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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
