Introduction to the Season of Advent

Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to
celebrate the coming (adventus) of Christ in his incarnation, and also looks
ahead to his final advent as judge at the end of time. The readings and liturgies
not only direct us towards Christ’s birth, they also challenge the modern
reluctance to confront the theme of divine judgement:
Every eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty.
(Charles Wesley)

What happens during the Season of Advent and Christmas?

Advent marks the beginning of the church year. It is a time for reflection in darkness, for renewal of hope and for a movement towards a beginning.

The season of Advent, as it first emerged in the Church in the fourth and fifth centuries, lasted, like Lent, for 40 days. Later tradition developed the Advent we know today, of four Sundays before Christmas Day.

It is a season of expectation and preparation as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming of Christ. Church decorations are simple and sparse, and purple is the traditional colour used. In many churches we light 4 candles (mainly purple) on each Sunday in Advent Advent, representing The Patriarchs, The Prophets, John the Baptist and Mary Mother of Jesus. Advent falls at the darkest time of the year, and the natural symbols of darkness and light are powerfully at work throughout Advent and Christmas. (Church of England)

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A prayer for the world

God of love and hope,
you made the world and care for all creation,
but the world feels strange right now.
The news is full of stories about Coronavirus.
Some people are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
Be with them and help them to find peace.
We pray for the doctors and nurses and scientists,
and all who are working to discover the right medicines
to help those who are ill.
Thank you that even in these anxious times,
you are with us.
Help us to put our trust in you and keep us safe.
Amen.

Prayer for 3rd 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 mysteries
may 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.
Amen.

Food and Care Pantry

In 1997 St Paul’s Church experienced an increasing number of callers at the Vicarage, asking for food. This led to the vicar at the time, Fr Mark Elliot-Smith, making an appeal to the congregation for donations of items of food and toiletries. The response was overwhelming, and this led to the setting up of what was then called and up until recent months, the “Deacons’ Cupboard”. This was tied to the role of the Deacon, who in their year of transition to the priesthood, would be responsible for not just assisting with worship in Church, but for pastoral care and outreach into the community? Some months ago, our current Parish Priest, Fr Staffan Dawkins felt that this project needed to evolve given the extent of need now present in our communities, not least the devastating impact Covid has had on the lives of the poorest.

After much conversation among the Parochial Church Council, we launched our new Charitable Initiative (St Paul’s At Work) on 4th October 2020 at our 10:30 am Harvest Parish Mass. All items donated at our Harvest service were stocked into the pantry, with the help of the SPAW team of volunteers. All subsequent donations will go towards helping those with a genuine need.

The response to this well needed service to the community has been overwhelming. We are now having to make weekly appeals for donations of food, toiletries, personal hygiene items, children's clothing and toys.

St Paul’s At Work in Partnership with the online Charity Acts 435

St Paul's have decided to partner with Acts 4:35 because we believe in their ethos which is about, directly connecting those who want to give with those who are in genuine need of their help, through a network of local churches and charities.

Check https://acts435.org.uk/ to find out how this wonderful Charity works through Churches like St Paul’s.

St Paul’s At Work with You Recycle for Free Cycle

Anyone can Free Cycle at St Paul’s Church by placing an Advert on our notice board or in our weekly newsletter with pic of item. If anyone is in need of anything, for example, second hand furniture or appliance they can make a request by speaking to the Vicar or a member of the Church who will ensure the request gets published and if there are any donors, we will facilitate arrangements between donor and recipient for transfer of items. Unfortunately we are unable to store items of furniture and appliances at in our building so arrangements will need to be made to collect items in person from donors.

There is no qualification criteria and anyone can simply turn up and ask for a food and care parcel or ask for information about how to access or use any of our projects. We are opened several times a week (please see worship schedule). But we now have a dedicated day for parcels collection or donations on Fridays between from 9 - 11 am. Please feel free to turn up during one of those times and we will be happy to serve you. The hope is that once we are able to and Covid behind us, we will be able to invite people in for refreshment and conversation, as they collect their parcels.