St Michael’s
9.30am MORNING WORSHIP & BAPTISM: Welcome to our service this morning led by Matthew. Vikki talks to us about ‘Love’ Hosea 2:14-23. Today we also offer a special welcome to Frederick, and his family and friends, who is being baptised today.
St John’s
8.15am Good Morning Sunday (GMS) takes place ….today….in church….with breakfast very exciting ? to begin with can you let us know if you are coming as this will help with catering.
11am HOLY COMMUNION: A very warm welcome to you all this lovely Advent Sunday as we begin to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Matthew leads our service today and James continues our theme ‘Prophecies of Hope’ today talking about ‘Love’ Hosea 2:14-23 and Luke 15:11-24.
SPARK for our young people aged 10 and above and SAS sessions for children aged 5-10 takes place TODAY.
Please note: Reminder face masks are still to be warn especially when going up for communion, moving around the building and singing (from this Sunday we will stand to sing) but can be removed when sitting. We will monitor the CO levels in church and any extra ventilation will be carried out if necessary by the steward on duty. Thank you for continuing to support us in making our church a safe place to be.
Below are the links to our website and to our YouTube channel live streaming our services at St John’s at 11am (previous recordings will also be available to watch at your leisure).
http://www.stjohnsmuxton.org.uk/home
or http://www.stmichaelslilleshall.org.uk/home/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB6N81vubkdzSYD7rCPFw5Q
WORLD CHURCH & JUSTICE – PRAYERS
COP 26 Climate Meeting – please pray that the Lord will continue to guide us in our commitment to reduce our reliance on materials that are ruining the planet and its biodiversity.
Developing Nations – a prayer that the Rich World will financially support these countries and also arrange for Covid vaccinations to be urgently distributed. They are our “neighbours” and with the Covid pandemic rife and Climate Change they are losing their lively-hood, their homes and their lives.
Charities our Churches support – please pray for Care who confront the Government on moral & faith matters, Street Pastors, who are out in the night bringing care and safety to people outside pubs and night-clubs. CPAS who give guidance and help to churches and clergy. Tearfund who work world-wide bringing succour to impoverished folk through partner Christian organisation. Nepal Leprosy Trust working with leprous people, bringing work and esteem. Toybox who work with street children, restoring hope for the hopeless in South America, and now in many other countries too.
A THANK YOU FROM NEPAL LEPROSY TRUST (NLT): “I thought you would like to know how much we made at our sales with you:- £438.00! Isn’t that amazing! Please do thank everyone for their generosity. We had a lovely lunch after the sales which we enjoyed very much and probably ate too much as it was so delicious. We are alsograteful for gifts made to help support an elderly Christian man caring for his 4 year old grand-daughter ‘ A BIG thank you to all involved”.
ROTAS: As more of us are back in church we are going to try to return to our Sunday Morning rota system which also includes our flower rota. If you would like to help on a Sunday morning maybe greeting people, providing flowers and/or serving refreshments on a rota basis then please speak to Lesley, Judith or Sue W. Thank you
WORSHIP LUNCH & MUSIC takes place on Thursday 2nd December 12noon at St Michael’s. Refreshments will be served.
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOXES are now due in, it would be helpful if they could be taken to either St John’s or St Michael’s church or given to Jean at St Michael’s directly and will be returned to you afterwards. Thank you for your continued support.
VARIOUS CHRISTMAS CARDSare on sale at St Michael’s including our very own cards with photos from inside and outside of St Michael’s.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: The Gallery Singers are delighted to be performing again in public and will be singing in celebration of Christmas at All Saints Church, Forton, nr Newport on Sunday 12 December at 3pm. They will perform a mix of old favourites and new treats, including Christmas carols, also welcoming instrumentalists, including Aimée Calderbank on flute, to join with them in a relaxed, informal afternoon. Tickets are not necessary, there is no entrance charge, but donations are invited. Proceeds in aid of Newport Food Bank and All Saints Church, Forton. Refreshments will be served in the interval.
WOULD YOU LIKE HELP DELIVERING YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS? During December a few of our members have offered to deliver your Christmas cards (local area only) for those unable to do so themselves. If you would like some help either talk to Di B, Chris K or Lesley in the church office for further details.
If anyone would like to visit MIKE PRICE he is now staying at St Georges Care Home. To organise your visit please contact them directly on 01952 619850
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Carols around Muxton 2-6pm 18th December…Crib/Christingle Service Christmas Eve 4pm (Outside). Further info will follow.
REGULAR GROUPS/MEETINGS/RESOURCES/INFORMATION
TINY TOTS: A Toddler group for parents/carers of under 5’s taking place on Tuesday mornings from 10am during term time.
Calling all walkers! We meet on a Wednesday 10am at St John’s for a gentle, local walk of around an hour. All are welcome. Please contact Jo Lefroy for any further information on 01952 604281.
FROGS: We would like to invite our young people to attend FROGS. This is a youth group which is held weekly at St Swithun’s church in Cheswardine. We have been working closely with FROGS for many years as we have attended Quinta together. Colin Barnett, a member of St Michael’s, is currently a leader there. They meet every Tuesday from 7-9pm, for secondary school pupils and sixth formers. Please see Kathy Tagg or Matthew for information.
WORSHIP LUNCH & MUSICtakes place on the first Thursday of each month except August. (Weekly during Lent) 12noon at St Michael’s.
POP IN FOR COFFEE held at St Michael’s on the 2nd Thursday of the month 10-12noon. (9th December)
FORGET ME NOT FILMS: Takes place usually on the 3rd Thursday of the month. The film will start at 10 am – please arrive any time from 9.45 am. If you have any questions, or to let us know you are coming, please contact Jo Lefroy on 01952 604281 or via the church office. (16th December)
JOIN US 4 A CUPPA! A monthly coffee morning held at St John’s on a Friday between 11am – 1pm. Litter pickers are also invited to meet just before, litter pick the local area then return for a well earned cuppa! (21st January).
sub:Zero/sub:Extra our Youth Café currently held monthly on a Friday from 4pm (sub:Zero) and 6pm (sub:Extra). (2nd December)
EARLY MORNING PRAYERS: Are you an early bird? A group of us pray for the work of the church at 7.30am every Thursday morning. Join us for half an hour or part of the time on Zoom. Contact Matthew for the link.
Please join us for Bible Reading/Discussion/Prayer via Zoom, weekdays at 9am. The best way to access these is through the “Daily Prayer” app. available from The Church of England but if you want to follow from your Bible this is ok. Please contact Matthew who will give you the details to login.
PRAYER GROUP continues to meet, praying into our concerns and worries and listening to what God might be saying to us on zoom, 7pm on the second Sunday of each month. If anyone would like to join us please contact: Shirley, Vicky or Pam. (Members of St John’s) or Lesley (670033) can pass on your details.
TELFORD STREET PASTOR After 10 years of making a difference on the streets of Telford they are relaunching and urge you to consider….Is God calling you to serve as a Street Pastor or Prayer Pastor? If you would like to find out a little bit more about what is involved please either have a chat to Simon Trotman or Gill Steinert or see the poster at the end of these notices with further details.
PRAYER CHAINs: If you have any prayer requests please either text (preferable) Lisa 07739 522280 or Email: west.familywest@btinternet.com or St Michael’s prayer chain coordinator Chris R 07834162343 or 01952 604330 or Email: scip@blueyonder.co.uk
FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/stjohnsmuxton – please like our page and share our news stories with your friends.
Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’
OFFICE HOURS: Monday 9-3pm, Tuesday 9-12noon and Friday 9-4pm 01952 670033
Email: admin@stjohnsmuxton.org.uk or admin@stmichaelslilleshall.org.uk
Website: www.stjohnsmuxton.org.uk or www.stmichaelslilleshall.org.uk
Matthew’s Email: matthew.lefroy@tiscali.co.uk (Usual day off Friday)
Vikki’s Email: revdayvik@gmail.com (Normal day off Friday)
St Michael’s reading is Hosea 2:14-23
14 ‘Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
15 There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt.
16 ‘In that day,’ declares the Lord,
‘you will call me “my husband”;
you will no longer call me “my master”.
17 I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
no longer will their names be invoked.
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them
with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky
and the creatures that move along the ground.
Bow and sword and battle
I will abolish from the land,
so that all may lie down in safety.
19 I will betroth you to me for ever;
I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,
in[e] love and compassion.
20 I will betroth you in faithfulness,
and you will acknowledge the Lord.
21 ‘In that day I will respond,’
declares the Lord –
‘I will respond to the skies,
and they will respond to the earth;
22 and the earth will respond to the grain,
the new wine and the olive oil,
and they will respond to Jezreel.
23 I will plant her for myself in the land;
I will show my love to the one I called “Not my loved one”.
I will say to those called “Not my people”, “You are my people”;
and they will say, “You are my God.”‘
St John’s – The first reading is Hosea 2:14-23 as above
St John’s – Our second reading is Luke 15:11-24
11 Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
13 ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” 20 So he got up and went to his father.
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
21 ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
22 ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.