The Fourth Sunday of Advent
19th December 2021
Image by Revd Jess. See Bible Art below. Luke 1.41 ‘The child in her womb leapt for joy’.
We are pleased to welcome Rt Revd Will Hazlewood, the Bishop of Lewes, to our 10am Parish Communion service this Sunday. Bishop Will is both preaching and presiding. It’s his first visit to the Good Shepherd.
This Sunday, there is a special focus on Blessed Mary in our readings and liturgy. The fourth candle in our Advent wreath is lit in her honour.
At this time of heightened concern about the new covid variant, we continue to carefully follow all guidance from the Church of England. Masks must be worn for worship (unless exempt). We open our main church door to allow ventilation and have reduced the amount of congregational singing. There is also a live stream of the main service each week for those joining us at home. During coffee in the hall, please wear a mask as you move around. We are keeping the hall well ventilated. You can also take your drinks outside to stand and chat. We hope you can join us this week either in person or on line.
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.
Readings
Micah 5.2-5a, Canticle: Magnificat or
Psalm 80.1-8, Hebrews 10.5-10
Luke 1.39-45[46-55]
Sunday school meets in the hall this week. There are preparations for the Crib Service. New children are always welcome. After Christmas Sea Lights is taking a break until 16th January.
Parish Office – Christmas dates
The parish office will be closed between Friday 24th December to Monday 3rd January, and open again on Tuesday 4th.
Lamb’s Tales is taking a Christmas break. It returns on 14th January.
Prayer Chain
Between 23 December to 27th December contact Joy for all prayer chain requests on 01273 462584.
Advent with the Antiphons
This year we are celebrating the last eight days of Advent by focusing on the Antiphons. There is an art exhibition in church depicting the seven antiphons created by members of the congregation. The antiphons are ancient prayers that are about the coming of Christ. They can be said or sung. You can read more about them in the December Shoreline. Additionally, each day, beginning 17th December, you can watch a beautiful antiphon reflection put together by Revd Jess. The short films include the antiphon for that day, music, art and poetry.
The 'O' Antiphon reflections playlist is here: - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwM-E8Y2LAAtxCpJFCclrWqyBgmRiuUIJ
O Sapienta 17th December https://youtu.be/tzO8uysERC8
O Adonai 18th December https://youtu.be/uA33Av046tE
O Radix Jesse 19th December https://youtu.be/tyeKetIkKIU
O Clavis 20th December https://youtu.be/VXhqOUrC5oA
O Oriens 21st December https://youtu.be/w5pJJ8WVAMA
O Rex Gentium 22nd December https://youtu.be/MEqxO1Iil2c
O Emmanuel 23rd December https://youtu.be/6eNe-mtK0Rc
The Antiphon links will also be posted each day on our Facebook page and Facebook group. You can also find the links posted on the home page on our website. Why not make them part of your Advent journey?
Thank you to Revd Jess and Judy for all their work, and also our talented artists.
Carol Service Tickets
If you ordered tickets for the St Mary’s carol services, these are available at the back of church after the Sunday services.
Bible Art see top of newsletter
Luke 1.41 ‘The child in her womb leapt for joy’.
I love this verse ... maybe because I am a woman who has been lucky enough to have babies in my womb; even after all these years, I can remember the feeling of the living, kicking babies within me. But for Elizabeth there was not only the joy of finally conceiving and having that baby moving within her, but also the sudden Holy Spirit surge of understanding that her baby was full of joy on account of the baby in Mary's womb; she was the first person after Mary to be told the identity of Mary's child.
When she spoke to Mary in the way she did, it must have shown Mary that she could really trust what she remembered of what the angel had said to her, and that resulted in the wonderful outpouring of words which we know as the Magnificat.
I wonder how responsible Elizabeth was for her son understanding who Jesus was and what his role in life was to be?
Revd Jess
Friday Meditation with Morning Prayer
There is no group meeting on Christmas Eve or 31st December. We return on 7th January at St Marys and on Zoom.
Saturday Morning Meditation with lectio divina
There is no group meeting Christmas Day or 1st January. We will be back in the Good Shepherd and on Zoom Saturday 8th January.
Celtic Evening Prayer
There is no group meeting 29th December.
For New Year’s Day
We’re hosting two events on New Year’s day. There’s a labyrinth walk in the church. It has a particular focus on new beginnings. To enable more social distancing numbers are limited and you will need to book a time slot between 2pm to 4pm. Go to this Eventbrite link to book your slot and for more details.https://bit.ly/3p43jcg
Please wear a mask and you’ll need to take off your shoes to walk the labyrinth. The labyrinth has been used as a Christian prayer and contemplative practice since medieval times. This event is run in partnership with the Brighton & Hove Centre for Spirituality.
Additionally there’s the option to join a New Year’s Day Mandala Art Workshop in the hall between 2pm to 4pm, with the opportunity to walk the labyrinth in the church at the end of the workshop (between 4pm to 5pm). This is run by Kate Collier from our congregation and donations will go to the church hall repair fund. Kate writes: ‘Make your own personal mandala for the New Year and bring hope, insight and love for yourself and the world in 2022. Through meditation, finding images in magazines, creating and seeing your mandala you have a valuable and affirming resource for the year ahead.’ The suggested donation for the workshop is £10 to £20. You’ll need to do a lateral flow before attending the workshop. Please bring a blanket and cushion. You can reserve your place for the mandala workshop through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-year-mandala-making-tickets-227815411027
And finally…
The PCC had an enjoyable ‘away morning’ working hard on our Mission Action Plan. We looked closely at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, as generated by the congregation over coffee back in October. There is still a bit more work to do, and we’ll share it with you all when we have finished.
Next week’s newsletter will come out early on Thursday 23rd December and will be a double Christmas and New Year edition.
Notices for the next double newsletter should be emailed to Revd Jane by Wednesday 22nd at 12noon
I work half-time and the usual days when I am available are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings. Blessings and prayers for you all this week. Revd Jane
Contacts
Revd Jane Bartlett Email: bartlett.jane@ntlworld.com Tel: 079355 38085.
Church wardens Emma Purser, Penny Humphrey and deputy warden Kay Haffenden email: cogswardens@gmail.com
Safeguarding Officer Emma Purser 07786651886
Parish centre and hall bookings Tel: 01273 440202
If you are reading this newsletter on a paper copy and would like to receive it each week through email please contact: cogsenews@gmail.com
Services this Week
Sunday, 19th December
8am – Holy Communion with Canon Tony.
10am – Parish Communion with Bishop Will.
This service will be live streamed onto our Facebook and You Tube channel.
You Tube page CLICK HERE
Church Facebook page CLICK HERE
Tuesday 21th December
9.30am - Informal Holy Communion with Revd Jane.
Wednesday 22nd December
6pm – Celtic Evening Prayer on Zoom
Meeting ID: 868 1252 3106
Passcode: 960274
Christmas Eve
4pm – Children’s Crib Service
11.30pm – Midnight Mass with Revd Jane
Christmas Day
10am – Family Communion with Revd Jane and Revd Steve.
This service is also livestreamed onto You Tube and Facebook.
Evening Prayer
This is said at 5.30pm at St Marys and via Zoom on
Monday and Wednesday, at 5.30pm. If
you want to attend online contact Canon Ann for the link. Email: annwaizeneker@gmail.com
To donate to the Church of the Good Shepherd online CLICK HERE Thank you!
Church website: www.goodshepherdshorehambeach.org.uk