Advent Sunday events
Benefice Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church, Marystowe
Our service begins at 10.30am and the postcode for St Mary’s is PL16 0JA. Today we begin the new lectionary (worship, readings and festivals) cycle; the Church fabrics turn to purple for Advent and we have fantastic hymns like Hills of the North Rejoice, and the very ancient O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (stemming back to at least the 8th century). Canon Tim is leading the service, Rev Gill is preaching, and LLM Richard is leading the intercessions. We also have a guest organist for the occasion. Do stay for the delicious coffee afterwards.
You might like to pray the simple prayer for the day:
Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Christmas Lights at Sydenham Damerel
At 6pm Sydenham Damerel is the place to be - for the switching on of the Christmas lights. You can see from last year’s picture below where to meet - you can’t miss us!
Advent Group 2025 continues this week
There are two opportunities each week - Mondays at 7pm at the Vicarage, repeated in the daytime on Wednesdays at 10.45am (after the Midweek Communion) in the Priest Room. All are welcome to come along - and it’s useful (though not essential) if you can let me know you’re coming (07947 604160). No prior knowledge of Advent, theology, the bible, how to pray, who God is, or anything else required. Just bring yourself and enjoy refreshments and friendship and down-to-earth discussion around the Advent Candle themes. Turn up for just one, or pop in to more than one.
Week 1 - Hope: 7pm at the Vicarage (phone for directions) on 24th November, and 10.45am in the Priest Room on Wednesday 26th November
Week 2 - Peace: 7pm on 1st December, repeated 10.45am on 3rd December
Week 3 - Joy: 7pm on 8th December and 10.45am on 10th December
Week 4 - Love: 7pm on 15th December and 10.45am on 17th December
Frank Hocking
On Monday 1st December we have the funeral of Frank Hocking. The church service is 2pm at St Constantine’s, Milton Abbot.
Midweek Communion
Wednesday 10am Midweek Communion in the Priest Room, Church Avenue Lamerton, PL19 8RN. This week it is led by Revd Gill. All are welcome to this gentle service, which is followed by refreshments and, for the next few weeks, our daytime Advent Group (see above).
Milton Abbot School Carol Service
Wednesday 2pm in St Constantine’s Church The first of our school carol services takes place this week, and is followed by the school Christmas Fair at 3.30.
Lamerton Hall Coffee Morning
Saturday 6th at 10.30-12noon. Come and enjoy a delicious breakfast bap, stock up your kitchen shelves with home made goodies, and buy enough raffle tickets to win a prize!
Sydenham Damerel Christmas Quiz
Saturday 6th at 7pm. This was oversubscribed but hats off to all those organising it to help raise funds. If you can’t get an answer from the Vicar it’s because she’s part of the Revved Up & Ready team (will they win?).
Next Sunday 7th December - 2nd Sunday of Advent
11.15am Holy Communion at St Andrew’s, Coryton
2.30pm Advent Carol Service at Dunterton
4pm Christingle Service at Lamerton
Check out our calendars
You can find our calendars online here, as well as downloadable A4 versions for noticeboards, but here they are for convenience:
Advance notice of the Christmas Extravaganza and Marystowe Parish Panto
Things are moving apace, so do keep this evening of multiple events all rolled into one in your calendar. It’s a temporarily different format this year, as people are pulling together to pack as much as possible in. The evening begins with Carols at 5pm, and continues on through, with an interval of course (it wouldn’t be panto without one!) culminating in the Virgin Arms barbeque.
With love in Christ,
Gill
The Reverend Gillian George
Priest in Charge of the benefice of Milton Abbot, Dunterton, Lamerton, Sydenham Damerel, Marystowe and Coryton - The South Tamar Mission Community