Sunday 11th December – Advent 3

8am Said Eucharist – St. Mary the Virgin, Rufford
9:15am All Age Eucharist – St. Mary’ the Virgin, Rufford
10:45am All Age Eucharist – Holy Trinity, Tarleton
6pm Tarleton Village Carol – Holy Trinity, Tarleton

COLLECT FOR ADVENT 3
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.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 35 – The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen. Alleluia! Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Matthew 11:2-10 Hear the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

INTERCESSIONS Pray for:

🙏🏼The Sick: Zena Ashcroft, Margaret Baxter, Val Huddart, Wayne Jackett, Maureen Karr, Winnie Turner, Mary Sephton, Lavinia Sephton, Amanda Soady & Brian Soady.

🙏🏼The recently departed: Freda George

🙏🏼Year’s Mind: Kathleen Mary Aldcroft, Richard Parker, Joseph Parker, Catherine Smith, Susan Thomasson, Ellen Parkinson, Alice Southworth, Margaret Vickers, James Forshaw, Ida Livesey, Alice Hull, William Riley (priest), June Tunstall, Thomas Jackson, Stanley Barron, Florence Mabel Emminson, Joan Orr, Joseph Harold Webster, Thomas Forrest, Norah Corlett & Jean Elizabeth Greaves.

Monday 12th December

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17; Ps. 25:3-8 & Matthew 21:23-27
🙏🏼🍟Please pray for all who use foodbanks, for the work of the Trussell Trust and the Salvation army and for the work of Churches helping those most in need.

Tuesday 13th December – St. Lucy, Martyr, 304

7.00pm Choir Practice -St. Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps. 34:1-6, 21-22; Matthew 21:28- 32
🙏🏼Please pray for all who suffer for their faith.

Wednesday 14th December – St. John of the Cross, poet, teacher, 1591

10am Eucharist – Holy Trinity, Tarleton
Isaiah 45:6-8, 18, 21-end; Ps. 85:7-end & Luke 7:18-23
🙏🏼Please pray for all who teach in our Church schools

Thursday 15th December

6:30pm Diamond Disciples Youth Group – Holy Trinity, Tarleton parish room
7pm Eucharist – St. Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Isaiah 54:1010; Ps. 30:1-5, 11-end & Luke 7:24-30
🙏🏼Please pray for all involved in Youth Ministry, and in particular for the work of the Diamond Disciples team.

Friday 16th December

10am-12noon Coffee & Chat – Holy Trinity, Tarleton & Rufford Cricket Club
Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8; Ps. 67 & John 5:33-36
🙏🏼Pray for the our young people as the school holidays commence.

Saturday 17th December  – O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

8am Said Eucharist – Holy Trinity, Tarleton
9:15am Sung Eucharist – St. Mary’ the Virgin, Rufford
10:45am Sung Eucharist – Holy Trinity, Tarleton
Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Ps. 72:1-5, 18-19 & Matthew 1:1-17
🙏🏼Please pray that God will Come and teach us the way of prudence.

CONTACTS

Rector: The Rev’d Canon Mark Soady SSC. Rest Day: Monday
Tel: (01772) 814431/07968 753978 E-Mail: rector@rsmtht.church

Curate: The Rev’d Fr. Tristan Meares. Rest Day: Tuesday
Tel: (01772) 590803/07547 973527 Email: curate@rsmtht.church

Ordinand: Danny Abraham. Rest Day: Saturday. Study Days: Monday, Tuesday & Friday.