DECEMBER AT SAINT ANDREW’S, HARLESTONESadness: It is with considerable sadness that we learnt of the short illness and death of Richard Allen – a loved and respected member of our church community. His beautiful and moving funeral mass was at St Matthew’s Northampton on 17 November, followed by burial at St Andrew’s, Harlestone. To Susan and his family, we send our deepest condolences. How we shall miss his warm welcome at the church door and his beautiful reading of the scriptures at the lectern. Thanks: We dedicated the new candlestand at our Advent Service on Advent Sunday, in memory of the late Anne Mortimer. We are grateful to Graham for having the collection in her memory to fund such a beautiful asset for the church, bringing light and hope to all who will use it.Delight: It is with delight that we hosted the wedding of Andrew and Margaret, from Glebe Lane, on Saturday 3 December at St Andrew’s. We pray for them as they celebrate their new marriage and wish them every happiness.Anticipation: As we prepare for Christmas, all are welcome to join us in church from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December for our Christmas Market, with seasonal stalls and refreshments.Joy: After two years without Carol Services, all friends from across the Benefice are welcome to come to St Andrew’s for either of two sittings of the Benefice Choir Carol Service for the whole community on Thursday 22 December. Andrew King FRCO will accompany the singers, with brass and percussion arrangements of all the favourite Carols. Parking and refreshments have been kindly offered by Northampton Golf Club, our neighbours, as well as a golf buggy to transport those less steady on their feet, between clubhouse and Lychgate! Tickets are available via Eventbrite, where you can also make a Gift Aid donation towards the costs of the service. See the main notice elsewhere on this website.Light: We shall celebrate the Light of the World in a more informal way at 3pm on Christmas Eve in church, with a Christingle Service led by Rev Andrea, with Christmas music, to which all will be welcome
In your prayersPlease rememberRichard Allen (1945-2022)of both our congregation, and the congregation of NorthamptonSt Matthew’s, in thanksgiving of whom a Requiem Mass was offered on Thursday 17 November and who was afterwards laid to rest here at St Andrew’s. We pray also for those who mourn his loss: especiallySusan and his family. We give thanks for his contribution to our church, greeting at the door and reading the Scriptures from the Lectern.Prayers from his Funeral Mass:Richard has fallen asleep in the peace of Christ.We entrust him, with faith and hope in everlasting life,to the love and mercy of our Fatherand surrounded him with our love and prayer.In baptism, he was made by adoption a child of God.At the eucharist he was sustained and fed.God now welcomes him to his table in heavento share in eternal life with all the saints.Let us also pray on our own behalf,That we who are mourned and are saddenedmay one day go forth with our brotherto meet the Lord of lifewhen he appears in glory.Jesus commended his spirit into your hands at the last hour.Into those same hands we now commend your servant Richard, that dying to the world and cleansed from sin, death may be for him the gate to life and to eternal fellowship with you. Amen
