Canon David Shaw

The RectorySt Clement’s Church Office,

Rue du PresbytèreLa Grande Route de Saint Clément

St Clement JE2 6RB St Clement JE2 6QQ

Tel: 851992Tel: 745260

Mobile: 07797 920316E mail: stclementjersey@outlook.com

Rev Tracy Le C Bromley Tel: 857693Rev Martin Dryden Tel: 874668

Facebook: St Clement Church Jersey Channel Islands – watch 10.30am service live and recorded

Web site: www.stclementschurch.org.je

Treasurers and church bank account details:

St Clement: Tricia Barry triciabarry@hotmail.com Acc: St Clement Church 40-25-34 84087488

St Nicholas: Ian Bromley captainimb@aol.comAcc: St Nicholas Church 60-12-03 81510535

December 18TH 2020 For the start of 2021

Dear friends of St Clement and St Nicholas,

This really is written far too early so file the paper or open it in the new year. Our busiest Christmas ever means that I am grabbing a moment before day breaks in the week before the Nativity Festival to send Jayne some material to include with the readings and service she will be sending you. Then the office closes until January. The office e mail is the same as mine so send one anytime – though I will do my best to avoid for a while after Christmas.

Photographs are a great way to remember and this one speaks volumes for me. A few days before Mothering Sunday the Church of England locked down its churches and whilst it seems normal now, took the extraordinary and historic step of banning worship inside churches and shortly after even their clergy from entering their buildings. In the midst of the chaos I sneaked in a request for an outside service in the meadow which didn’t fit any neat admin boxes so we were the only live Anglican service in the Channel Islands and one of the very few in the whole of the British Isles. And we were still allowed to sing ! Then they caught up with us and worship stopped until Father’s Day in June when as well as a 2 metre distanced St Nicholas service and lots of hand sanitiser we were back with an unusual Meadow service, which saw us catching up with the missed services – so palm crosses and Easter eggs were given out – in June ! Apart from one Sunday when we thought it might rain – it didn’t – we enjoyed three months of amazing weather and outdoor worship amongst the wild flowers with the birds – a real bonus of these strange times. Very reluctantly, thanks to Storm Alex we had to move indoors and the rest is more recent. Our history of outdoor worship whether at Samares Manor or around the cross at Easter probably helped us move more naturally outdoors than most congregations. I am hoping the Christmas congregations will not have been too damp but at least we will have tried to find a way through the 20 plus 5 inside church limit for worship which was the final straw for a significant number of Jersey churches and if their doors were not already closed it prompted them to go on line and plan to be so until mid January or later. If 2020 has taught us anything it is the need to be flexible and at short notice. Government notice of change on a Tuesday has been a luxury , sometimes it has been a Thursday or Friday. Many churches have developed sophisticated online services helped by some very techy congregation. The lack of such people has probably been good for us in many ways as it has resulted in more real or in modern terms F2F ( face to face) services than almost any other Anglican church and many of other denominations. We may not have developed an international online following but birds singing amidst the wild flowers beats the internet.

With a couple of days grapevine warning of the first real lockdown the investment in office equipment paid off as Jayne took files homes and was able to access the church computer files via the cloud. Tracy, Martin and I have been trained by Jayne to think of our sermon ideas and prayers on a Monday – which becomes strangely liberating and from the very first week we have managed to e mail and post all the services and news and links to recorded services as well.

As the world moves slowly back to normal – taking a little longer than we might hope, we will probably need a couple of years to see the lasting changes. A few predictions:

· For St Clement and St Nicholas weekly mailings will continue in some form as we have found them to be appreciated by people unable to leave their homes through infirmity

· For Jersey recording funeral services will be the norm and far fewer relatives will fly over

· For Jersey and UK churches, just as church historian trace the rapid decline of Evensong congregations to Sunday evening TV (and in particular the start in 1967of the Forsyth Saga) so we will look back at 2020 to see the acceleration in the decline and closure of many smaller congregations and churches.

· What are your predictions ?

And back to the photograph. It sums up for me a determination to carry on worshipping and celebrating the Gospel. Christians have been doing that for nearly 2000 years in circumstances far, far worse than anything we have experienced this year. We are so lucky in Jersey to have the freedom to meet and worship together and perhaps 2020 has taught us to value what we take for granted.

On behalf of Tracy and Martin, I wish you, your family and friends a very happy and rapidly returning to normal 2021.

David

Here is the recording of the service of Holy Communion held at St Nicholas on Sunday 27th December (the First Sunday of Christmas): https://youtu.be/QYZ6HCtR4gw

The following service of Holy Communion will be held at 10.30 in St Clement on Sunday January 3rd

As with gladness men of old https://youtu.be/UB8rKNrlpDQ

As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold

As with joy they hailed its light

Leading onward, beaming bright

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped

To that lowly manager-bed

There to bed the knee before

Thee whom heav’n and earth adore

So may we with willing feet

Ever seek thy mercy-seat.

As they offered gifts most rare

At thy cradle rude and bare

So may we with holy joy

Pure, and free from sin’s alloy

All our costliest treasures bring

Christ, to thee our heav’nly King.

Holy Jesus, ev’ry day

Keep us in the narrow way

And when earthly things are past

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide

Where no clouds thy glory hide.

In the heav’nly country bright

Need they no created light

Thou its light, its joy its crown

Thou its sun which goes not down

There forever may we sing

Alleluias to our King.

The Greeting The Lord be with you. and also with you. Prayer of Preparation Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of Penitence Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Amen. Lord, have mercy

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, to be our advocate in heaven, and to bring us to eternal life. Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments and to live in love and peace with all.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you. Pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, Heav'nly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord, Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us; You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect for the Second Sunday of Christmas Almighty God, in the birth of your Son you have poured on us the new light of your incarnate Word, and shown us the fullness of your love:

help us to walk in his light and dwell in his love that we may know the fullness of his joy; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

The Readings: The First Reading is taken from Psalm 147, beginning to read at the thirteenth verse. (Psalm 147 13-20) For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;  who can stand before his cold?18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules[c] to Israel.20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;  they do not know his rules.[d]Praise the Lord!

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God

Brightest and best https://youtu.be/y5ACL94B4rM

Brightest and best

Of the sons of the morning

Dawn on our darkness

And lend us thine aid

Star of the east

The horizon adorning

Guide where our infant

Redeemer is laid.

Cold in its cradle

The dew-drops are shining

Low lies his head

With the beasts of the stall

Angles adore him

In slumber reclining

Maker and Monarch

And Saviour of all.

Vainly we offer

Each humble oblation

Vainly with gifts

Would his favour secure

Richer by far

Is the heart’s adoration

Dearer to God

Are the prayers of the poor

The Gospel Reading:

Here the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Glory to you O Lord (John 1 10-18)

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you O Christ

Reflection

The Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Music before Prayers Handel – Pastoral Symphony (Pifa) – (Messiah) https://youtu.be/4d9Qnn25EK4

Prayers of Intercession: We sit or kneel Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer

Prayers for the Church

Prayers for the world

Prayers for closer to home

Merciful Father,accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Peace We stand to share the Peace: Christ is our peace. He has reconciled us to God in one body by the cross. We meet in his name and share his peace. The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you.

All: May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and forever more Amen.

Preparation of the Table:

THE OFFERTORY HYMN (when the offertory would have been taken)

We three kings of Orient are https://youtu.be/zNBbCkDMSLw

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain, moor and mountain

Following yonder star

(Refrain)

O Star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leadings still proceeding

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain

Gold I bring to crown him again

King forever, ceasing never

Over us all to reign.(Refrain)

Frankincense to offer have I

Incense owns a Deity nigh

Prayer and praising, gladly raising

Worship him, god most high(refrain)

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume

Breathes a life of gathering gloom

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying

Sealed in the stone-cold tomb(Refrain)

Glorious now behold him arise

King and God and sacrifice

Alleluia, alleluia

Earth to the heav’n replies(Refrain)

The Eucharistic Prayer The Lord be with you. and also with you Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.

Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world. In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death. Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise. We join with them in heaven’s song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Father of all, we give you thanks for every gift that comes from heaven. To the darkness Jesus came as your light. With signs of faith and words of hope he touched untouchables with love and washed the guilty clean. This is his story. This is our song: Hosanna in the highest

The crowds came out to see your Son, yet at the end they turned on him. On the night he was betrayed he came to table with his friends to celebrate the freedom of your people. This is his story This is our song: Hosanna in the highest.

Jesus blessed you, Father for the food; he took bread; gave thanks, broke it and said: This is my body, given for you all. Jesus then gave thanks for the wine; he took the cup, gave it and said: This is my blood, shed for you all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me. This is our story: This is our song; Hosanna in the highest.

Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup we celebrate the cross on which he died to set us free. Defying death he rose again and is alive with you to plead for us and all the world. This is his story.

This is our song: Hosanna in the highest

Send your Spirit on us now that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire. May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you and be welcomed at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer: Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us 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.

Breaking of the Bread We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Amen

Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,. Eat in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Music during Communion Bach – Pastoral Symphony (Christmas Oratorio)https://youtu.be/eLFnX5ijuH4

Prayers after Communion All praise to you,almighty God and heavenly king, who sent your Son into the world to take our nature upon him and to be born of a pure virgin: grant that, as we are born again in him,

so he may continually dwell in us and reign on earth as he reigns in heaven, now and for ever.

We stand : Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

The Dismissal: The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Hail to the Lord’s anointed https://youtu.be/EkrepBvrLI4

Hail to the Lord’s anointed

Great David’s greater Son

Hail, in the time appointed

His reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression

To set the captive free

To take away transgression

And rule in equity.

He comes with succour speedy

To those who suffer wrong

To help the poor and needy

And bid the weak be strong

To give them songs for sighing

Their darkness turn to light

Whose souls, condemned and dying

Are precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers

Upon the fruitful earth

And love, joy, hope, like flowers

Spring in this path to birth

Before him on the mountains

Shall peace the herald go

And righteousness in fountains

From hill to valley flow

Kings shall fall down before him

And gold and incense bring

All nations shall adore him

His praise all people sing

For he shall have dominion

O’er river, sea and shore

Far as the eagles pinion

Or doves light wing can soar

O’er ev’ry foe victorious

He on his throne shall rest

From age to age more glorious

All-blessing and all blessed

The tide of time shall never

His covenant remove

His name shall stand forever

That name to us is love.

Final Music John Rutter – Toccata in seven https://youtu.be/DQyqhlKwTwc

The Grace: May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.