Notice of Services for Lavenham Benefice for December 2012

As ever, Lavenham and Preston St Mary are gearing-up for a very busy Advent and Christmastide. Advent Sunday falls on the 2nd of December this year and we’ll be straight into the caroling at 6pm for the Benefice Advent Carol Service.

Please note that we will be adding to the seasonal festivities a very special celebration of Rev. Stephen Earl’s institution and Induction, at which Bishop Nigel and Archdeacon David will be in attendance.

Lavenham Church hopes you can join us (in full voice) at worship at this most happy time in our calendar.

Click here to see the Lavenham Benefice Services during December 2012

Sunday 18th December – Advent IV

This Sunday we will be having a special service of nine readings and carols in Lavenham Church at 4pm. As we draw near to the end of advent, the service should be a great way to get us into the Christmas spirit, in anticipation of thw weekend following.

Parish Eucharist will be celebrated at the usual time, 10.15, in Lavenham Church. Please click the link following to see the 18.12.11 service sheet

If you are in the mood for practising the sung elements of the service, details are provided below. New English Hymnal, I think, for the hymns…

Processional – 11 Veni Emmanuel

Kyrie – Mass in Three Parts (Byrd)

Gradual – Psalm 89 v 1-4, 19-27

Alleluia – Soon and very soon  (Crouch)

Offertory – 186 Woodlands

Sanctus – Missa Penitentia (Hogger)

Agnus Dei – Mass in the Phyrgian Mode (Wood)

Communion – The Angel Gabriel (Trad. Arr. Pettman)

Post Communion – 9 Helmsley

The Christmas Story in Glass

Many church windows include illustrations of the nativity and Lavenham is no exception, but our window is not easy to find until you know where to look. Go to the east end of the church and look in the sanctuary, that part of the church containing the altar. There on the right hand side is a group of windows illustrating the infancy of Jesus. One of these shows the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus on her lap, Joseph standing behind and three shepherds. One of the shepherds carries a lamb, the others kneel in adoration.

The familiarity of the story sometimes detracts from its significance. First of all, Mary is placed at its centre. This was unusual in the patriarchal societies described in Hebrew scriptures and in the Greece and Rome of Jesus’ time. Luke’s gospel contains many stories about women. The evangelist Luke also introduced shepherds into the birth scene. Shepherds were despised by the religious elite of the time because their pastoral duties made it impossible for them to follow the rigorous rules of cleanliness and worship. These may have been special shepherds. Lambs to be sacrificed on the Temple altars had to be perfect, so the Temple authorities had their own sheep flocks near Bethlehem.

 

This Sunday: Advent II… and a baptism!

At the 10.15am Parish Eucharist at Lavenham Church this Sunday, we will mark the second Sunday in Advent. There are four Advent Sundays before Christmas and on each occasion, we light one of the four Advent Candles in the nave of the church.

This Sunday we will also welcome in baptism Joshua Nicholas James Cave, born in September to Digi & Chris, members of our church family, and pray for God’s richest blessings on them all.  We welcome also their wider family and friends including Joshua’s on this special day.

To see the pew sheet for this Sunday, with details of hymns to practise and bible readings to reflect on, please click the following link Pew sheet 04.12.11.

Toys for disadvantaged children this Sunday. Advent II

Toys and other gifts for disadvantaged children will be offered during the 10.15 Eucharist on Sunday 4th December at Lavenham church. They should be unwrapped, enabling the staff at Suffolk Suffolk Social Services Department to allocate them most appropriately. Please be generous!

Christkindlmarkt, Preston St Mary and Lavenham Christmas Fair

A Christkindlmarket (Christmas Market) will be held this Saturday (November 19th) in the Priory barn in Preston St Mary. Click here for a map and directions The barn will be open from 10am to 4pm/

The market is a lovely occasion when friends and family members from Lavenham and Preston gather for some festive shopping. Members of both congregations are likely to be present.

Lavenham Church will host a Christmas Fair, in the church, on Saturday November 26th.  The fair will be open from 10am til 1pm.

Details of Advent and Christmas worship to follow.

Do come along!