This week’s Online Worship
Sunday 29th November – Christ the King (4th of the Month)
9:00 am Diocesan Worship led by Bishop Julian
10:00 am the3churches Sunday Holy Communion
Our 3 churches are now closed for Public Worship but will re-open once lockdown finishes – our first service will be on Wed. 2nd Dec. at 10 am in St. Michael and all Angels Croston. Churches will remain open on Sundays and Wednesday’s for private prayer
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Happy new year! It may sound a bit strange but the church New Year starts on Advent Sunday as we begin our countdown to Christmas with the season of hope and expectation. After being told we will be in tier 3 the highest level restrictions after the current lockdown we all need to remain positive and hopeful. But we should be encouraged that infection rates seem to be consistently coming down in our area although it will take a while for that to feed through to reducing the pressure on the NHS.
In Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the incarnation on Christmas day we also use this time to remind ourselves that Jesus will also come again in glory. In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us ‘about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.’ I am sure we would all like to know when that time will be but it’s probably good that we don’t know because if we did, it would surely preoccupy our thoughts. The best way to prepare for Christ’s return is to live obedient to him, in steady, consistent discipleship. We must trust Christ’s word that he will return, and then stay attentive to his daily word into our lives and seek to follow his example of loving service wherever and whenever we can. Then whenever he does come we will be ready. Jesus encourages us to remember that God is always near to us in the good times as well as the challenging times, so let’s not worry about when Christ will return, but let be prepared by obeying him today. Amen
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548 mobile:07960309005, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Resources – 1st Sunday of Advent
1) The 3 bible readings set for this week.
2) Prayer and worship at home for 1st Sunday of Advent
Church opening times on Wednesdays & Sundays
Bretherton 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Croston 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Service at 10 am on Wednesdays
Mawdesley 10:15 am – 4:15 pm
Services during the week ahead
Wednesday 10 am Croston – Holy Communion
Friday 4th December 9 am – Morning Prayer Mawdesley
Sunday 6th December – 2nd Sunday of Advent
8 am BCP Holy Communion – Mawdesley
9 am Family Worship – Bretherton
9:15 am Holy Communion – Croston
11 am Holy Communion – Mawdesley.
Coronavirus Village support groups
Croston COVID-19 Croston Village Support Group
Mawdesley Mawdesley – Coronavirus help each other out.
Bretherton Via Bretherton WI (01772 601495)
email bethertoonwi@btinternett.com
Facebook & YouTube Online Worship
There is no public worship in any of our churches this weekend and online this week’s Diocesan worship is led by Bishop Julian.
It can be found on the Diocesan YouTube Site from 9am on Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/user/blackburndiocese/videos
In addition there will be worship from Blackburn Cathedral, also from 9am on Sunday on their YouTube channel.
Our online worship will be from St. Peters, Mawdesley w Bispham and will be available from 10 am on Sunday via our YouTube or facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/St-John-the-Baptist-Church-Bretherton-439088266487676/
https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelAllAngelsChurchCroston/
https://www.facebook.com/St-Peters-Mawdesley-w-Bispham-442669382795886/?ref=bookmarks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdXC7P9kQ3xEk_kKf5JZE-A?
The Church of England posts on Facebook and YouTube a national service of worship every Sunday at 9 am. This week’s service is led by Rev Sam Wells from St Martin in the Fields and will celebrate the first Sunday of Advent with music, reflection and prayer.
https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland or
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
This resource may be helpful for those who are unable to return to church services at the moment, or for anyone who is feeling isolated or lonely and who doesn’t have access to the internet.
There are also the daily prayer resources on the Church of England Website where you can download apps at:
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-service-daily-prayer/subscribe-our-prayer-podcasts
Please do continue to support the Food Banks
All the food brought into the3Chuches is taken to the ecumenical food bank in Skemersdale, supported by the Trussell Trust.
Please continue to bring donations – all the usual store cupboard items are needed – also instant foods for those who are struggling to pay for fuel.
As Christmas approaches we’d also like to collect chocolate, biscuits, cake, etc., as extras. These items must reach us by December 13th at the latest, but the sooner the better!
In Croston – You can leave donations in St. Michael’s Parish Church on Wednesdays & Sundays from 10 to 4pm, bring them to 32, Westhead Road or to 19, Highfield Road.
In Bretherton – You can leave donations in St. John the Baptist Church on Wednesdays & Sundays from 9:30 to 3:30 pm or in the box at the gate at
154 South Road.
Thank you to everyone for your support to date!
In Mawdesley – You can leave donations in St. Peters Church on Wednesdays & Sundays from 10:30 to 4:30 pm or monetary gifts in sealed envelopes please to Robin Hood Cottage, Blue Stone Lane (Opposite Nook Lane).
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting our local food banks
and all the other good causes at this time.
Advent Resources:
- Every day in Advent – A child shall lead them
daily readings and reflections will be posted on our facebook pages.
We also have a number of booklets available which will be in all our churches or if you would like one delivered please contact the Rector on 01772 600548 or email revmwoods@gmail.com
- Advent Carol Service.Blackburn Cathedral will be broadcasting an Advent Carol Service with the boys’, girls’ and young people’s choirs at 4pm on Advent Sunday, November 30th. You will be able to view it by linking from the Cathedral webpage.
- Christmas Free for All.Online Carols with comedy, kids and evangelistic message and hosted by our Bishops.
- Nine Lessons and Carols Service.The traditional Carol service from our Cathedral will be broadcast at 4pm on December 20 on YouTube with a recording available after the live broadcast. Links from the Cathedral webpage.
- Blue Christmas.This will be a short service for those bereaved and missing loved ones at Christmas.
Further details of other resources =and confirmation of dates will follow in future updates.
Could you make a donation to support Church?
All our churches rely upon the generous donations of our parishioners to provide the financial support that both maintain our buildings and provide care and support to all those in the local community. Although some use standing orders or other methods of online giving, many donors use cash, either on the plate or in weekly planned giving envelopes.
As our Churches once again close this will affect us greatly at what is traditionally a busy couple of months in the build up to Christmas.
Any donations you could make will be greatly received and one off donations or regular giving can be made by using ‘Online banking’ facilities, the bank details you will require to do this for each church are:
Bretherton – St. John the Baptist
St. Johns Bretherton PCC Account,
No: 10031333, Sort code: 16 17 41
Croston – St. Michael & All Angels
St. Michaels PCC Account,
No. 11215462, Sort Code 16-17-41
Also if you have no facility to pay electronically, envelopes can be dropped off with our Treasurer Derek Alty, 12 Lostock Road, Croston.
Mawdesley w Bispham St. Peter
Mawdesley PCC Account,
No 87032805, Sort code 60 24 02.
If you decide to make a donation electronically you may be given the opportunity to set up a standing order, which greatly help support our regular income.
Collect
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Reading
Isaiah recalls how God has been revealed to the people. He regrets that God’s people have turned away and begs God for forgiveness.
Isaiah 64.1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence – as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.
Second Reading
Paul rejoices that the people of Corinth have been given the gifts and strength they need as they wait for the second coming.
1 Corinthians 1.3-9
My brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Gospel
Jesus tells his followers to be on the lookout for signs that the second coming is near, and to be prepared at all times.
Mark 13.24-37
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. ‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’
Prayer after Communion
O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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