Text Box: Sunday 10th December

Second Sunday in Advent                                                                                   

Welcome to our worship this morning as we observe the second Sunday in Advent, and hear once more the invitation to prepare our inner hearts and minds to be filled with the love of god.

“Prepare the way of the Lord

Make his path straight” Luke 3

 

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Text Box: A Candle is burning, a candle of love A candle to point us to heaven above A child for Christmas a wonderful birth For Jesus is bringing God’s love to our earth

Opening hymn   426 Praise to the Holiest

 

 The Epistle:  1 Philippians 1:3-11

 

Text Box: I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

 

Around the Gospel     14 All Heaven Declares

 

Gospel : Luke 3: 1-6

 

Text Box: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God."'

 

Offertory hymn          321 Love Divine
     
              Communion / Eucharistic Prayer:
             Sung responses can be found on page 8

             If you would like to receive a blessing at the altar rail you are very welcome,

                and if you would like a special  prayer or a prayer for healing  please

                   indicate that to the priest when he comes to you

 

Communion hymn:    273  Jesus Name Above All Names  ( sung   quietly and prayerfully)

 

Text Box: O Lord our God, as we wait for the coming of your son, Christ our Lord, awaken us to attention and watchfulness, that our spirit may be eager to receive Him. Help us to make straight the way so that the will of Christ may speak to us. Amen

 

Recessional hymn:       98 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

 

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Please take your pew sheet home with you and leave your hymn book and service book in your seat. Please do stay for refreshments in the side aisle.

 

 The Angels have arrived!! The angel tea towels are here and they look wonderful. They are on sale this morning at 5€ each. They would make good stocking fillers this Christmas.

 

Text Box: Christmas Services at St. John’s

 Nine Lessons and Carol Service

 Sunday 17th December at 18.00.

       Followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

 

Christmas Day Monday 25th December

10.30 Christmas Communion with Carols.

 

St John’s in the Var

Grimaud Village

Carol Service Friday 15th December 19.30

Lorgues

Christmas Communion and Carols

Christmas Eve Sunday 24th December 17.00

 

Centenary Appeal  Thank you everyone for a marvellous effort! We have reached the grand total of 75000€ which was the target of our appeal, well done!

Epiphany Lunch Party Sunday 7th January

Ben and Anne invite you celebrate Epiphany Sunday with a lunch party at their house.  Please bring either a main course or a delicious homemade dessert to feed four people. Please sign up at the back of the church saying what you will be bringing.

 Christmas Cards.

Are on sale today at 15 euros for 20 cards.

With only a few weeks before Christmas, you should be writing your Christmas cards this week! Please support the work Carol and Shirley have put into producing these cards and the centenary fund by buying the last remaining packs today.

Mince Pies .Volunteers are needed to make mince pies to eat after the Nine Lessons and Carol Service here at St John’s on Sunday 17th December. Anne will give you the mince meat.