SERVICE TIMES Sunday 10 December 2023 9.00am Children’s Church – St Johns 10.00am Sung Eucharist – St John’s 5.00pm BCP Evening Prayer with discussion – St Johns Sunday 17 December 2023 10.00am Sung Eucharist – St Luke’s 7.00pm Carol Service – St John’s St John’s Church is open on Wednesdays 10 am- 12.00 _________________________________________________ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2023 Monday 11 December Advent Course Saturday 16 December Prayer Group Monday 18 December Looking towards Christmas _________________________________________________ COMMUNITY Yoga - Thursday 12 noon to 1.00pm St Luke’s Church Clay Hill Singers – Friday 10.30-12 noon St Luke’s Church (Term Time only) Place of Welcome – Mondays 10.00am-12 noon St Luke’s (not Bank Holidays) _________________________________________________ No cash? No Problem! You can now make your donation to your church using our new contactless card reader. _________________________________________________ CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2023 Saturday 16 December 4.00pm A Blue Christmas - St John’s Sunday 17 December 7.00pm Carol Service - St John’s Sunday 24 December 10.00am Parish Eucharist St John’s 4.00pm Christingle St Luke’s 11.30pm Midnight Mass St Luke’s Monday 25 December 10.30am Parish Eucharist St John’s _________________________________________________ CHRISTMAS HAMPER RAFFLE TICKETS Get your Christmas raffle tickets, now on sale with the draw taking place on Sunday 17 December. _________________________________________________ ADVENT COURSE Our Advent Course The Advent O Antiphons continues on Monday 11 December 7.30pm in St Luke’s or on ZOOM. Speak to Fr Jeremy for more details. __________________________________________________ THE ADVENT WREATH ….. did you know…..?? The Advent wreath is usually a circle of greenery with five candles rising from it. The 1st candle (purple) to be lit represents the Patriarchs, the 2nd (purple) the Prophets, the 3rd (pink) John the Baptist/Gaudete, the 4th (purple) Mary and the 5th (white) Jesus. The candles are lit in the same order each week, so that by the 4th week, the candles have burnt down by different amounts. _________________________________________________ LOOKING TOWARDS CHRISTMAS Arranged by the Mothers’ Union this special service will be on Monday 18 December at 10.30am in St Luke’s Lady Chapel. This is a reflective service of prayers, readings, hymns entitled “A lowly birth and courageous women” All very welcome. _________________________________________________ AN ALTERNATIVE TO CHRISTMAS CARDS! Since 2007, our congregation have been invited to make donations to the Church Urban Fund instead of sending Christmas cards to each other. A “Parish” Christmas Card will be available to sign and place your donation in a special CUF gift aid envelope – thanks!