Dear Sisters and Brothers, Welcome to our weekly pew sheet and updates blog. Remember to try and keep this sheet digital but do print copies for those who may need them.
Sunday Morning:
The link for our readings:
Please note the complete readings are in full at the end of the blog.
Collect Prayer:
O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion Prayer: Lord God,
the bright splendour whom the nations seek:
may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light
discern the glory of your presence in your Son,
the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Upcoming Dates
This week:
Sunday 7th January - Epiphany
9.30am: St Peter's Holy Communion - live streamed on www.facebook.com/huttonparish
11.15am: All Saints' Holy Communion
Monday - Saturday
10.00am - 12midday: Food Collection at St Peter's
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
9.00am: live streamed Morning Prayer
Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday
9.30am-12.30: Daily Bread Cafe at St Peter's
Wednesday
9.00am: Morning Prayer in the Cafe
9.30am: Holy Communion at All Saints'
1.30pm: Mother's Union Holy Communion at St Peter's
Thursday
9.30am: Little Fishes in the Cafe
Friday
7.00pm: 14+ Youth Group Meeting
Next Sunday: 14th January - 2nd of Epiphany
9.30am: Holy Communion at St Peter's
11.15am: Holy Communion at All Saints'
4.00pm: Youth Group at St Peter's
Notices
Reminder the new Rectory phone number is 07860 156971.
Mother's Union
This Wednesday 10th January 1.30pm in the Chapel for Holy Communion, followed by a New Year’s Party in the hall, please bring some snacks to share. Drinks will be provided. All welcome. We look forward to seeing you! A reminder please bring your form for Members Renewal 2024.
With every blessing,
Margaret Morris
New to Hutton Parish?
If you are new to any of our congregations in the last year or so, then you are invited for a cuppa and some cake at The Rectory (175 Rayleigh Road) on Saturday 20th January from 2-4pm.
RSVP – andy@huttonparish.com or call 07860 156971.
Deanery Synod
The next meeting of Brentwood Deanery Synod takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday 11 th January at St Peter’s. The Synod is looking forward to hearing from the new Bishop of Bradwell, Adam Atkinson. All are welcome to attend and to bring any questions for the new bishop. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
Youth Groups
The age 14+ Youth Group will meet at 7pm on Friday 12th January at The Rectory.
The next Sunday Evening Youth Group (school years 6-9) takes place at 4pm on Sunday 14th January in St Peter’s Hall.
Seek First Prayer Service
The next Seek First service will be at 6pm on Sunday 21st January at St Peter's.
New Rector of St Mary the Virgin, Shenfield
We are thrilled that the Revd Canon Darren Barlow will be installed as the new Rector of Shenfield on Sunday 21st January at 4pm. All are welcome to attend the service at St Mary the Virgin. Please do pray for Revd Darren and his wife Sarah as they settle into the area and begin this new phase of ministry.
Afternoon Prayer and Meditation
“Be still and know that I am God”. Psalm 46 v 10.
Quiet Prayer and Meditation on the 4th Wednesday afternoon of each month. 2.00-4.00pm. Please note the next meeting will be 24th January 2024.
Rooted Community
Rooted will next meet on Friday 19th January 2024, please email rooted@huttonparish.com for more information.
Bible Study
The first Monday of the month and the Wednesday Group will resume on 17th January 2024.
With every blessing, Andy
The readings in full
Isaiah 60:1-6
1Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you;your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come.They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Psalm 72:1-15
1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son.2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.
5 May he live[a] while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.7 In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.9 May his foes[b] bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute,may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
12 For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him.May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long.
Ephesians 3:1-12
3 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
Matthew 2:1-12
1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.