with Junior Church & Upper Room Group

5. All glory to the Sonwho comes to set us free,

with Father, Spirit, ever One,through all eternity.

[Charles Coffin, 1676-1749translated by John Chandler,1806-1876]

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on thearmour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ cameto us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his gloriousmajesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through himwho is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days tocome the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of themountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Manypeoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the

Please use this service sheet in conjunction with the purple service booklet

1. The advent of our Kingour prayers must now employ,

and we must hymns of welcome singin strains of holy joy.

2. The everlasting Sonincarnate deigns to be;

himself a servant's form puts on,to set his servants free.

3. Daughter of Sion, riseto meet thy lowly King;

nor let thy faithless heart despisethe peace he comes to bring.

4. As judge, on clouds of light,he soon will come again,

and his true members all unitewith him in heaven to reign.

house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in hispaths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord fromJerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples;they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks;nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Ohouse of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

For the word of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you towake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; thenight is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and puton the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling anddrunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy.Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify itsdesires.

For the word of the Lord.

5. For great you are, and wonders great by your strong hand are done: you, in your everlasting seat, remain the Lord alone.

[John Milton, the elder, c.1563-1647]based on verses from Psalms 82, 85, 86

Alleluia, alleluia. Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, and all flesh shallsee the salvation of God.

1. The Lord will come and not be slow, his footsteps cannot err; before him righteousness shall go, his royal harbinger.

2. Truth from the earth, like to a flower, shall bud and blossom then, and justice, from her heavenly bower, look down on mortal men.

3. Rise, God, judge the earth in might, this wicked earth redress; for you art he who shalt by right the nations all possess.

4. The nations all whom thou hast made shall come, and all shall frameto bow them low before thee, Lord, and glorify thy name.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

Jesus spoke to his disciples: ‘About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angelsof heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be thecoming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating anddrinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, andthey knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be thecoming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one willbe left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will beleft. Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Butunderstand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night thethief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house bebroken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at anunexpected hour.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Hark what a sound, and too divine for hearing, stirs on the earth and trembles in the air!

Is it the thunder of the Lord’s appearing? Is it the music of his people’s prayer?

Surely he cometh, and a thousand voices shout to the saints, and to the deaf are dumb;

surely he cometh, and the earth rejoices, glad in his coming who hath sworn: I come!

This hath he done, and shall we not adore him? This shall he do, and can we still despair?

Come, let us quickly fling ourselves before him, cast at his feet the burden of our care.

Through life and death, through sorrow and through sinning he shall suffice me, for he hath sufficed:

Christ is the end, for Christ was the beginning, Christ the beginning, for the end is Christ.

[Frederic William Henry Myers, 1843-1901]

People look East -

5. Then sing for joy, and use each day;give thanks for everything alway.

Lift up your hearts; with one accordpraise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[John Raphael Peacey, 1896-1971]

O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of yourSon our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but activein his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. .

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.Longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,Light for the world to see.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has power to save us.Make us your living voice.

Longing for food, many are hungry.Longing for water, many still thirst.

Make us your bread, broken for others,Shared until all are fed.

1. Awake, awake: fling off the night!For God has sent his glorious light;and we who live in Christ’s new daymust works of darkness put away.

2. Awake and rise, with love renewed,and with the Spirit’s power endued,

the light of life in us will glow,and fruits of truth and goodness show.

3. Let in the light; all sin exposeto Christ, whose life no darkness knows.

Before his cross for guidance kneel;his light will judge and, judging, heal.

4. Awake, and rise up from the dead,and Christ his light on you will shed.Its power will wrong desires destroy,and your whole nature fill with joy.

Longing for shelter people are homeless.Longing for warmth, many are cold.

Make us your building, sheltering others,Walls made of living stone.

Many the gifts, many the people,Many the hearts that yearn to belong.

Let us be servants to one another,Making your kingdom come.

[Bernadette Farrell, .1957]

●Worship God●Welcome All●Reach out to the world

vicar@pershoreabbey.org.uk

curate@pershoreabbey.org.uk Mr Bill Newman (01386 640497) Mrs Suzanne Clarke (01386 553293)

Alveston House, 11, Broad Street, Pershore, WR10 1BB (01386 552071) office@pershoreabbey.org.uk www.pershoreabbey.org.uk

All those who are celebrating their wedding within the PershoreBenefice, those who are being baptised, those who are in need andthose who have recently died.

We also pray for those whose anniversary of death occurs today or inthe coming week.

A wonderful chance to sing your favourite Advent carols (asopposed to Christmas ones!) and to hear the Abbey Choir singsome beautiful anthems. Please note the time of this service.There will be no Choral Evensong.

At the 10:30 Sung Eucharist TODAYwe shall be blessing some of the Christmas Hampers that are given out to those in mostneed this Christmas. Come along to give thanks for the work of the Foodbank, those whosupport it and to remember those for whom this Christmas will be a struggle.

The Communion setting duringAdvent will change to Rutter.

Once again there will be the opportunity to have some peace andquiet in the busyness of all our Christmas preparations. This year we will be sharingCompline with Churches Together. There will be tea and coffee available from 18:30-19:00. Compline will begin at 19:00. The service will include a short reflection and willfinish by 19:30.2nd DECEMBER at Pershore Abbey9th DECEMBER at Holy Redeemer16th DECEMBER at Pershore Baptist Church23rd DECEMBER at Pershore Abbey

The Pershore Foodbank are giving the ChristmasHampers and Children's chocolate bags to people in Pershore and the surroundingvillages who for whatever reason find themselves in difficulties. As in previous years weplan to start giving these out from the beginning of December. We have a lovely team ofvolunteers who have been helping to make up hampers. If you would still like to give wewould like, Christmas cakes and puddings, tinned ham and salmon, Christmas biscuits,Chocolate treats for children as well as grown ups, chocolate money, tinned custard andof course mince pies. Thank you for the donations already received. If you find it easierto give a monetary donation that is equally appreciated, please give to either myself orJudy Dale.

Our last sales stalls for Christmas 2019 are on 15th & 22nd December.Thanks.

A Day of Reflection for Advent led by Christine Dodd, to be heldat Holland House, Cropthorne between 10:00 & 16:00 £22.00 includes refreshments and alight lunch and afternoon tea. Booking form available from the Abbey office or Christine Dodd

OurChristmas trees delight our many visitors over the Christmasperiod and once again we would like to be able to displaysomething really special, we would very much welcome cashdonations towards the cost. If you would like to contributetowards this envelopes are available at the back of the church foryour gifts, please place them in the collection or the donationschest. Thank you so much.

You are invitedto a short service “Blessing the Christmas Tree” at 10:00 onMonday 2nd December in the Abbey. We hope you will then stayfor refreshments and help us decorate the tree.

- Especially discount-ed at £20, for those with some experience of flower arranging in church, there are twoworkshops for making your own advent wreath without using floral foam: Kate Hurst at GreatWitley Church on Thursday 28th November at 10:00, and on Saturday 30th November at10:00 Brigette Manton, NAFAS demonstrator, will be doing a similar workshop at St Kenelm'sChurch, Clifton. Base materials and foliage provided. For further details and booking pleasecontact kate@camomilecornflowers.co.uk 01886 812184.

: Thank you very much for all the items, the knitting, and the moneydonated. The 100 boxes were delivered to the Evesham distribution warehouse during lastweek. I am sure it will make the children's Christmas a happier one.

was a great success and raised £287.00 for Tearfund. The trophy wentto the winning team from the Baptist Church until next year’s Quiz. Many thanks to everyonewho helped put out all the tables and chairs and the members of PASA who served all thefood and drinks and did all the washing up as well as taking part. Thank you.

Would you like to sing carols & raise urgently needed funds forAcorns Children’s Hospice? I am hoping to bring an all ages group together to sing aroundPershore preferably on 20th and/or 21st December. Come and join some light-hearted fun atthis festive time.

Sign up to the Church of England #FollowTheStar Christmas journeyand receive reflections each day from Christmas Day to Epiphany (5 January) to your inbox.https://www.churchofengland.org/followthestar alternatively if you would like the officeto order you a copy of the Follow the Star “A Journey through the 12 Days of Christmas”booklet at £1.50 please let us know. There is a copy available to look at in the office.Contact us soon on 01386-552071 office@pershoreabbey.org.uk Thank you.

Once again this year there will be a board at the back ofchurch from Advent Sunday where you can pin up one Christmas card for everyone in theAbbey. You are then invited to give a donation from the money you perhaps won’t bespending on individual cards, which will be given to Christian Aid. More information ifneeded from Margaret Goodrich and Sarah Thomson. Many thanks.

for our town traders – for the fourth year Churches Together inPershore will be delivering mince pies (and including some gluten free and a few minichocolate rolls) to the traders in the town. Donations of ‘bought’ mince pies (sorry, wecannot accept home-made) will be gratefully received in the Abbey from now on untilSunday 15th December. Volunteers are needed to assist the Workplace Chaplains to dis-tribute the mince pies on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th December – meeting at theBaptist Church at 09:45. If you can help please contact

Following the Carol Service at the Abbey on, Sunday 22ndDecember, there will be Mince Pies and Mulled Wine available - contributions of Mince Pies(home-made or shop bought) would be wonderful! If possible please bring them to themorning service.

Work is underway to replace the Abbey’s interior lightingwhich was installed in 1996. The development of LED light fittings now enables us togreatly improve the coverage and reduce our running costs. Our electricity bill is nearly£4,000 a year and we are anticipating savings of over £500.The temporary work we have done recently in the Apse and Chancel has shown how thoseareas can be transformed from dimly lit spaces to ones that enable choir and ministers toread the music and the prayers without straining their eyes.The initial phase will cover the Nave, Side Aisles, St Johns and Wick Chapels, Chancel andApse. The West End and South Transept will follow as the detail of the Abbey DevelopmentProgramme becomes clear.“DALI” is a system of lighting control that enables us to have settings for our variousservices and concerts. We will be able have settings for the Sunday services, morning andevening prayers, mid-week communions, funerals and weddings - all of which havedifferent needs, during the day for visitors, various concerts and events.Parts of the Abbey may be barriered off while our contractors carry out the work.For your own safety please keep clear of these areas.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderlandand Through the Looking Glass. 2nd to 7th December. Tickets are available from theNumber 8 Box Office on 01386 555488.

We aregreatly encouraged by the support given by members of the congregation and the widercommunity both through the Adopt a Pipe scheme (“Pipers”) and by individual donations.The organ builder, has agreed to supply us with tin alloy plaques for “Pipers” on which thename(s) of individual donors or their loved ones will be engraved locally before beingreturned to Italy to be soldered on the adopted pipes. Each pipe will be photographedshowing the soldered plaque for future record. “Pipers” will be contacted in good time toconfirm the name or message to be engraved on their pipe. The PCC has agreed with theorgan builder that the Adopt a Pipe scheme will continue whilst the organ is being built.This will enable those who wish to help make our dream a reality by becoming “Pipers”, andwho have not yet had the opportunity to do so, to make a donation during the course ofthe next year. Donation forms are available by the bookstall and in the Abbey Office.

Alison Vincent who has worked for the DBF for thepast 47 years, will be retiring at the end of this year. Her dedication and sheer hard workhave been an immense blessing to us. This comes firstly to invite you to Evensong onWednesday 4th December at 17:30 in the Cathedral to give thanks for all Alison has given.There will be a drinks reception afterwards in the Old Palace to which you are most warmlyinvited.

As you are aware, we are currently facing a challenging time in the Diocese, having made aloss of around £1 million last year. We have already reduced our expenditure by makingchanges to the central staffing of the Diocesan Board of Finance and are now beginning tolook at our wider ministry costs.

It is essential that we work together to discern the way forward and answer the question ofhow we can best shape and pay for ministry across the Diocese for the growth of God’skingdom. This is a real opportunity for creative thinking about God’s will for us.

So that everyone has the chance to have their say in the future of our Church, we areholding a series of open conversations and I hope you will come along, as well asencourage others from your congregations to do so. We want to hear from as many peopleas possible throughout the Diocese. All are welcome and the presentation at each sessionwill include exactly the same content so it’s possible for people to choose the session thatis most convenient for them.

The conversations will be as follows:

• Wednesday 11 December, 2 – 4.30pm, The Old Palace, Worcester, WR1 2JE• Wednesday 11 December, 7 – 9.15pm, The Old Palace, Worcester, WR1 2JE• Tuesday 14 January, 10am – 12.33pm, Pershore Town Hall, WR10 1DS• Tuesday 14 January, 7 – 9.15pm, St James’ Church, Welland, WR13 6LP

• Monday 20 January, 2 – 4.30pm, St John the Evangelist, Kates Hill, Dudley DY2 7JT• Monday 20 January, 7 – 9.15pm, St John the Evangelist, Kates Hill, Dudley DY2 7JT• Thursday 30 January, 2 – 4.30pm, The Old Palace, Worcester, WR1 2JE• Tuesday 4 February, 2 – 4.30pm, Catshill Social Club, Meadow Road, Bromsgrove B61 0JJ• Tuesday 4 February, 7 – 9.15pm, Trinity Methodist Church, Kidderminster, DY10 2JL

The Bishop of Worcester, 15 November 2019

A big thank you to all who contributed to my Christmas craft sale last Friday.A cheque for £1,210 has been given to Worcestershire Breast Haven.

08:00 Eucharist

10:15 Junior Church Nativity rehearsal (St A)

10:30 Sung Eucharist

17:00 CTiP Service of Wholeness and Healing to be held in St Andrew’s Centre

11:30 Traidcraft stall (A)18:00 Photoshoot (St A)18:00 Christmas tree up (A)

09:30 Musical Explorers (St A)10:00 Dressing the Christmas Tree & Bauble Coffee Morning (A)10:00 Blessing of the Christmas Trees" service (A)10:30 Bells (St A)14:00 Pershore U3A History Group (St A)18:30 Weight Watchers (St A)18:30 Tea & Coffee served before Advent Compline (A)19:00 Advent Compline (A)19:30 Bells (A/St A)

11:00 CTIP Food Bank (St A)13:30 SNMS Christmas Celebration (A)19:00 SNMS Christmas Celebration (A)19:00 Hustings (Pershore High School)

11:30 Lunch Club - enquiries 01386 554299 (St A)11:00 Art Exhibition Meeting (A)11:00 Communion at Wick11:00 Eucharist (Heathlands)13:30 PFS Christmas Rehearsal (A)18:00 PFS Christmas Celebration (A)20:00 Vale Harmony (St A)

09:00 Weight Watchers (St A)09:30 Bowbrook School Christmas Rehearsal (A)09:30 Vicar & Wardens' Meeting (St AU)11:00 Eucharist (Ganderton Court)14:30 Funeral Service for the late

Barbara Whatmore (A& St A)19:00 Bowbrook School Christmas Celebration (A)18:00 Choir Practice (St A)19:30 Guitar Class (St A)

09:30 Babies and Toddlers (St A)11:00 Eucharist (A)12:00 Set up for concert (A & St A from 16:00)13:00 CTIP Food Bank (St A)19:00 Worcester Male Voice Choir Concert (A)

10:00 Bells (St A)11:00 Conservative Association (St A)12:00 Concert set up and rehearsal (A/St A)13:30 Wedding of Gary Stephens & Deborah Gill (P)19:00 Worcester Male Voice Choir concert (A)

08:00 Eucharist10:30 Sung Eucharist with Junior Church & Upper Room Group15:00 Advent Carol Service -