Dear People & Friends of St. Clement’s,
I hope that all of you who attended one or both of our services last Sunday, enjoyed them as much as I did. The Old Blundellians Choir were wonderful and added so much to our worship. In turn, they have expressed to me by an individually signed Christmas card & a further email, how much they enjoyed the opportunity of singing at St Clement’s. They particularly asked me to pass on their thanks to those who provided refreshments after both services.
My sermon from last Sunday morning has been uploaded to our Church website. You can listen to it by following this link:
Then for all of you who haven’t left Prague to return to family & friends in your home countries, a reminder of our services for this coming Christmas weekend.
Saturday 24th December at 23.30 – Christmas Midnight Eucharist
At this service, our Gospel reading will be John 1. 1-14, which I read as the final reading at our Service of Lessons & Carols last Sunday evening. This wonderful prologue to the Gospel of John, explains theologically what we celebrate at Christmas – the Incarnation – how the Word became flesh. The supporting readings will be Isaiah 52. 7-10 and Hebrews 1. 1-4.
Sunday 25th December at 11.00 – Christmas Day Family Eucharist
At this service, we shall hear the familiar Christmas story as recorded by St Luke – Luke 2. 1-20, describing both the birth of Jesus and the visit of the shepherds to the manger. The one supporting reading will be Isaiah 9. 2-7. There will not be Coffee Hour following our worship, to let you all get home to enjoy your Christmas dinner :-)
After worship on Christmas Day morning, I shall be following the instructions of my Anglican Diocesan Bishop and taking the whole of the following week as annual leave. But I shall be back on duty for the first Sunday of 2017 – New Year’s Day.
Sunday 1st January 2017 at 11.00 – Sung Eucharist for the Second Sunday of Christmas
As well as singing some Christmas carols that we haven’t previously given voice to over previous Christmas services, we shall hear the Gospel reading from Matthew 2. 13-23, part of the Christmas story that doesn’t get read very often. And as it will be the first day of the New Year, I intend to use part of the Covenant Renewal Service from the Methodist tradition, renewing our commitment to Christ and living out our faith in the coming year. If you would like to see the text in advance, follow this link, and scroll down to page 108.
This will be my last ‘Weekly Message’ for 2016. Therefore may I wish you all
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Veselé Vánoce a Šťastný Nový Rok
Ricky
