NEWS & VIEWS

The season of Advent continues until next Sunday. Today’s Epistle tells us that the will of Jesus is, appropriately for Gaudete (‘Rejoice’) Sunday, that we rejoice always, but also we should “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” and “hold fast to what is good”. This is an easy to understand - but harder to live up to - Christian version of the contemporary ‘stay positive!’ And divine help is at hand. The writer speaks down the ages to us, saying “May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely.”

ADVENT AT ST MARY’S During the season of Advent, which ends next Sunday, we prepare for the great festival of Christmas. The scriptures and liturgical themes turn us to thinking about the end times, when Christ will come again (the second Advent) to restore all things and take his people to himself in the Kingdom prepared for us. On Thursday during Mass, Seminarian Marcel Firth will give a short homily on the Gospel reading for the day.

GAUDETE! the old introit for the Mass today, Philippians 4. 4-7, begins ‘Rejoice [in Latin, Gaudete] in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.’ The rose-coloured vestments and Advent Candle denote a slight, temporary easing of the rigours of the penitential season on this Gaudete Sunday.

ERO CRAS Today begin the seven Great Antiphons  (‘Advent O’s’), well-known from the hymn O come, O come Emmanuel, traditionally used before and after the Magnificat  during Evening Prayer. In reverse date order, their initial letters spell (in Latin) Ero cras - ‘tomorrow, I will come’. See the list of services above.

CHRISTMAS AT ST MARY’S There are flyers at the back of church giving details of our Christmas Services this year. Please take one for yourself and one or more to give to friends and neighbours. As announced previously, our ‘First Mass of Christmas’ will begin at 6pm and end around 7.15pm. We hope this change will make this important service more accessible and look forward to seeing a full church this year! For online details of our Christmas Services, follow this link.

CAROL SERVICE this evening at 5pm our traditional service of Readings and Carols will be celebrated by candlelight around the Christmas Trees and Crib. This is a beautiful one-hour service that really heralds the coming festival and gets us in the ‘Christmas mood’. Following this service, a free meal of hot roast meat rolls and mulled drinks will be served. All welcome!

CHRISTMAS SUPPORT FUND As in previous years this fund will help Fr Gareth put cash into the hands of families within our community for whom Christmas presents a particular financial challenge. If you would like to donate, please do so using the card machine at the back of church, via this link, or by placing cash into the collection box.

REGULAR GIVING Giving to fund the ministry of the Church is an essential part of our Christian faith. Please, if you don’t already, would you consider giving a regular amount? No amount is too small. Using our parish giving scheme is easy and you are in full control (and Margaret Quinney will be pleased to help you if needed). One-off donations can be made using the Parish Giving Scheme, or with the card machine at the back of church, or by putting cash/cheques in the offering plate. Cheques should be made payable to St Mary’s Ilford PCC.

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY

for the sick, distressed and bereaved
Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Lucy Ball, Amberly Crediton, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Mel Taylor, Bernard Street, Keith Holland, Sally Cox, Matthew, Leslie Haigh, Bibi Bacchus, Fr Michael, Fr Elwin Cockett, the Noory family, Jeanmarie Morton, Alastair Ogilvie; Denis Deasey

for the recently departed 

for those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Sunday

Leonard Arnold

Monday

Thomas Smith, Anne Fairweather, Ernest Okungbowa, Queenie Dike, Arthur Horne Jr

Tuesday

Clare Atkins, Anthony Cassidy

Wednesday

Jeannette Knight

Thursday

John Gathercole, Michael Carney, Betty Osborne

Friday

Clara Smith, Percy Smith

Saturday

Harry Wicks

please pray especially for

peace in the Holy Land and Ukraine

ORDER OF SERVICE