3rd Sunday of Advent – 12th December 2021 All Saints Church Childwall
READ Philippians 4:4-7:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
REFLECT:
Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, Gaudete. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say again rejoice!” These are the words that give today its name – Gaudete Sunday, “Joyful Sunday”. Since at least 750 AD (and probably for centuries before that date) Christians have marked the 3rd Sunday of Advent by repeating this command from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. “Gaudete” has been chanted by monks and sung by choirs. Steeleye Span took it to number 14 in the charts in 1973, and Erasure synthesised it in 2013. Alan Partridge introduces the song by saying, “Listen to this it will blow your socks off!” Perhaps we should use his words before the reading the bible aloud in church!
Gaudete is a Latin word meaning “Rejoice” but it is actually more than that: The Latin is in the imperative, so it means “You shall rejoice!”. “Joyful Sunday” is not about celebrating what is good in our lives. We are commanded to rejoice no matter what. This message has hit me hard this week. I have felt my anxiety levels rising in line with reported cases of the Omicron variant. It is hard to remain hopeful in a world that is broken and failing. It is hard to be filled with love when loss and fear occupy the space. What if we don’t feel like rejoicing today? What if we are tired and worried and in pain? What does Paul’s letter say to us then?
It blows our socks off with the Good News! It reminds us Christ’s life and resurrection has changed everything. He has already accomplished victory over sin and death. The kingdom is coming; it has only to finish being worked out. The light outshines the darkness and we have cause to rejoice every moment of every day.
When we “Rejoice in the Lord always” our joyfulness serves as an act of defiance. It is not a denial of sorrow and suffering; it is a rebellion against them. A refusal to be dragged into the darkness of the world because we have sure and certain knowledge that the light of Christ is stronger. “Gaudete” should be the backing-track of our lives; underpinning every song that we sing.
S.D. Gordon describes it this way, “Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing.” he says, “It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”
Christian joy is elusive; it’s finding peace “which transcends all understanding” in the times of our deepest anxiety. It’s also unexpected. Like a smile shared at a funeral or a rose blooming despite the frost. And it is incredibly attractive; leading those who glimpse it to question its very existence.
We can’t manufacture joy but we can influence the conditions in which it can grow. We can prepare fertile ground when we count our blessings and accept God’s gifts of salvation and grace. We can prepare fertile ground when we recognise that unlike, the transitory glitter of wealth and health, prosperity and possessions, God’s love is eternal. And we can prepare fertile ground when we realise that God is bigger than all the pain. We can also fight for Joy by resisting the darkness and searching for the light.
As Jesus’ Church we are called to Join the song of ‘Gaudete’ that has echoed throughout the ages. Now more than ever it is a song that the world is longing to hear. Christmas parties may be cancelled and our voices may be muffled through our masks but we will rejoice regardless. We will rejoice in our faith. We will rejoice in the Gospel and we rejoice in God’s presence here with us. In all things we will rejoice, Amen.
RESPOND: Make a conscious effort this week to watch for signs of God at work in his world. Actively seek the light in the darkness and draw attention to it when you see it.
PRAY: Father, Thank you for your love for me today and forever. Thank you for the blessings you’ve given me. Help me to use those blessings to bless others. May I live a life of true joy as I see you at work around me today and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Rev. Helen Deegan (Curate)
Covid restrictions – wearing masks in church for all services is a legal requirement again. Everyone over the age of 11 years old will now need to wear a mask in church. Please remember to wrap up well as we will have to ensure there is continued adequate ventilation in the church building. Thank you, Andrew.
Please be aware that if further Covid restrictions come into force we may have to change some of the planned Christmas services or cancel some at short notice.
Christmas Services at All Saints Childwall
Sunday 12th December – 9.15am – Service of Holy Communion 11am – Parade Service – Toy Service The Salvation Army is running their Christmas appeal again this year, which we will be supporting. They find that gifts for teenagers, both boys and girls, are in short supply and also for 7 year old boys. Toiletry gift sets are welcome. Please don’t wrap the toys that you bring.
6pm – Evening service (in the Church Hall with tea & coffee afterwards)
Thursday 16th December – 10.45am – BCP Holy Communion followed by tea & coffee
Sunday 19th December – 9.15am – Service of the word 11am – Service of Holy Communion 6.30pm – Carols by Candlelight
Thursday 23rd December – 10.45am- BCP Holy Communion followed by tea & coffee
Christmas Eve – Friday 24th December 4pm – Crib Service 11pm – Midnight Communion Christmas Day – Saturday 25th December 9am – BCP Communion Service
10.30am – Christmas Day service with communion
Sunday 26th December 10.30am – Holy Communion
Sunday 2nd January – 9.15am – Service of the word 11am – Holy Communion
Online Church Services – We are continuing to record our Sunday morning service in church. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Morning Prayer- Monday and Friday at 8:00am – Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 865 694 0214 Passcode: mprayer
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaints https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
Weekly prayer meeting – Thursday 6.30pm on Zoom. Why not join a group of us at All Saints that pray regularly. It lasts 40 minutes, you can pray, sit and listen or just contemplate. – Aidan Holmes https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315 Passcode: yt76bq
Storytime – Mondays from 10am – 11.30am
Storytime is a group for pre-school children run by volunteers from All Saints and meets every Monday during term time in the church hall. It starts with a story and involves lots of fun, crafts, teddies and action songs. It costs £2 per family which is entirely used to cover running costs, snacks, rent and craft items.
Pram Club – Thursdays from 1.30pm – 3pm
We run every Thursday for pre-school children during term time with a cost of £2 per family. Why not come along and join in the fun? Refreshments served for both children and adults. Could you help and be part of the team? Please email rachelkelleher@live.co.uk
Christmas Afternoon Tea – Saturday 18th December at 2pm in the Church Hall Sadly this event is cancelled because of Covid restrictions Hopefully we will be able to put it on at some point in the New Year
VESTRY HOUR – every Tuesday in Church from 7pm – 8pm
If you would like to book a Baptism or a Wedding or speak to us about anything else, please come to Vestry Hour which is held in the church every Tuesday, no appointment is necessary. Please use the wooden door to the left of the tower. You do not need to knock; just come in, take a seat and you will be seen privately in turn.
School Forms – Primary School Applications
If you need a Primary School form completing, please email me to make an appointment. Thank you, Andrew
BOOKWORMS – All Saints Bookworms reading group is organising an online Christmas Quiz. It is intended to be a fun activity which can be done with friends and family over the Christmas period, loosely based on books, poems, plays and songs. It will be sent out just before Christmas and results published in the New Year. There will be a number of prizes awarded but you’ve got be in it to win it! If anyone who doesn’t come to Bookworms meetings would like to have a go please let me know and I’ll send you have a copy, either online or a paper copy delivered to your door! The next bookworms meeting will be on Monday 7th February. The book we are discussing is: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Helen Ford. Tel: 0151 428 9153. Mobile: 07950718759. email: h.h.ford@btinternet.com
Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to pray for you or a family member, please send me their names for this sheet, please ask permission from the person. The names will stay on for 4 weeks. Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter), David Miller, Patricia Horne, Margaret Whitehead, Alan Kirk, Louise Kenny and Charlotte Fitzsimon. We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of Avril Mason.
With our prayers for you all at this time
Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257 – vicar.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com Helen Deegan – Curate – Tel: 07984 933467 – curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand – adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
