PARISH OF AMERSHAM WITH COLESHILL

26th November 2023

Christ the King : The Sunday next before Advent

A Prayer for Israel and Palestine

God of peace and compassion,
We pray for all impacted by the escalation in conflict in Israel-Palestine
For all who are mourning
For all who are fearful, today, and for what may lie ahead
For all traumatised and re-traumatised by what they have experienced.
Enable us to stand in solidarity with people of peace
May your Spirit bring peace and healing to your troubled world
Amen

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort will draw them near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the prince of Peace. Amen.

Verse for the week:

Thought:

Readings:

HC:  Ezekiel 34.11-16, 20-24: Ephesians 1.15-end: Matthew 25.31-end

MP: Psalm  29, 110: Isaiah 4.25.7: Luke 19.29-38

EP: 2 Samuel 23.1-7: Matthew 28.16-end

Collect for Christ the King:

Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Collect for Sunday next before Advent: (BCP):

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SUNDAY 26th November 2023 Christ the King

8am BCP Holy Communion St Mary’s Amersham

9am BCP Matins on Zoom

9am CW Holy Communion All Saints’ Coleshill

10:30am CW Holy Communion St Mary’s Amersham (Streamed from Church)

6pm BCP Evening Prayer St Mary’s Amersham (Streamed from Church)

For all access details see below.

In addition, the clergy team will livestream a short time of evening prayer on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 6pm

ANTHEM AND VOLUNTARY at St Mary’s Church:

King of Glory (J. S. Bach) & Improvisation

YOUTUBE: Link for this Sunday:

10.30am this Sunday  https://www.youtube.com/live/xg01qzd8HNI?si=unCbyqKujVp6qvwR  and for the 6pm service https://www.youtube.com/live/z3y6T3HLr98?si=5Je_z1XmRATjI_O-

WELCOME TO MICHELLE:

We are very excited to announce that Michelle Fotherby will be starting with us this Sunday as the new curate (priest in training) for the parish. As Michelle settles in to the parish, please do make her feel welcome as much as possible!

ALL-AGE CHRISTINGLE

On Sunday 3rd December at 10.30am we will be having our Christingle service at St Mary’s. If your child/children would like to be involved in the service, please do speak to Jonny. The Christingle service at 4pm in All Saints’ is being organised with Coleshill Village school and will have school pupils involved in the service.

PCC AWAY MORNING:

The PCC away morning last Saturday was a wonderful success as the group engaged with the vision for the parish and considering where God is calling us too in the future. The following values were determined as central to parish life: Community; Welcome; Worship. During the course of the morning it was agreed that we are trying to build a community, that provides a warm welcome (through our care of buildings, pastoral care and life event services), where all may come and worship in a place that feels loving and safe. By discussing the values above we were able to determine some practical ideas to consider so that we may grow our vision.

ALL SAINTS’ PRAYER MEETING:

The next All Saints’ prayer meeting will be on Saturday 2nd Of December at the usual time of 10am. All are welcome!

CHRISTINGLE MAKING AT ST. MARY’S

If you are able to come along and help make Christingles on Friday 1^st December at 1.30pm in the Drake Chapel, it would be appreciated!

CHRISTMAS SERVICES:

We are pleased to confirm the parish Christmas services for 2023. Please see the attached poster or head to the parish website for more information.

ADVENT COURSE:

We will be holding a four week advent course on 28th Nov, 5th Dec, 12th Dec & 19th Dec at 10:30am at St Mary’s Church. We have put together our own course looking at the themes of Thankfulness, Patience, Humility & Joy. Please do email Jonny to sign up at rector@amershamwithcoleshill.org. We would also like to hold an evening course if there is demand for it – if you would prefer the evening please be in touch with Jonny and he will arrange a mutually agreeable date with those who are interested!

CHRISTMAS CARDS

We still have a small supply of the stained glass window cards that can be used as Christmas Cards or Notelets. Petrina at All Saints’ has a supply too.

CONFIRMATION AND ADMISSION TO HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE:

We are pleased to announce that the Bishop of Buckingham will be coming to the parish on 4th February 2024 to conduct a service of confirmation and admission to Holy Communion at the 10:30am service at St Mary’s. Confirmation is an opportunity to affirm ones faith by making the declarations that were made at baptism and to be prayed for by the Bishop. For those slightly younger (between year 3 and year 5), there is an opportunity to be admitted to Holy Communion so they may receive Holy Communion before they are confirmed in the coming years. If you or your child would like to take part in this service, please speak to Jonny: rector@amershamwithcoleshill.org

AMCHOR concert in St.Mary’s – 7.30pm Saturday 2nd December:

Brahms – Ein deutsches Requiem; Brahms – Geistliches Lied; Grieg – Two Elegiac Melodies.Musical Director: Nick Austin. Amersham & Chesham Bois Choral Society with soloists and Echor orchestra. Tickets: £20, £10 students, under 16 free.  Aavailable from Perfect Pitch, Chesham, The Record Shop, Amersham, www.wegottickets.com/amchor, The Box Office 07748 154089.

THE STORY OF SCRIPTURE:

The Oxford Diocese Learning Hub is running an online course The Story of Scripture. Over six modules, you’ll open your Bible, gain a deeper understanding of what God was doing throughout the pages of Scripture and how God is calling you to join in that same story. The Story of Scripture is free of charge and open to all. It’s designed to help you get a firmer handle on that big story through the use of videos, questions, and quizzes. The course can be completed on your own, or as part of a small group, and it’ll take around 15 hours to complete. To register, go here: communications@oxford.anglican.org

A PASTORAL CHAT

Do contact any of the clergy for a chat by phone, facetime or Zoom about anything that is concerning you. Time we have!

DONATIONS TO ST MARY’S AND ALL SAINTS’

If you would like to make a donation or catch up with planned giving and have online banking the easiest way is to make a BACS payment – please contact the Parish Office to get the details.

HOW TO ACCESS CHURCH SERVICES

SUNDAYS 9am Morning Prayer (BCP) Zoom: Please apply to Rev Tim Barnard for meeting joining details, see the contact list below.

10.30am Holy Communion and Evening Prayers log in via the codes listed

ANOTHER OPTION

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

For those who are sick: Roy Evans, Margaret Filsell, Andrew James.

For your ongoing prayers at home: Pam Atkinson

For those that have died: Muriel Kaley.

St Mary’s Church Diary – NOVEMBER

Monday                      27^th                 11am                          Funeral

Tuesday                      28^th                 1-3pm                         Mothers and Toddler

Thursday                    30^th                 8-9.15pm                   Bellringing