Bowland Benefice
Pews News
24 November 2024
Collect for Christ the King
Eternal Father,

whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the

throne of heaven

that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order
to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This Week in the Benefice

Sunday
24
November

9.30am

Holy
Communion in
White Ladies
Aston

10.30am

Morning
Prayer in
Upton
Snodsbury

11.00am

Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

Tuesday
26
November

2.00pm Christmas
Sparkle in
Spetchley Park

Sunday
1 December
Advent
Sunday

10.30am

Christingle
Service in
Upton
Snodsbury

11.00am

Holy
Communion in
Peopleton

6.00pm

Advent Carol
Service in
White Ladies
Aston
Christmas Sparkle next Tuesday at 2.00pm in the
Learning Centre, Spetchley Park Gardens. An event in
aid of Churches Conservation Trust. Tickets £10 to
include mulled wine and mince pies.

A thank you

Thank you to everyone who took part in the
Remembrance Day service at St. Nicholas Church on

10 November.

It was lovely to see the Brownies, Beavers, Cubs
and Scouts attending and taking an active role in
the service. The collection of just under £70 each
went to The Royal British Legion, Besma. and Scotties

Little Soldiers.

Today is the last Sunday of this Christian Year before a
new year next Sunday - being Advent Sunday.
Today is dedicated to Christ the King - a festival only
inaugurated in 1925 by Pope Pius X1 in honour of the
Kingship of Christ. In the era of post first world war
secularism, he perceived a model of Christ as King of
Creation, whose just and gentle rule is supreme.
A Prayer for Today Christ the King
Majestic and all encompassing God, you are the
authority over everything that exists in all of creation,
and yet you are one with us and we are one with you.
We bring before you now in our thoughts and prayers,
our hopes and dreams for a better world, better
human relationships and of lives restored to

wholeness.

In all parts of our lives we acknowledge you King of
all and seek no more for ourselves than your

grace allows. Amen.

Today was always know as Stir-up Sunday – a
tradition, dating back to the Victorian era - the day
when families would gather and ‘stir’ their homemade
Christmas pudding five weeks before Christmas, on
the last Sunday before the season of Advent begins.
Why stir up? Because of the opening words
of the Collect set in the Book of Common Prayer
Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy
faithful people that they, plenteously bringing forth
the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously
rewarded, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A meaning of Advent
Advent, like Lent, is a season for prayer and
reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at
wintertime, fire is a fitting sign to help us to celebrate
Advent……if Christ is to come more fully into our lives
this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for
us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer. Our
worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of
fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts. Ours
is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time.
(Edward Hays A Pilgrim’s Almanac).
As we look around at our wonderful world at the
misery, destruction and war which man has reeked on
the planet, it is very easy to become totally despairing
– so what to do? We can only do small things.
I am reminded of a quote from the Prophet
Muhammad. The best among you are those who bring

greatest benefit to others.
Hope for today

We look forward to the time when the power of love
will replace the love of power.
Then our world will know the blessings of peace.
(William Gladstone 1809-1898)