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Pew News w/b Sunday 14th December Advent 3/ Gaudete Sunday
This week our reading from the prophet Isaiah presents a beautiful image of a time of restoration and joy for God’s people. The dry and barren wilderness will bloom, waters will break forth, God’s people will be healed and God will create a safe highway for his people to return home.
For many, this is a particularly joyful time of year. On this Gaudete or rejoicing Sunday, the Old Testament reading offers us a joyous vision of renewal, while the Gospel centres on joy being given in a place of questioning or despair. As we explore these, we think about how we may be bearers as well as receivers of the Lord’s joy.
I came across this reflection this week which resonates with our theme:
Some days we come to God with empty hands
and pockets full of need.
Some days we’re thirsty ones,
the ones who’ve run out of strength
or courage
or words.
But God says,
I won’t leave you like this.
Water in the wilderness.
Streams where the ground’s cracked.
Enough for today
and enough for tomorrow too.
Not because we’ve earned it
but because God’s generosity
doesn’t know how to stop.
Advent reminds us that of that.
We’re people blessed,
blessed by love
not luck.
Everything we have
every kindness
every breath
every unexpected moment of hope
comes from the same steady hand
that shapes rivers in dry places
and grows trees where no tree should ever grow.
And we know this is who God is.
A miracle maker.
A way maker
when there seems to be no way.
The God who looks at our need
and answers with abundance.
Who sees our fear
and answers with presence.
Who sees our hunger for meaning
and answers with a story
that begins in a manger
and moves toward a world made whole.
This is the God who keeps creating newness
even in us.
Who plants something green
in the places we thought were finished.
Who turns our small gratitude
into something that blesses others.
So we stand in the middle of Advent
with hands that aren’t empty after all.
We’re held.
We’re guided.
We’re gifted
again and again
until the dry ground of our lives
begins to bloom.
© E Hamilton 2025 from ‘Whispers of Grace’
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Isaiah 35:1-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11
THIS WEEK
Sun 14th December Advent 3
8am Holy Communion (traditional language)
10am Parish Communion with coffee afterwards
Weds 17th
9am Parish Prayer
12pm Midday Prayer with reflections on the Advent Antiphons in the Hussey Chapel 3/3
Thurs 18th
School Christmas Experience Day- including in church
Fri 19th
9am School Carol Service (transferred from Mon 15th)
Sat 20th
4pm Blue Christmas Service-a quiet service of readings and prayers, especially for those who might find this time of year hard. Refreshments served afterwards.
NEXT WEEK
Sunday 21st December Advent 4
8am Holy Communion
10am All Age Worship with coffee afterwards
6 pm Village Carol Service, followed by refreshments
Wednesday 24th Christmas Eve
9am Parish Prayer
4 pm Family Crib Service
11 pm Christmas Midnight Mass
Thursday 25th Christmas Day
8 am Holy Communion (traditional language)
10 am Christmas Family Communion
4-5.30pm Tea and Cake served in church-especially for anyone who finds themselves on their own.
LOOKING AHEAD
Revd Gaenor is on leave from 26th Dec-13th Jan inclusive.
Sunday 28th December
There will be no 8am Eucharist and Judith will be leading and preaching at the 10am Service of the Word service.
Sunday 4th January
8am and 10am: Revd Angela Syer presiding, Judith preaching
Weds 7th
11am Holy Communion: Revd Joe Edwards presiding
Sunday 11th
8am and 10am: Revd Angela presiding and preaching
Sunday 18th
8am Holy Communion
10am We join Marnhull Methodist Church for their Covenant Service- so no 10am service at St Gregs
Sunday 1st February Candlemas
4 pm Christingle Service
OTHER NEWS
- Christmas Parcels 2025 There is a box in church for your donations of small festive gifts for the elderly and isolated in our community which will be then gathered and distributed locally w/b 20th December. Thank you in advance!
- Can you help to distribute the Christmas parcels? Please speak to Revd Gaenor.
- There will be a Christmas noticeboard for you to place cards and share your Christmas greetings.
- The PCC have agreed that all gift offerings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will be divided between our current 3 charities: The Vale Pantry, Prison Fellowship and the Bible Society
PRAYERS
- Please pray for the positive transformation of many lives, hearts and minds through the love and life of God this Advent
- Pray for all the school’s Christmas services and events-for its values of faith, hope and love to shine through
- Pray for those coming to our Blue Christmas service – for peace and healing
- Please pray for all in or from our parish who are currently ill in body, mind or spirit- for healing and wholeness
CONTACT US
Rector Revd Gaenor Hockey
01258 821605 [email protected]
Licensed Lay Minister Judith Male
07852 780517 [email protected]
Churchwarden Barrie Jenks
01258 821604 [email protected]
Parish Safeguarding Officer Miriam Gaston
01258 821573 [email protected]
Organist Gordon Amery
07817 379006 [email protected]
Singing Group Louise Cousins
ONLINE
Parish: www.stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk
Facebook: ‘stgregschurch’ & ‘musicatstgregs’
Diocese: www.salisbury.anglican.org
Church is open daily: 9am – 4.30pm
Pew News w/b Sunday 7th December Advent 2
Dear All
I hope this finds you well.
Last Sunday we marked the beginning of Advent with two special services- the baptism of Theodore in the morning and the Churches Together Advent Service in the afternoon- what a wonderful start to the new church year!
As we begin our journey into Advent this year, I hope that you can make some time in your daily life to consciously spend with God, seeking Christ and the signs of His kingdom. This Advent we have a prayerful focus on the Advent Antiphons and I attach some resources for you to use at home to help that journey.
Advent Antiphon: O Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10)
O Root of Jesse, standing as sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer;
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.
Amen
THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12
THIS WEEK
7th Dec Advent 2
8am Holy Communion
10am Parish Communion with coffee afterwards
Weds 10th
9am Parish Prayer in the Hussey Chapel
10.30am School Worship
12pm Midday Prayer with reflections on the Advent Antiphons in the Hussey Chapel 2/3 led by Revd Gaenor
Fri 12th
12pm Churches Together Village Prayer at Marnhull Methodist Church.
6pm Wedding rehearsal
Sat 13th
3.30pm Marriage of Molly Johnson and George de Klee
NEXT WEEK
Sun 14th Advent 3
8am Holy Communion
10am Parish Communion with coffee afterwards
Mon 15th
6pm School Carol Service with refreshments before
Weds 17th
9am Parish Prayer in the Hussey Chapel
12-12.40pm Midday Prayer with reflections on the Advent Antiphons in the Hussey Chapel 3/3 led by Judith
Thurs 18th
School Christmas Experience Day- including in church
Fri 19th
10.30am End of term School Worship
Sat 20th
4pm Blue Christmas Service-a quiet service of readings and prayers, especially for those who find this time of year hard.
LOOKING AHEAD
All Christmas services -see poster enclosed-and pass on to neighbours and friends!
New for this year: Tea and Cake served in church on Christmas Day 4-5.30pm- especially for anyone who finds themselves on their own. For more information please contact Revd Gaenor.
Sunday 28th Dec
There will be no 8am Eucharist and Judith will be leading and preaching at the 10am Service of the Word service.
OTHER NEWS
- A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who gave to our Gift Day in November- an amazing £6653 was raised for church funds!
- Christmas Parcels 2025 There is a box in church for your donations of small festive gifts for the elderly and isolated in our community which will be then gathered and distributed locally w/b 20th December. Thank you in advance!
- If you are hard of hearing, we recommend you sit in the main nave towards the chancel, where our sound system is the most effective.
PRAYERS
- Please pray for those who have lost their foundations in Christ- that they may reach out to God this Advent
- Give thanks and pray for all those who, in different ways, seek to bring stability to communities, especially those which are divided- for strength and peace
- Pray for Molly and George as they get married- for their love to deepen with the years
- Please pray for all in or from our parish who are currently ill in body, mind or spirit- for healing and wholeness
CONTACT US
Rector Revd Gaenor Hockey
01258 821605 [email protected]
Licensed Lay Minister Judith Male
07852 780517 [email protected]
Churchwarden Barrie Jenks
01258 821604 [email protected]
Parish Safeguarding Officer Miriam Gaston
01258 821573 [email protected]
Organist Gordon Amery
07817 379006 [email protected]
Singing Group Louise Cousins
ONLINE
Parish: www.stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk
Facebook: ‘stgregschurch’ & ‘musicatstgregs’
Diocese: www.salisbury.anglican.org
Church is open daily: 9am – 4.30pm
Advent Antiphons
The ‘O Antiphons’ are refrains that are said or sung before and after the Magnificat (Mary’s Song) on the seven days preceding Christmas Eve (17–23 December). They all begin ‘O…’ hence their name and have been used in Christian worship at least since the Middle Ages.
The Antiphons are addressed to God and use Bible passages, both Old and New Testament, that Christians understand to refer to Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah and call on Jesus using a title- Wisdom, Key of David, Morning Star…Each one speaks of a different aspect of Jesus’ identity.
When read in reverse, the first letters of each title (Sapientia, Adonai etc) form an acrostic ERO CRAS which is Latin for ‘I will be [with you] tomorrow’.This hidden message reinforces the promise of Christ’s coming.
This year
We have Midday Prayer held at St Greg’s on Weds 10th and 17th December at 12pm-12.40pm which include these reflections and open to all.
There are also online national resources- including reflections, activities and specially commissioned music of the Antiphons:
https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-life/exploring-faith/everyday-faith
We encourage you to use these Advent Antiphons resources for reflection and prayer at home during Advent and especially the last days before Christmas:
17 December – O Sapientia
O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence. Read: Isaiah 55:8-9
18 December – O Adonai
O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm. Read: Exodus 3.2; 24.12
19 December – O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer. Read: Isaiah 11.10; 45.14; 52.15; Romans 15.12
20 December – O Clavis David
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Read: Isaiah 22.22; 42.7
21 December – O Oriens
O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death. Read: Malachi 4.2
22 December – O Rex Gentium
O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay. Read: Isaiah 28.16; Ephesians 2.14
23 December – O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our King and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God. Read: Isaiah 7.14
