St. Mary the Virgin, Baldock.
St. Margaret of Antioch, Bygrave.
“BUILDING WITH CHRIST”
Sunday 7th January 2018
8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Parish Communion
11.00 am Parish Communion at Bygrave 12.00 pm Messy Church
There is a quiet traditional service of communion every Sunday at 8 am
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS! Make a resolution to meet God weekly in worship in 2018!
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. All ages worship together at our 9.30am Parish Communion. We enjoy carols, and place the kings in the stable. The choir and organ will be accompanying our worship. Remember that the colour of the altar and vestments are white, the colour of celebration. The season of Christmas lasts 40 days until Candlemass.
At 11am there is Parish Communion at Bygrave.
At 12pm there is Messy Church. Join us for a delicious lunch, (winter warmer stew with mashed potato, followed by rice pudding). The theme is the parable of the Big Feast.
Messy Church is about having fun with the whole family! There will be crafts, activities and games around the church including a short service. No Charge—donations welcome
Choral Evensong is postponed until January 21st. Make a note in your new diary!
Next Sunday (January 14th), there is Parish Breakfast from 8.45am in the church hall. Join us for tea, coffee, juice, toast and croissant and a chance to chat before the service.
Next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Christ. All ages worship around the Gospel, the font and the altar at our 9.30am Communion for All Ages. We baptize Baillie, Raymond and Pandora Bruce and admit Baillie to communion.
After the service next week we are showing the final Archbishop’s videos, ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ about the way in which we share our Christian faith and to give us confidence in doing so. Grab a coffee and join us in the Trinity Chapel for a discussion which will not last longer than 11.15am
At 5pm next week, Bishop Alan joins us at Bygrave for a service of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion, as David Bull, Afsheen Abbassi and Roger Kynman are confirmed and Afsheen and Roger are baptised. Do join us for this very special service.
Today’s worship
Opening hymn: 49 Before the Gospel: 724
Offertory hymn: 85 Final hymn: 552
There is a separate service sheet for today’s service
This week, please remember in your prayers these areas of our parish:
South Road, Laxton Gardens, Walnut Avenue, South Close, Convent Gardens, South Lodge Mews
Those in need of healing:
Peter Harris, Paula Conder, Trevor Bunch, Jean Palmer, Jeanette Jackson,
Ashling Galley Coulthard, Ivan Grimwade, Biddy Reed, Valerie Trevarthan,
Sheila Boudreau, Molly Barlow, Lynne and Larry Edwards, Karen Parry,
Nora Penfold,
Those who have died recently:
Graham Pritchett
At the anniversary of their death:
Linda Heaney, Anne Hutchins, Evelyn Hopkins, Helen Coombes, Christine Penfold, Doreen Bird, Leslie Carter, Olive Barker, Mary Rae, Freddie Walker, Iris Thame, Marjorie Hall, Marjorie Dear
Choir Anthem ‘Bethlehem, of noblest cities (English folk song, arr. Alan Bullard (b. 1947)
Bethlehem, of noblest cities, no one can with you compare;
You alone the Lord from heaven did for us incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning was the star at Jesus’ birth;
To all lands our God announcing, seen in fleshly form on earth.
By its lambent beauty guided see the eastern kings appear;
See them bend, their gifts to offer, gifts of incense, gold and myrrh.
Solemn gifts of mystic meaning: Incense does our God disclose,
Gold a royal child proclaiming, Myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesus, in your brightness to the wider world displayed,
With the blest Creator Spirit endless praise to you be paid.
Junior Choir Anthem ‘Riding out across the desert’
Riding out across the desert, travelling over sandy plains,
Comes a company of wise men, moving steadily along their way.
Leaving all their friends behind them, guided by the star so bright,
Now they’ve got to keep on going – must not let the star get out of sight.
Riding through the desert, gently the wise men go,
Onwards to the king who was promised long ago;
But they don’t know where to find him – there’s many towns to search –
So they’ll keep on following the star, for it will lead them to his place of birth.
Wise men on their desert journey, travelled many miles so far –
Though they’re getting tired and weary, town of Bethlehem is not too far:
How they long to worship Jesus, honour him with royal gifts –
Hearts are full of joy and wonder as they’re searching for the new born king!
Riding through the desert, gently the wise men go …
Community Sponsorship update: On January 11th we have a meeting with representatives from the Home Office who will be visiting the parish for a pre-approval meeting for our application to become Community Sponsors for a Syrian refugee family. At the time of writing we are finalising our preparations for this meeting. Please pray that it goes smoothly and the right decision is reached.
HIDDEN HUMOUR
Got a great present for a friend, “100 famous songs that are difficult to play”.
It’s a Hard Cover Book.
How did Darth Vader know what Luke Skywalker was getting for Christmas? He felt his presents.
Went shopping the other day for a Christmas present, and bought a barge pole. Thought I’d push the boat out.
Weekly Gift Envelopes 2018 The envelopes for 2018 are now available at the back of the church. Please collect them when convenient. If you have any queries then please contact me on 01462 637050. Thank you all for your continued support in helping the church and its work in Baldock. Andy Ball
Coffee Bar notice: The coffee bar is up and running at the usual times. Light Lunches starts again on Saturday 3rd February.
Unwanted gifts: If anyone has any unwanted Christmas gifts, would they kindly donate them to the coffee bar shop. Many thanks.
What would you have said to Joseph and Mary in the stable?
Our next Fellowship Lunch will be on Sunday 21st January at 12:00.
Menu: Roast Beef and all the trimmings followed by Trifle.
Everybody welcome – don’t eat lunch alone, come and share it with friends.
Faith Confirmed: The Next Faith Confirmed Group will start on Sunday 14th January at 7.45pm in the Church Hall. This will be an introductory meeting where we decide what night of the week to meet. Please let Andrew know if you are interested but can’t come on the 14th
Rev’d Andrew Holford: 01462 896273 (Note: Friday day off)
Email:
Rev’d James Sawyer: 07927 905369(Note: Monday day off)
Churchwardens: Phil Charsley: 01462 895665.
Emma Wilkinson: 07836 749283
Alex Milne – Hall Hire: / 01462 490062
www.achurchnearyou.com/st-mary-the-virgin-baldock/
Music at St Mary’s, Baldock presents, in aid of the Church Restoration,
ORGAN SPECTACULAR
featuring local organists performing on the church’s Norman and Beard 1913 organ:
Paul Herring * Tim Newberry * Robin Walker
Programme to include: Mathias Toccata Giocosa * Howells Slow Airs Bitten Prelude and Fugue on a Theme by Vittoria* Vivaldi arr. Bach Concerto in A minor * Gershwin Handel in the the Strand * Holst Jupiter from The Planets
Saturday 20th January 2018 at 7.30pm
Tickets £10 (children free) available from the church office (Tel: 01462 892838), online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/fosm or on the door.
Please invite as many people as possible to the organ recital. It promises to be a really amazing evening and is a great fundraiser for the church!
WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE
CHURCH OPEN: Sun to Fri 8.20 am to 3.30 pm (From 8.40 am Wed)
Coffee Bar and gift shop open Wed. & Sat. 10 am to midday.
Sun 7th 7.20 am Morning Prayer The Feast of the Epiphany
8.00 am Holy Communion (Andrew Holford)
9.30 am Parish Communion (James Sawyer, preacher: Andrew Holford)
11.00 am Parish Communion at Bygrave (Andrew Holford)
12.00 pm Messy Church in church
6.00 pm Evening Prayer
7.30 pm Meeting about Community Sponsorship
Mon 8th 8.20 am Morning Prayer
10.30 am Holy Communion at Magdalene Court
1.30 pm Julian Meeting (Silent Prayer) in the Church Hall
4.45 pm Evening Prayer
8.00 pm PCC Standing Committee at the Rectory
Tues 9th 8.40 am Morning Prayer
4.30 pm Evening Prayer
8.00 pm Churches Together in Baldock Forum
Wed 10th 8.40 am Morning Prayer
9.30 am Holy Communion
10.30 am Tiny Tots Sing-a-long
5.00 pm Evening Prayer
7.45 pm Bells practice at Baldock
Thu 11th 12.00 pm Community Sponsorship pre-approval meeting with Home Office
in Church Hall
4.30 pm Evening Prayer
6.00 pm Junior Choir Practice 6.45 pm Senior Choir practice
Fri 12th 8.40 am Morning Prayer Aelred, abbott, 1167
7.30 pm Rehearsal for confirmation service at Bygrave
Sat 13th Hilary, bishop, teacher of the faith, 367
Sun 14th 7.20 am Morning Prayer The Baptism of Christ
8.00 am Holy Communion (James Sawyer)
8.45 am Parish Breakfast in the Church Hall
9.30 am Communion for All Ages (Andrew Holford,
preacher: James Sawyer) and baptism of Baillie, Raymond and
Pandora Bruce and Admission to Communion of Baillie.
11.00 am Parish Communion at Bygrave
3.00 pm Baptism of Louis Fraser and Chester-Jay Ralph
5.00 pm Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion with Bishop Alan of
Afsheen Abbassi, David Bull and Roger Kynman
7.45 pm Faith Confirmed Introductory meeting in Church Hall
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
NEXT WEEK’S READINGS: Genesis 1:1-5 Acts 19:1-7 Mark 1: 4-11