Bowland Benefice Pews News
8 December 2024
Second Sunday of Advent-Collect
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as

judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God. Amen.
This Week in the Benefice

In a world that desperately needs peace, this second
week of Advent is traditionally when we light a
candle and pray for peace.  We pray for the courage
to stand up for peace and that the candle we light

will light the way for it.
Friday
6 December 6.00pm

The Nativity at
The Crown,
Peopleton.
Wrap up and
bring a torch!

Saturday
7 December

From
10.00am

Market in The
Parish Room,
White Ladies
Aston

Sunday
8 December

10.30am

Holy
Communion in
Upton
Snodsbury
3.00pm Carol Service in
Churchill

4.00pm

Christingle
Service in
Peopleton

Saturday
14
December

10.30am
to 4.00pm

Christmas Tree
Festival in
Upton
Snodsbury

Sunday
15
December

10.30am

and
2.00pm
to 4.00pm

Benefice Holy
Communion in
Upton
Snodsbury
Christmas Tree
Festival

6.00pm

Carol Service in
Broughton
Hackett
6.00pm Carol Service in
Peopleton
A warm welcome to Rev Alison Maddocks who will
preside in Upton Snodsbury on Sunday.
St Michael and All Angels in Churchill, will open its
doors on Sunday for the annual Carol Service at
3.00pm. If you have never ventured inside, now is
your opportunity-you will be made very welcome.
More about the church can be found in this edition of

Pews News…….

Advent & Christmas Happenings in the Benefice
For Services see Bowline and weekly Pews News…..
Weekend of 14,15 December Christmas Tree Festival
St Kenelm’s will be decked in all its evergreen glory
next weekend -there might still be time to add a tree
– contact Helen on 381490 or Janet on 381379.
Entry £2 with refreshments, a raffle and craft stalls.
17, 18 & 20 December Upton Snodsbury Village Carol
Singing in aid of the Children’s Society.
23 December from 6.30pm Street Carols, 16 Monk’s

Way, Peopleton.
More about the church at Churchill
St Michaels and All Angels is an atmospheric church in
a tiny village. It is mainly fourteenth century, with
fragments of an earlier building built into its walls.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing stories is told on a
gravestone: Here repose the bodies of the English nuns
of the Order of the Poor Clares who when banished
from Dunkirk by the fury of the French Revolution
about 1792, found refuge in Churchill.
The font is fifteenth century and there is good
woodwork of the seventeenth century. Two strange
stone carvings built into the sill of the north window

appear to be parts of a lion.

The low chancel screen and the lectern came from
Great Malvern Priory in 1910, when a major
restoration of St Michael's was carried out.
The small bellcote contains two bells, one dating from

the fifteenth century.
The Candles in an Advent Wreath
The first candle is the Candle of Hope when we
remember Abraham and the Patriarchs of the Old

Testament.

The second candle is the Candle of Peace when we
remember the prophets who foretold the birth of

Jesus.

The third candle is the Candle of Love when we
remember John the Baptist.

The fourth pink candle is the Candle of Joy when we
remember the devotion and sacrifice of Mary the

Mother of Jesus.

The final white candle is the candle of Jesus’ birth and

is lit on Christmas Day.

This time of year can be difficult, lonely and painful. If
you feel you need just to talk or you know of someone
who would benefit from a bit of tender loving care,
please do contact Revd Claire on 07921 101320.

An Advent Prayer

Gracious God, may this 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.