Sunday 28th November
Advent Sunday
| 8am Holy Communion In the Chapel 8:30am Prayer meeting On Zoom 10:30am Family Communion Nehemiah 9 – God’s Word In the Church and on YouTube Readings: Nehemiah 9:1-17 and Romans 8:11-17 Leader: Michael Norman (Vicar) Preacher: Wendy Somerville (Reader) 6:30pm Evening Service 1 Peter 4 In the Church Readings: 1 Peter 4:1-19 and Mark 13:32-37 Leader: Dave Clarke (Reader) Preacher: Michael Norman (Vicar) |
Coming Up This Week
| Tuesday 30th | |
| 10am | Holy Communion in the Church |
| 10am | Sing 4 Joy in the Upper Hall |
| 6:15pm-7:30pm | K2 (youth group) |
| 7pm | FOCUS prayer group (on zoom) |
| 7:45pm-8:45pm | Youth Alpha in Youth lounge |
| 8pm | PCC in lounge |
| Wednesday 1st | |
| 7:30-10pm | Alpha 9 in Church Lounge – Does God Heal Today? |
| Thursday 2nd | |
| 9:30-11am | Toddlers in Hall |
| 11:45am-12:15pm | Keep Fit class in Hall |
| 3-4pm | Prayer for Children and Youth in Chapel |
| 6.15-7:30pm | RISE |
| 7.45-9pm | Rock Solid |
| Friday 3rd | |
| 10-11am | Hour of Prayer in Church Lounge |
| 7.30-10.30pm | Badminton group in Hall |
| Saturday 4th | |
| 11am-12:30pm | Sonia Waller Memorial in church |
| 6-7:30pm | Urban Saints in Hall |
| Sunday 5th | Second Sunday of Advent |
| 8:30am | Prayer on Zoom |
| 10:30am | Morning Worship in Church and on YouTube |
| 5pm | Christingle in Church |
| For more information please contact the following: Vicar michael.stlukes@gmail.com Zoom Prayer and online Services office@stlukeswatford.org Children’s Groups children@stlukeswatford.org Urban Saints susan-miller@ntlworld.com Youth Groups nabrookes@yahoo.co.uk or office@stlukeswatford.org Church Gardens office@stlukeswatford.org |
News
Carols By Candlelight: if anyone is interested in rehearsing for, and singing in the choir for the 6:30pm Carols by Candlelight Service on December 19th, please speak to Jeremy C or Jeremy H.
Tearfund Quiz. Thank you to all who supported and took part in a great evening. We raised over £400 and joined more than 200 churches raising a total of over £50,000.
Lost Property. The lost property on the table in the Gathering Area will all be donated at the end of November. Please do check and claim anything that is yours.
MEN OF ST LUKE’S. The men’s life group, which meets on Friday evenings, will be going out for a meal at POB (Prince of Bengal) on Friday 3 December. We would like to invite other men in the church to join us. So, if you would like to come, please contact Richard W or John S asap so we can try and book a larger table. This invitation isn’t just for those thinking about joining the life group – but of course new members are always very welcome.
Santa’s Hampers. We will be donating 20 large hampers to families at the Watford Refugee Partnership and 60 gift bags to men and women at the New Hope Trust. Each bag for the New Hope Trust costs £40 to fill with essential items for the winter and some Christmas treats. To make this happen we really need monetary donations. Please clearly make any donations to ST LUKE’S SANTA HAMPERS. Many thanks. Caroline T & the Santa’s Hampers team.
Open Doors World Watch List Parliamentary Launch. If you would like to encourage your MP (Dean Russell or others further afield) to support this launch which is spearheaded by Open Doors, please print, sign and send (or copy and email) the letter in the weekly email. For pre-printed copies of the letter, see John W.
Confirmation by the Bishop of St Albans. If you would like to be confirmed and you are an adult, please talk to Michael.
New volunteers urgently required for coffee, children’s groups, and welcoming. Please get in touch with Beth in the office if you wish to help.
Life Groups. The Life Groups are an opportunity for fellowship and connection with others. If you are not in a life group and are interested, please contact the office.
Services and Events Coming Up in December
| 5th | 10:30am | Morning Worship |
| 5pm | Christingle (in church only) | |
| 12th | 10:30am | Holy Communion |
| 4:30pm | Carols and Mince Pies | |
| 16th | 7pm | Carols in the Essex Arms |
| 19th | 10:30am | Morning Service |
| 6:30pm | Carols by Candlelight – see notice for singers | |
| 23rd | 6pm | Carols outside the Essex Arms |
| 24th | 3-4:30pm | Nativity Trail |
| 4:30-5:15pm | Nativity Service | |
| 11:30pm | Midnight Communion starts | |
| 25th | 9am | Christmas morning Communion |
| 10:30am | Christmas morning Communion |
Christmas Services. We will be running two separate services on Christmas morning. You do not need to book, but it would be helpful to know which service people are planning to attend so we can be sure that we will not be overcrowded.
Prayer
Collect
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ
came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Suggestions for prayer this week
Let us pray for the world, for the church, and let us thank God for his goodness. Let us encourage one another to go deeper into prayer and to persevere.
The World: The town of Watford and its different communities.
The Church: Christian and other relief agencies in Britain and abroad.
World Watch List (areas of highest religious persecution): Christians in India.
Partners in Mission: Former staff and members of St Luke’s in their places of ministry. CPAS and Gideons.
Community Involvement: Our work with other Christians in Watford, the various ecumenical groups.
Deanery Cycle of Prayer: St Andrew’s, Watford, The Schools Trust and Church Schools (St Paul’s and St John’s).
Regular Ministry: The ministry of teaching and the work of Life Groups; our response and growth in faith and discipleship. Frontline ministry in Business and Finance.
Groups at St Luke’s: Friday Groups: The Friday Club, Badminton Club and CAMEO.
Members of St Luke’s: In particular, this week, those whose surnames begin with letters R-S (take a look at the directory).
Those with on-going needs.
St Luke’s family in need.
Our wider family and friends in need.
Those in mourning: Those we know mourning loved ones at this time.
Giving Thanks.
Please update the office regarding those we are praying for and any prayer needs.
For your Information:
- If you are new to St Luke’s Church (online too!) – welcome. Please email your details to office@stlukeswatford.org and we will email back a welcome form for you to complete.
- St Luke’s Church Office 01923 246161
- Vicar’s Messages by email. Please send your email details to the Church Office at office@stlukeswatford.org if you would like to receive them.
- Church Website: www.stlukeswatford.org