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Dear all,
This Sunday marks the start of Advent, in a beautiful neatness, Advent actually begins on December 1st and runs to December 25th (it is not always the way!) I wonder how you will mark the passing of these 24 days of preparation? Will you be making lists? The food to buy and prepare list, the presents to buy list, the cards to write and send list, the still to do list… We are a great list making family so our lists have already begun!
It is interesting to me that the gospel of Matthew – the book that tells us all about Jesus’ life and teaching, his death and resurrection begins with a list. A list of Jesus’ ancestors. It doesn’t normally form part of the nativity plays telling us about Jesus’ birth – we mostly focus on the angelic visitations, shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph - but of course this moment in history does not stand in isolation. God has actually been preparing for it long before Mary said “yes” to the angel Gabriel. The list of Jesus’ ancestors in Matthew connects and integrates this monumental moment in history with all that God had been doing in and through the people of God from Abraham onwards. God had been preparing the ground from the moment he called Abram and Sarai to trust him.
There is a beautiful Advent tradition called the Jesse Tree based on the verse in Isaiah 11:1:
*“A shoot shall come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”*
A Jesse Tree helps to explore and celebrate the long history of God’s preparation. Every day of Advent a new ornament is added to a branch or tree, each one representing an individual from Jesus’ ancestry. It is accompanied by a relevant bible reading and over 24 days builds up a visual representation of Jesus’ family tree and God’s faithfulness throughout history and the promise of salvation.
As you prepare this Advent and write your lists for Christmas you might like to take a look at the list in the book of Matthew and rather than skim over the names (as we’ve all done at some point!) read each one and imagine the person behind the name, their lifestyle, their families. They form part of our heritage too and each one was a significant individual in the whole story of God.
*News and Upcoming Events*
*Mill Road bridge bus gateway. *For more information as to the impact of this work and the bus gateway visit: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/news/work-to-begin-on-mill-road-bridge-bus...
*Sunday 1st December – putting up Christmas Decorations *Next Sunday after the service we will be decorating the church ready for Mill Road Winter Fair and Christmas. Please consider grabbing a cup of tea and staying for an extra half hour or so after the service to help decorate together. The more the merrier – many hands make light work – etc.
*Monday 2nd December – 11.30am - Funeral Service for Doreen Jackson at St Philip’s Church*
*Friday 6th December – 10.30am – Funeral Service for Margaret Squires at St Philip’s Church*
*Saturday 7th December – Mill Road Winter Fair *We will once more be a fabulous choir venue with even more choirs than last year signed up to perform. If you can help host on the day there will be a sign-up sheet at church over the next few weeks. We will also be singing carols outside Co-op at 3.45pm in conjunction with St Martin’s church – come and join in to swell the song and spread the joy!
*Wednesday 11th December – 6.30pm – Carols at the Abbey *Cambridge United are once more hosting a carol service at the stadium. More information is available here: https://www.cambridgeunited.com/news/date-set-carols-cledara-abbey-stadium including how to purchase tickets (all proceeds to the Cambridge United Foundation).
*Christmas Services:*
Mon 16th December - 6pm Blue Christmas - *A service for those who find it hard to celebrate this time of year*
Sun 22nd December - 6pm Carol Service – *A service of traditional carols and readings*
Tues 24th December - 4pm Crib Service - *A dress up and join in nativity service*
11.30pm - Midnight Communion - *A quiet and reflective service to welcome in Christmas Day*
Wed 25th December - 10.30am Christmas Day Communion - *An All Age celebration of the birth of Jesus*
*Warm Spaces will also be open on Christmas Day (Wednesday 25th - 2.30-4pm) please let Ruth know if you would like to drop in so we can make sure there are enough festive treats for everyone!*
*Opportunities*
Are you baking a Christmas Cake this year? Would you be willing to make an extra one?! It would be wonderful to have a home made Christmas Cake to share at our Christmas Day Warm Spaces, if you are willing and able to help I know a lot of people who will be coming on that day who would feel very touched to have had a home made cake made for them.
*Eco-Bite – our new green “nugget” each week: *
Did you know that *every year in the UK we throw away enough wrapping paper to circle the globe nine times! *Why not try adding a little personal flair to your gifts this year and re-use an old magazine, comic book or newspaper to wrap up your presents. It’s recyclable, it saves money and you can personalise it for the gift receiver!
*Last Week’s sermon*
Last week’s sermon: sermon24.11.24.mp3 http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/2024-11-24%20-%20Colin%20-%20c.mp3
If you missed any previous sermons, or would like a second listen you can find them here:
The link to our sermon archive: St Philip's sermon archive http://sermons.stphilipschurch.org.uk/
*Prayers *
If any of you have specific prayers you would like us to include in this newsletter do please get in touch.
*Gilberty Chamunorwa – *please pray for Jojo, Petina, Ceasar and Albert’s dad - he is in hospital with a kidney infection. Please pray for his healing and for peace for the whole family as they worry about him.
*Doreen Jackson – *As you will have read above, Doreen’s funeral will take place at 11.30am on Monday 2nd December at St Philip’s Church. Please pray for Doreen’s family as they plan for the service and that they would know God’s love and peace in their sadness.
*Garry Holland* – Please pray for Garry who has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. We hold him and Pam, and all the family, up to God and ask that they know they are loved and held by both God and their community.
*Please pray for our Mission Partner this month:*
*The Leprosy Mission* – Leprosy can affect anyone. But the biggest impact is on people living in poverty or marginalised from society. These are the people The Leprosy Mission support. Everything they do is focused on their mission to break the chains of leprosy and empower people to attain healing, dignity and life in all its fullness. They have three main goals: to end the transmission of leprosy. To reduce the likelihood of people with leprosy being disabled after diagnosis. To partner with human rights organisations and people affected by leprosy to end the stigma associated with the disease.
*Services this week 1st-7th Dec*
*Sunday: Advent 1*
*8.30am – Reflective Holy Communion*
*10.30am – All Age Worship – *this Sunday our Ordinand Edward will be exploring “the good promise” from Jeremiah 33:14-16
If you can't attend church in person you can always use this Zoom link:
meeting ID: 976 3739 9129 and Passcode: 330714
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/97637399129?pwd=TGhKWWxOcWF1S242aVhrWDlJdUkxZz09
*Wednesday:*
*12noon - Reflective Holy Communion *A quiet time to help find space and peace in the middle of the week.
*Regular Weekly Prayers to join:*
*Monday & Friday 8.30pm – Compline on zoom *
Meeting ID: 836 5965 9953 Passcode: 749968 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83659659953?pwd=btP5AjGMu1s-dE_2W9T0MMFqnnPKSS.1
*Wednesdays 7.00-7.30pm - Weekly Prayers on zoom*: - (Monthly in person – next in person prayer *18th December*)
Meeting ID: 852 1105 2733 Password: 397987
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85211052733?pwd=OE52bm9NS1RtQVQ0ZytTc0xBZnVsUT09
*Regular Weekly small groups:*
*Thursdays 7.30pm – Bible study group at church*
*Saturdays 8.15am - Morning Bible Discussion and Prayer on zoom*:
Meeting ID: 143 338 655 Password: 824271
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/143338655?pwd=L1JJTFZJNU9EaFZjaUFjQzVlalpMZz09
With love and prayers
Ruth
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Blessings Ruth
*Revd Ruth Barry* *Vicar, St Philip's Church, Cambridge*
185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN 01223 318315 vicar@stphilipschurch.org.uk *My day off is Tuesday*