F R I D A Y F O C U S Get Friday Focus in your in-box each week! - use the contact form to ask Fr Chris to put you on the mailing list.________________________For services this Sunday see the page Worship in our Chaplaincy this Sunday_____________________________________________________________________________The week ahead.....Tues: 19h45 Bible Study Group meets on Zoom with Fr Chris - we'll be looking at Acts 6. Please note that the Zoom link is different this week: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84358481987?pwd=3FoEJbKLta9MQ4fGmhP0iF8f99S9Wf.1Thu: 19h30 (note earlier time) Ministry Team meeting on ZoomSat: Feast of the Week: Clement of Rome, ?Bishop? and Martyr (d.100AD)Clement was a disciple of Paul, and knew other Apostles including Peter. He was certainly a church leader in Rome, though there is no independent historical evidence that the church in Rome was led by bishops until some time later. The church in Rome was large even at that date, but being in the Imperial capital meant it was at the epicentre of repeated persecutions - to be the identified leader of that church was a dangerous role! Clement wrote a letter to the Roman Church which is one of the earliest post-Bible Christian documents to survive. In it he illustrates the transition from New Testament patterns of ministry to the pattern of bishops, priests and deacons familiar today. Tradition tells that Clement was exiled to Greece by the Emperor to work as a slave labourer in a quarry. A miracle in response to his prayers converted many to Christianity, so he was killed by the Roman authorities to silence him.Next Sunday (24th Nov) is FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING Hommeel Church Gratot: 11h00- Holy Eucharist, followed by 'Picnic with the Parson'Avranches: 16h00 Service of Word: Evening Prayer Other notices: SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY: The Church of England has designated this as Safeguarding Sunday - a day when we consider our care for the victims of past church-based abuse, and recognise the need for every level of the church to work together to guard against such abuse today. In the light of recent events very much in the news, and the likelihood of that story continuing to develop, the task of our preachers this Sunday is 'interesting'..... ESPECIALLY FOR GRATOT.....1. The unexpected and welcome boost to attendance last Sunday highlighted the need to please bring your own Order of Service if possible. We provide a few for visitors and those unable to bring their own, but when we print for everybody we risk criticism for wasting church funds. At the risk of stating the obvious - we do not know in advance how many people will come to each service in order to provide exactly the right number of sheets!2. Last Sunday was a surprise, because it was another moment (like last year's Carol Service) when a congregation unexpectedly included more French people than anglophones! This speaks volumes about how much the local community appreciates our presence bringing to life a little church that would otherwise be deserted. It was a welcome headache!3. The unassigned giving at the Remembrance Sunday service is our gift to support the work of the Royal British Legion - part of our charitable giving commitment. Of course this is in addition to the proceeds of poppy sales. This year we are able to send the RBL the magnificent sum of €213,61. Well done, all!ESPECIALLY FOR AVRANCHES....1. Our first hymn at today's service is a magnificent text by John Wesley, but the tune may be less familiar - we believe we are using the best-known tune, but it may be unfamiliar to some Anglicans, so please take a moment to listen to it and learn it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9VTysZ1nT82. We're having a slight struggle planning our Christmas Eve service: we can't use the Chapel at our usual time but can use another room, and we have nobody to play for the service. At Gratot a surprising number of people plan to be away over Christmas, and we are wondering whether Avranches congregation will be the same. We'll continue to plan the service, but will ask on Sunday 'in terms of numbers, will a Christmas Eve service be viable?' Our Chaplaincy PrayerLord Jesus Christ, thank you for calling us to be a Church under the banner of your Name: may we look to you today and find clear vision for tomorrow. May our life together bring you glory, as you make of us a living invitation to enter the joy of your Kingdom. AmenLove in Christ, Fr ChrisTransition Minister designate To reply or unsubscribe, please email: frchris.christchurchmanche@gmail.comPLEASE keep us informed of changed email addresses! Thank you.
