Old Hills Malvern Headlines 6th December 2020

Keeping you in touch with your churches across , , Guarlford and Madresfield with Newland SERVICES FOR THE COMING PERIOD VICAR’S BLOG! th Sunday 6 December Well, we finally made it - a Zoom based worship for Advent Sunday Holy Communion for Advent featured hymns that we can sing along too. With perseverance and 9.30am at Callow End a daughter who is more techy than her dad, we finally got to that 11.00am at Madresfield milestone - just as the churches regather and reopen for worship.

5.30pm Contemplative Evening Prayer on Zoom As we start our Advent journey together, I used our last open prayer

No private prayer at St James' from this week. session at St James' to ask people to consider these ways of

deepening prayer over the next few weeks: Thursday Night Prayers continue each Thursday at 8.30pm on Zoom Pray for attentiveness to what truly matter, without being distracted (no Night Prayers on 10th December) by trivial things.

Telephone access codes - please use meeting ID and Pray for opportunities to learn something new about your faith. Passcode shown overleaf. Pray for discernment of how God would like you to set your priorities and give you the ability to focus on them consistently to fulfil His

purposes in your life. Bible Readings for the Pray for the grace to take rest, to be more and more aware of God's Church Based Services presence, and enjoy it. Sunday 6th December Pray for peace in all situations- no matter the circumstances. Second Sunday of Advent Pray for freedom from all that burdens you - past mistakes, fears, destructive habits, hurts that you have caused or received from others. Pray for genuine awareness of God's grace in your life and to have the humility to extend grace to others.

Isaiah 40: 1-11 2 Peter 3: 8-15a If you haven't seen it yet, can I commend to you the latest Lord's

Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13 Mark 1: 1-8 Alive video on Facebook that really explains Advent well.

Collect I am really looking forward to gathering together again for worship in our churches. Rev Gary O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us,

and with great might succour us; that whereas, through CAROLS ON YOUR DOORSTEP our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in I hope we can all get involved with the National Carol on your running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace Doorstep that's happening at 6pm on the 16th December. and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Just listen in to your local BBC radio station and play the Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you, and the Holy carols. A song sheet can be downloaded from Spirit, be honour and glory, now and forever. Amen. www.doorstepcarols.co.uk

Intercessions

Intercessions for the week can be downloaded from the Parishes' website. Advent Carols Apologies for anyone trying to link up with St Matthias's Powick Church Closed Due to Electrical Works Advent Carols Service last Sunday. Given church reopening they have moved it to allow participation and Western Power are attending to works on the is now taking place on Sunday 6th December at 5pm. substation on the church drive during 9th/10th Follow this link: https://facebook.com/churchmlwc I do December. There will not be power in the church hope you enjoyed the service pre-recorded from Great so the building will be closed to all. Malvern Priory.

Vicar: Revd Gary Crellin – [email protected] 01905 830270 31 The Greenway, Collett’s Green, Powick, Worcs. WR2 4RZ

For more information please see our website: www.oldhillsmalvern.co.uk

If you would like to be included in the email circulation list for this newsletter please contact Liz Edwards, the Parish Administrator on [email protected]

Old Hills Malvern on YouTube HOLD IN YOUR PRAYERS…. The family of Dee Stinson - her funeral was on the 1st The benefice now has a presence on YouTube - the video sharing December. platform. Thanks to Keren Davies for offering to help with the The family of Margaret Sybil Hemming - her funeral is on the multimedia side of things for the parishes, we now have a place to 4th December at Worcester Crematorium. upload short services videos or programmes about our churches and The family of Maureen Coleman - her funeral is on the 15th mission. The first video includes the prayer and poem for Advent sent by St Laurentia from Stanbrook that was used at the December at St Peter’s, from 1.30pm. Advent Carol Service. Search Old Hills Barbara and Nick from Hall Green who ARE getting married, Malvern on YouTube and subscribe (free) to the page for updates. despite all the Covid trials and difficulties at Madresfield on Keren is the Assistant Pastor at The Source Church and Chaplain to the 19th December. Dyson Perrins High School. She helped with our music and

hymnody that was used for the first time on Advent Sunday.

Malvern Hills Foodbank The current shortage list is as follows… DEFIBRILLATOR AT GUARLFORD Sugar 1kg and 500g bags. Tinned fruit. Tins of rice pudding. Guarlford now has a defibrillator which is fixed to the outside Tinned potatoes. Jars of curry sauce. Sponge pudding. Tinned wall of the Village Hall. A new light sensor has also been vegetarian pies. Tea bags 40, 80 and 160 packs. Jars of instant fitted to make it easier to access in the dark. If you suspect coffee. Jars of jam (not homemade). Bottles of squash. Fruit someone may be having a heart attack first call 999. juice. Men’s shaving gel/foam. Men’s deodorant. Men’s shower gel Go to the bright yellow defibrillator box and enter the code C159X The ambulance service will also have this number so Collections will happen at The Vicarage on Thursday 3rd they can let you know if you can’t remember it. This number December and at Guarlford Telephone Box and Madresfield will also be on a small sticker on the notice board to the right Club (2 locations) between 2-5pm on 10th December. of the hall entrance door.

Please drop off any donations in carrier bags in case of poor Open the box remove the orange case and take it to the weather. person who is unwell. Take out the defibrillator machine,

turn it on by pressing the large button, a voice will tell you exactly what to do. Follow all the instructions. Journey through Christmas around Powick and Callow End The sensor pads will measure the hearts rhythm and administer a shock only if it is needed. Remember the There is no doubt in my mind that Christmas will happen this defibrillator will not administer a shock if it is not needed. year but will be understandably different. No crib You cannot cause harm by using the defibrillator but you may services, no carol services - when/where am I going to get to just save a life! wear my Christmas jumpers this year and to use my cracker jokes on the unsuspecting parishioners? If you would like more information about responding to a heart attack please go to the Heart Start website Powick has a good history of Christmas themed displays in https://www.heartstartmalvern.org.uk/heart_attack.htm church, and a very innovative display a few years ago Heart start will be delivering training on use of the called Advent Live. In time, I hope to resurrect that defibrillator, and responding to emergency situations, in idea. Last year, Madresfield had a small Christmas Guarlford Village Hall around Easter time, once it is safe for tree festival in church that brought out a surprising number people to meet again in a public space of organisations for such a small place which was well supported. Again, this is going to be impossible this year. TELEPHONE ACCESS FOR

Instead, I am hoping that you will benefit from a Journey ZOOM BASED SERVICES through Christmas.... an opportunity for households After a successful trial, a new audio version of Zoom can be used by parishioners to engage with our Zoom based worship services. You will to decorate a lit (street facing) window with a Christmas need to have the Meeting ID and passcode that can be given to you scene formed like a stained glass window (nativity or secular) upon request. All you have to do is ring one of the following UK numbers, and light up these windows on the run up to Christmas - from enter these codes and await connection. It is hoped that this additional the 5th-28th December). If people are happy to share functionality will broaden the appeal of Zoom based worship, especially addresses (no names), a listing can be made available for for those without a computer or a stable internet access. families to take exercise safely and view these windows. Let Sunday 5.30pm Services me know if you wish to participate by the 5th December. Meeting ID: 369 074 4632

I am hoping that two different journeys can be set up - one in No passcode required Thursday 3rd December 8.30pm Service Callow End, the other in Powick. Meeting ID: 857 4082 1888 For Powick, I will do something similar and have a collection Passcode: 594194 bucket in place for donations for The Friends of each School Dial by your location +44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom and a Christmas related charity - after all, it is supposed to be +44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom a season of goodwill. Please keep an eye on social media, +44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom the parishes website or call The Vicarage for further +44 203 901 7895 United Kingdom information +44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom Meeting ID: 369 074 4632 for Sundays at 5.30pm Meeting ID: 857 4082 1888 for Thursday 3rd Dec at 8.30pm