 07976 687973. 30% of sales will be donated to St Mary’s, so be sure to mention St Mary’s when you order! So far £260 has been raised through this scheme!
Derek's Book
Derek’s book ‘A Light To My Path’ is available to order from Waterstone’s in Newcastle and from Amazon.co.uk. The new version has a foreword by Tony Garland along with a dedication and has some reviews at the back.
For your prayers this week:
Your Prayers are requested for
Martin Cooper
Rona Lawrie
Olya Bouchard
Emma Campbell
Don
Chris Taylor
Tina Tompkins
Rest in Peace
Zena Bernacca (Anniversary) John Muitt (Anniversary)
Karen Kinninmonth (Anniversary)
Don’t forget, you can add someone to the prayer list by emailing or phoning as usual, but you need to get their permission before adding them to the sick list. You can also use the form on the website here to submit a prayer request online.
This Sunday's Hymns & Readings
Introit
O Radiant Dawn, O Radiant Dawn, O Radiant Dawn Splendour of Eternal Light Sun of Justice, Sun of Justice, Sun of Justice Come, come, come, come, come, Come shine on those who dwell in darkness And the shadow of death
Isaiah had prophesied, 'The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone'
Amen.
James Macmillan
Performed by The Sixteen & Harry Christophers
© 2016 The Sixteen Productions
Collect
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
A Reading from Isaiah
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
For I the Lord love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the Lordhas blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
Isaiah 61.1-4,8-11
A Reading from Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
1 Thessalonians 5.16-24
The Gospel according to
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said,
‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord”’,
as the prophet Isaiah said.
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
John 1.6-8,19-28
Offertory Hymn
Lo, he comes with clouds descending, once for favoured sinners slain; thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ appears on earth to reign. Ev'ry eye shall now behold him robed in dreadful majesty; we who set at naught and sold him, pierced and nailed him to the tree, deeply grieving, deeply grieving, deeply grieving, shall the true Messiah see. Yea, amen, let all adore thee, high on thine eternal throne; Saviour, take the pow'r and glory, claim the kingdom for thine own: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.
Charles Wesley
Communion Anthem
Wait for the Lord, whose day is near.
Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart!
Prepare the way for the Lord
Make a straight path for Him
The Glory of the Lord shall be revealed
All the Earth will see the Lord
Rejoice in the Lord always
He is at Hand
Joy and gladness for all who seek the Lord
© 1991 Ateliers et Presses de Taize, Taize Community, France, GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive North American agent (author)
Post Communion
We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever.
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