Bowland Benefice Pews News
17 December 2023
Advent 3 - Collect

We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts;
kindle in us the fire of your Spirit
that when your Christ comes again
we may shine as lights before his face;
who is alive and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

This week in the Benefice
Sunday
17 December

10.30am Benefice Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston
4.00pm Carol Service in
Broughton
Hackett
6.00pm Carol Service in
Peopleton
6.00pm Carol Service in
Upton
Snodsbury

Monday 18
December

7.00pm An evening of
celebration in
White Ladies
Aston’s church
(see below)

Sunday
24 December
Christmas Eve

10.00am Family Service
in Broughton
Hackett
8.30pm Holy
Communion in
Upton
Snodsbury
11.30pm Midnight Mass
in White Ladies
Aston

Monday 25
December
Christmas Day

10.00am Carol Service in
White Ladies
Aston
10.30am Family Service
in Peopleton
On Monday enjoy an evening of song, fun and
refreshments in Church provided by the White Ladies
Aston Singers. From carols to popular songs with a
retiring charitable collection.
Festive cheer peace will bring
Christmas carols now to sing.
To give thanks and to pray
Make this another special day.
A happy child stirs the heart
As we remember loved ones far apart.
Light a candle, hold my hand
spread goodwill across the land.
The finest feast to toast and cheer
Thank you for another year.
(offered by Karolyn from Peopleton)

Messages from Revd Claire……
Thank you to all who helped to make the Nativity at
the Crown so memorable.  Until next year….? 
I know that this time of the year can be very hard for
people – it is a time when memories can be at their
most poignant, it can be a time of intense loneliness
and sadness amidst the jollifications of others. If you
feel a chat over a cup of tea would help you or
someone you know, please do get in touch. My phone

number is 07921 101320.
Jesus, Saviour, beloved of God,
clothe us in your love,
strengthen us to live gently on this earth,
give us humility to see all we encounter
as precious to you

and teach us to walk with kindness and patience
this day and always. Amen.
Gracious God,

may this last week of Advent be a time of turning
our faces towards the light, and a space to pause,

to reflect and to watch.

May we learn to wait in the present and not for the
future, that every moment may be lived in the
presence of the Christ Child, the Lamb of Calvary,
the Saviour of the World and to your glory. Amen.

A Prayer for this time

as we look at the state of the world around us, with so
many people on the move from their own countries,
their homes and all that is familiar – fleeing in the face
of war and destruction, looking for new life and new
beginning for their families and themselves……
Everlasting God we are approaching the last
Sundays of our Advent journey towards Christmas
and we give thanks as we remember those journeys
that were being taken at that first Christmas 2000

years ago.

Mary and Joseph travelling on foot to enrol in the

Roman census;

The Wise Men following the signs in the heavens;
The unsuspecting Shepherds moving from pasture to

pasture with their flocks;

The Jewish Nation, also unsuspecting, moving through
history towards a world changing event. Amen.

A very Happy, Peaceful and Spirit-filled Christmas

to everyone.