St Matthias & St George Parish Church. A member of “Christ the King” team ministry. Week commencing 6th December 2020, 2nd Sunday in Advent

John proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." Mark 1 v7-8

Fr Glenn Reading – Team Vicar We pray for those who are sick: Philippa, Rosie, Alex, Tel 01527 894436 or 07964 282278 Jean, Margaret Emms, Marion, Alexei, Dora, Margaret Curate: Mthr. Victoria Barlow email Savage, Nesta, Hazel, Heather, Carol, Carla, Carole, Tim, [email protected] Jon & Naomi, Pastor Robin Baker, Colin, Steven, Mel Beynon, Lay Reader, on placement as a student Margaret Andrew. from Queen’s College, Birmingham until Christmas. Toys for the children of prisoners: Due to Covid19 We’re back, again! Today 6th December concerns, there will be no collection of toys for local we’re back in church- together - for our children of prisoners. HOWEVER an alternative service at 4pm. Please come if you can to system has been set up to ensure that such children share in the resumption of our communal can receive presents. Members of the Worcester worship. Please let Fr Glenn know on 0796 Diocese Mothers Union organising the project, are 4282 278 if you plan to attend the service as collecting donations with which they will buy this will greatly help in the organisation of vouchers for children to exchange for books in chairs for worship in line with the current shops. Hopefully there will be a number of people in regulations. If there’s no answer please leave the congregation, and their friends, who will want to a message. support this worthwhile and traditional local project, especially as prisoners families have been described Father Glenn continues to hold Evening as families who serve a ‘second sentence’. Any Prayer online at 6pm each Sunday evening. donations, (cash is preferable in an envelope but if Mthr Victoria continues to stream Compline by cheque please make it out to Worcester Diocese online at 9pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Mothers Union) to Irene Hamilton, 1079 Evesham Sunday each week. Road by Wednesday 16th December.

Weekday services will also be resuming (CTiR) has asked us to pray this month for our across the Benefice at the following times neighbours, Baptist Church ‘which is a small but each week: lively fellowship.’ The members ask us to pray for their Tuesday 10 am Astwood Bank –Traditional new Pastor (in training) Charles Stubbings who ‘has been Language with us since April, and is like a fresh spring of water bubbling up within our fellowship. Pray for his studies, Wednesday 10 am the Bridge Hall his family, his business work, his hospital chaplaincy role Thursday 10 am St Peter’s, . and that God will guide him into all wisdom.’ They also Friday 10 am informal Eucharist, the Bridge ask us to ‘Pray for our desire to start a youth work, joint Hall with our Anglican friends, St Paul’s, here in the village. This so nearly took off, but for covid! But we pray for an Please note: A mask or face covering must upfront leader who will be necessary.’ Our prayers are be worn during services. also asked for an outreach plan to circulate the Christmas Hope magazine around Astwood Bank, Coohill and

Inkberrow. Churches Together in (CTiR) wants to encourage people to sign up as volunteers for the Sunday Stars: There is a new letter on the website from Support Redditch Emergency Network. Below you Irene, plus activities to do during December. Please go will find two online links about the network. onto the website and click on Sunday Stars. Watch this space for details of a possible Christmas The first relates to volunteers’ roles, with job workshop for Sunday Stars families descriptions and application forms, whilst the second is about Frequently Asked Questions. Please give notices for inclusion in next week’s https://supportredditch.net/volunteer/ Spotlight to Richard Porteous by next Thursday on https://supportredditch.net/about/frequently- 01527 542620 or at [email protected] asked-questions/ Log onto our website for more information www.astwoodbankchurch.org.uk