Author: Reuben

CHRISTMAS DAY in the morning Sunday 25 December when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church this week

COLLECT Lord Jesus Christ, your birth at Bethlehem draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth: accept our heartfelt praise as we worship you, our Saviour and our eternal God. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 52.7–10
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ 8 Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the LORD to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
PSALM 98
Response: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things. His own right hand and his holy arm have won for him the victory.
The Lord has made known his salvation; his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations. Response
He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness towards the house of Israel, and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; break into singing and make music. Response
Make music to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sound praises before the Lord, the King. Response
Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, the world and all that dwell upon it. Let the rivers clap their hands and let the hills ring out together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. In righteousness shall he judge the world and the peoples with equity. Response
SECOND READING Hebrews 1.1–4
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
This is the word of the Lord THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL John 1:1-14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John GLORY TO YOU O LORD
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.4 What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
This is the gospel of the Lord PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem: may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.
Happy Christmas

The materials used in this sheet are from the Common Worship materials of the Church of England www.churchofengland.org all Bible verses are from NRSV translation this sheet created by Fr Reuben James Preston SCP OblOSB rectorofsharnbrook@rjpmedia.co.uk www.sharnbrookcofechurches.org

The United Benefice of Sharnbrook, Felmersham and Knotting with Souldrop
St Peter’s Church, Sharnbrook MK44 1HU, St Mary’s Church, Felmersham MK43 7JP All Saints Church, Souldrop MK44 1EX www.sharnbrookcofechurches.org Happy Christmas …. Please TAKE THIS SHEET HOME with you!
Sunday 27 November 2016—ADVENT SUNDAY

Worship in the Benefice today—CHRISTMAS DAY 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 1000 Sharnbrook Christmas Day Communion 1200 Felmersham Christmas Day Communion
Monday—Festival Day—St Stephen’s Day 1200 Holy Communion CW at Sharnbrook followed by sherry & cake Tuesday-Festival Day—St John the Evangelist 0930 Holy Communion (CW) at Felmersham followed by sherry & cake Wednesday—Festival Day—The Holy Innocennts 0930 Holy Communion BCP at Sharnbrook followed by sherry & cake 1400-1900 St Peters Electoral Roll Christmas Social party at the Rectory—bring food and drink to share Thursday– Thomas Beckett AD1170 Friday—feria Saturday-John Wyclif AD1384
Next Sunday—The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion—Mass of Light 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion 1800 Benefice Evensong at Sharnbrook Thank you to the Sharnbrook Gospel Choir for singing and helping to lead worship at Sharnbrook today
Thank you to everyone who has worked to make our Christmas worship special and enjoyable and a blessing to our parishes.
Epiphany Celebration Friday 6 January 7:30pm at St Mary’s Felmersham—Benefice Celebration followed by an Epiphany Party—preacher Andrea Maffie
Items for inclusion should be sent to sharnbrookbenefice@gmail.com by 0900 on Wednesdays. During the two weeks after Christmas there will be no public recitation of Morning Prayer in St Peters at 0800. The church will be open as usual for you to visit and enjoy. Please look at our parishes websites for the new ONLINE Diary of everything that is happening in the Benefice.

Helping our friends in Calpino—A Christmas Appeal Don Fabio sends thanks for the money we have sent over to support him in his work in bringing some Christmas gifts and sweets to the orphans of the earthquakes. Today is your last chance to give to the collections at the end of the services. Let’s aim for a total of £500 from across our benefice to offer something of goodwill and Christ’s generosity and hope in such difficult times. Thank you. Christian Meditation Group meets again on 9/1 & 16/1 next year!

Volunteer post—we need someone to put this sheet together each week using Publisher. It takes about 2 hours on a Wednesday. Please talk to the rector if you are able to do this for the Benefice and for the mission of Christ.

Benefice Pastoral Meeting—good advance notice of the Benefice Pastoral Consultation meeting on Wed 11 Jan from 7:30pm-9pm in SPR. This meeting is for all involved in or who would like to be involved in the Pastoral Care work of the Benefice. A chance to discover what is happening and what will be happening.

Intercessions The Sick and in need: Neil, Martin, Catherine, Jean, Marjorie The Departed: Daphne Smith, Mary Gould, Don Gough Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for neighbours in our villages that they may have a peaceful and restful festival Pray for new people to join in the lives of our churches and for our young servers at St Peter’s

You can sponsor this sheet for £5 a week—either with a message or anonymously. Please tell the Rector when you would like to sponsor the sheet.

Church Contacts
The Rector: Reuben Preston, The Rectory, 81 High Street, Sharnbrook MK44 1PE 01234 782000 07971 895897 rectorofsharnbrook@rjpmedia.co.uk
Lay Leaders of Worship: Rosemary Drewery 01234 783598, Jane Templeman, Andrea Maffie 07881 046255 Churchwardens:- St Peter’s Church: Roger Gaunt 01234 782183 &
Andrea Maffei 07881 046255 St Mary’s Church: Jane Wells 01234 782462 &
Sue Whitehouse 01234 781300 All Saints Church: Nick Wells 07841 759497
Safeguarding Co-Ordinator: Rosemary Drewery 01234 783598

To make arrangements for Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms/Christenings, Confessions, House Blessings etc. please contact the Rector

This Pew Sheet was sponsored this week…. In memory of Don Gough RIP If you would like to sponsor this sheet please send you £5 donation to The Rectory along with details of the sponsorship (even if anonymous)