News  »  ST JAMES, ST MARY'S & ST BOTOLPH'S CHURCH WELCOME SHEET- 6TH DECEMBER

The Benefice of St. James, High Wych, St. Mary, Gilston and St. Botolph, Eastwick

Sunday 6th December – Second Sunday of Advent

8.00am BCP Holy Communion, St James, High Wych

BCP Readings: - 2 Kings 22:8-10: 23:1-3

Romans 15:4-13

Luke 21: 25-33

9.30am Family Service, St James, High Wych

Our churches are open for services, but with the added restrictions necessary for Tier 2.

Benefice churches will be open for private prayer.  St James is open on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 2pm until 4pm. An information notice is displayed inside and outside the church.

For advice on opening St Botolph’s and St Mary’s Churches, for private prayer.  Please contact Sarah Bagnall who will advise. 

Prayer for this time of uncertainty

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

Please pray for those who are ill and those who care for them: Mary Bates, Tara King, Sue Benson. Joyce Sullivan.

(Please let me know if anybody is now better and needs removing from this list, or needs to be added to the long-term sick list)

And for the long-term sick:

Jenny Pemble, Jennifer, Ruth Ashton, Kelly Osborne,Donna Reynolds, Ian Neilson, Emma Wharton, Doreen Cunningham, Malcolm Law, William Monk, Jean Beeching, Rita Bird, Adele, Rosemarie, The Rev’d David Wright (past priest for our Benefice), Deidre and Harold Rawlings Sue Saunders,Linda Wilby, Daphne Austin, John Ross, Andrew, and Len Castree.

Recently Departed and those who mourn them:

Anniversaries of Death

Annie Louise Burridge, Daphne Doreen Abbott, Phyllis Nelson, Shaun Charles Lloyd, Stephen Norman Dunn,Kathleen Granville Springham, Eric Ernest Bird..

For Prayer, this week:

• Rev.d Su Tarran, for the time and care she is giving us during our vacancy.
• Bishop Alan, Bishop Michael and Bishop Richard.
• The Deanery of Bishop’s Stortford
• Rural Dean – Mandy Brown , Lay Co-chair Di Kitson and all members of our Deanery Synod.
• St Michael and All Angels Watford Rev’d Geoffrey Calvert, Honorary Assistant Priest Fr George Ochola  (R)) Martin Heath.with thanksgiving for the Spirit-led generosity and faithfulness of the congregation.

This Sunday – 6th December – The Second Sunday of Advent

Old Testament: Isaiah 40: 1-11

Psalm: 85. 1-2, 8-end

New Testament: 2 Peter. 3.8-15a

Gospel: Mark 1. 1-8

Next Sunday – 13th December – The Third Sunday of Advent

Old Testament: Isaiah 61. 1-4, 8-end

Psalm: 126

New Testament: 1 Thessalonians 5. 16-24

Gospel: John 1. 6-8, 19-28

Would you like to join our advent course this year?

Rev’d Su will lead us through a consideration of the Magnificat - Mary’s Song, Benedictus - Zechariah’s song, Song of Simeon - Nunc Dimitis, and the song of the Angels -.Luke 2:8-19 . We will meet on Zoom on Mondays at 7.30pm. If you would like to join, please email Su on su.tarran@ntlworld.com, and she will send course details and zoom joining instructions before the first session on 30.11.2020.

Carol Service at 4pm at St James

Prayer for Growth

God of Mission send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions, and power to our witness. Help our churches grow in numbers, in spiritual commitment to you and service to our local community, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

St Albans Diocese advice about Coronavirus, how it effects church services and precautions can be found on,  www.stalbans.anglican.org  this is updated daily.

Food Bank – items are always needed for desperate families; please leave items in St James or donate in-store while you shop.  

During our vacancy please contact the Readers or the Church Wardens if help is needed.  Thank you.

Benefice contacts:

Readers:   Joy and Roger Burridge:  01279 444870

Judith Denton:  01279 723714

Lay Leader of Worship:  Janet Bellingham 07882743627

Church Wardens:

High Wych:

Janet Bellingham 07882743627     

Sam Clark 07717542524

Gilston & Eastwick:

Sarah Bagnall 01279 441644

Michael Shaw: 01279 726792

Safeguarding Officers

High Wych: Cath Sharples 01279 600996

Gilston with Eastwick: Sarah Bagnall 01279 441644

High Wych PCC Secretary Gemma Martin 01279 427906 stjameshighwychpcc@gmail.com

Gilston with Eastwick PCC Secretary: Christine Law 01279 411646. Christine.law2@btinternet.com

“Eastwick & Gilston Parish Magazine” Editor. Christine Law

 “The Link” for High Wych. Editor:  Ali Geller 01279 723677  ali@alexgeller.com  Articles are always welcome for both magazines. Unusual experience? Different holiday? Write about it and send it to Ali or Christine.

Web site: www.stjameshighwych.org.uk

Events to be advertised on the Welcome Sheet, please contact