28th November 2020
Benefice of Farleigh, Candover and Wield
Letter no 36 November 28th 2020
Benefice of Farleigh, Candover and Wield
e-mail: davidchattell172@btinternet.com e-mail:- stevemourant@btinternet.com
01256 389474 01256 381217
Living the life...telling the story....visit us at http://www.farleighcandoverandwield.org.uk
Dear Friends,
Advent Sunday tomorrow heralds the start of four weeks of preparing: for not just the trappings of Christmas, but the reality of what the season is truly about - God becoming human, incarnate in Jesus, born a baby at Bethlehem. His coming was foretold throughout the Old Testament – the place and manner of his birth, and also the meaning - all foretold hundreds of years before. The Nine Lessons and Carols has a selection of the scriptures charting the journey from creation, the Fall from relationship through rebellion and sin against God’s commands, and the gradual revelation of God’s nature, personality, love and welcome, but also His holiness, and the need for human beings to return to Him; the coming of Jesus brought the full revelation of God as human in Jesus. Every person can know this Jesus personally as that is the nature of a personal God – who invites us into His relationship within Himself.
So as we prepare we think of the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses on this first Sunday in Advent, to whom God revealed his mercy as a curtain was drawn aside for us to see into His glory…. And let’s keep in perspective that Jesus is walking with us now – in these difficult times.
Tomorrow’s services will be online – Farleigh Parish have a guest speaker, Professor Julian Evans tells us some facts behind the Star of Bethlehem.
Links here for tomorrow’s service:
Stephen’s service: https://youtu.be/dIO268Xj8aY
David’s service link will be on the website later.
For Farleigh Parish:
December’s services: we are still working on practical plans for the carol services, as we will hold them in the open air in shortened form so we can all sing our hearts out: next week we will confirm all the details and times along with some of the issues over how many we can have in our buildings socially distanced.
CLIDDESDEN have prepared some “Take Away Christingles in a bag” with full instructions, and these will be available to collect from the lych gate on 6 December – Claire Nunn will circulate those who would like to take part. Likewise further “Take away Christingle” bags will be available at the Dummer service that afternoon.
We hope also to have an online Christingle service by Ruth and David Chattell uploaded for next weekend. Information about the first two Sundays in December is below:-
Farleigh Parish:
6 December 2020 2nd Sunday in Advent
8.00 Ellisfield Holy Communion BCP,
9.45 Cliddesden Holy Communion CW
3.00 Dummer Farleigh Benefice Nativity/ Take away Christingles Service –at the stables behind Dummer Church by kind permission of Jo and Simon Gammell: please remember to socially distance
Readings Isaiah 40:1-11, 2 Peter 3:8-15, Mark 1:1-8 Psalm 85:8-end
Sunday 13 December 3rd Sunday in Advent
8.00 Dummer Holy Communion BCP
9.45 Ellisfield Holy Communion CW
11.15 Cliddesden Family Communion CW
Readings Isaiah 61:1-4,8-end, 1 Thess. 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28 Psalm 126
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – more information next week,
In His love,
David and Stephen
Stephen Mourant, Associate Rector
Benefice of Farleigh, Candover and Wield,
Hampshire
The Rectory, Church Lane, Ellisfield,
RG25 2QR 01256-381217
Living the Life... Telling the story... visit us at
http://www.farleighcandoverandwield.org.uk
Please note my rest day is Friday so e-mails sent Thursday evenings may not be viewed till Saturday.