1. family and parenting
2. children

The Parish Church
of St Faith Great Crosby:
Notes and News:
21st December 2014
4th Sunday of Advent
Today’s Hymns:
Processional: 33 Of the
Father’s love begotten
Offertory: 484 Long ago,
prophets knew
Communion: 30 Hark the
glad sound
Recessional: 422 Tell out
my soul
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 WELCOME to all today
particularly those who are new.
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, here at 6.30pm
this evening.
Christmas Flowers – there will be a retiring collection
after the service today for flowers to make our Church
look florally splendid for Christmas.
Following the CTW Advent Course, leaflets about the
current situation in Bethlehem are available at the back
of Church.
Christingle making – in the Church Hall on Tuesday
evening (23rd December) at 7pm. No Tuesday Eucharist
this week.
The Octave and Season of Christmas – please note
the service times for the next couple of weeks – they do
not follow the usual pattern. Normal full pattern begins
week beginning 12th January
The Prayers included in this sheet run for the next two
weeks.
This Week:
Morning Prayer:
Monday-Wednesday 9.30am
Wednesday-Saturday 10.00am
Evening Prayer:
Tuesday 6.30pm
Tuesday 23rd December
7.00pm: Christingle Making
Wednesday 24th December
4.00pm Christingle Service
11.00pm Carols
11.30pm: First Eucharist of Christmas
Thursday 25th December
11.00am The Eucharist of Christmas Morning
Friday 26th December: Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
11.00am Eucharist
Saturday 27th December: John the Evangelist
11.00am Eucharist
Next Sunday: 28th December: Holy Innocents
President: Mother Sue
Preacher: Mother Denise
Readings:
Jeremiah 31.15-17, Psalm 124, 1 Corinthians 1.26-29,
Matthew 2.13-18
Thursday 1st January: The Naming and Circumcision of
Christ
12.00 noon: Eucharist and Renewal of the Covenant followed
by beef or salmon rolls and champagne (donations invited)
Clergy and Readers:
Priest-in-Charge:
Revd Dr Sue Lucas
The Vicarage, Milton Rd, L22 4RE
0151 928 3342/07976 901 389
revsue85@icloud.com
Assistant Clergy:
Revd Denise McDougall:0151 924 8870
Fr Dennis Smith: 0151 928 5065
Parish Readers:
Mrs Jackie Parry
Miss Paula O’Shaughnessy
Reader Emeritus:
Dr Fred Nye
Church Wardens:
Mrs Brenda Cottarel
Mr Rick Walker
Please keep in your prayers:
In the Diocese: Wigan St Michael and All Angels (Stan
Higginson); Haigh and Aspull St David with St Elizabeth
(Simon Pritchard); Hindley All Saints and St Peter (Alan
Beahan); Hindley Green St John (Margaret Sherwin); Once in
Makerfield Christ Church with Wigan St Catherine (Sam
Nicholson and Tina Nicholson);Platt Bridge St Nathanael
(Lynn McGregor); Wigan All Saints and St George (Ray
Hutchinson)
Local Churches: Bootle Christ Church (Tom Rich and Josie
Williams); Bootle St Leonard (Roger Driver and Irene
Whittaker)
In the Parish: Alder Grove, Cedar Grove, Myrtle Grove, Laurel
Grove, Pine Grove
In the world: for all of the peoples of the Middle East, and
particularly at Christmas, for Bethlehem.
With Christian Aid: for those women Christian Aid helps
around the world, women for whom childbirth carries
enormous risk; for the 50% of children in Guatemala who are
malnourished.
From the Tree Festival Prayer Tree: For those prayed for by
name; for families who have no-one to support them; for
those who are worried; for the family of this church; for
peace and happiness; for love and hope; for forgiveness
Those who are sick: Ruth Capper, Chris Dawson, Dennis
Dewsbury, Ethel Eden, George Gates, Christina McDougall,
Edna McGovern, Clare Nixon, Olive Russell, Rosie Reid,
Victoria Taylor
Year’s Mind: Joyce Cropper, Dorothy Parry, Beatrice
Gallagher, Marjorie Outram, Irene Gilford, Edmund Henry
Cotes, Constance Fry, Gordon Thomas Hewitson, Kathleen
Heygate, Mervic Claremont, Dorothy Hoben, William John
Jones, Eileen Broom, Alice Capes, Mona Turner, Nona Reid,
Elsie May Foy, Mary Turnbull, Beatrice Woods, Muriel Cooney,
Jacqueline Broom, Joan Elizabeth Eames, Brian James,
Stanley Fleetwood, Janet Sharpe, Edith Sarah Philiips, Henry
Thomas Smith, Nellie Carter, Gertrude Foster, Betty McKee,
John Clark, Sister Benedict Joseph, Henry Alexander Fowler,
Cyril Garbett (Archbishop), Dora Blance Johnson, Megan
Griffiths, Terry Jones, Mary Coote, Joyce Elliott, Jane Amelia
Simons, Bertha Benwell, Martin Perks, Caroline Mountfield,
Ellen Ann Morris
Prayers of Penitence
and Candle Lighting at the Advent Wreath
Heavenly Father, you exalted the humble and meek:
give us humble and contrite hearts.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you grew in the Virgin’s womb:
be planted also in our hearts and lives.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Holy Spirit, you overshadowed Mary,
that she might become the God-bearer:
fill us with your heavenly gifts.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.
Absolution
The president pronounces God’s love and forgiveness:
Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom
that cannot be destroyed, +forgive you your sins, open your
eyes to God’s truth, strengthen you to do God’s will and give
you the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Fourth Candle: The Blessed Virgin Mary
The fourth candle on the Advent wreath is lit.
Blessed are you, sovereign Lord, merciful and gentle: to you
be praise and glory forever. Your light has shone in a our
darkened world through the child-bearing of blessed Mary:
grant that we who have seen your glory may daily be
renewed in your image and prepared like her for the coming
of your Son, who is the Lord and Saviour of all.
Blessed be God forever.
The Collect:
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.
Old Testament
2 Samuel 7.1-11,16
Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had
given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said
to the prophet Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of
cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.’ Nathan said to the
king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with
you.’
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:
Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you
the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a
house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from
Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and
a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the
people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal
leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people
Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus
says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from
following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I
have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all
your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a
great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And
I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them,
so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no
more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel;
and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the
Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever
before me; your throne shall be established for ever.
Psalm: 89.1-4
Response: My soul proclaims your steadfast love,
O Lord
My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord: •
with my mouth will I proclaim your faithfulness
throughout all generations.
I will declare that your love is established for ever; •
you have set your faithfulness as firm as the heavens.
Response: My soul proclaims your steadfast love,
O Lord
For you said: 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one; •
I have sworn an oath to David my servant:
' "Your seed will I establish for ever •
and build up your throne for all generations." '
Response: My soul proclaims your steadfast love,
O Lord
The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, •
and your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones;
For who among the clouds can be compared to the Lord? •
Who is like the Lord among the host of heaven?
Response: My soul proclaims your steadfast love,
O Lord
A God feared in the council of the holy ones, •
great and terrible above all those round about him.
Who is like you, Lord God of hosts? •
Mighty Lord, your faithfulness is all around you.
Response: My soul proclaims your steadfast love,
O Lord
Epistle: Romans 16.25-end
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my
gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is
made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of
the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the
only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for
ever! Amen.
Antiphon before the Gospel:
O Virgin of Virgins, how shall this be? For neither before
thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after.
Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The
thing that ye behold is a divine mystery.
Gospel: Luke 1.26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a
town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s
name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings,
favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much
perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting
this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favour with God. And now, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name
him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the
Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his
ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for
ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to
the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel
said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the
child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And
now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived
a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be
barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary
said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Post Communion
Heavenly Father,
who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of the promised saviour:
fill us your servants with your grace,
that in all things we may embrace your holy will
and with her rejoice in your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Parish Church of St Faith, Great Crosby
The Eucharist
in
Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church
prepares to celebrate the coming (adventus) of Christ in his
incarnation, and also looks ahead to his final advent as judge at the
end of time. The readings and liturgies not only direct us towards
Christ’s birth, they also challenge the modern reluctance to confront
the theme of divine judgement:
Every eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty.
(Charles Wesley)
The Four Last Things – Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell – have
been traditional themes for Advent meditation. The characteristic
note of Advent is therefore expectation, rather than penitence,
although the character of the season is easily coloured by an analogy
with Lent. The anticipation of Christmas under commercial pressure
has also made it harder to sustain the appropriate sense of alert
watchfulness, but the fundamental Advent prayer remains ‘Maranatha’
– ‘Our Lord, come’ (1 Corinthians 16.22). Church decorations are
simple and spare, and purple is the traditional liturgical colour.
In the northern hemisphere, the Advent season falls at the darkest
time of the year, and the natural symbols of darkness and light are
powerfully at work throughout Advent and Christmas.
The lighting of candles on an Advent wreath was imported into
Britain from northern Europe in the nineteenth century, and is now a
common practice. The Moravian custom of the Christingle has
similarly enjoyed great success in Britain since the latter
part of the twentieth century, with the encouragement of the
Children’s Society; Christingle services may take place before or after
Christmas.
The Third Sunday of Advent was observed in medieval times, and is
here, as a splash of colour in the restrained atmosphere of Advent
(Gaudete or ‘Rose Sunday’), and the last days of Advent were
marked by the sequence of Great ‘O’ Antiphons,
which continue to inspire modern Advent hymns and meditations,
and form the Gospel Antiphons here.
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The Gathering
Hymn
+In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
Amen.
Bidding Prayer:
My brothers and sisters, we enter today/celebrate at this time
the solemn season of Advent, in which the Church bids us to
prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ; a coming that we
recall in the Child of Bethlehem; a coming that we experience
in the gift of his Spirit, in the bread of the Eucharist, in the joy
of human lives that are shared; a coming we wait for when
God gathers up all things in Christ. Let us in this holy season
reflect on the coming of Christ who brings light to the world.
Let us leave behind the darkness of sin, walk in the light that
shines on our path, and renew within ourselves the hope of
glory to which he beckons us.
The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ be with you.
and also with you.
Prayers of Penitence
and Lighting of the Candles at the Advent Wreath
It is time for us to wake out of sleep, for deliverance is
nearer to us now than it was when we first believed. It is far
on in the night: day is near. Let us therefore cast off the
deeds of darkness and put on the armour as soldiers of the
light.
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Kyrie Confession
A penitential sentence is said in between the Kyries.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world: cleanse and heal
our blinded sight.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Holy Spirit, you give us light in our hearts: renew us in faith
and love.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.
Absolution
The president pronounces God’s love and forgiveness:
Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom
that cannot be destroyed, +forgive you your sins, open your
eyes to God’s truth, strengthen you to do God’s will and give
you the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
As each candle on the Wreath is lit, a prayer is said, ending with:
Blessed be God forever.
The Collect is said and all respond: Amen.
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The Liturgy of the Word
All sit.
The Old Testament Reading
At the end of the Reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Remain seated for:
The Psalm
Remain seated for:
The Epistle
At the end of the Reading:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
All stand for the Gospel
Alleluia, alleluia,
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, and all
flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia.
Or
One of the O Antiphons is said or sung.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to …
Glory to you, O Lord.
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At the end of the Gospel:
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
All Sit.
Sermon
The Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Prayers
All kneel or sit. Prayers of intercession and thanksgiving are
offered. The following response may be used:
Leader: Maranatha
Response: Come, Lord Jesus
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The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
In the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high
shall break upon us, to give light to those who dwell in
darkness and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Offertory hymn
Preparation of the Table
The following prayer may be used at the presentation of the
offerings of the people:
Bless these gifts to our use, and ourselves in your service.
Amen.
As this bread was scattered and then gathered and made one,
so may your church be gathered into your kingdom.
Glory to you, O God forever.
Wisdom has built her a house;
she has mixed her wine, she has set her table.
Glory to you, O God forever.
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The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give thanks and praise.
From the First Sunday of Advent until 16th December:
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise,
almighty God and everlasting Father,
through Jesus Christ your Son.
For when he humbles himself to come among us
in human flesh, he fulfilled the plan you formed
before the foundation of the world
to open for us the way of salvation.
Confident that your promise will be fulfilled,
we now watch for the day when Christ our Lord
will come again in glory.
And so we join our voices with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven, to proclaim your glory,
for ever praising you and saying [singing]:
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From 17th December until Christmas Eve:
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise,
almighty God and everlasting Father,
through Jesus Christ your Son.
He is the one foretold by all the prophets,
whom the Virgin Mother bore with love beyond all telling.
John the Baptist was his herald
and made him known when at last he came.
In his love Christ fills us with joy
as we prepare to celebrate his birth,
so that when he comes again
he may find us watching in prayer,
our hearts filled with wonder and praise.
And so, with angels and archangels and with all the company
of heaven we proclaim your glory, and join in the unending
hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant
that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your
holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body
and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and
gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples,
saying:
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Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you; do this in
remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you
thanks; he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.
And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his
perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world;
rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this
memorial of our redemption.
As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,
we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you
for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve
you.
Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in
your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup,
so that we, in the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St
Faith and all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom,
and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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The Lord’s Prayer
As we wait in joyful expectation for the coming of his
kingdom, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has
taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven:
Hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Agnus Dei
All say or sing:
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us your peace.
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OR
Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us;
Jesus, Bearer of our Sins, have mercy on us;
Jesus, Redeemer of the World, grant us peace.
Invitation to Communion
God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
To the glory of God the Father.
At the distribution of communion, the minister says to each communicant:
The Body of Christ
The Blood of Christ
and each responds: Amen.
After Communion, silence is kept. At the Sunday morning
Eucharist, the Angelus is rung.
Prayer After Communion
All stand.
The post-communion prayer is said and all respond:
Amen.
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The Dismissal
Hymn
Blessing: Advent Sunday:
With love and justice:
Come, Lord Jesus.
With judgement and mercy:
Come, Lord Jesus.
In power and glory:
Come, Lord Jesus.
In wisdom and truth:
Come, Lord Jesus.
The Dismissal Gospel
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and
saying, ‘the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come
near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ.
May God the Father, judge all-merciful, make us worthy of a
place in his kingdom.
Amen.
May God the Son, coming among us in power, reveal in our
midst the promise of his glory.
Amen.
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May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith, joyful in
hope and constant in love.
Amen.
and the blessing of God almighty,
+the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always Amen.
Other Sundays:
Our Lord says, ‘I am coming soon.’
Amen, come, Lord Jesus.
May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting.
Amen.
Christ, the Son of Righteousness shine before you, scatter
the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to
meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God
almighty,
+the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
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Some material in this service is copyright:
Common Worship © 2000 The Archbishops’ Council and Common Worship: Festivals © 2008 The Archbishops’
Council
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