Shipley Church Self-Service Sunday 13<sup>th</sup> December 2020 Thought for the Week – Bible prophecies are fulfilled by the birth of Jesus Christ The Old Testament prophets laid the foundation for the arrival of a deliverer who would save mankind from the treachery of evil. Isaiah’s specific prophecy of the birth of Jesus was made more than 700 years earlier, and even predicted in detail the manner of his coming: the Messiah would be of Jewish descent from the tribe of Judah and the house of King David; he would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, a descendant of Abraham and Isaac; and he would be called God even though he would also be human. Someone once said that Jesus began the most revolutionary movement in human history: a movement grounded in the unconditional love of God for the world, that sprung from the teachings of Moses. (John 1: 6-8) How extraordinary is all of that? Our modern minds might ask whether the arrival of the Messiah on planet Earth was an after-thought or a sudden decision from God? Obviously not, for long before him, it was proclaimed that the world needed a Saviour. The “Word” of God was finally made flesh and came among us. “Let us go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass!” Hymn for TodayLong ago, prophets knew Christ would come, born a Jew, Come to make all things new; Bear his people’s burden, Freely love and pardon.Prayer for TodayKeep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy, sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low, that we all may enjoy that special sense of the Christmas message of hope and joy.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right hand corner of this page.
<h1 align="center">Shipley Church</h1> <h1 align="center">Christmas Services</h1> We are intending to hold our Christmas Services this year, albeit in a socially distanced way. The following are our current plans, however, please be aware that these may have to change depending on what rules are in place at the time. Please checkback here regularly for the latest on Christmas Services. Also due to COVID-19 Restrictions and the need for Social Distancing, attendance at all the services listed below will need to use a booking system to limit numbers. If you are not booked in, then it is highly unlikely you will be able to attend the Service. You will need to book separately for each service. The booking page for each service is listed in the table below: <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="83"> Date </td> <td valign="top" width="143"> Service </td> <td valign="top" width="161"> Time </td> <td valign="top" width="214"> Booking </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="83"> 20<sup>th</sup> Dec </td> <td valign="top" width="143"> Carol Service </td> <td valign="top" width="161"> 6.00pm </td> <td valign="top" width="214"> https://prayin.io/yfu-jmt-dte </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="83"> 24<sup>th</sup> Dec </td> <td valign="top" width="143"> Crib Service </td> <td valign="top" width="161"> 5.00pm </td> <td valign="top" width="214"> https://prayin.io/crm-eee-csv </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="83"> 24<sup>th</sup> Dec </td> <td valign="top" width="143"> Midnight Mass </td> <td valign="top" width="161"> 11.00pm </td> <td valign="top" width="214"> https://prayin.io/gpm-hgy-bfq </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="83"> 25<sup>th</sup> Dec </td> <td valign="top" width="143"> Christmas Morning </td> <td valign="top" width="161"> 10.00am </td> <td valign="top" width="214"> https://prayin.io/jfy-xaw-nef </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="83"> 27<sup>th</sup> Dec </td> <td valign="top" width="143"> Sunday Service </td> <td valign="top" width="161"> 10.00am (Said Service) </td> <td valign="top" width="214"> https://prayin.io/icy-pzh-cjz </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Shipley Church Self-Service Sunday 6th December 2020 Thought for the Week – Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher who told people to believe in the one who would be coming after him. His remarkable ministry included the baptism of Jesus as a young man, in the river Jordan. “I baptise you with water for repentance” (Matthew 3:11). Baptism was a symbolic act of spiritual cleansing – an expression of repentance, but also an act of preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Baptism administered in Jesus’ name today is seen as one of the foundations of the Christian community, and combines into one sacramental rite both concepts of repentance and initiation, when a person is willing to humbly repent of their sins in public, and then be admitted into the membership of the Christian Church. At infant baptisms these undertakings are of course made for them by Godparents. At such a point in our lives we are taught that life isn’t just a pleasure cruise! It does matter whether we are truthful or untruthful, honest or dishonest, kind or unkind, for we have obligations according to God’s purposes for each of us. (Mark 1:1-8)Hymn for TodayCome thou long expected Jesus Born to set thy people free, From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in thee.Prayer for TodayWe pray and prepare to celebrate another Christmas, in the hope that at the end of a uniquely difficult year those who have lost loved ones or who are unable to be together, or face losing their own livelihoods, may find comfort and consolation. Amen.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page.
Shipley Church Self-Service Advent Sunday 29<sup>th</sup> November 2020 Thought for the Week – O come, O come, Emmanuel! Advent, means the “coming” of something of great significance, and is an important part of the Christian calendar. The church’s year begins today,with waiting expectantly for the birth of Jesus at Christmas, as well as the reception of Christ in the hearts of the people, and his anticipated second coming into the world. The prophet Isaiah foretold: “Comfort ye, my people. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:1-3). God’s first intervention into human history was not in the form of some earth-shattering event, but instead he chose to come into the world as we all do, to be born as a baby, human yet also divine. In several ways this Advent is for us a fresh beginning: today is the start of the new Church’s yearly calendar; it’s also the official licensing of our new Parish Priest the Rev Chris Allen, following his arrival in Shipley; we shall soon commence a new Decade; and the distribution of a vaccine, so desperately needed, to help the world recover from the Corona Virus pandemic seems imminent. We must watch and wait patiently, and become well prepared. It was Baden-Powell who devised the Scout Motto “Be Prepared”, meaning you will always be in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty: the cornerstone of Scouting that prepares young people for life. Not a bad guide for Christians, either! (Mark13: 33-37)Hymn for todayOn Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Come then and harken, for he brings Glad tidings from the King of KingsPrayer for todayWe pray that, as we begin this new year, our difficulties will not overthrow us nor temptations defeat us, but that we may go forward on our journey through life in a spirit of courage and godliness.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right hand corner of this page.
