December 2007
SERVICES
| 2nd Advent Sunday | 23rd Advent 4 |
|---|---|
| 8.00 am Holy Communion | 8.00 am Holy Communion |
| 11.00 am Mattins & Baptism | 11.00 am Christingle Service |
| Preacher: Revd Dr Fraser Watts | Preacher: Revd Dr Malcolm Guite |
| 5.00 pm Advent Carol Service | 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist |
| with Peterhouse Choir | Mr Peter Marshall |
| 9th Advent 2 | 24th Christmas Eve |
| 8.00 am Holy Communion | 11.30 pm Midnight Communion |
| 11.00 am Odyssey | Preacher Revd Dr Malcolm Guite |
| Preacher: Revd Dr John Polkinghorne | 25th Christmas Day |
| 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist | 8.00 am Holy Communion |
| Preacher: Revd Dr Malcolm Guite | 10.30 am Carol Service |
| Preacher Revd Dr Fraser Watts | |
| 11.30 am Holy Communion (short service) | |
| 16th Advent 3 | 30th Christmas 1 |
| 8.00 am Holy Communion | 8.00 am Holy Communion |
| 11.00 am Holy Communion | 11.00 am Mattins & Sermon |
Celebrant Canon Alan Cole |
Preacher: Canon Alan Cole |
| 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist | 5.00 pm Meditative Eucharist |
| Revd Dr Malcolm Guite | Preacher Revd Dr Fraser Watts |
| Fridays: | |
| 10.30 am Holy Communion | |
| 5.30 pm Meditation | |
11.00 am READINGS
| Theme | Old Testament/Epistle | New Testament/Gospel |
|---|---|---|
| 2 New Life | J Adams Isaiah 44. 1-8 | D Hirst John 3. 1-8 |
| 9 Providence | A Stacey tba | W Caan tba |
| 16 Herald of Christ | B Cole 1 Corinthians 4. 1-5 | Chaplain Matthew 11. 2-10 |
| 23 Annunciation | M Morris Prophecy vv. | Chaplain Luke 1. 26-35 |
| 30 Incarnation | A Finn Isaiah 62. 1-12 | C Martin Matthew 2. 13-end |
| Readers for January |
Carol ServicesSunday
2nd December 5.00 pm: Advent Carol Service
Carols and readings by candlelight with the choir of Peterhouse Sunday 23rd December 11.00 am: Christingle Service Tuesday 25th December 10.30 am: Christmas Day
Service |
Odyssey: The preacher at Odyssey this month (December 9th,
11.00 am) will be the Reverend Dr John
Polkinghorne, priest, physicist, and well-known author. His subject will be
Nature and Providence.
Advent Vigil Eucharist: There will be a contemplative Vigil Eucharist at 5.00 pm on Saturday 1st December. Advent Sunday is the first day of the Church Year, so this Saturday is the Church’s ‘New Year’s Eve’. It will be a simple Eucharist, with much silence, and include the Blessing of the Light.
Advent Carols: The Advent Carol Service will be at 5.00 pm on Advent Sunday, December 2nd, with the choir of Peterhouse, directed by Oliver Lomberg, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. It will replace the Meditative Eucharist that Sunday.
Advent Antiphons: The Advent Liturgy includes seven great
‘O’s (O Wisdom, O Lord of Lords, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David
etc). The hymn, ‘O Come O Come Emmanuel’ is based on these antiphons.
At the 5.00 pm Eucharist on December 9th and 16th, we will sing these antiphons
in procession around the church. Inspired by last year’s service at
St Edward’s, Malcolm wrote a series of sonnets, one for each of the
‘O’s, and this year we will hear those sonnets as well. The ‘O’s
will be the subject of the sermon on these two Sundays.
Beta Course: A few years ago Fraser and his colleagues developed
the Beta Course, a psychologically informed video-based introduction to Christian
life and faith. Several people have asked about it, and we hope to re-run
the course, starting early in the New Year. After an introductory meeting,
there are nine sessions covering relationships, Christian community, sin and
atonement, forgiveness and reconciliation, depression, loss and change, stress
and coping, suffering and wholeness, self and God. The course is open to anyone
interested, including anyone considering baptism or confirmation at Easter.
If you would be interested, please let Fraser know, and we will try to find
a time that suits everyone.
Christingles: We will have a Christingle service at 11.00
on December 23rd and young families are particularly welcome. Christingles
are made from an orange etc (representing the world) and a candle (representing
the light of the world) and have become a popular way of conveying the message
of Christmas.
Goth Eucharists: There will be two Goth Eucharists at 8.45 pm. Tuesday December 4th: Andy Swindells will preach on ‘Control’; December 18th: Malcolm will preach on ‘The Dark Time of Year’.
Baptism: Connor Dent will be baptized at the 11.00 am service on 2nd December, and welcomed in to the family of the church. Connor is the young son of Alex and Paige Dent who were married at St Edward’s.
Alan Cole: December 16th will be the 40th anniversary of Alan’s ordination as priest. He will be the celebrant at the 11.00 an Communion on that day, and it will be an opportunity for us to give thanks for his ministry.
Ordinands: We have two ordinands attached to St Edward’s: Charlie Moloney from Ridley Hall and Rebekah Cannon from Westcott House. Christina Randall, an independent student at Ridley is also attached to us.
Chapter: The Chapter will meet at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 11th December in the Faculty of Divinity.
Theatre Carol Service: This will be at 7.30 pm on Monday December 3rd It is primarily for theatre people, but there is space for a few members of the congregation. Let the clergy know if you would like to come.
Watchnight service: There will be the usual short watchnight
service at 11.40 pm on Monday December 31st followed by ringing in of the
New Year and refreshments. It is a lovely way to welcome the New Year.
Chaplain's Letter: Divine Birthing
Our fifteenth-century font is held aloft by angels. A sculptor’s skill
has made the great stone bowl appear to float, born up on airy wings, and
when, at a baptism, the font is filled with water, and beside it the candle
is lit, then all four elements combine to witness a moment of spiritual birth.
When that font was first in use the baby would have been immersed completely
in the water, and drawn out of it to be placed in her mother’s arms
in an act that was entirely shaped by the symbolism of birth itself. The font
is the womb of the church, but the birthing into a new deeper spiritual life
that begins there must also happen many times over the course of our earthly
life.
As we approach Christmas we think of how, in Jesus, God himself entered into
our common experience of being born. On Good Friday we remember that God goes
with us, walks ahead of us, through the grave and gate of death, but at Christmas
we remember that God is also with us, sharing our experience of birth itself.
We have all been born physically, but our angel borne font reminds us that
there are profound moments of re-birth still awaiting us. Perhaps Advent in
which we look towards God’s own humility in letting go of heaven and
coming to be born in our midst, can be a time when can pray for his help in
any letting go of old life, and being born in new that we know we still have
to do. We can pray that as those outward angels hold the weight of the stone
font so God’s holy angels will help us bear or burdens, but also help
us let them go, float them away on the waters of his spirit so that we too
can be born to life in a new way for him, as he was for us, on Christmas day.
Malcolm Guite
Clergy: Revd. Dr. Fraser Watts (19, Grantchester Road, CB3 9ED; 359223, fnw1001@cam.ac.uk); Revd Dr Malcolm Guite (694249, mg320@cam.ac.uk); Canon Alan Cole (892286, alan73@waitrose.com). Churchwardens: Dr. Elizabeth Edwards (313570, elizedwards@waitrose.com); Mr Steven Mastin (361041, stephenjamesmastin@yahoo.com).Treasurer: Mr Geoffrey Barnes; (717757, Geoff.Barnes@cambridgeshire.gov.uk). Reader: Mr. Peter Marshall (564471). Church phone: 362004.