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 - Christmas Eve 11h00 Chaplaincy Eucharist at Hommeel Church Gratot(No service at Avranches today) - please download service sheet below and bring to serviceWed - Feast of the Week: St Stephen, first martyr (c34 AD)The young Church suffered from growing Church problems! Arguments over the distribution of welfare care in the Jerusalem Church were solved by delegating the problem to seven specially appointed deacons ('helpers') to free the apostles for their work of teaching and preaching. Stephen's preaching of the Christian message stirred up resentment, leading his trial and death for his faith. Acts 6 and 7 describes what happened.It seems odd to crash from Christmas on 25th Dec to the Feast of a martyr the following day! How was this decided? Well, the Feast of Stephen was established on 26th Dec many years before Christmas was moved from January to 25th Dec some time in the 4th century - Christmas Day was simply dropped into the church calendar without changing the other dates around it - St Anastasia (a then recent martyr in Croatia c 301AD) retained her feast on 25th Dec, but since Christmas was moved she has received only a passing mention in one service on Christmas Day!Next Sunday (29th Dec) is CHRISTMAS 1 Hommeel Church Gratot: 11h00 Holy EucharistAvranches: 16h00 Holy Eucharist Other Notices:CHRISTMAS HOME COMMUNIONS: Fr Chris is happy to go anywhere in the Chaplaincy area during the coming week to bring Christmas Holy Communion to the sick or housebound: please contact him direct to arrange a day and time for a visit.MINISTRY TEAM: Most of the ministers are off duty and away during Christmas week taking a well-earned break. If you need ministry urgently during this period please contact Fr Chris, who will be on duty.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 Chris To reply or unsubscribe, please email: frchris.christchurchmanche@gmail.comPLEASE keep us informed of changed email addresses! Thank you.
