We are a local ecumenical partnership involving:
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SOUTHAMPTON DISTRICT		 A4WWESSEX PROVINCE

Advent 2018:

Advent starts on Sunday 2nd December (Advent Sunday).

In addition to our normal 08,45 a.m. Holy Communion, and 10.00 a.m. Principal Services, our Special Services in the run-up to Christmas are:

THIS SUNDAY: Third Sunday of Advent (16th. Dec.):
Candle-lit Service of Lessons and Carols for Christmas:  6.00 p.m.;

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We are also holding a number of Christmas Carol Singing events:

Saturday 15th December: Carol Singing in Valley Park Village Centre (outside Tesco): 4.00 p.m.;
Sunday 23rd December: Carol Singing in Valley Park (in the Cleveland Bay): 6.30 p.m.

All are most warmly invited and welcomed.

Images: Creative Commons acknowledged

CHRISTMAS AT ST FRANCIS 2018:

Everyone is most welcome to our various Services this Christmas-tide. 
All Daytime Services will be followed by Seasonal Refreshments.

Christmas Eve:  Monday 24th December:
10.00 a.m.:  Messy Christmas:  An hour of Messy Church with a Christmas Theme;
3.00 p.m.:  Crib Service:  A more traditional Service of “Dressing the Crib” including a Nativity play;
11.30 p.m:  Midnight Holy Eucharist for Christmas (with Carols);

Christmas Day:  Tuesday 25th December:
10.00 a.m.:  All Age Festival Service for Chirstmas Morning;
11.15 a.m. (approx.):  Said Holy Communion for Christmas Day.

First Sunday of Christmas: Sunday 30th December:
10.00 a.m.:  Coffee and Carols:  Informal Worship for Christmas-tide
Happening this week at
St. Francis’.
Our “Duty Churchwarden” until
16th December is Andy Grove
Duty Warden from 17th – 23th December
is Alison Rhodes
Note:
St Francis’ School Breakfast Club (7.30 a.m. – 9.00 a.m.) &
St Francis’ After School Club (3.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.)
held each weekday in School Terms.
Saturday 15th December:
4.00 p.m.:  Carol Singing outside Tesco in the Village Centre:  All welcome.
Sunday 16th December:
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8.45 a.m.:  Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
10.00 a.m.: Morning Worship: (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
6.00 p.m: Candle-lit Christmas Carol Service:  (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland & Dr. Ian Clarke);
followed by Seasonal Refreshments.
Monday 17th December:
6.00 p.m. – 10.30 p.m.:  Fledge Residents’ Christmas Meal; Large Meeting Room.
Tuesday 18th December:
Wednesday 19th December:
09.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon:  St Francis’ Rendezvous Comunity Cafe; Large Meeting Room.
Thursday 20th December:
10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon: Church-based Home Group meeting: Large Meeting Room;
09.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m.:  St Francis’ School KS1 and KS2 Carol Services;
2.15 p.m.:  Said Holy Communion (Rev’d Dr. Srah McClelland and Phil Watts); BrendonCare Library.
Friday 21st December:
Saturday 22nd December:
Sunday 23rd December:
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8.45 a.m.:  Said Holy Communion (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
10.00 a.m.: Parish Communion: (Rev’d. Dr. Sarah McClelland);
6.30 p.m: Carol Singing outside Tesco in the Village Centre:  All welcome.
 

MESSY CHURCH
messy church

Craft, Activities, Afternoon Tea, Celebration.

The fun way to do church
for all the family.
Next Session
Christmas Eve –
Monday 24th December:

Theme: Christmas

Click this link to find out More:

 ST FRANCIS’ RENDEZVOUS
COMMUNITY CAFE

Café Open every Wednesday
9.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon.
All members of the Community of all ages most welcome.
Creche with toys and games for children.
Community Information Point for Local Community, Health
and Benefits Information.

More:

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Join us for a
“Full English”,
fellowship and
Thought for the Day

Next Breakfast:
Saturday 11th January 2019
8.15 a.m. for 8.30 a.m.

All menfolk most welcome.

Glitter and Glue

glitter ad glueCreative commons acknowledged

Glitter and Glue is an hour of
craft,  messy play, stories and
songs for  the under fives
and their parents/carers.
Glitter and Glue is held monthly in term-time –
all pre-school children and
their parents / carers are welcome.
Next Session:
Friday 11th January 2018
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.
More:
INFORMATION:

St Francis’ Church in action: 
To find out more about what else we are doing through the coming year please look at our Parish Calendar and Weekly Notices pages.
What were we doing in 2017?  
To read about the Ministry, Mission and Witness we undertook, and how we used the Financial Resources gifted to us in 2017, please click on St Francis Annual Report 2017
What are our strategic plans for Ministry and Mission in the coming months?  
To read our latest Parish Mission Action Plan (pMAP) please click on:
St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2,
together with the latest revision of our aims and objectives:  St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2-1 – Action Plan Revision November 2017
and Lay Leadership Matrix of which Church Council member leads on which topics:
St Francis Valley Park – pMap 2017 – 2020 – v 2-2-1 – Leadership Matrix – Revised Nov 2017.
Safeguarding those at risk:
To find our policies on Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults please click here;
Data Protection: 
To read our Data Protection Policies please click here.  Please let the Parish Office know if you no longer wish us to hold your information.
To contact us:
For our contact details please click here.   
Some of our Home Groups develop their studies around the central theme of our Sunday worship and study.
Our teaching theme continues our preparation for both Advent and the Licensing of Sarah, our new Minster.  This week our focus is on:

“The Kingdom is near”

Here are some local notes for personal reflection.

Key Readings:

  • Acts, Ch. 4, vs. 39 – 45;
  • Luke, Ch. 4, vs 14 – 21.

Jesus identifies himself at the start of his ministry by showing that he is the one who fulfils the announcement notices of the prophets. The prophecy in Isaiah, Ch. 61 forms a manifesto for his ministry, in which Jesus goes on to show us what it is like when the Kingdom of God is near.

In God’s Kingdom, people are healed, restored, forgiven and treated with true dignity and respect. There is abundance (the feeding of the 5000) and created order is restored (in calming the storm, Jesus controls the chaos represented by the sea). The Beatitudes describe the values of the Kingdom and show us an upside-down society where power and wealth are not rewarded, and the marginalised and poor are preferred. And evil, death and sin are finally defeated through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

In Jesus, the Kingdom has drawn near, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we may experience something of it now. However, it won’t be here in its glorious fullness until Jesus returns at the end of time, and so we live in a time when the Kingdom is both here now, but also not yet here. That’s why we pray for the Kingdom to come, and as we do, we should expect more ‘now’ moments!

  • Where do you see examples of the Kingdom of God around you?  Give thanks and celebrate!
  • How can you be part of bringing in the Kingdom?
  • What would you like Jesus, the one who brings good news and freedom, to do for you?  Ask Him!
Please note:
The Minister’s day off is Friday.  For emergencies please contact the Duty Warden or Parish office on that day.
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR):  The new data protection regulations, relating to the holding, management and use of personal data by organisations came into force on Friday 25th May.  St Francis’ Church takes its responsibilities under GDPR very seriously.  You can read our Data Privacy Notice here.  If you are a member of St Francis’ Church, or wish to remain in close contact with us, you may give us consent to hold, manage and use your personal data by downloading a Full Data Consent Form 2018 – 27-04-18 and completing and e-mailing it to us at <sfvp91@btconnect.com>.