Christ Church, Gosport

Christian Unity Sunday January 17th 2016

Welcome to Christ Church!

www.christchurchgosport.co.uk Twitter: @ccgosport

Main Service on Sunday: 9.30am Parish Communion

......Except on every third Sunday (LIKE TODAY!):

10.00am Family Service

Quiet Communions: 8.00am on Sundays; and 10.00am on Wednesdays (Healing prayer is offered at services on 1st Sundays and 1st Wednesdays)

Information about services and events coming up, can be found at the back of this booklet!

Vicar The Revd Andy Davis, 9 Britannia Way, Gosport, PO12 4FZ.

Tel: 023 9258 0173 Mobile: 07709 919602 enquires@christchurchgosport.co.uk andy-chris@adavis.fsbusiness.co.uk

Please feel free to contact Andy for any information about this church, or if you would like to talk about any personal concern. Please note that he is not around

for one day a week – usually Monday. Andy is also Vicar of Holy Trinity, Trinity Green, Haslar Road - a church in the Anglo-Catholic [smells and bells!] tradition, with worship conducted in a circle around a central altar: www.holytrinitygosport.co.uk

Welcome! We are silent for a while, remembering that God is with us……… Song Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow trav’llers on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christlight for you in the night-time of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I'll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we've seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony, born of all we've known together of Christ's love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. Celebrations and Birthdays What we are thinking about today….. Christian Unity (The “Week of Prayer for Christian unity” begins tomorrow. We are going to explore what else we can do, to bring unity for local Christians, for our community and for the world……) We think about the things we have done wrong….. We say sorry: For the times we have been hurtful to others All Lord, we are sorry For the times we have not done what we should All Lord, we are sorry For the times we have done what we shouldn’t All Lord, we are sorry

Reading together: (Ephesians 4:1-6) As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. This is the Word of the Lord, thanks be to God! Talk and Activity

- Into Three Groups (for 20 minutes)

- Each group, on their large sheet, to come up with one idea and a simple prayer, to answer their question. (You can also decorate the sheet or draw suitable pictures or symbols)

- 1) What else can Christ Church do to bring Christians in Gosport closer together?

- 2) What else can Christ Church do to bring our local community together?

- 3) What else can Christ Church do to bring the world closer together?

After 20 minutes, we come together to sing: Song For I'm building a people of power For I'm making a people of praise That will move through this land by My Spirit And will glorify My precious Name Build Your church Lord Make us strong Lord Join our hearts Lord Through Your Son Make us one Lord In Your body In the kingdom of Your Son “Show and Tell” from the three groups, and we will hear the three prayers…. Lord’s Prayer: All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Notices Shaker Song! We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord, and we pray that all unity will one day be restored. And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes they'll know we are Christians by our love. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand, and together we'll spread the news that God is in our land. And they'll know…………. We will work with each other, we will work side by side, We will work with each other, we will work side by side, and we'll guard people’s dignity and save people's pride. And they'll know………….

All praise to the Father from whom all things come, and all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son and all praise to the Spirit who make us one. And they'll know………….

The Next Family Service is: Sunday February 21 at 10.00am Please stay for refreshments and chat after the service! If you would like something to go into the notices, please speak to...or email.......or telephone The Vicar, Andy by 12noon on Thursday. Contact details are on the front cover! Do stay on after the main service for refreshments and chat – at the back of the church every Sunday and do join in the CAKE RAFFLE: We use this to raise money for charitable causes, and for specific church initiatives! TODAY: Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Vespers and Benediction Monday January 18: Andy (Vicar)’s Day Off

Holy Trinity, 1.00pm to 1.30pm Organ Recital Tuesday January 19: Holy Trinity, 9.30am Holy Communion Wednesday January 20: 10.00am Holy Communion Holy Trinity, 6.30pm Holy Communion Friday January 22: Holy Trinity, 5.00pm Holy Communion

NEXT SUNDAY: January 24th

[3rd

Sunday of Epiphany] 8.00am Holy Communion

9.30am Parish Communion

.......and after coffee, Open Meeting Holy Trinity, 11.00am Parish Mass

Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Vespers and Benediction Friday January 29: Holy Trinity, 6.30pm Burns Supper Sunday January 31: CANDLEMAS (no Christ Church 9.30am or Holy Trinity at 11.00am......See Service at 6.00pm) Christ Church and Holy Trinity JOINT Service at Christ Church at 6.00pm.......DEANERY with BRING AND SHARE Tuesday February 2: 7.30pm P.C.C. Sunday February 7: Preacher at 9.30am Service: Revd John Attenborough of the “Mission to Seafarers” Holy Trinity, 3.30pm, Tea-Time Concert Tuesday February 9: 7.00pm Pancake Party February 10: Ash Wednesday 6.30pm Holy Trinity, 8.00pm Christ Church Saturday February 13: 10.00am Church Cleaning Sunday February 14: Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Stations of the Cross Monday February 15: Holy Trinity, 1.00pm to 1.30pm Organ Recital Wednesday February 17: 10.00am Stations of the Cross with Communion Sunday February 21: 10.00am Family Service Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Stations of the Cross Wednesday February 24: 10.00am Stations of the Cross with Communion Sunday February 28: Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Stations of the Cross Wednesday March 2: 10.00am Stations of the Cross with Communion and Healing Prayer Friday March 4: 10.30am Service for “Women’s World Day of Prayer” Sunday March 6: MOTHERING SUNDAY 10.00am Mothering Sunday Family Service Holy Trinity, 3.30pm, Tea-Time Concert Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Stations of the Cross Wednesday March 9: 10.00am Stations of the Cross with Communion Saturday March 12: 10.00am Church Cleaning Sunday March 13: Stations of the Cross in the morning Holy Trinity, 6.00pm Deanery Pre-Holy Week Vigil Wednesday March 16: 10.00am Stations of the Cross with Communion

A fuller calendar can be found online at http://www.christchurchgosport.co.uk/calendar/

New Area Dean and Assistant for Gosport Deanery: The Bishop has appointed the Revd Karen Mitchell (Bridgemary and Elson) as Area Dean of Gosport, and the Revd Dr Paul Chamberlain (Lee-on-the-Solent) as Assistant Area Dean. Congratulations to them both. Please pray for them, and for the life of the deanery. The next Deanery Event is Christ Church, Sunday 31st January, 6.00pm Candlemas Communion. You are encouraged to attend all Deanery Services, in support of the life of our Deanery. NEXT SUNDAY!!!! another After-Service Meeting! You will remember we had some “after-service meetings” to plan our 150th celebrations, to which virtually EVERYONE stayed. Please stay behind NEXT Sunday January 24th to share idea about our church’s Social Calendar and the use of our Parish Centre: what events and do’s can we organise to bring us together for fun, laughter and fellowship? What are YOUR ideas? What could YOU help put on…………and top of the poll in our “next five years” survey was “An even more thriving Church Hall/ Centre”. We cannot afford to pay someone to run our Centre: we need, as a church, to make it work – especially as WE voted it our number one priority! COULD YOU HELP with taking bookings / letting in users / helping keep the Centre maintained, clean and tidy? Our Centre is something we can be proud of: ideal for our use as a church; a place where the community comes together; and an important source of our income. LET’S MAKE IT WORK – TOGETHER! The Venerable Peter Sutton, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight will be attending our Parish Communion next Sunday. He was a great friend to our church during his time as Area Dean of Gosport, and as Vicar of Lee-on-the-Solent. He and the Vicar served as curates together in Alverstoke 25 years ago! He is coming to be with Fr Pete Lambert for a Sunday, because Archdeacon Peter has oversight of all curates in our Diocese. It will be very good to welcome him back to Christ Church! Christ Church – Deanery Service: We at Christ Church offer a "Feast of Christ" as our Patronal Festival (and as our “Deanery Service”); that feast being Candlemas. So, on Sunday 31st January, Christ Church will welcome our sister church, Holy Trinity, and the deanery for a 6.00pm Candlemas Communion, followed by bunfight, of course(!), and being the evening, our candles can shine more effectively! There is no 9.30am Service, and 11.00am Mass at Holy Trinity on that day, to encourage you to go in the evening! ELIZABETH MILES HAS A LIST TO BRING FOOD – PLEASE VOLUNTEER! Christ Church Pancake Party! Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party, 9th February, at 7.00pm - savoury and sweet. Ticket cost £6.00 proceeds to The Children Society and Christ Church Boiler and Floor fund. Tickets available from Rev'd Elizabeth Groves or Adrian Groves.

Slide-show about Old Gosport: We are holding a slide show evening of old Gosport on the 29th January 2016 in Christ Church Parish Centre at 7.30pm. Presented by Bob Harrop. Tickets £4.00 with proceeds to church funds. Tickets available from Mags Stowe. Ash Wednesday/ Old Palm Crosses: Please hand in last years’ palm crosses or make sure they are put in the vestry. They will be burnt to provide the ash for Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is one of the most important days in the Christian Year. Please try to come to one of the following three services, all of which will include the ‘Imposition of Ashes’ (an opportunity, only if you wish, to have a cross marked on your forehead in ash, as a sign of penitence and re-commitment) ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10: 10.00am Holy Communion (Holy Trinity, 6.30pm Sung Mass) 8.00pm Sung Holy Communion Lent Lunch: for the Bishop's Lent Appeal - Saturday 19th March, 12noon to 2.00pm in church. Raising money for St Nicholas Seminary in Ghana and charities locally that support those with barriers to learning and in overcoming those barriers. Women’s World Day of Prayer: Friday 4th March. Services at: 10.30am HERE at Christ Church 3.00pm St Matthew’s, Bridgemary. The service was prepared by the Christian women of Cuba. All welcome! Stations of the Cross: Will be every Wednesday in Lent at the 10.00am Holy Communion; and at Holy Trinity at 6.00pm every Sunday for the two Sundays mentioned below. On March 22, there will be Stations during the main services at both churches, and at Holy Trinity at 6.00pm that evening, a Deanery Service (Pre-Holy Week Vigil) instead of Stations; and no Stations at Holy Trinity on Palm Sunday. Holy Week for Christ Church and Holy Trinity: Both our PCC’s agreed unanimously that we would worship together during Holy Week, for three reasons:

1) It is an important and poignant time in the church’s year, and therefore something we can benefit from sharing together.

2) The joint services on 5th Sundays encountered various problems and issues – so Holy Week could become the main opportunity we have for coming together in worship, in a concentrated and focused way.

3) If the key services in Holy Week were shared, they could also be on a bigger scale.

We are therefore going to have four services together: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Ceremonies (at its proper time - early on Easter Sunday: 6.00am to 7.15am). Both the churches will host two each. We would then “rotate” through the four, year on year, so

each of the four services was alternating between the two churches. The Programme therefore, for 2016, is: PALM SUNDAY: 11.00am Joint Service at Holy Trinity (only service that day: no 8.00am or 9.30am service at Christ Church; no 6.00pm Vespers at Holy Trinity.) MAUNDY THURSDAY: 7.30pm Joint Service at Christ Church with Vigil of Prayer until Midnight (rather than only until 9.00pm) GOOD FRIDAY: 12noon to 3.00pm Three Hour Devotions at Holy Trinity (the first two hours: readings, devotional addresses, music and silence; the last hour: the “Good Friday Liturgy” as it is currently done in both churches) EASTER DAY: 6.00am to 7.15am Easter Ceremonies at Christ Church (and then our usual services at each church: 8.00am and 9.30am at Christ Church; 11.00am and 6.00pm at Holy Trinity). We really hope you will support all these services, and not be frightened to venture to the “other” church! Weekly Giving Envelopes: We encourage everyone in the church to give money regularly for the work of our church (“Planned Giving”). The best way is a monthly Standing Order, but we also have weekly giving envelopes for those not giving through their banks. If anyone would like to use the envelope system, please let the Vicar know, as Norman Collins is arranging them for the coming year..... New Banner in Church: You may have spotted a different banner lodged by the altar in the north chapel. This is the retired banner of the Portsmouth Chapter of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary and at 117 years old, is the oldest and first Guild Chapter Banner. It was retired after 110 years’ service when a replica took its place. The Guild is an international organization to encourage the spiritual development of Altar Servers. For further details of the Chapter and the Guild please contact Grand Councillor Peter Keat on 023 92 582499 (Peter acts as sacristan and server at our 8am and Wednesday 10am Communions). Sue Lambert: Sue is now an “Ordinand” (someone in training to be ordained into Holy Orders as deacon and then priest) and is on the new “Portsmouth Pathway” training Course (run in conjunction with Cuddesdon Theological College in Oxford). In accordance with church custom, you will now see her in a black cassock – a sign that she is an “Ordinand-in-Training”! Welcome back Fr Pete and Sue.....we’ve missed you! Could you be a Sidesman or a Server? If you are interested, do have a quiet word with the Vicar! Church Up-Keep and Cleaning: If you are willing to do gardening, tidying, cleaning, minor odd jobs, repairs etc, Adrian Groves (Deputy Churchwarden) would be pleased to hear from you:

akgroves@btinternet.com or 023 92 586168. In particular, please help keep our church looking clean on the second Saturday of the month. We start at 10am. Even if you can only spare half an hour, every little helps. Donations to Food Banks: Thanks to Adrian Groves there is a large plastic box at the back of church for donations of non-perishable foods, also toiletries and cosmetics for local food banks, which are overwhelmed by demand at present. Used Ink Cartridges: Do put your used printer ink cartridges in the box at the back of church......they do raise some money for our church! Support for Sea-farers: Would you be willing to knit some balaclavas, gloves, mitts for sea-farers? See Kath Ford (our organist) for details, and for a pattern. Our Memorial Book: There is a fee of £10.00 per name, to add a departed loved one to the book....to cover the inscribing and a donation to church funds. Forms are available in church. Sponsoring the bread and wine on a Sunday: If a particular Sunday in the year falls on or near a significant date (perhaps the anniversary of a loved one’s death; a birthday, an anniversary, etc) you can fill in the details on the list in church, and please put £5.00 into the collection. Your name(s), and the dedication (s) will appear in the service booklet for that week. SEE LIST...