St Peter ad Vincula
Noticeboard
Sunday
30th November - 6 pm Thursday
11th December - 4 pm |
The Christmas services at
St. Peter ad Vincula are as follows; Christmas Eve 5pm Family Candlelight
Crib Service Christmas Day 8am Holy Communion
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SHARE ROMANIA – if you took home a collection box for the work of this year’s special mission project at St Peter’s then it’s now time to return your box. Please bring it back to church on Advent Sunday. Christmas Coffee Morning in aid of SHARE Romania - as in previous years at this hectic time of year St Peter’s will be holding a relaxing and refreshing coffee morning on 19th December at 5 Carter’s Way from 10:30am onwards—do come and take a few moments away from all that busyness.
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On Tuesday
January 6th St Peter’s launches its new ALPHA COURSE 2009.. The
Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith. It’s
relaxed, non-threatening, low key, friendly and fun. There is a meal together
at the beginning of each session which gives you an opportunity to get to know
each other. This is followed by a series of talks looking at topics such as
‘Who is Jesus?’ and ‘Why and how do I pray?’ There is
time to listen, learn, discuss and discover, but even more importantly to ask
any question you might have about the Christian faith – Alpha is the place
where no question is too simple or too hostile. For more information please
contact Simon Newham on 700339.
The Vicar Writes - December 2008
Dear Friends,
So the world has a new saviour, Barack Obama, elected to the position of being
the most powerful man on earth in a tide of euphoria - and wasn’t it good
to see?
I have been reflecting on why Obama’s election victory was so joyfully
received. Perhaps because, in many ways, he represents a new hope: He will be
the first black president; he came from a very humble background; he is an outsider
relatively new to the political establishment and therefore not so tainted as
some others by its shortcomings and failings.
Perhaps it was because he is such a good leader - his election campaign was
the most expensive ever and one of the best organized.
Or perhaps it is because he is a brilliant orator who speaks with passion, vision
and an unflappable confidence. Obama will need all these gifts and more if he
is going to make a real difference to the huge challenges that face the American
people.
Shortly we will be celebrating the birth of another saviour, Jesus Christ. He
too represents a new hope (that death is not the end and that we can, and will
be, set free from the many things that so often hold us back in this life);
he was from a humble background outside the establishment of his day; he was
an excellent leader who took twelve followers and with them eventually changed
the whole Roman Empire along with countless millions of others down through
history; he was also a brilliant speaker - thousands turned out to listen to
him.
But will we celebrate his birth with something approaching the same joy and
excitement as Obama’s election victory was welcomed? Or have we become
just too familiar with the story of the saviour’s birth - so much so that
the astounding promises surrounding it no longer have the capacity to surprise
us and fill us with hope and joy? Will all the consumerism and busyness of the
Christmas season leave us too tired and exhausted to remember what Christmas
is really about?
I hope not. If Obama’s promises and election victory are worth celebrating,
Jesus Christ’s are even more so - they really are good news to a world
in such need.
This Christmas be open to hearing and believing the exciting and joyful news
of the real saviour’s birth in some new and surprising and way - just
as so many were willing to receive the news of Obama’s victory.
Yours in Christ,
Simon
FROM THE REGISTERS
Funerals: Mrs Vivienne Grellis—cremation
on 5.11.08 (d. 21.10.08 aged 86)
Mrs Rosemary Hamblin—buried on 6.11.08 (d.. 3.8.08 aged 75)
Mr Bob Parnell—buried on 11.11.08 (d. 30.11.08 aged 92)
Mrs Jennifer Mansbridge—cremation on 17.11.08 (d. 7.11.08)