A warm welcome to you on this Fifth Sunday of Advent Please do join us after the service to share in a cup of tea or coffee. All ages are welcome at St. Mary’s, children included. There is also a crèche in the Octagon for the very young if you need it. If this is your first time with us, please do fill in the slip at the end of the newsletter, so that we can keep in touch with you. St Mary’s is fitted with a hearing loop system. Members of the congregation who have a hearing aid with a ‘T’ switch will find that they can hear better when it is switched to ‘T’.

Holy Innocents

Collect: Heavenly Father, whose children suffered at the hands of Herod,
though they had done no wrong: by the suffering of your Son and by the innocence of our lives frustrate all evil designs and establish your reign of justice and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading: Jeremiah 31. 15-17 Keith Lashley

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1. 26-29 Lesley Hiorns

Gospel Reading : Matthew 2. 13-18 Lorraine Baker

Intercessor:

Hymns: 526 75 554 444 199

Post Communion Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, in your humility you have stooped to share our human life with the most defenceless of your children:
may we who have received these gifts of your passion rejoice in celebrating the witness of the Holy Innocents to the purity of your sacrifice made once for all upon the cross; for you are alive and reign, now and for ever.

This week beginning 28th December 2008

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 7 pm No Parish Office
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer

Sunday 4th January

Epiphany 8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion with Baptism
6.30 pm Evening Prayer