CHRIST CHURCH, ESHER with ST GEORGE S, WEST END s1

PARISH OF ESHER CHRIST CHURCH, ESHER with ST GEORGE’S, WEST END SHARING THE POWER OF GOD’S LOVE IN ESHER Reconciling - Sustaining - Guiding - Healing FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 27 NOVEMBER 2016

WELCOME TO OUR SERVICES If you are new to the parish or worshipping with us for the first time please introduce yourselves to a member of the clergy or one of our churchwardens or sidespeople. This sheet gives some words that will be needed in the services and notices about the life of the church communities. Please do take it home. TODAY’S SERVICES 8.00am Holy Communion at Christ Church led by Stefan 9.00am Sung Communion at St George’s led by David and Stefan Reading Bridget Williams & Prayers Chalice Susan Lynn 10.30am Parish Communion at Christ Church led by Nate and Stefan Churchwarden Sandra Argent Sides Debbie Banks, Michael Banks, Peggy Howell-Jones Reading Carol Henderson Prayers Juliet Philip Chalice Sue Dunne 12.30pm Baptism of Carina Taylor, Cara May Taylor and Skye Elizabeth Molly Maher at Christ Church led by Stefan MUSIC Anthem Zion hears the watchmen’s voices (JS Bach) St George’s 358, 98, 307 Hymns Christ Church 358, 196, 98, 307 Hymns Organist Stuart Whatton THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READING Isaiah 2.1-5 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord! PSALM 122 GOSPEL Matthew 24.36-44 1 I was glad when they said to me, But about that day and hour no one ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ knows, neither the angels of heaven, 2 Our feet are standing within your nor the Son, but only the Father. For as gates, O Jerusalem. the days of Noah were, so will be the 3 Jerusalem - built as a city that is coming of the Son of Man. For as in bound firmly together. those days before the flood they were 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of eating and drinking, marrying and the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to giving in marriage, until the day Noah give thanks to the name of the Lord. entered the ark, and they knew 5 For there the thrones for judgement nothing until the flood came and swept were set up, the thrones of the house them all away, so too will be the of David. coming of the Son of Man. Then two 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: will be in the field; one will be taken ‘May they prosper who love you. and one will be left. Two women will 7 Peace be within your walls, and be grinding meal together; one will be security within your towers.’ taken and one will be left. Keep awake 8 For the sake of my relatives and therefore, for you do not know on friends I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord house had known in what part of the our God, I will seek your good. night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. PARISH NOTICES Christingle Service - Our Parish Christingle Service in partnership with Esher Church School will take place at Christ Church on Sunday 4 December at 10.30am. A guest speaker from the Children’s Society will speak at all our services on this day. Christingles & Christmas Tree at Christ Church - We are looking for help with preparing the Christingle oranges and also setting up/decorating the Christmas Tree on Saturday 3 December at 9/10am. To help see Sandra Argent/Fiona Owen or sign-up. Thank you. Advent Prayer Group - Advent is one of the most chaotic times of the year for many and it’s easy to forget what Christmas is all about, or rather, who it is about. Our Advent Prayer Group is designed to help us make space to stop and be with God. You don't need to go anywhere; this is an email prayer group! Daily, from Thursday 1 December you will receive an email containing a prayer idea and a prayer starter. How and when you pray is up to you. To take part please sign-up or email [email protected]. If you don't have email, please speak to Melanie and we'll make sure you can take part via an alternative method. 2016 Advent Appeal - This year we are raising money for the Children’s Society, a charity specialising in providing direct, intense support to the most vulnerable 10-18 year olds across the country. They focus on five areas of work - young carers, runaways, refugee and asylum seekers, drug and alcohol abuse and child sexual exploitation. Thank you. Christmas donations for the East Elmbridge Foodbank - We'd like to encourage everyone to buy an extra food item when shopping to donate to the Foodbank. We’ll be having a parish collection at our morning services on Sunday 18 December. The Foodbank has asked for canned meats, potatoes, vegetables and UHT milk. They also welcome treats, generic ones, not Christmassy. Chocolate is very welcome. No pasta or baked beans at the moment. We will need volunteers to take donations to the Foodbank at Esher Green Baptist Church, Park Road on Tuesday 20 December. To help please speak to Fiona Owen. Youth Group - Our Youth Group is taking part in the Princess Alice Hospice Santa Fun Run at 1pm today at Bushy Park. It would be most appreciated if you could please sponsor our team of 33 at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/CCYouthGroup. Thank you. Wintershall Nativity - This play depicts a Christian view of Christmas in an exciting, original way - with sheep, donkeys and the three wise men on horseback! At the Barn Theatre, Wintershall, Bramley on 14-18 December. For details see http://www.wintershall-estate.com. Posada Dolls - If you would like to make room in your home for Mary and Joseph for one night during advent, please sign-up indicating your preferred date. Please pass on the Posada dolls to the person next on the list. They will start their journey today. Fundraising Team - The planning meeting has been rearranged for Monday 28 November at 8pm at 11 Harefield, Esher KT10 9TG. All are welcome. Thank you. Guys’ Night Out - Wednesday 30 November is a guys’ night out. Meet at Rob Pearson’s home (19 Claremont Lane, Esher, KT10 9DP) for drinks and then on to the Panahar Tandoori. Contact Rob on 07866 782099 or [email protected]. Please stay for coffee or tea after the service. PLEASE PRAY FOR Those who are ill: Dr Margaret Williams, Betty Walker, Julian Molteno, Diana Johns, Yasmin Ingram RIP Anniversaries: John Simons, Frank Dane, Muriel Ross, Francis Walden, Frances Kidd Baptisms: Carina Taylor, Cara May Taylor, Skye Elizabeth Molly Maher BIBLE READINGS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD Taken from the Church of England Lectionary - readings for Morning Prayer (MP) are said at the times below. All are welcome to join Nate and Stefan in daily prayer at Christ Church. Nov/Dec Time Reading Monday 28 Isaiah 42.18-end; Ps 50; Revelation 19 Tuesday 29 9.00-9.30am Isaiah 43.1-13; Ps 80; Revelation 20 Wednesday 30 9.00-9.30am Ezekiel 47.1-12; Ps 47; John 12.20-32 Thursday 1 9.00-9.30am Isaiah 44.1-8; Ps 42; Revelation 21.9-21 Friday 2 9.00-9.30am Isaiah 44.9-23; Ps 25; Revelation 21.22-22.5 LOOKING AHEAD November Time Event Sunday 27 1.00pm Youth Group, Princess Alice Hospice Santa Fun Run, Bushy Park Monday 28 Morning Stefan & Nate on Chapter Retreat 8.00pm Fundraising Team Planning Meeting, 11 Harefield Tuesday 29 10.30am Toddlers’ Praise Wednesday 30 8.00pm Breathe 7.30/8.30pm Guy’s Night Out, 19 Claremont Lane/Panahar Tandoori December Time Event Thursday 1 5.30pm Christmas Lights switch-on, Esher Saturday 3 9.00am Christingle & Christmas Tree preparation Sunday 4 10.30am Christingle Service 6.00pm Youth Group, Surbiton Hockey Club Tuesday 6 10.30am Toddlers’ Praise Wednesday 7 8.00pm Breathe Thursday 8 10.00am Fellowship Group

CONTACTS RECTOR Revd Dr Stefan Collier PARISH OF ESHER Tel 01372 462611 Website www.esherparish.org.uk Email [email protected] Twitter www.twitter.com/esherparish Rector’s day off is Thursday Christ Church Open Every day, 9am to 3pm CURATE Revd Nate Kurz PARISH OFFICE Christ Church, Church Street, Esher, Surrey KT10 8QS Tel 020 8398 6746 Tel 01372 462282 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Curate’s day off is Friday Office Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am to 12am All main events at Christ Church unless stated otherwise.