PARISH OF ESHER
CHRIST CHURCH with ST GEORGE’S, WEST END
SHARING THE POWER OF GOD’S LOVE IN ESHER
Reconciling - Sustaining - Guiding - Healing
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
20 DECEMBER 2015
WELCOME TO OUR SERVICES
THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
If you are new to the parish or
worshipping with us for the first time
please introduce yourselves to a member
of the clergy or one of our churchwardens
or sidespeople. This sheet gives some
words that will be needed in the services
and notices about the life of the church
communities. Please do take it home.
Eternal God,
as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,
so we wait for his coming in glory;
bring us through the birth pangs of this
present age
to see, with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
TODAY’S SERVICES
FIRST READING Micah 5.2-5a
8.00am Holy Communion at Christ Church
led by Stefan
9.00am Sung Communion at St George’s
led by Stefan and David
Reading
Jenny Gerrard
& Prayers
Chalice Susan Lynn
10.30am Parish Communion at Christ Church
led by Stefan and David
Churchwarden John Sandison
Sides Margaretha de Haan, Sue Dunne,
Colin Martin, Hugh Miller
Reading Alex Truesdale
Prayers Jane Tyrrell
Chalice Simon Donnan
6.00pm Festival of Lessons & Carols
at Christ Church led by Stefan
Churchwarden Simon Donnan
Sides Colin Martin, Pam Stark,
David Stark, Wendy Tanqueray
Reading Helen Coulson, Gill Barnett,
Brian Elliott, Carol Henderson,
Stewart Henderson, Colin Martin,
Simon Stacey, Stefan Collier,
Nate Kurz
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one
who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is
from of old, from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the
time when she who is in labour has
brought forth; then the rest of his
kindred shall return to the people of
Israel. And he shall stand and feed his
flock in the strength of the Lord, in the
majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he
shall be great to the ends of the earth;
and he shall be the one of peace. If the
Assyrians come into our land and tread
upon our soil, we will raise against them
seven shepherds and eight installed as
rulers.
MUSIC
Hymns SG 395, 520, 467
CC 395, 136, 467, 568
Carols CC 403, 176, 377, 444, 477, 199
Organist Keith Howell- Jones, Stuart Whatton
PSALM 80.1-8
GOSPEL Luke 1.39-45
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you
who lead Joseph like a flock! You who
are enthroned upon the cherubim,
shine forth
2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and
Manasseh. Stir up your might, and
come to save us!
3 Restore us, O God; let your face
shine, that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God of hosts,how long will
you be angry with your people’s
prayers?
5 You have fed them with the bread of
tears, and given them tears to drink in
full measure.
6 You make us the scorn of our
neighbours; our enemies laugh among
themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your
face shine, that we may be saved.
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you
drove out the nations and planted it.
In those days Mary set out and went
with haste to a Judean town in the hill
country, where she entered the house of
Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the
child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth
was filled with the Holy Spirit and
exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the
fruit of your womb. And why has this
happened to me, that the mother of my
Lord comes to me? For as soon as I
heard the sound of your greeting, the
child in my womb leapt for joy. And
blessed is she who believed that there
would be a fulfilment of what was
spoken to her by the Lord.’
PARISH NOTICES
Happy Christmas - May David, Nate and I wish you a very happy Christmas and a blessed
new year when they arrive next week. Thank you for a wonderful year together, sharing
our life’s, and working together to create God’s community here in Esher and West End.
No 8am Service on Christmas Day - The 9am and 10:30am services will run as normal.
Christmas Eve Crib Services - May we invite children to come dressed as Mary, Joseph,
a shepherd, an angel, a wise man or even an animal should they wish too!
Noah’s Ark - After today Noah’s Ark will dock for the year, and will set sail again on
10 January. Thank you to all our leaders and supporters this year.
Youth Group - Congratulations to the members of the youth group, their families,
and friends who completed the Santa Fun Run last Sunday to raise funds for Princess
Alice Hospice. They raised £818, which we know will be greatly appreciated.
2015 Advent Appeal - This year we are raising money for the Princess Alice Hospice,
a local charity dedicated to providing free, high quality compassionate care and
support for patients, their families and carers. Each year they need to raise over
£9.1 million with only 23% coming from the NHS. Thank you.
Carol Singing at The Wheatsheaf -The choir had a very successful evening carol singing
at the Wheatsheaf and raised over £200 from generous donations. Thank you to all our
parishioners who supported us - well worth coming along as we were treated to mulled
wine and mince pies for our efforts.
Parish Bake Off - The Christmas special last weekend raised £135 - a superb effort by all
whether you baked or bought. The money will be donated to the parish. Thank you
Posada Dolls - There are a few slots still available - please see sign-up list.
Children’s Party - The Children’s Party on Sunday 31 January, 2.30 - 4.20pm, will be at
Esher Church School. Please save all your unwanted (nice quality) toys for the Toy
Tombola. A box will be available in church for donations. Sign-up sheets are available please indicate attendance and also if you can help with bringing food/drink. Thank you.
Refugee Crisis Update - Thank you to everyone who has donated. No further collections are
scheduled as the priority is to get the items shipped. If anyone would like details of how to
help sorting/packing items please email Fiona Owen at fionakowen@gmail.com. I will let
you know when we will be accepting donations again. Please continue to remember all
affected by the crisis in your prayers. Also check out www.cofeguildford.org.uk/refugees.
Please Take Care - Last Sunday afternoon a church member was attacked in the car
park just past Waitrose. The attacker threw a brick in the car window covering the
person in glass and then aggressively tussled with them through the window eventually
stealing their bag. They were not hurt but obviously very shaken. They have agreed
that we share this story to be aware and extra vigilant over the coming weeks.
Parish Office closed - The office will be closed 21, 24, 29, 30 and 31 December.
Please stay for coffee or tea after the service.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Those who are ill: Margaret Williams, Stephanie Major, Mary Teague, Fiona Owen
RIP Anniversaries: Eric Bridger, Julia James, Doris Bowyer, Richard Barlow,
Antony Fraser
BIBLE READINGS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Taken from the Church of England Lectionary - readings for Morning Prayer (MP) are said
at the times below. All are welcome to join Nate and Stefan in daily prayer.
December
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
21
22
23
24
25
Time Reading
Malachi 1.1, 6-end; Ps 121; Matthew 19.1-12
Malachi 2.1-16; Ps 124; Matthew 19.13-15
9.00-9.30am Malachi 2.17-3.12; Ps 130; Matthew 19.16-end
Malachi 3.13-end of 4; Ps 45; Matthew 23.1-12
Isaiah 62.1-5; Ps 110; Matthew 3.18-end
LOOKING AHEAD
December
Sunday
Thursday
20
24
Christmas Day
Sunday
27
Time Event
6.00pm
3.00pm
4.00pm
11.30pm
8.00am
9.00am
10.30am
8.00am
9.00am
10.30am
January
Tuesday
12
Monday
Wednesday
18
20
Festival of Lessons & Carols
Crib Service at St George’s, West End
Crib Service at Christ Church, Esher
First Eucharist of Christmas (Midnight Mass)
No 8am service
Sung Communion at St George’s, West End
Christmas Communion at Christ Church, Esher
No 8am service
Sung Communion at St George’s, West End
Parish Communion at Christ Church, Esher
Time Event
10.30am
2.00pm
All day
12.30pm
8.00pm
Toddlers’ Praise
Toddlers’ Praise
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity commences
Music on the Green Concert: Gelachter Wind Trio
Parochial Church Council (PCC) Meeting
CONTACTS
RECTOR Revd Dr Stefan Collier
Tel 01372 462611
Email rector.esher@gmail.com
Rector’s day off is Monday
CURATE Revd Nate Kurz
Tel 020 8398 6746
Email nate.esherparish@gmail.com
Curate’s day off is Friday
PARISH OF ESHER
Website www.esherparish.org.uk
Twitter www.twitter.com/esherparish
Christ Church Open: Every day, 9am to 3pm
PARISH OFFICE Christ Church, Church Street, Esher, Surrey KT10 8QS
Tel 01372 462282
Email office@esherparish.org.uk
Office Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am to 12am
All main events at Christ Church unless stated otherwise.