Note that the main Morning Service on Dec 25th will be at 10.30 am, not 11.00 am

11.00 am READINGS FOR DECEMBER

Theme Old Testament/Epistle New Testament/Gospel

4 Advent 2 L Adenrele Romans 15. 4-13 Ordinand Luke 21. 25-33

11 John Baptist C Martin Isaiah 40. 1-11 B Cole Luke 3. 1-17

18 Annunciation M Lee Isaiah 11. 1-9 E Edwards Luke 1. 26-35

Readers for January 1st G. Barnes & Clergy 8th C. Martin & P. Marshall

15th A Finn & P. Osbourn 22nd L. Duckers & M. Lee 29th A. Hammond & E. Edwards

Carol Services

Sunday 4th December 5.00 pm: Advent Carol Service

Carols and readings by candlelight with the choir of Trinity Hall.

Sunday 18th December 11.00 am: Family Carol Service

A carol service with Christingles, for people of all ages.

Sunday 25th December 10.30 am: Christmas Day Service

Readings and carols for Christmas Day. (NB Not 11.00 am)

Holistic Spirituality Group: This will next meet at 3.30pm on Sunday November 27th in the Clare Chapel. We will be discussing the life and work of St. Teresa of Avila. All welcome.

Theatre Carol Service: This will be at 7.30 pm on Monday December 5th It is primarily for theatre people, but there is space for twelve members of the congregation. If you would like to go, please see Marcus.

The service will be recorded by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, to be broadcast over the Christmas period.

Christingles: We will have a Christingle service at 11.00 am on December 18th and young families are particularly encouraged to come. Christingles are a popular way of conveying the message of Christmas.

Christmas Decoration: The church will be decorated for Christmas at 9.30 am on Thursday December 22nd. We would be most grateful for offers of help.

Meditation: In December, the Friday meditations will be based on scripture, interspersed with silence.

Watchnight service: There will be the usual short watchnight service at 11.40 pm on Friday December 31st followed by ringing in of the New Year and refreshments. Services will be as usual on the first Sunday in January, which falls on New Year’s Day.

Priorities for Ministry

I am grateful for the messages of support that I have received for my ‘priorities for ministry’, though I am also aware there has been strong opposition from a minority in the congregation. I feel called and compelled to go in the direction I have proposed, at St Edward’s or elsewhere. There are some people who would like to keep me, but on different terms, but that is not an option! It would be helpful to the Chapter and myself if those who wish me to stay at St Edward’s and to lead the Church in this direction would indicate their support. Those who wish to make contrary representations to the Chapter are free to do so. The next meeting of the Chapter is scheduled for Monday December 12th.

I recently came across the following ‘Clarion all to the Church’ from Brian Thorne (who gave a very moving talk about Julian of Norwich at St Edward’s this autumn). It chimes in well with my own sense of priorities, but puts things better. This is the kind of Church the world needs, and I hope we will become.

Fraser Watts

* Reveal to humankind the God whose nature is infinite love.

* Cease to speak of the God of judgment, for the justice of God is part of his infinite love and is incomprehensible to humankind.

* Lead us to the holy city within so that we may find Jesus enthroned in our own hearts.

* Proclaim to men and women that they are infinitely beloved and show them that they have the capacity to love as God loves.

* Cease any effort to occupy the moral high ground for there lies the terrain of the hypocrites and the accusers.

* Embrace and cherish both the uniqueness of persons and the mystery of our membership one of another in the Body of Christ.

* Honour the mystics and make known their passionate intensity so that praying becomes a love affair.

* Cherish those of other faiths and join with them in the search for that which gives life in abundance.

* Celebrate the gift of sexuality and let it permeate the offering of unconditional love in all its forms.

* Be at home in the invisible world so that the whole company of heaven can accompany us in this mortal life.

* Employ the consummate creativity of which human beings are capable so that through every form of art and liturgical beauty we may find ourselves repeatedly at the very gates of heaven.

* Become a school of love where laughter is heard and intelligence is honoured.

House Groups

There has been a very encouraging response to our new weekly House Group, ‘The Unseen Creation’, which has been meeting on Thursday evenings. We have had fifteen regular attendees, discussing their beliefs on Heaven and Hell, the Angels, the Saints and the Holy Spirit. What has been particularly encouraging is the group has a wide cross-section of ages and backgrounds and comes from different services. The group meets at 7.30pm for an 8pm start so people don’t have to rush their dinner beforehand and have chance to chat together informally over hot drinks before we start. Several people have said there has been a ‘family feeling’ developing in the group, and that they have felt able to share their own beliefs openly, without any awkwardness Over the past year we have been building up our House groups, starting with the Beta Course and then the 10 week ‘Living Faith’ course by Tom Wright. Attendance has risen with each succeeding course and we hope to build on this further during the coming year. If you would like to take part, or have any ideas for study courses for 2006 please do share your thoughts with one of the clergy. Marcus Ramshaw

Vicar-Chaplain: Revd. Dr. Fraser Watts (19, Grantchester Road, CB3 9Ed; 359223); Church phone: 362004

Associate: Revd. Marcus Ramshaw (07886 318039) Chaplain’s Warden: Mrs. Phyllis Osbourn (359059)

Assistant: Canon Alan Cole (892286) People’s Warden & Chapter Sec: Dr. Elizabeth Edwards (313570)

Reader: Mr. Peter Marshall (564471) Treasurer: Dr. Kevin Dutton (07870 5556010)

The Church Website has recently undergone a major update and includes details of forthcoming meetings, regular rotas, news, events as well as copies of past sermons and talks. It can be found at www.st-edwards-cam.org.uk