The Christian Community of St Giles-on-the-Hill
welcomes you to worship with them on
Sunday 16th December 2018
Third Sunday of Advent
Today we hear how John the Baptist describes himself as a voice sent to prepare the day of the Lord, God’s anointed servant. Let us rejoice and worship the God of peace who is faithful to us and sanctifies and draws us to himself through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, the third Sunday in Advent, is called Gaudete (meaning “rejoice”) Sunday. The liturgical colour is rose (not pink!) and we light the rose Advent candle to symbolise this shift in our Advent penitential season on this respite day.
The Mass includes the blessing of the Parish Christmas Tree and switching on of the lights!
10.30am Sung Eucharist The service is set out in the white service booklet. The collect and readings are to be found overleaf. The hymns are from the New English Hymnal.
Introit Hymn 11 O come, O come Emmanuel!
Canticle Isaiah 12:2-6
Gospel acclamation Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Cantors Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Priest Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
All Glory to you, O Lord
Gospel Luke 3:7-18
Priest This is the gospel of the Lord
All Praise to you, O Christ
Offertory Hymn 16 Wake, O wake! With tidings thrilling
Communion Hymn 18 Ye servants of the Lord
Recessional hymn 15 The Lord will come and not be slow
Organ Voluntary Bach – Nun komm’, der Heiden Heiland
Assistants at the Eucharist
Sidespersons Dorothy and Rodney Head Churchwarden Rowena Atkinson 1st Reading Julia de Salis 2nd Reading Chris Stokes Intercessions Annie Blyth Chalice Carole Hill Servers Kathryn Ives and Jen Gerrard Organist Ian Graydon
Rector and Rural Dean of Norwich East Canon Darren Thornton, part-time, also UEA Chaplain 01603 623724 d.thornton@uea.ac.uk – day off Monday
Parish Ordinands Annie Blyth; Tracy Williams – on placement at Thorpe Hamlet
Churchwardens Rowena Atkinson (01603 455729) Bob Emsell (01603 439632)
Newsletter Kate Baldry (01362 695503) kate.baldry@btopenworld.com
https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com Facebook @Norwicheastdeanery Twitter @stgilesnorwich
DIARY FOR THE WEEK
Tonight 5.30pm Community Carol Service
Tuesday 18 December 12 noon Noon Prayers led by Churchwarden Rowena
Friday 21 December 10.00am Said Mass President Fr Peter Varney
Sunday 23 December Advent 4 10.30am Sung Parish Mass Speaker Parish Ordinand Annie Blyth
After Mass we will set up the church for Christmas
Next week’s readings – Micah 5:2-5a; Canticle: Luke 1:46b-55; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55
Deanery Prayer Calendar – St Andrew, Trowse – Clergy: Janice Scott, Rosemary Braby; Synod Reps: Sue Scott, Debbie Harris. All involved in the business community across the Deanery. Authorised Worship Assistants across the Deanery. Choirs and musicians preparing for Carol Services this season.
NOTICES
We welcome any newcomers to our church today. Do make yourself known to the priest or the churchwardens. And do have a look at the lovely photos at https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com
For those of you who have started coming to St Giles recently and consider your membership to be here, we would like to welcome you into our family. Please do consider signing up to our Church Electoral Roll (see Carole Hill). We also have a scheme for regular giving (see our Treasurer, John Baldry).
The final total raised by Christmas Stalls on Sat 25 Nov was £605.50. Many thanks to all who helped to set up and on the day!
The next Bible Study will be at on Monday 17 December at 7.30pm at No 40 Havelock Road. We shall be continuing our study in Mark.
Confessions Fr Darren will be available in church to hear confessions on Saturday 22 December by appointment.
Advent comes from the Latin word for an arrival or coming and it means that the Lord is coming. The candles on the Advent wreath are in the traditional colours of purple for waiting and, in the third week, rose for Gaudete Sunday. Our wreath has been prepared by Dot Head, to whom we are very grateful.
Advent Appeal We are likely to be £2450 short next year in paying our way. Please do pray about this and how you might be able to help with this deficit. We would like to invite members of the Church to give a ‘one off’ Advent gift in appreciation of the friendship and ministry they receive from St Giles (using one of the white envelopes marked ‘Advent Gift’ in the pews). Your help is so greatly appreciated. Thank you.
‘The Magazine’ for November and December is available at the back of church for you to take your free copy. It includes the Diocesan Prayer Calendar that we are encouraged to use in our daily prayers.
Parish Christmas card – we would like to deliver a card to every home in the parish. If you can help please take a bundle (road names listed) and return any spares. So many people mention during the year how lovely it is to receive our Christmas card – so it’s well worth us delivering them. Thank you.
Our congregational Christmas card is at the back of church for us all to sign and make a donation to charity. It’s a way of sending Christmas greetings to each other without sending cards. The money donated is being given to ‘Embrace the Middle East’ which seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the Middle East. Our special thanks to Elsie who has produced the card.
Christmas Tree Please could you give any contribution you can manage towards the cost of this year’s Parish Tree to John Baldry. Thank you.
Our December Charitable Giving is for West Pottergate Community Residents.
Salvation Army Pottergate ARC – at this time of year please do think of those in need and keep bringing in donations of tins and packets to the Tower Vestry. Thank you.
‘Sacred Space’ is the main theme of the St Giles Growth Plan so we are grateful to those who have said that they would like to keep St Giles open for a few hours during the week so that others can experience our sacred space – thank you for such a positive response. To avoid clashes please put your times in the Churchwardens’ diary (Tuesday and Friday mornings are already covered). If you are new to opening the church do please speak to Fr Darren to get further information.
Advance Warning! Sunday 23 December is going to be a busy day. We will be keeping Advent 4 at the 10.30am Mass, then after the service we will prepare the church for the festival of Christmas. The liturgical colour changes and we prepare for Midnight Mass tomorrow which starts at 11.30pm.
