Those we are praying for…..

Bruce McKay, Sylvia & Jack Smith, Pamela Wiltshire, Ron Savage, Valerie & Richard Comer, Robin Nash, Rev'd Father Robert Britton, Iris Dayment and Peter Bleaken.

Please keep Amy updated as to who needs prayer. We commit to praying for one month unless otherwise advised.

Pray for our Growth TogetherPlease continue to pray for growth in our Christian community

Eternal Father, look with your love on your people of this benefice and the wider Partnership, and pour upon us the gifts of your Spirit. Draw us to you and one another that our growing unity may bring healing of life to all, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Priest-in-Charge of Benefice – Rev. Jordan Ling 0117 3304953Focal Minister for St Aidan’s – Rev. Canon Trevor Denley 07960 329127

Focal Minister for St Michael’s – Rev. Nicola Callen 0117 9658833Assistant Curate – Rev. Michelle Martin 07804 610929

East Bristol Partnership Office Tel: 0117 9586412 Email: eastbristol.org@gmail.com

All notices for the following Sunday to be sent to Amy Donaldson, East Bristol Partnership Administrator by midnight on Tuesday.

News from the Pews

4 Churches working together in East Bristol as part of the East Bristol Partnership

St. Aidan’s St John’s St Michael’s St Ambrose ‘Reaching Out to ‘Serving the ‘Serving the & St Leonard’s Welcome In’ Community Community ‘At the heart Worshipping God’ of Two Mile Hill’ of the Community’

Welcome Sunday 20th December

Our Collect Prayer for today – The Fourth Sunday of AdventGod our redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns

with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

What’s happening this morning:St Michael’s Church 9.00am – Eucharist with Rev. Jordan LingSt Ambrose Church 10.00am - Family Carol Service with Rev. Michelle Martin

St Aidan’s Church 10.30am – Lay-led Service with Rev. Jordan Ling and Neil co-ordinating

St John’s Church 10.30am – Eucharist with Rev. Canon Trevor Denley leading and presiding and Rev. Nicola Callen preaching

Readings: Mic. 5.2-5a; Heb.10.5-10; Luke 1.39-45;

Look inside to see what else is going on……

www.staidanbristol.co.ukSpecial notices….Carols in the Precinct takes places on Mon 21st Dec 7pm in Kingsway Shopping Precinct. Everyone welcome!

St Aidan’s Crib Service takes place at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass starts at 11.15pm and the Christmas Day Eucharist starts at 10am. Everyone is warmly welcome.

St. Michael's badminton group now play Table Tennis instead and invite anyone interested to join them on Wednesdays from 2pm -4pm in St. Aidan's church hall.

Finally we were able to donate £611.00 to Children in Need from the 'Bishop is Coming' panto. Thank you to every one for your support.

Regular weekly events….

EVERY 1ST SUNDAY IN HALL 9.45am – 11am

Sundays fortnightly 3pm - Deaf @ St Aidan’s

Tuesdays 7.00pm - Evening Prayer in the Lady Chapel

Wednesdays 3.30pm – Messy Church, Air Balloon Primary

Thursdays 9.15am – Morning Prayer in the Lady Chapel

Thursday mornings 10am – 12pm in the Café area of Church

Advent Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent…..God our Father,the angel Gabriel told theVirgin Marythat she was to be the mother of your Son. Though Mary was afraid,she responded to your call with joy.Help us, whom you call to serve you,to share like her in your great workof bringing to our world your love and healing. We ask this through Jesus Christ,the light who is coming into the world. Amen.Lord Jesus, light of the world,blessed is Gabriel, who brought good news;blessed is Mary, your mother and ours.Bless your Church preparing for Christmas;and bless us your children, who long for your coming. Amen.

Thought for this week….by Rev. Canon Trevor DenleyOne of the most powerful, if not the most powerful verses for me in the bible is that written in Luke chapter 1, verse 38. “I am the Lord’s servant, be it unto me as you have said”. Imagine the fear with which Mary would have received the vision from God, through Gabriel. She was just a young girl and suddenly this hugely important role was

given her. You will give birth to the saviour of the world. No mean task, but one, after prayer she accepted. Thank goodness she did, we can never know what would have happened had she denied her calling!I doubt if we will ever be called upon to undertake such a huge task, but nonetheless we will all be called upon by God to do certain things. They may not be ‘world changing’ like Mary’s role but they could be life changing! Often when we are faced with what may seem as either an impossible request, or an

unpalatable one, an inbuilt defence system kicks in that says ‘No, that’s not really meant for me’. It’s an easy way of avoiding tough decisions. But Mary gives us the lead, if that is what YOU want Lord then OK.You may think, when will this ever apply to me? More often than we bargained for I expect. Being urged to say sorry, or forgive someone you feel may have hurt you. Recognising and answering a call to ministry, helping someone in need. Throughout Advent we have been preparing for the coming of the light of the world, what better way to prepare than to resolve, just as Mary did, to respond positively to God. It might prove to be life changing, and if we change our lives others may see the change too, and ask why? Then they may change, and then we will bring about the Kingdom. Special notices and upcoming events for all…….Amy is on annual leave from Mon 21st Dec until Mon 4th Jan. The office will be unstaffed during this time. Many thanks.

Carol Singing around the Pubs on Christmas Eve. Meet and start at The Star Inn for 8pm. You are very welcome to come and join in to sing Carols around the pubs on Fishponds Road. They will be collecting donations at each pub for a Children’s Charity, and will be finished in time for Midnight Mass.

East Bristol Partnership Joint Servicefor Candlemass

Sunday 31st January10.15am

St Ambrose ChurchFollowed by the EBP AGM

Everyone is welcome, please come along and support…..

We would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.

St Ambrose and St Leonard’s ChurchSpecial notices…..St Ambrose Crib Service is at 4pm on Christmas Eve, everyone is welcome to come dressed as your favourite nativity character (Mary, Joseph, Shepherd, King or Camel). Midnight Mass and Blessing of the Crib starts at 11.30pm and the Christmas Day Family Communion Service is at 10am. Everyone welcome!

Future items for the pew sheet should be given to Joanna – joannaphillips@blueyonder.co.uk who will pass them on to Amy, EBP Administrator. Many thanks.

Regular weekly events….. HOLY COMMUNION

Wednesdays at 10am followed by coffee morning at 10.30am

Monthly on 1st Tuesdays 7pm – Healing Eucharist

Beehive Centre weekly events…..

Weekly on Mondays 11am - Bereavement and Support Weekly on Mondays 2pm-4pm - Ping pong for over 55’s Weekly on Tuesdays 9.30am-12.30pm - Foot Care SessionsWeekly on Tuesdays 10.30am - Level 1 Walking GroupWeekly on Tuesdays 12.30pm – Lunch Club Weekly on Tuesdays 1.45pm - Film Club Weekly on Wednesdays 1.30pm-4pm – Arts and Crafts Weekly on Wednesdays 1pm - Level 3 Walking GroupWeekly on Thursdays 10am Beehive Toddlers GroupWeekly on Thursdays 10am-12pm - Beginners Computer ClassWeekly on Fridays 10.30am-11.30am – Line DancingWeekly on Fridays 12pm-3.30pm - Senior Citizens Bingo ClubWeekly on Fridays 2pm-3pm - New Age KurlingFortnightly on Wednesdays 10am-12pm - Holistic Massage Monthly on 3rd Mondays 2pm-4pm – Bingo

Please call the Beehive direct on 9534471 for enquiries on these and other activities….

www.stjohnsfishponds.comSpecial notices….St John’s Carol Service takes place this evening starting at 6.30pm.

St John’s Crib Service takes place at 6pm on Christmas Eve. Midnight Mass starts at 11.30pm and the Christmas Day Eucharist starts at 10.30am. Everyone is warmly welcome.

There will be a Carol Service at St John’s Court on Mon 21st Dec at 6.30pm. Please come along and support. For more info contact Lyn Monks on 9607830.

After the Carol Service at St John’s Court on Mon 21st Dec St John’s will be showing the BBC’s adaptation of the Nativity. Everyone welcome!

Christmas cards for Mosquito nets - please consider writing one Christmas card to all your friends at St Johns this year and putting the money you save into the Operation Mosquito donation box. Let's see if we can smash our £500 target for

2015! Cards can be pinned on the noticeboard at the back of church from Sun 13th Dec. (This replaces the Christmas card to Cow appeal from previous years)

So far £346.00 has been collected from the Christingle with more still coming in.

Regular weekly events….

MONDAYS 3pm – 4.30pmTuesday 9.15am - Morning Prayer

Saturday 10.00am – Bible Study in the Church

St Michael’s ChurchSpecial notices…..St Michael’s Crib Service takes place at 4pm on Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass starts at 11.15pm. Everyone is warmly welcome.

Apologies the next PCC meeting is on Mon 11th Jan at 1pm and not the 4th Jan as previously advised.

Traidcraft Christmas Cards - I am taking orders for Traidcraft Christmas cards if anyone would like some. I have catalogues and posters for each church and samples of all the cards to view at St Michael's. Many thanks. Jackie

After many years of faithfully serving and worshipping in the East Bristol Partnership, Ian and Yvonne are saying farewell and moving on to their Parish Church in Hanham. We wish them all the best in their new Church community and will be praying for them.

Regular weekly events…..

HOLY COMMUNION 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 10am

with Prayers for Healing followed by

Coffee afternoon in Church every Friday 2pm-4pm &

Coffee morning every Saturday 10am -12pm. Everyone welcome!