Fourth Sunday of Advent
15 Dec 2022 • General news
Advent Wreath
The Fourth Sunday of Advent:Love
Leader: Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Love.
Jesus shows us God’s perfect love. He is God’s perfect
love in human form. Those who believe in him and live
in him, live in love. Love transforms and perfects all
things.It never ends.
We light this candle today to remind us that God is love.
We thank God for hope he gives us, for the peace
he bestows, for the joy he pours into our hearts, and for
the love that redeems us and shows us the way.
We light three purple candles and the pink candle.
All:O God of love, Emmanuel, send your light
into our hearts at this time.Help us to be ready
for the time of Christ’s appearing.Grant that
we may so dwell in him that his perfect love
fills our entire being.Make our worship a time
in which we celebrate your love and are made
ready to show that love to the whole world -
both today - and forevermore.Amen.
We sing:Let there be love shared among us,
let there be love in our eyes.
May now your love sweep this nation;
cause us, O Lord, to arise.
Give us a fresh understanding,
brotherly love that is real.
Let there be love shared among us,
let there be love.
This Week’s Readings
Isaiah 7. 10-16
10The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. 13Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.
Romans 1. 1-7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, 6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1. 18-end
18Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Those Who Live in these Roads
Edgefield Road Denshaw Croft kingsley Walk Calmere Close Ashcroft Close
Lymore Croft Leven Way Narbeth Way Gillians Walk Caspian Way
Stonefield CloseDownton CloseRadnor WalkNeale CourtSharpley Court
Elizabeth Way
Those who are sick or in need of our prayers
Iain Rees
Ken Fisher
Eden Brown
David Wall
Eileen Bees
Edna Robinson
Ken Sharman
Margaret Davoll
Roger Carradine
Kathryn Raven
Nicola Harwood
Sue Parkins
Peter Hughes
Coral Carson
Those who have died
Ron Abbott
Margaret Simpson
Ron Abbott
The funeral service for Ron Abbott, our former Tower Captain is to be held at Canley Crematorium on Wednesday 21st December at 1.45pm.
Sad News
A former member of the congregation Margaret Simpson passed away at home on Tuesday 13th December
News
Food Bank
The Trussell Trust have given their thanks for our donations throughout the year and wish us all a Happy Christmas and good wishes for the New Year. On Monday our latest donations were weighed in at an impressive 76.4 kg which is 12 stone in old money!
Family Area
A new area has now been created in church at the back of the North aisle for families with small children.
New Envelopes
If you give through the weekly envelope scheme the new ones which started on the 4th December are on the table by the door into church for you to pick up.
Church Christmas Card
Our Church Christmas card is available today.Please remember to take your copy. (one per family please).
Walsgrave Baptist Church
Open Door - a warm space, with a welcome and hot drink is offered at the Baptist Church from Monday to Thursday from 10.00am until 12.00pm. On Friday there is an invitation to join them at their Open House.
Christmas Lunch – on Christmas Day a lunch
Christmas Services
The following services are to be held:
18th December 10.00am – Holy Communion and Nativity
20th December 6.00pm – Carols by Candlelight
22nd December 6.00pm – Nine Lessons and Carols
24th December 3.00pm – Christingle joint service with the Baptist
Church
24th December 11.00pm – Midnight Mass
25th December 10.00am – Holy Communion
Coffee Club
Books for Grace Academy
Recently I have had the joy of visiting Grace Academy and meeting many from the senior leadership team. The Head Teacher told me that they really need help with having enough books to give to students. The school has a passion for helping young people fall in love with reading. But to do this they need books!
We are going to start collecting books for Grace Academy. So if you see a book in a charity shop you think might be good for someone between the age of 11-16 (or even younger) then please get it and bring it in! This is a wonderful way of engaging with our young people in the community and supporting a local school. Please put you donations on the blue table by the sign.
I want to thank you in advance for all your help with this book collection.
Revd Tom
Celebrating YOUR story at St Mary's
We want to hear about your stories of St. Mary's
What sort of stories do you want?
We want to learn about what your story is that involves St. Mary's. Did you get married here? Do you picnic in the grounds? Perhaps you have been a members at St. Mary's and can tell us about exciting things that have happened in the past. We want to hear them all.
How do I submit my story?
The best way to submit your story is by email. If you cannot send emails then you could type it up and give us a physical copy of you story. Or, if you would be willing we could film you telling your story.
Would you film it?
We want to help tell peoples stories. One of the best ways to do this is to film people telling their stories. So, if you would be willing to let us film your story then please let Revd Tom know.
When will we hear all these stories?
We are planning a celebration of St. Mary's and all the stories on Sunday 29th January, 2023. We will be doing this with a party! There will be a bring and share lunch following the celebration service. Sharing our stories over food is a great way for us to get know each other more.
For more details and to keep up to date please go to www.stmaryscoventry.org/story