Notices for 19th November 2023

Prayer Ministry
The Prayer Ministry Team will be giving healing Ministry a particular focus on the 3rd Sunday of each month. It will be a time when members of the team will meet immediately before the service to pray for the service, the church family and the parish. Should anyone wish for prayer for themselves or on behalf of another, please feel free to join us either before or immediately after the service. This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of the month and members of the Prayer Ministry Team will be available.

St Andrew’s Day Celebration and Hymn-a-thon
On the 26th November Di will be raising funds for a new piano with her Hymn-a-thon, for details of how to sponsor her please see the separate notice. We will also be celebrating St Andrew’s day which falls later that week. As part of the hymn-a-thon you will be able to request your favourite songs and have a sing-a-long. I would love it if we could compile on the day a list of your favourite songs and maybe a St Andrew’s top 10, so come at the ready with your favourite hymns and songs! We will also hold a bring and share lunch, and there will be teas and cakes on sale for those who come along later just to listen. The day will be a chance to celebrate all we love about St Andrew’s and to thank our volunteers. Please bring along some food to share and let us know if you can make some cakes to sell. If you are able to stay for an hour and help welcome and serve our guests, I would love to know. Please see the sign-up sheets at the back of church, or chat to me, thanks Jo.

Tea with Santa
Are you free on Saturday 16th November or in the week before? We will be putting on Tea with Santa in the village hall, but would love some help. Are you able to make cakes or sandwiches, or wrap presents? Do you love party games? We need a team of people to bring the afternoon together. Please speak to Jo if you can help.

Diane Fellowes Sponsored Hymn-a-thon
I will be participating in the Hymn-a-thon event on November 26th, to raise funds for St Andrew’s Church Eastern Green. As a member of this community, I have seen firsthand the positive impact that this church has had on our community. We are raising money to purchase a new electronic piano to diversify our worship. That’s why I am taking on this personal challenge to help raise £1,500 for St Andrew’s Church Eastern Green. See https://standrewseg.co.uk/. Every donation counts and will go directly towards supporting the church’s mission of providing a welcoming space for worship.
I am grateful for any support you can provide towards reaching my fundraising goal. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So, it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity. www.justgiving.com/page/diane-fellowes-1697355509810

Advent Group 2023
The Christmas lights have been switched on in the city and at St. Andrew’s we have begun our preparations for Christmas.  This includes an Advent group and all are welcome to join us. The Advent group will be on Wednesday mornings from 11.15 to 12.30 in Church starting on Wednesday 29th November.
 
Among your preparation for Christmas can you make space to meet with others to look at the Bible and think afresh about the meaning of Advent and Christmas. If you would like to come or want to know more, please speak with me or call me on 07958 322026. Sue Masters. 

A Festive Christmas Brass Band Concert
Due to its popularity in 2022, on Friday 8th December at 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church is hosting, for the second year running, a selection of Christmas music performed by members of the Brass Band of Central England. Tickets cost £8 in advance or £10 on the door, subject to availability. Tickets are now available from Julia McNaney on 07872 614688 and Julie Crow on 07756 918847. There will be refreshments, cakes and mince pies available on the evening. 

Tots Time!
Our new group for babies, toddlers and their carers, will meet again on 7th and 14th December, at 8.35am to coincide with school drop off but you are welcome to pop in anytime. Please do share with anyone you think might be interested, and take a flier from the back of church.

The Nightingales Christmas Carol Concert
In memory of Pat Trickett, please join The Nightingales in partnership with Warwickshire Arts in church on Saturday 2nd December from 2-4pm. Tickets cost £5 which includes a drink and a mince pie. All profits going to Myton Hospice. For tickets contact Hayley on 07531 372931 / hayleytrickett@hotmail.com or Julie Crow on 07756 918847 / administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk

Jigsaws & Reading Books
There is a selection of jigsaws and books at the back of church, suggested donation £1 each. There are also other items at the back of church which are individually priced. Please do take a look. Donations may be placed in the wall box at the back of church or with the vicar or one of the churchwardens.

Volunteering and Safeguarding
All church volunteers, whether paid or unpaid, will need to be safely recruited and possibly also require a basic/enhanced DBS check. If you have any questions about safeguarding and volunteering, please speak to Julia McNaney on 07872 614688 or Rev Jo.

Donations
Should you wish to give online to support the work of the church, the link below or the QR code will take you directly to the page. It is a secure way of supporting the churches ministry. Thank you for your ongoing support. Nick Tooby.

https://givealittle.co/campaigns/eef64318-0a22-4db7-8d81-0ab3ccddf15d

Readings for 19th November 2023

The Second Sunday before Advent

Collect
Heavenly Lord,
you long for the world’s salvation:
stir us from apathy,
restrain us from excess
and revive in us new hope
that all creation will one day be healed
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Post Communion
Gracious Lord,
in this holy sacrament
you give substance to our hope:
bring us at the last
to that fullness of life for which we long;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 

First Reading: Psalm 90:1-8
God’s Eternity and Human Frailty
A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling-place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn us back to dust, and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals.’
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
NRSVA (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents
14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” 21 His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.

” 23 His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” 26 But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

NRSVA (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)