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The Barham Downs Group of Church

Adisham • Barham • Bishopsbourne • Kingston • Wymynswold

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Epiphany 3

23rd January 2022

Collect of the Day

God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord

Amen

Reading – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body.The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member,that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 19:1-6

THE heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handywork. One day telleth another: and one night certifieth another. There is neither speech nor language: but their voices are heard among them. Their sound is gone out into all lands: and their words into the ends of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun: which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his course.It goeth forth from the uttermost part of the heaven, and runneth about unto the end of it again: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

Gospel; Luke 4:14-21

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you O Lord

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

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

Prayers of Intercession

for the day and its tasks, for the world and its needs, for the Church and her life,
for the universal Church, for the sick peoples of the world, for all who are lonely,
for all who are near to death, for all who are facing loss, for all who lead and govern, that they imitate the governance of heaven here on earth and to love unconditionally.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Jane Wilson, Rod Spencer, Jan Hutton.

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Jean Clough, Mark Newcomb, Alan Edwards, John Wilson, Ernie Keeler.

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Hugo Wenn, Rick McBride, George Lepiorz, Bernard Nolan, Ken Underhill, Elizabeth Thijsse, Jim Baker, Gladys Bates, Flossie Lonie.

Epiphany 2

16th January 2022

Collect of the Day

Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

Reading – Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 36:5-10

Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the heavens: and thy faithfulness unto the clouds. Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains: thy judgements are like the great deep. Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast; How excellent is thy mercy, O God: and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house: and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river. For with thee is the well of life: and in thy light shall we see light. O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee: and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.

Gospel; John 2:1-11

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you O Lord

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.”His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it.When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroomand said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

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

Prayers of Intercession

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Jane Wilson, Rod Spencer, Jan Hutton, Alan Edwards.

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

John Wilson, Ernie Keeler, Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe, Joey Bushell

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Harry Jarvis, Elizabeth Piersall, Stella Catford, Allan Kerry, Tony Moorhouse, Pam Perry, Gwen Buck, Brian Wright, Peter Evans, Rosemary Berwick, Catherine Viner.

Please note that unfortunately the Epiphany Carol service which was to be held at Barham, on Sunday 9th January, has had to be cancelled.

Baptism of Christ

9th January 2022

Collect of the day

Heavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognise him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour Amen

Reading – Acts 8:14-17

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 29

BRING unto the Lord, O ye mighty, bring young rams unto the Lord: ascribe unto the Lord worship and strength. Give the Lord the honour due unto his Name: worship the Lord with holy worship. It is the Lord that commandeth the waters: it is the glorious God that maketh the thunder. It is the Lord that ruleth the sea; the voice of the Lord is mighty in operation: the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedar-trees: yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Libanus. He maketh them also to skip like a calf: Libanus also, and Sirion, like a young unicorn. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness: yea, the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Cades. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to bring forth young, and discovereth the thick bushes: in his temple doth every man speak of his honour. The Lord sitteth above the water-flood: and the Lord remaineth a King for ever. The Lord shall give strength unto his people: the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Gospel; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you O Lord

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

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

Prayers of Intercession

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Rod Spencer, Jan Hutton, Alan Edwards

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

John Wilson, Ernie Keeler, Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe, Joey Bushell

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

John Wake, Richard Parker, Rita Curtis, Margaret Fryer, Roy Parker, Joan-Ann Prestige, David Fowle.

Epiphany Taize Prayer 2022

Heart warming images accompany our Taize Prayer for Epiphany 2022 filmed in the yurt. With the wise men, we rejoice in the revelation that God's love is for ALL people - includes beautiful chants, candlelight, icons, flowers, a moment of silence.

Love Lizzie

Naming and Circumcision of Christ

2nd January 2022

Collect of the day

Almighty God, whose blessed son was circumcised in obedience to the law for our sake and given the Name that is above every name: give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit, and to proclaim him as the Saviour of the world; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Reading – Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into ourhearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 8

O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world: thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies: that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained. What is man, that thou art mindful of him: and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him lower than the angels: to crown him with glory and worship. Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands: and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet; All sheep and oxen: yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea: and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Governor: how excellent is thy Name in all the world!

Gospel; Luke 2:15-21

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you O Lord

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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

Prayers of Intercession

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Jan Hutton, Alan Edwards

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe, Joey Bushell

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Bill Oakey, Aubrey Gransden, Julia Wake-Smith, Helen Wright.

From the Rectory: In a tough year we live in hope, knowing that our faith as the Easter People starts at Christmas, when we welcome the Christ Light into our hearts and homes. Thank you for your faith and support this year. With all good blessings. RevT

nativity scene painting

Christmas Day

25th December 2021

Collect of the day

Lord Jesus Christ, your birth at Bethlehem draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth: accept our heartfelt praise as we worship you, our Saviour and our eternal God.

Amen

Reading-Titus 3:4-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Luke 2:1-20

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Glory to you O Lord

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Jan Hutton, Alan Edwards

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe, Joey Bushell

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Jim Bardsley, Bernard Price, Nicholas Yanni, Leslie Brown, Ewart Clough, Jenny Barling, Sam Hoyle, Simon Day, Jean Shepherd, Isabelle Childs, Maureen Bicker, Dennis Holt, Geoff Street.

Christmas Eve. Midnight Mass

24th December 2021

Collect of the day

Eternal God, in the stillness of this night you sent your almighty Word to pierce the world’s darkness with the light of salvation: give to the earth the peace that we long for and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven through our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Reading-Isaiah 9:2-7

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness, from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 96

O SING unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth. Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name: be telling of his salvation from day to day. Declare his honour unto the heathen: and his wonders unto all people. For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised: he is more to be feared than all gods. As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols: but it is the Lord that made the heavens. Glory and worship are before him: power and honour are in his sanctuary. Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people: ascribe unto the Lord worship and power. Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name: bring presents, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King: and that it is he who hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; and how that he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad: let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: and with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with his truth.

Luke 2:1-20

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Glory to you O Lord

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Jan Hutton, Alan Edwards

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe, Joey Bushell

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Jim Bardsley, Bernard Price, Nicholas Yanni, Leslie Brown, Ewart Clough, Jenny Barling, Sam Hoyle, Simon Day, Jean Shepherd, Isabelle Childs, Maureen Bicker, Dennis Holt, Geoff Street.

Advent 4

19th December 2021

4 lit advent candles

Collect of the day

God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

Reading-Micah 5:2-5

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Luke 1:39-55

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Glory to you O Lord

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spiritand exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

And Marysaid,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Jan Hutton

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe, Joey Bushell

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Albert Smith, David Humphreys, John Mcguire

Advent 3

12th December 2021

3 advent candles

Collect of the day

Amen

Reading-Zephaniah 3:14-20

Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

“I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.

At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they have suffered shame.At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 146. vv.1-10

BLESSED be the Lord my strength: who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust: who subdueth my people that is under me. Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him: or the son of man, that thou so regardest him? Man is like a thing of nought: his time passeth away like a shadow. Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them: shoot out thine arrows, and consume them. Send down thine hand from above: deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children; Whose mouth talketh of vanity: and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute. Thou hast given victory unto kings: and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.

Luke 3:7-18

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Glory to you O Lord

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”“What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel, James.

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Peter Presland, Elizabeth Lancaster- Moore, Michael Johnson, James (Jim) Colthup, Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Lucas Webb, Ken Foster, Pauline Mozesh, Molly Johns.

Advent 2

5th December 2021

Advent 2 Candle photo

Collect of the day

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever .

Amen

Reading-Malachi 3:1-4

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Luke 3:1-6

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
Glory to you O Lord

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
   make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
   and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
   and the rough ways made smooth;

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel, James.

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Peter Presland, Elizabeth Lancaster- Moore, Michael Johnson, James (Jim) Colthup, Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton, Lis Rowe

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Marjorie Langdon, Audrey Epps, Jack Berry, Timothy Bramsdon, Peter Crouch.

Christ the King

21st November 2021

Collect of the day

God the Father, help us to hear the call of Christ the King and to follow in his service, whose kingdom has no end; for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, one glory.

Amen

Reading-Daniel 7:9-10, 13, 14

As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him.

To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Revelations 1:4b-8

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests servinghis God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Gospel – John 18:33-37

Glory to you O Lord

Then Pilate entered the headquartersagain, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel,

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Peter Presland, Elizabeth Lancaster- Moore, Michael Johnson, James (Jim) Colthup, Marie (Marj) Stewart, Colin Horton

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Rosemary Bone-Knell, Pauline Dixon, Marguerite MacDonald, Bessy Collingwood, Sally Goodban, Malcolm Hoyle

Come and join us in praying for the COP26 in Taize style - with chants, icons, candles and a poignant set up. Words on the screen so that you can join in the singing.

3rd before Advent

7th November 2021

Collect of the day

God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord

Amen

Reading-Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying,“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Gospel – Mark 1:14-20

Glory to you O Lord

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel,

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Roddy Loder-Symonds, James, Peter Presland, Elizabeth Lancaster- Moore, Michael Johnson

And whose anniversary falls at this time;

Geoff Macdonald, Betty Thompson, Susan Keyes

Medieval image of Saints

Eve of All Saints day

31st October 2021

Collect of the day

God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age: as we rejoice in the faith of your saints, inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord Reading-Revelations 21:1-6a

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwellwith them; they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Gospel- John 11:32-44

Glory to you, O Lord

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel,
Jesse Crump

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Roddy Loder-Symonds, James, Peter Presland, Elizabeth Lancaster- Moore, Michael Johnson

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
Ken Tritton, Peggy Manby

Bible Sunday

24th October 2021

Collect of the day

Merciful God, teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty, that trusting in your word and obeying your will we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord

Reading- 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 19 vv. 7-14

The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant taught: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can tell how oft he offendeth: O cleanse thou me from my secret faults. Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me: so shall I be undefiled, and innocent from the great offence. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart: be alway acceptable in thy sight, O Lord: my strength, and my redeemer.

Gospel- John 5:36b-47

Glory to you, O Lord

But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you.I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope.If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel,
Jesse Crump

And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds, James, Peter Presland

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
Richard Kelly, Suzanne Potter, Kathleen Ransley, Alexander Wheaten.

Trinity 20

17th October 2021

Collect of the day

God, our light and our salvation: illuminate our lives, that we may see your goodness in the land of the living, and looking on the beauty may be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord

Reading- Hebrews 5:1-10

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness;and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesusoffered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Gospel- Mark 10:35-45

Glory to you, O Lord

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?”And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds, James, Peter Presland

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
Joyce Grieg, Betty Richardson, Maggie Ferguson.

Trinity 19

10th October 2021

Collect of the day

Faithful Lord, whose steadfast love never ceases and whose mercies never come to an end: grant us the grace to trust you and to receive the gifts of your love, new every morning, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading- Hebrews 4:12-16

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been testedas we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Psalm 90 vv. 12-17

So teach us to number our days: that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last: and be gracious unto thy servants. O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us: and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity. Shew thy servants thy work: and their children thy glory. And the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be upon us: prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, O prosper thou our handywork.

Gospel- Mark 10:17-31

Glory to you, O Lord

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds, James, Peter Presland

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
Martin Jervis, Clive Jones, Peter Ward.

On Sunday 17th October 2021 at 4 pm there will be a

service of Healing, Hope and Recovery at St Peter’s Church, Aylesham

Led by Rev. Lorraine Apps-Huggins and the team of The Living Well, Nonington.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

For enquiries please contact@the-living-well.org.uk or nick.ratcliffe@outlook.com

Trinity 18

3rd October 2021

https://youtu.be/llWJPzYFCYs

Join us for our Taize Prayer in Praise of Creation as Christians around the world are praying for creation in anticipation of COP26 in Glasgow. There are beautiful images from the Garden, the View and the Yurt and joyful, hopeful chants from the Community. with words on the screen so all can join in. Half an hour to take you from the ordinary to the heavenly!

Trinity 18

3rd October 2021

Collect of the day

God, our judge and saviour, teach us to be open to your truth and to trust in your love, that we may live each day with confidence in the salvation which is given through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading- Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, “What are human beings that you are mindful of them

, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honour, subjecting all things under their feet.” Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lowerthan the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Gospel- Mark 10:2-16

Glory to you, O Lord

“Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.”But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds, James

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
Primrose Retallack, Dot Knight, Jim Risby, Vera Errington

Trinity 17

26th September 2021

Collect of the day

Creator God, you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea and the rhythm of the seasons; as we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Psalm 65

THOU, O God, art praised in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. Thou that hearest the prayer: unto thee shall all flesh come. My misdeeds prevail against me: O be thou merciful unto our sins. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto thee: he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple. Thou shalt shew us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation: thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the broad sea. Who in his strength setteth fast the mountains: and is girded about with power. Who stilleth the raging of the sea: and the noise of his waves, and the madness of the people. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy tokens: thou that makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to praise thee. Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it: thou makest it very plenteous. The river of God is full of water: thou preparest their corn, for so thou providest for the earth. Thou waterest her furrows, thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof: thou makest it soft with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness: and thy clouds drop fatness. They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness: and the little hills shall rejoice on every side. The folds shall be full of sheep: the valleys also shall stand so thick with corn, that they shall laugh and sing.

Reading- Joel 2:21-27

Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield. O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.

And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Gospel- Matthew 6:25-33

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds, James

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
David Leidig, Doris Watson, Alice Bland, Charles Fagg, Kitty Bradshaw

Trinity 16

19th September 2021

Collect of the day

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Reading- James 3:13-4:3, 4:7-8a

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Friendship with the World

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

This is the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.

Gospel- Mark 9:30-37

Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?

Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

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

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman, Rachel
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds, James

And whose anniversary falls at this time;
Valery Jones, Philip Winter Taylor, Jessie Trot

Trinity 15 Education Sunday

12th September 2021

Collect of the day

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Reading- Isaiah 50:4-9a

The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Gospel- Mark 8:27-38

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman,
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Ron Waitt, Roddy Loder-Symonds

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Irene Curtis, David Durell, Tim Bradley, Andrew Candy, Elizabeth Duncan, Elsie Mant, Keith Milner

Trinity 12
22nd August 2021

Collect of the day
God of constant mercy,
who sent your Son to save us:
remind us of your goodness,
increase your grace within us,
that our thankfulness may grow,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Psalm 34:15-22
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,
and rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
   but the Lord rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked,
   and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
   none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18 Joshua unites the tribes in renewing the Covenant

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.

‘Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’

Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

John 6:56-69 The Words of Eternal Life

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’

Prayers of Intercessions

for the day and its tasks, for the world and its needs, for the Church and her life,
for the universal Church, for the sick peoples of the world, for all who are lonely,
for all who are near to death, for all who are facing loss, for all who lead and govern, that they imitate the governance of heaven here on earth and to love unconditionally.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman,
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Donald Arter, Mabel Perrott

The Blessed Virgin Mary
15th August 2021

BVM

Collect of the day
Almighty God,
who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm 45:10-17
Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
   forget your people and your father’s house,
   and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
   the people of Tyre will seek your favour with gifts,
   the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth.

The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
   in many-coloured robes she is led to the king;
   behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
With joy and gladness they are led along
   as they enter the palace of the king.

In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you for ever and ever.

Revelation 11:19-12:6,10 The Woman and the Dragon

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming,
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
   and the kingdom of our God
   and the authority of his Messiah,
for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down,
   who accuses them day and night before our God.

Luke 1:46-55 Mary praises (magnifies) the Lord

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Rosalind Roman,
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Alan Jarrett, Erin

And whose anniversary falls at this time
(Edward) George Austin, Winifred Hooper, Jean Foster, Susan Perkins, Phyllis Gainer

Trinity 6
11th July 2021

Psalm 85:8-13
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Amos 7:7-15 Go prophesy!

This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, ‘Amos, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘A plumb-line.’ Then the Lord said,
‘See, I am setting a plumb-line
   in the midst of my people Israel;
   I will never again pass them by;
the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
   and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
   and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.’

Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, ‘Amos has conspired against you in the very centre of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said,
“Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel must go into exile away from his land.” ’
And Amaziah said to Amos, ‘O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.’

Then Amos answered Amaziah, ‘I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycomore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”

Mark 6:14-29 Death of John the Baptist

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced,she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Maggie, Joan, Nathan, Anthony, Adam, Rosalind Roman
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Marjorie Alcorn

And whose anniversary falls at this time
John McKenzie, Diana Garstin, Barry Rowlandson, William Plummer, Maurice Atherton,

May they rest in peace and rise in glory

May God who made both heaven and earth bless us.
Amen.

Trinity Sunday
God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit
30th May 2021

Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
sing his praise and exalt him for ever

Psalm 33.1-5

The earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, for it is good for the just to sing praises.

Praise the Lord with the lyre; on the ten-stringed harp sing his praise.

Sing for him a new song; play skilfully, with shouts of praise.

For the word of the Lord is true and all his works are sure.

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 6: 1-8 Isaiah’s Vision of God in the Temple

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’

John 3:1-17 Nicodemus visits Jesus

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him

Prayers of Intercessions

for the day and its tasks, for the world and its needs, for the Church and her life,
for the persecuted Church, for the oppressed peoples of the world, for all who are lonely,
for all who are near to death, for all who are facing loss.
For the Children of Gaza and Israel, for our own children and families that need the support of our communities.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Joanne, Di George, Maggie, Joan, Nathan
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Cynthia Levick

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Judith Balough, Barbara Gill.

Pentecost / Whitsun
The coming of the Holy Spirit
23rd May 2021

Blessed are you, creator God,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your Spirit moved over the face of the waters
bringing light and life to your creation,
pour out your Spirit on us today
that we may walk as children of light
and by your grace reveal your presence.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Acts 2:1-21 The Coming of your Holy Spirit
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
   and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
     and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,
     before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

John 15:26-27 & 16:4b-15 The Work of the Spirit

‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.

‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Collect (Prayer for the coming week)
God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Joanne, Di George, Maggie, Joan, Nathan
And for those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Cynthia Levick

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Doris Parsons, Percival Fox, Jeanette Seldon

Friday of Easter Week 9th April 2021
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, RIP

It is with great sadness that we hear about the death of HRH Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh. Our deepest sympathy and our prayers go with HM
The Queen and the Royal Family.

The Duke was a dedicated husband and family man
as well tirelessly serving his nation and the Commonwealth
with dedication and for the common good. I wonder how many of us were involved and participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Condolences may be given online via the Church of England: -

https://www.churchofengland.org/remembering-his-royal-highness-prince-philip

Condolences may also be written after church services on Sunday and the
following churches will be open over the weekend. It must be stressed that
social distancing, mask wearing and sanitising must be adhered to:

St John's Barham: Saturday 10am-2pm & Sunday 10:30am to 1pm
St Margaret's W'wold: Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm
St Mary's Bishopsbourne: Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm
St Giles Kingston: TBA - Saturday 12-12:30 & Sunday 9am-12pm
Holy Innocents Adisham: TBA

Collect (Prayer for today)

Most Merciful Father,
hear our prayer and comfort the Queen, her family and nation;
renew our trust in your Son, whom you raised from the dead;
strengthen our faith that all who have died in the love of Christ
will share in his resurrection:
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

2nd Sunday of Easter
Jesus appears to the disciples and then Thomas
11th April 2021

Easter 2 Upper Room

The Collect
Risen Christ,
for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred:
open the doors to our hearts, that we may seek the good of others
and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen.

Acts 4:32-35 The Early Church shares its possessions

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need

John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples and then Thomas
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Billy Britton, Jackson Cooper-Cullen, Leo, Julia Hilton
For those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Denise Garrett, Beryl Graham

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Elsie Ansell, Irene Richards, Ashley Carter, Joan Bishop, Betty Sharp, Hazel Ebers, Tess Tanner, Barry Gidney, John Hudson, Dora Reid, Gillian Epps, Bernard Callan, Eric Poole

May the risen Christ grant us the joys of eternal life. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

0800 804 8044 Daily Hope Phone Line offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.

Easter Sunday
Christ is risen! He has risen indeed!

4th April 2021

Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep. Romans 6:9

The Collect (prayer for the day)

Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen.

Acts 10:34-43 Gentiles Hear the Good News

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Mark 16:1-8 The Resurrection of Jesus

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your sting? 1 Corinthians 15:54,55

Prayers

On this day that the Lord has made, let us pray for the people he has redeemed.
That we may live as those who believe in the triumph of the cross: hear our prayer

That all people may receive the good news of his victory: hear our prayer.

That those born to new life in the waters of baptism may know the power of his resurrection: hear our prayer.

That those who suffer pain and anguish may find healing and peace in the wounds of Christ: hear our prayer.

That in the undying love of Christ we may be united with all who have died in the faith of Christ: hear our prayer.

Let us commend the world, in which Christ rose from the dead, to the mercy and protection of God.

May the risen Christ grant us the joys of eternal life. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia

Palm Sunday
Triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem

28th March 2021

Palm Sunday 3 2021

Zechariah 9.9-12 Rejoice O daughter Jerusalem

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion!
   Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem!
Lo, your king comes to you;
   triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey,
   on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem;
and the battle-bow shall be cut off,
   and he shall command peace to the nations;
his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
   I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;
   today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Mark 11:1-11 Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Prayers of Intercessions

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Keith Roberts, Valentine Stevens, Billy Britton, Jackson Cooper-Cullen, Leo
For those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Denise Garrett,

And whose anniversary falls at this time
John Spanton, Henry Maude, Michael Bailey

May Christ, who bore our sins on the cross,
set us free to serve him with joy. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Mothering Sunday
14th March 2021

With contributions from the children of Barham Primary School

Mothering Sunday 2021

A Prayer for Mothering Sunday

Praise God who loves us.
Praise God who cares.

God of love,
passionate and strong, tender and careful:
watch over us and hold us all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Exodus 2:1-10 Birth and Youth of Moses

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.

John 19:25-27 Mary is brought into John’s home

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Prayers of Intercessions

for the day and its tasks, for the world and its needs, for the Church and her life, for mothers and those who 'mother' children not just in our communities but across the world, for children to be loved, nurtured and protected, for the work of Mothers Union and similar organisations, for all teachers, nurses and Social workers caring for the vulnerable

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;

For those so dear to us suffering in body, mind and spirit

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Margaret Tomsett, Peggy Underwood, Phyllis Brett, Harry Mummery, Ronald Haywood, Ros Breach, Stanley Bradshaw, Gordon Langdon

and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them.
May the rest in peace and rise in glory

May God, who gave birth to all creation, bless us:
may God, who became incarnate by an earthly mother, bless us:
may God, who broods as a mother over her children, bless us.
May almighty God bless us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.

Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 17th February 2021

Ash Weds

image: Stephen O'Connor

All are welcome

Topic: Ash Wednesday Eucharist
Time: Feb 17, 2021 10:00 AM London

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Collect (Prayer for the day)

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made and
forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we,
worthily lamenting our sins and and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Readings:
Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 51:1-18
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

2nd Sunday before Lent
Sunday 7th February 2021

Today's picture from two of our primary school children shows Jesus as our
shepherd but he is also the visible image of God and the firstborn of all Creation!

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The Collect of the day

Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever.
Amen.

Colossians 1:15-20 The Supremacy of Christ

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

John 1:1-14 The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Intercessions are offered
for the day and its tasks, for the world and its needs, for the Church and her life, the universal Church, Bishops, synods and all who lead the Church
The leaders of the nations, the natural world and the resources of the
earth, All who are in any kind of need during the pandemic, our hospital, GP Practices, and Nursing Homes.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;

Maureen Baker, Terry & Sylvia Bradshaw, Sheila Taylor, Tim Everest-Brown, Judith Mitchell, Ken Rogers, Paul Williams, Jan Evans, Selma Hussein, Pam Taylor, Oliver Cook, Rosemary Berwick, Pat Gathergood, Susan Freeman, Lorraine Cooper, Paul Crouch,

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing; Graham Underwood, Jean Rance, Leslie Brown, Jo Prestige, Rita Curtis, Janice, Christine

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Dot Wood,
and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them.
May the rest in peace and rise in glory.

Candlemas (Christ presented in the Temple)
Sunday 31st January 2021

The Collect of the day
Almighty and everlasting God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day
presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Malachi 3:1-5 The Lord will come to his temple…

See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Luke 2:1-22-40 Jesus is presented in the Temple

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
   according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
   which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
   and for glory to your people Israel.’

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

Prayers of Intercession
for the day and its tasks, for the world and its needs, for the Church and her life, the unity of the Church, the peace of the world, the healing of the sick, all who travel, young parents and family,
The revelation of Christ to those from whom his glory is hidden

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Maureen Baker, Terry & Sylvia Bradshaw, Sheila Taylor, Tim Everest-Brown, Judith Mitchell, Ken Rogers, Paul Williams, Jan Evans, Selma Hussein, Pam Taylor, Oliver Cook, Rosemary Berwick, Pat Gathergood, Susan Freeman, Lorraine Cooper, Paul Crouch, Deidra, Kat, Sarah & Rachel

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing; Graham Underwood, Jean Rance, Leslie Brown, Jo Prestige, Rita Curtis, Janice, Christine

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Joan Birch, Arthur Mummery, Debra Kirk, James Stamper, Richard Millington, Dave Davis, John Goulden,
and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them.
May the rest in peace and rise in glory.

Candlemas 2021

May Christ, who sends us to the nations, give us the power of his Spirit. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

0800 804 8044 Daily Hope Phone Line offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.

Notices for Christmas Day HC 10am
Thursday 25th December 2020

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Collect

Almighty God,
you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:
grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 62.6-end

Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,

I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the Lord, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth.The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm:
I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have laboured;
but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts. Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples.
The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion,

‘See, your salvation comes, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.’

They shall be called, ‘The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord’; and you shall be called, ‘Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.’

Luke 2. 8-20

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Post Communion

God our Father,
whose Word has come among us
in the Holy Child of Bethlehem:
may the light of faith illumine our hearts
and shine in our words and deeds;
through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

Notices for Christmas Midnight Mass 11:30pm
Thursday 24th December 2020

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Collect

Eternal God,
in the stillness of this night
you sent your almighty Word
to pierce the world's darkness with the light of salvation:
give to the earth the peace that we long for and fill our hearts with the joy of heaven through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

Isaiah 9.2-7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before yo as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Luke 2.1-14

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

Post Communion

God our Father,
In this night you have made known to us again
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; confirm our faith and
fix our eyes on him until the day dawns and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen

Public Notice for Medieval Brasses to be moved from the Vestry to the Chapel via faculty process

Thursday 9th December 2020

CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, BARHAM

The Priest, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council give notice that they are applying to the Commissary Court of the Diocese of Canterbury for a Faculty to carry out the following works: the re-siting of mediaeval brasses currently on the North wall of the Vestry to a position on the East Wall of the South Transept (locally known as the Lady Chapel). The work would be carried out with the advice of the Diocese’s Monument Consultant. The main reason for the re-siting is to enable these important historic monuments to be visible to worshippers and visitors.

Anyone wishing to obtain further information or to make arrangements to view the supporting documents should contact John Andrews on 01227 831907 or e-mail johnandrews@vfast.co.uk

Any objections to the proposal must be directed to the Diocesan Registry Clerk, Mrs Ann Beswick, e-mail registry@wslaw.co.uk , telephone 020 7 593 5148 so that they reach the Registrar not later than Friday, 8 January 2021.

(This is an amended version of the notice. The original version incorrectly stated that the fixing site would be on the South rather than the East wall.)

9th December 2020

Notices for Advent Sunday
Sunday 29th November 2020

The Collect
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 64:1-9
O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
   so that the mountains would quake at your presence—
as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
   so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
   you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever.
Now consider, we are all your people.

Mark 13:24-37
‘‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

Prayers of intercessions
The Church, that she may be ready for the coming of Christ, The leaders of the Church, The nations, that they may be subject to the rule of God, Those who are working for justice in the world, The broken, that they may find God’s healing.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;

Maureen Baker, Terry & Sylvia Bradshaw, Colin Richards, Anne Herring, Sheila Taylor, Maureen Underhill, Tim Everest-Brown, Judith Mitchell, Ken Rogers, Sienna, Paul Williams, Jan Evans, Selma Hussein, Pam Taylor, Geoff MacDonald, Oliver Cook, Alan Forrest, Sharon Steer, Matthew Castle, Rosemary Berwick, Pat Gathergood, Susan Freeman, Lorraine Cooper.

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Derek Summerlin, Theresa Moore, Marjorie Langdon
and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them.
May the rest in peace and rise in glory.

Notices for Remembrance Sunday
Sunday 8th November 2020

God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble Psalm 46:1

‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil; bless those who persecute you, and where possible, live peaceably with all.’ Romans 12.14,17

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5.9

Collect (Prayer) for Remembrance Sunday

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son,
the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayers of intercessions
The saints on earth, that they may live as citizens of heaven
All people, that they may hear and believe the word of God
All who fear the winter months
All sovereigns and political leaders, that they may imitate the righteous rule of Christ
All who grieve or wait with the dying
All who died in defence of their country in the World Wars and subsequent conflicts

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Maureen Baker, Terry & Sylvia Bradshaw, Colin Richards, Anne Herring, Sheila Taylor, Maureen Underhill, Tim Everest-Brown, Judith Mitchell, Ken Rogers, Sienna, Paul Williams, Jan Evans, Selma Hussein, Pam Taylor, Geoff MacDonald, Oliver Cook, Alan Forrest, Sharon Steer, Michael Castle, Rosemary Berwick, Pat Gathergood,

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Alan Forrest, Brian Gathergood

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Susan Keyes, Betty Thompson, Jetje Flavell, Sidney Roe, Hilly Rowlandson,
Kate Peppiatt, Sergio Medeiros

and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them.
May the rest in peace and rise in glory with the Saints.

Notices for All Saints Day
Sunday 1st November 2020

The Collect of the day

Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Revelation 7:9-17

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
   and worship him day and night within his temple,
   and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
   the sun will not strike them,
   nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
   and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Maureen Baker, Terry & Sylvia Bradshaw, Colin Richards, Anne Herring, Sheila Taylor, Maureen Underhill, Tim Everest-Brown, Judith Mitchell, Ken Rogers, Sienna, Paul Williams, Jan Evans, Selma Hussein, Pam Taylor, Geoff MacDonald, Oliver Cook, Alan Forrest, Sharon Steer, Michael Castle

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Poppy Deveson, Ken Tritton, Peggy Manby,

and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them.
May the rest in peace and rise in glory with the Saints.

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with him in glory. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Notices for Trinity 17 (HARVEST Festival)

Sunday 4th Oct 2020

Harvest Orchard

The Collect of the day

Creator God,
you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea
and the rhythm of the seasons;
as we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect
this planet and its peoples, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Deuteronomy 8:7-18 – The Lord our God gives us a good land

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.

Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid waste-land with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.

Psalm 65 - Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain,
   for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges,
softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
   your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain,
   they shout and sing together for joy.

Luke 12:16-30 Do not worry

Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’

He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Prayers of intercessions
For the day and its tasks; for the world and its needs; for the Church and her life: For the blessings of the food harvest from sea and land

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;
Maureen Baker, Terry & Sylvia Bradshaw, Colin Richards, Jade Lawless, Anne Herring, Sheila Taylor, Maureen Underhill, Tim Everest-Brown, Judith Mitchell, Ken Rogers, Sienna, Paul Williams, Jan Evans, Christian Giuntini, Selma Hussein, Pam Taylor, Geoff MacDonald, Oliver Cook, Alan Forrest.

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;
Audrey Muriel Fagg, Elizabeth Woodrow

And whose anniversary falls at this time
Martin Jarvis, James (Jim) Risby, Pamela Summerlin
and for all who we have loved and lost and where time does not diminish them. May the rest in peace and rise in glory

---ooOoo---

Ascension Day 24^th May 2020
____________________________________________________________

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth."

Collect (prayer for the day)
Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Acts 1:6-14 - The Ascension of Jesus

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Ephesians 1:15-23 - Paul's Prayer

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

GOSPEL: Luke 24:44-53 Jesus' Ascension & Promise

Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

PRAYERS

Intercessions

Intercessions are offered

¶ for the day and its tasks

¶ for the world and its needs

¶ for the Church and her life

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;

Richard Bellamy, Maureen Baker, Terry Bradshaw, Kelly, Colin Richards, Alan Duke, Mary Ambrose, Pamela Allinson, Stephen, Barbara Gill, Jade Lawless, Sheila Ingram

We remember those who have died and for those who mourn their passing;

Stuart Charlesworth, Dorothy Mann, Gillian Harvey, Ray Bovis,
Alan Shearer, June Falcke, Becky Judge

And whose anniversary falls at this time:

Christine Marie Bradshaw, John Goulden, Margaret Sajfet, Janice Coade, June Bishop

Post Communion Prayer
Eternal God,
giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

---ooOoo---

Notices for Sunday 17^th May 2020 Easter 6 (Rogationtide)

The Rogation Days (from the Latin rogare, ‘to ask’) are the three weekdays before Ascension Day. However, in practice, many churches have observed Rogation on the preceding Sunday... The Prayer Book Gospel includes the words of Jesus, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask for in my Name, he will give it you’ – words associated with the heavenly intercession of the ascended Christ.
The poet George Herbert interpreted the ritual blessing procession as a means of asking for God’s blessing on the land, of preserving boundaries, of encouraging fellowship between neighbours with the reconciling of differences, and of charitable giving to the poor. The tradition of ‘beating the bounds’ has been preserved in some communities, while others maintain the traditional use of the Litany within worship. In more recent times, the scope of Rogation has been widened to include petition for the world of work and for accountable stewardship, and prayer for local communities, whether rural or urban.

Collect (Prayer for of the day)

Almighty God,
whose will it is that the earth and the sea should bear fruit in due season:
bless the labours of those who work on land and sea,
grant us a good harvest and the grace always to rejoice in your fatherly care;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Readings:

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

John 7:37-39

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Mark 4:26-29

He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

Notice Sheet for 12^th April 2020 Easter Sunday

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Happy Easter everyone!

Collect (Prayer of the Day)

God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Acts 10:34-43 Hear the Good News

Psalm 118:14-24 The Gate of the Lord & Chief Corner Stone

The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.’
I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
   and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection of Jesus

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

Sermon

For Easter Sunday to fall during the worst viral pandemic that we have seen in a century reminded me of an article a dear friend recently sent me which as a testimony seems so relevant and crucial in understanding faith in a crisis. It was about a pastor in Belfast who unfortunately contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalised. ‘He recalls two nights in particular when he was crying out to God for help’ with people dying around him. This scene is comparable to Jesus’ dramatic cry from the cross as prophesied in Psalm 22:1 – my God, my God why have you abandoned me, and then the stillness of death for two nights in a stone-sealed tomb seems to be the empty reply. Our own angels – the health professionals in hospitals and care-homes hear the anguished cries as if they too are standing, sometime helpless, at the foot of the cross. For the pastor his witness at his bedside was a hospital cleaner, brave enough to draw near, and who prayed for him as if the busyness of the ward suddenly became still. Good Friday moved cautiously into Holy Saturday and then the unexpected happens the pastor recovered and began to feel better.

Today Easter Sunday becomes the unthinkable where the laws of normal observances are subverted where the human impossible becomes the divine possibility in the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth… Jesus the Christ…Jesus God incarnate…and so our humanity is drawn into His divine pattern.
It doesn’t get better than that and where death no longer has the final say. St Peter declares this boldly by declaring ‘that we have witnessed all that has led to this point (although it took a while for the penny to drop until after the resurrection). ‘We ate and drank with the risen Jesus – the Lord of all, and that “everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”’ (Acts 10:43b). The disciples are witnesses of something new, strange and different, unnatural but certainly the very stuff of Easter joy and praise. St Peter’s own paradigm shift moves him from being the disclaimer of a broken Jesus to the proclaimer of the risen Christ.

The gospels clearly show a counter-cultural process of a God who shows no impartiality who opens eternal life to all through the way of the cross and the open tomb, by empowering the weak, the poor and the dispossessed as echoed in Mary’s song of praise, known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). The Resurrection of Jesus was not witnessed by the ‘Pilates’ or ‘Herods’ of this world but first by the loyal female followers of Jesus. Their testimony of the resurrection would have been inadmissible in a court of law but not so for the male disciples but as later witnesses their patriarchal society is already being subverted.

Easter Sunday must always be proclaimed as Good News and we are already witnessing something of resurrections, or more accurately resuscitations, when hospital patients recovering from the coronavirus are hailed and cheered by the medical staff as they leave the ward, the tomb-like corridors, with angels of mercy in blue scrubs rather than bright white garments lining the way into the light. As the angel said to both Marys “He has been raised…you will see him…then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid’ (Matt, 28, 7,10).

Lord of Light and Life,
Redeemer and Comforter
The Peace in our strife;
our eternal Governor
breathe in us the hope of your Way;
Risen star of Easter Day
abide with the children of men.
Amen.

Post Communion Prayer

God of Life,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection
have delivered us from the power of our enemy:
grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers

We continue to pray not just for our community and nation but also for the nations of the world that God has given us. We pray that through the presence of the Holy Spirit that wisdom, courage and healing will be among those treating and being treated by sickness. We pray for all who are finding the changing of life routines troubling and for relationships that prove difficult in confinement. We pray for hope and support for those families and businesses facing an unknown financial future. We pray that being brought into the resurrection of life that we can encourage others to glimpse the Kingdom of heaven around us.

For any who are sick or in particular need at this time;

Richard Bellamy, Maureen Baker, Terry Bradshaw, Kelly, Colin Richards, Charlie

We remember those who have died and those who mourn their Passing;

Gordon Langdon, Doreen Rumsey (formerly Bradshaw)

and those who we remember on the anniversary of their death:

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Barham Downs Churches

Benefice Pew Sheet

Come and join us in praying for the COP26 in Taize style - with chants, icons, candles and a poignant set up. Words on the screen so that you can join in the singing.

Gospel- John 11:32-44

Gospel- John 5:36b-47

Gospel- Mark 10:35-45

Gospel- Mark 10:17-31

https://youtu.be/llWJPzYFCYs

Gospel- Mark 10:2-16

Gospel- Matthew 6:25-33

Gospel- Mark 9:30-37

Gospel- Mark 8:27-38

Acts 10:34-43 Gentiles Hear the Good News

Mark 16:1-8 The Resurrection of Jesus

Mark 11:1-11 Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

A Prayer for Mothering Sunday

Exodus 2:1-10 Birth and Youth of Moses

John 19:25-27 Mary is brought into John’s home

Colossians 1:15-20 The Supremacy of Christ

John 1:1-14 The Word Became Flesh

Luke 2:1-22-40 Jesus is presented in the Temple

Mark 13:24-37 ‘‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,

Revelation 7:9-17

Matthew 5:1-12

Deuteronomy 8:7-18 – The Lord our God gives us a good land

Psalm 65 - Thanksgiving for Earth’s Bounty

Luke 12:16-30 Do not worry

Acts 1:6-14 - The Ascension of Jesus

Ephesians 1:15-23 - Paul's Prayer

GOSPEL: Luke 24:44-53 Jesus' Ascension & Promise

PRAYERS

Intercessions

John 7:37-39

Mark 4:26-29

Acts 10:34-43 Hear the Good News

Psalm 118:14-24 The Gate of the Lord & Chief Corner Stone

The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection of Jesus

Mark 13:24-37
‘‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,