Canon David Shaw The Rectory St Clement’s Church Office, Rue du Presbytère La Grande Route de Saint ClémentSt Clement JE2 6RB St Clement JE2 6QQTel: 851992 Tel: 745260Mobile: 07797 920316 E mail: stclementjersey@outlook.com

Rev Tracy Le C Bromley Tel: 857693 Rev Martin Dryden Tel: 874668

Facebook: St Clement Church Jersey Channel IslandsWeb site: www.stclementschurch.org.je

Treasurers and church bank account details:St Clement: Tricia Barry triciabarry@hotmail.com Acc: St Clement Church 40-25-34 84087488St Nicholas: Ian Bromley captainimb@aol.com Acc: St Nicholas Church 60-12-03 81510535

December 9th, 2020

Dear friends of St Clement and St Nicholas, If you were left confused by whether we should have had a service last Sunday – so was I and looking at his expression Boris J the shepherd was as well. The first letter from the Dean seemed to leave it optional , the radio interview and press were so certain of closure at least one person thought we were closed until the New Year. By the time we turned up to St Nicholas to record the service on the Sunday (also St Nicholas Day) , the bell was ringing and people had heard the Dean on the radio saying if people had booked/ planned to go then carry on. We have been doing 2 metre distancing at St Nicholas from the start and we met the new rules by shuffling the folk around the pews at St Clement – so all was well and far safer than any shop I have visited. So if you feel comfortable come along on Sunday. Or tune into Facebook, I am just learning but those who struggled were being advised to refresh the page by Tim and Jenny our experts. Last week’s 9am can be seen on youtube, ref at the end of this letter and even I can find the 10.30 on Facebook: St Clement Church Jersey Channel Islands

It was also really useful to see people to help make sure they were signed up for services. Thanks to delays in printing the parish invitation, as we awaited any new government rules, it means that if you are reading this you have a final chance before it goes on general release.

As well as the Nativity Festival from 3.30 to 6pm from Saturday 19th to Wed 23rd there will be 11 services in that period including Christmas Day. There is then one service planned for Sunday 27th and no midnight at St Clement or 5pm at St Nicholas. The services listed below are at St Clement unless specified. There are 40 outside places available to be booked at most of the services and the number of inside spaces left (which was changing even as I was typing) is as follows: Sat 19th 6.30pm Christingle and Carols – recorded for Facebook – 2 leftSun 20th 10.30am Carols with Christmas Eve Communion – 6 left Sun 20th 6.30pm Candle lit Carols with Christmas Eve Communion – recorded for Facebook – 8 leftMon 21st 6.30pm Blue Christmas - 18 left Thur 24th 2pm Christingle - 16 left

3.30pm Christingle - 3 left 5pm Christingle - 12 left 6.30pm Christingle - 5 left

Fri 25th 9am St Nicholas - 5 left 10.30am Family Christmas Service - 11 left

Sun 27th 9am St Nicholas Communion - 8 left

Rather than reply directly to this email (which puts you in a long list) it would be easier if you sent a new one headed ‘reservation’ to the same address – stclementjersey@outlook.com and I or Jayne will confirm your place – if you don’t hear soon e mail again as we would not like to miss people out.

Meanwhile Christmas preparations are on track. Jayne has been recruiting news letter deliverers – a few more needed please. To reduce our workload we are asking deliverers to fold their own – wish we had thought of that years ago ! Phillipa decorated St Nicholas for its saint’s day and Val is clambering over pews transforming the windowsills. Mike , Jason and Brock have been making the churchyard look super for all the hundreds of wreaths, decorating the Christmas tree and putting up our new lights – shooting stars on the gate, a star over the Angel tomb and spotlights on the angels. On the theme of wreaths, Mike Kidman and Mike Smith have been busy constructing lots of Christmas troughs to sell for church funds and the Rectory angel and life sized shepherd factory has been in full production. Martin has been hard at work creating non stop looped Christingle and carol services with illustrations to screen and be heard around the church and churchyard for the Nativity Festival. With the retirement of the lead chaplain Tracy is busy at the hospital and preparing Christmas services. In the midst of this our treasurers Tricia and Ian are sorting out the finances for the year end and thank you for all your regular gifts, Gift Day donations and in this financially stretched year encourage everyone to give by standing order particularly with the uncertainty over services. Richard Lane will soon be asking people to sign the covenant forms. Pam carefully administers our track and trace and of course is busy making and selling jams and chutneys – a wonderful present for Christmas. As well as some head and hand making for the Angel Tomb nativity scene plus a myriad of stars with their creative team, Jenni and Tim are guiding our Face book ventures and Martin fine tunes the new website. Evelyn somehow is keeping the church neat and tidy despite us all. Carole is coordinating our welcome team during the Nativity Festival and Graham plans and researches the best youtube tracks. A big thank you to everyone mentioned and all those not included as well, plus sheep, lambs and donkeys. Without all these people there would not be a Christmas programme for the parish, which, unless

more restrictions are announced, will be one of the busiest and certainly the most complicated to deliver on record.

I hope you are keeping well,

David

Please click the link to see the service from December 6th, 2020 https://youtu.be/h47SP-D0LF8

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST CLEMENTMORNING WORSHIP IN ADVENT

December 13th 2020

Lighting of the Advent Wreath: Lord Jesus, Light of the world, John told the people to prepare for you were very near. As Christmas grows closer day by day, help us to be ready to welcome you now.

OPENING HYMN

Tell out my Soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E7QWLyDWe8

Tell out my soul, the greatness of the LordUnnumbered blessings, give my spirit voiceTender to me the promise of his wordIn God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out my soul, the greatness of his nameMake known his might, the deeds his arm has doneHis mercy sure, from age to age the sameHis holy name, the Lord, the mighty one.

Tell out my soul, the glories of his wordFirm is his promise, and his mercy sureTell out, my soul, the greatness of the LordTo children’s children and for evermore.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, The love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. and also with you.We have come together in the name of Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive God’s holy word, to pray for the needs of the world, and to seek the forgiveness of our sins, that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may give ourselves to the service of God.

We to sit or kneel to confess our sins

A voice cries out in the wilderness ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ So let us listen, and turn to the Lord in penitence and faith. cf John 1:23

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We stand Blessed is the Lord, for he has heard the voice of our prayer ;therefore shall our hearts dance for joy and in our song we will praise our God.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, Creator and Redeemer of all; to you be glory and praise for ever.From the waters of chaos you drew forth the world and in your great love fashioned us in your image. Now, through the deep waters of death, you have brought your people to new birth by raising your Son to life in triumph. May Christ your light ever dawn in our hearts as we offer you our sacrifice of thanks and praise. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Blessed be God for ever.

Jesus name above all names https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dbc5qqJZiA

Jesus, name above all namesBeautiful saviour, glorious LordEmmanuel, God is with usBlessed Redeemer, living word.

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.

We keep silence We say the Old Testament Canticle

Blessed are you, God of Israel, for ever and ever, for yours is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour and the majesty. Everything in heaven and on earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honour come from you and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; yours it is to give power and strength to all. And now we give you thanks, our God, and praise your glorious name. For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

The First reading is taken from Isaiah Chapter 6, beginning to read at the first verse. (Isaiah 6 1-4 8-11) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;  the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;  be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.[a]Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,and turn and be healed.”11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?”And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruinedand without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted  and the fields ruined and ravaged.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

The Gospel CanticleO bless the God of Israel, who comes to set us free, who visits and redeems us and grants us liberty. The prophets spoke of mercy, of rescue and release; God shall fulfil the promise to bring our people peace. Now from the house of David a child of grace is given; a Saviour comes among us to raise us up to heaven. Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way, the prophet of salvation, the messenger of Day. Where once were fear and darkness the sun begins to rise —the dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner's eyes, to guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace: O bless our God and Saviour, with songs that never cease!7.6.7.6.D

The Gospel Reading Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. John 1 6-8 19-28Glory to you, O Lord. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?”He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ

Like a candle flamehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmwdZyTGa_A

Like a candle flameFlickering small in our darknessUncreated light shines through infant eyes.

God is with us, alleluiaCome to save us, alleluia

Stars and angles sing

Yet the earth sleeps in shadowsCan this tiny spark set a world on fire.

God is with us, alleluiaCome to save us, alleluia

Yet his light shall shineFrom our lives, Spirit blazingAs we touch the flame of his holy fire

God is with us, alleluiaCome to save us, alleluia

Reflections: The thing that strikes me about Isaiah in our first reading and John the Baptist in our second is how certain they both were that they had heard the voice of God.  Today, there are so many distractions in our lives that we find it difficult to concentrate on anything properly.  Christians in previous generations recognised this danger and took steps to withdraw from the world in order to listen for God.  The first monastic communities and hermits went off into the desert.  As time went on, ‘going into the desert’ took on other forms, such as observing Sunday as a day of rest, going on a pilgrimage, and fasting during Advent and Lent.  Those who think that such practices amount to salvation by works are missing the point: if you look up into the night sky in a big city (even in St Helier), you can’t see the stars properly because of the glare of the streetlights.  You need to go out into the country where there is no light pollution. This is why spending time in ‘desert places’ is so important for our spiritual health.  Our liturgy in Advent is full of words like “watch”, “wake up”, “listen”, and “wait”, exactly the sort of things that Isaiah and John the Baptist were doing!  Let’s try our best to follow their example.  The first step is to find your desert place.  As Saint Paul said to the Romans (Romans 13:11), “Do this, understanding the present time.  The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

The Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Music before prayers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U_hJ3SQquM

Prayers of Intercession

Prayers for the Church In the World Council of Churches cycle of prayer we pray for China, Hong Kong and Macau.For congregations who are continuing to struggle with the effects of the Coronavirus. May the churches find ways to proclaim anew the message of the angels this Christmas.For all who make music in church, whose voices have been silencedFor persecuted Christians especially in Africa and AsiaFor success in the church’s work towards justice, reconciliation and peace

Prayers for the world: For all who are suffering from the effects of the Coronavirus, whether directly or indirectly.May governments find effective policies to control subsequent waves of infectionFor health services, that they may not be overwhelmed by impossible demandsFor the much-needed work of aid agencies, especially for food banksLet us pray for all who are homeless For refugees everywhere and for all who seek to bring them relief.

Here in Jersey: In the Christians Together in Jersey cycle of prayers, we pray for Father Nick Barry and the congregation of St Luke’s Church

For our police, health workers, emergency and rescue services.For the States of Jersey and the difficult decisions they have to takeFor those who are struggling to cope with the effect of sickness, age and infirmityFor those suffering from anxiety, depression and other psychological ailmentsWe remember our loved ones who are no longer with usLord, in your mercy hear our prayer. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteriesmay likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

The Lord’s Prayer: Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Soon and very soon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxarZBxK0iQ

Soon and very soon we are going to see the King x3Alleluia, alleluia, we are going to see the King.

Soon and very soon we are going to see the King x 3Alleluia alleluia we are going to see the King.

No more crying there we are going to see the King x 3Alleluia, alleluia, we are going to see the KIng.

No more dying there we are going to see the King x 3Alleluia, alleluia, we are going to see the King.

Should there be any rivers we must crossShould there be any mountains we must climbGod will supply all the strength that we needGive us strength 'til we reach the other side.

We have come from every nationGod has already signed our nameJesus took his blood and he washed my sinsHe washed them all awayYet there are those of us who have laid down our livesBut we all shall meet again on the other side.

Soon and very soon we are going to see the King x 3Alleluia, alleluia, we are going to see the King.

The Blessing: Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

We say the Grace togetherThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.As we await our coming Saviour, go in the peace of Christ Thanks be to God.