www.stgeorgesedgbaston.org.uk Office: 0121 281 3660 [email protected] /Office hrs: Tues, Wed., Thu 9am-1pm Vicar : Reverend Dr Samuel Gibson (Father Sam) 0121 454 9929 / [email protected]

PUBLIC WORSHIP RESUMES From 2nd December onwards public worship is allowed again in churches. Our usual pattern of services will therefore resume from Sunday 6th December with the 8am and 10.30am celebrations of the Eucharist. Both services will be livestreamed to allow those who are unable to come to church to participate. We will also return to our previous weekday pattern, with Morning Prayer each day at 9am and with the addition of a regular Eucharist for at 10am on Thursdays. Church will be open for private prayer on Thursday until midday. We continue in prayer for an end to the pandemic, for all the sick and for key workers.

Advent II 6th December 2020

8.00am BCP Holy Communion Fr Sam Readings Romans 15:4-13, Luke 21:25-33 10.20am Advent Carol sung outside church before the service (socially distanced) - all welcome 10.30am Parish Eucharist with Holy Baptism Fr Sam Readings Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15, Mark 1:1-8

Music Carol before the service—People, look east

George Oldroyd—Liturgical improvisation No. 1

Kyrie and Sanctus: Richard Terry: Short Mass in C

Offertory: Flor Peeters—Prelude on Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

Communion: Heathcote Statham—Drop down, ye heavens George Oldroyd—Improvisation on Conditor alme siderum

In the Coming Week Tuesday to Friday, 9.00am Morning Prayer Tuesday 8 December, 9.30am Eucharist celebrating the feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Thursday Open church until midday Thursday, 10.00am Eucharist in the Lady Chapel

Next Sunday—Advent III 13th December 2020 8.00am BCP Holy Communion Fr Sam 10.30am Parish Eucharist Fr Sam Preacher : Charlotte Gibson 4.00pm Advent Carols & Reflections

PLEASE PRAY FOR In the Anglican Communion Those who are ill: The people and clergy of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain, and their bishop The Rt Revd John Wynn Miroslava Blahova Carlos López-Lozano. Nick Sales Jo Cox

Carol Smith Margaret Smith In the diocese Jayne Mertling-Blake Ken Lee Revd Mike Sermon, the newly appointed first full- Valentyna Milward Natalie Paul time Area Dean of the new deanery of Warley and Janet Taylor Anne Phelps Edgbaston Esme Sands Mary Howard Philip Hassall In the parish The organist and director of music, Phil Ypres- RIP Smith, and the choir as they lead us in the Andrew Challis anticipation of advent and the joy of Christmas.

Prayer for the Week: STAMPS FOR CHARITY O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep Margaret Davis is still collecting used postage stamps for a charity. Ideally, please could they us faithful as we await the coming of your have an envelope margin of about an inch. Son our Lord: Thank you, Caroline Shaw. That, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service CHRISTMAS POSTCARDS and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christmas postcards are now available in small Christ our Lord piles next to the magazines in church. Please take as many as you can distribute.

CHRISTINGLE SERVICE CHRISTMAS PUBLICITY We will celebrate an All-Age Eucharist on Sun- From the beginning of December a parish day 20th December and make dur- Christmas postcard will be available in ing the sermon. Donations taken for the Chil- church. There will be one for each dren's Society, or give online https:// congregation member/household. Could you www.childrenssociety.org.uk/how-you-can- also help spread the word about our help/donate Christmas celebrations in church by taking CHRISTMAS SERVICES some to post to neighbours, colleagues or These will go ahead as planned unless there are friends? If so, please email Fr Sam. further restrictions. : Outdoor CHURCH LIBRARY PROJECT Crib Service, 3pm; Midnight Mass 11pm; Christ- What resources would you like to be in a mas Day: Holy Communion (BCP), 8am; Family church library? Are there particular books Eucharist (with a talk/activity suitable for chil- you'd recommend to others to help them in dren), 10.30am. All are welcome. We are not their Christian journey? If you have ideas the asking people to book, but it would be helpful Vicar would be interested to hear from you. for planning if regular congregation members could let us know which services you hope to THURSDAY 10TH DECEMBER 7.30PM ON attend by emailing of- ZOOM [email protected] The Women’s Theology Group will be meeting on Zoom for a one-off Advent session studying THANK YOU Elizabeth. Email Charlotte for the link Thank you to all who led worship, prayers and ([email protected]). In the new year groups online during the latest lockdown. we will start a programme or regular Thank you also to the volunteers who kept the meetings—so watch this space! building open for prayer.

ADVENT CAROLS AND REFLECTIONS, MONTHLY LUNCHTIME RECITAL SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER In the absence of many of our usual seasonal A short service of prayers, music and readings treats this year, I would like to invite you all to a by candlelight to mark the season of Advent. virtual concert of popular seasonal music at All are welcome. If you would like to sing in 1.15 on Wednesday 9th December. This will be the choir please contact Phil Ypres-Smith. streamed live from St. George's via the church's Facebook page. CHRISTMAS POSTBOX ACCESS TO 8am SERVICE OF A postbox will be placed in church so that we HOLY COMMUNION can share Christmas cards with one another. The 8am service of Holy Communion (BCP) will Precautions will be taken when handling be open to worshipers in the sanctuary and will these to minimise any risk. Please post cards be streamed live on www.facebook.com/ by Wednesday 16th December so that they stgeorgesedgbaston. Alternatively, you may join can be safely distributed on Sunday 20th. the service by phone or internet teleconference. FUTURE NOTABLE DATES To join the service from any telephone: dial Sunday 13 December, Carols & Reflections 0121 720 3377 and, when prompted, enter the 4pm. meeting code 898 358 214 followed by the # Sunday 20 December, 10.30am. (‘hash’) key. Your voice will be heard in church on a loudspeaker. You will need the Book of PARISH MAGAZINE AND PEW SHEET Common Prayer to follow the service. We do not Material for the parish magazine should be have a freephone number available so please be submitted to Justin Pinkess by 10th January aware of the cost of calls to 0121 numbers in to be included in the February edition. The your call plan. Alternatively, from a computer or deadline for Pew Sheet items are Wednesdays smartphone using an internet browser or Mi- at 10am. crosoft Teams click on this link: 8AMBCP .