| WELCOME This Sunday morning will be the second time we have held Public Worship at St Andrews since Churches were closed in March. Last Sunday we were at last able to welcome the Paschal candle into Church. It was a reduced service – we were not allowed to sing, but we were able to enjoy Robert singing the psalm and playing the organ; we were only able to ring socially distanced, meaning just two bells, but we rang; only some of us were able to attend, but we recorded the service so it could be watched later on YouTube. Thank you all who attended for your patience. I’m sure we will get used to ‘the system’. We are taking small steps towards restarting our normal worship. In July the Church opened for Private Prayer on Sunday and Wednesday mornings, and we have seen a steady stream of visitors. When Churches were allowed to open for Public Worship, we decided to start with Morning Prayer every Sunday in August, in addition to Wednesday Private Prayer. Churches can hold Eucharist services too, and some are, but with restrictions. We hope to begin Sunday Eucharist in September. Today’s Gospel reading is the familiar miracle of Jesus walking on water. Similar in a way to when Jesus stills the storm in Matthew chapter 8, where Jesus is asleep in the boat as the storm raged. Both are examples of Jesus testing the disciples’ faith. Has your faith been tested in recent months? We hope that if it was, you passed the test. At St Andrews we have throughout the current crisis tried to keep together in one way or another, to allow us to declare our faith in acts of worship. Initially online, then in individual private prayer, now in Public Worship, and hopefully soon at the Eucharist. Hoping you have a good week. May God bless you all Stuart & Jane |
| Welcome in the name of Christ. God’s grace, mercy and peace be with you. and also with you. Faithful one, whose word is life. Come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape our lives for the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COLLECT Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; 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 1 Kings 19.9-18 9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ 10 He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ 11 He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ 14 He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ 15 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’ This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 85.8-13 8 I will listen to what the Lord God will say, • for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful, that they turn not again to folly. 9 Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, • that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together, • righteousness and peace have kissed each other; 11 Truth shall spring up from the earth • and righteousness look down from heaven. 12 The Lord will indeed give all that is good, • and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before him • and direct his steps in the way. Romans 10.5-15 5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel Reading Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. Matthew 14.22-33 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ 28 Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29 He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON – Bishop Olivia Diocesan Sermon Sunday 9th August Trinity 9 Readings: 1 Kings 19:9-18; Matthew 14:22-33 In his beautiful and profound book. The Solace of Fierce Landscapes, Belden C Lane describes how his mother, aged 80, was diagnosed with bone cancer and given 6 months to live. She had already begun to develop signs of dementia. He found that there was comfort in thinking that limits were being assigned to how long she would suffer. He describes the drama of the diagnosis, the journey he made with her through surgery, radiotherapy and her distress in being uprooted from her home and moving into a nursing home. He writes: During those first few months I watched my mother work as hard at dying as I’d ever seen her work at anything in her life. It was not easy for either of us. She longed to have the work done, seeking release from the burden of death. I, too, wished to put it behind me, hating the pitch of uncertainty at which my life was now lived. But his mother did not die within the 6 months the doctors had predicted. She lived, although very disabled and needing constant care, for another 3 years. And he writes of the challenge of shifting gear from the acute to the chronic; from the drama of imminent death to the boredom of restricted life; from the free flowing tears to learning to wait. The days and weeks and months stretched out, seeming to last forever. And what had been so dramatic and bizarre became ordinary. And he freely admits that instead of happiness or relief, he felt confusion, almost disappointment. The dying had ceased to be exciting, and had given way to the dull ordinariness of a long and exhausting wait. But as time went by, slowly, slowly he found himself invited back to simplicity and a quiet acceptance of life’s rhythms. We are in the middle of Ordinary Time. That long, slow season which takes us from the drama of Eastertide, Ascension and Pentecost all the way through to Advent and Christmas. Liturgical green, with nothing much to distinguish one Sunday from the next, one week from another. And we’re maybe also in the Ordinary Time of the pandemic. We’ve been through the drama of lock down, the need to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed, the horrors of PPE shortage, the extraordinary everyday heroism, the terrible stories of grief and lonely deaths and funerals. The virus hasn’t gone away, but it is lying lower, and most of us are again going about our ordinary lives, but with restrictions, without resolution or an end point in sight, and these lives somehow now seem harder and more wearying. We don’t know what the timescale is. And for those of us who don’t deal well with uncertainty, these are frustrating and anxious-making times. But, as Belden C Lane discovered, there are treasures to be had when we find that we are in for the long haul rather than the short, sharp crisis. And there is much to notice and to learn. We have a choice about whether we see this Ordinary Time as a burden or a gift. Whether we engage through gritted teeth and determination to endure it, or with acceptance and an open heart. We have the choice of what we bring to it. Teilhard de Chardin, the 20th C French Jesuit wrote: Do not forget that the value and interest of life is not so much to do conspicuous things.. as to do ordinary things with the perception of their enormous value. I would suggest that we are in a season of forming and stilling our contemplative hearts, and allowing ourselves to be invited back to simplicity and a quiet acceptance of life’s rhythms. We’re not out of the COVID woods yet, but we can allow ourselves to be in the woods without fear or impatience, and dwelling deep in the knowledge that God loves us and that God’s love and grace are sufficient for us. We can bring to these times a sense of the importance of NOW, the knowledge of our vulnerability and mortality, having seen death all around, and our new-found capacity to sort out what is and isn’t important. It’s a time for stillness and the quietening of our hearts so that we can hear the voice of God. We think of Elijah, on the bare mountain, standing before the Lord after he had defeated and killed the prophets of Baal amid huge drama and great danger and risk. God had brought him to this holy place to teach him something. God was not in the strong wind; nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire. But in the sound of sheer silence, which he couldn’t hear until he had stopped running. And we think of the terrified disciples in a small boat on a raging sea. Jesus somehow comes to them over the water and invites Peter to step out of the boat. He does so, in faith, but gets distracted by the raging storm and starts to sink. Jesus catches him, and the storm stills. Our lives and our times have plenty of those moments or seasons when we are terrified, uncertain, heroic, grief-stricken, and God is not absent from them. But what they give way to, when things quieten down, become more ordinary, is the invitation to cultivate the habit of the heart which is about accepting, with a heightened awareness, the gift of now and the daily discovery of what is really important. God in Ordinary. Belden C Lane wrote, about the indeterminate time between his mother’s diagnosis and death: I valued our times together in silence. The opportunity for prolonged grief was somehow good, inviting me to the letting go of other things in my life. A sense of immediacy, a vulnerability that sharpened life’s intensity, a capacity to discern what was and wasn’t important … I wondered at times if I could begin living always as if someone dear to me were dying. That is how we will be able to welcome the days of this in-between time, and that is how they will be a blessing to us. Daily, weekly, monthly, as we discover God in a fresher and deeper way in the ordinary, the quiet and the everyday. PRAYERS – Martin Chandler Let us pray We come to you, our heavenly Father, to thank you for your great love and care for us, and to intercede for our World. The Horrors of war; we are reminded of the terrible suffering the Japanese went though with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the last world war. Also the millions who are suffering today through starvation, lack of shelter and good water. And the people of Lebanon at this time. Almighty God our redeemer and Lord please bring your help to the nations of the word. A world you planned, created and loved. We pray for the leaders of our world that they may come to know you and your wonderful Son our Lord Jesus Christ our Great Redeemer. We ask for your help in proclaiming the Gospel of Good News at this time when we are going through so much sorrow with this Coronavirus epidemic. We pray for those who have the task of leading your Church, may they be renewed and led by your Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer Locally, we pray today, for Blake, Sam, Reuben, Margaret, David, Don, Karl, Hugh, Sarah, Elsie, Lesley, Joanna, Miriam, Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. And we also pray for all who have asked for our prayers, those whose needs we know, and those known to God alone. Keep us all safe and help us to keep others safe, that we may remain healthy in body and mind. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer With confidence in the love of Christ who died for sinners, we commend the souls recently departed this life and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer We join our prayers with those of our Lady, St Andrew, St Agnes, and all the Saints, as we commend ourselves, one another, and those we have prayed for, to your unfailing love. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Blessing Go forth into the world in peace, be of good courage, hold fast that which is good, render to no one evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honour everyone, love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the blessing of God almighty, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you always. Amen —————————————————————-—————————————— SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER AT 10.30am This Sunday’s service in Church is Morning Prayer for all the Church Family. The order of service will be available in Church, or may be downloaded here The service will be recorded, and should be uploaded later in the day. Details of arrangements below MP Readings Psalm 85 Matthew 14.22-33 —————————————————————-—————————————— SUNDAY COFFEE ZOOM AT 11.30am After you have attended Church, or watched or listened to this Sunday’s online service of your choice, we invite you to join us for a chat over coffee via Zoom at 11.30 for about half an hour. We will resend the meeting details later. —————————————————————-—————————————— SUNDAY EVENING PRAYER AT 5.00pm BCP evening prayer will continue this Sunday at 5pm via a Zoom link. We will send out the order of service, and the readings, later. EP Readings Psalm 86 1 Kings 11.14-12.20 Acts 14.8-20 —————————————————————-—————————————— EVENING PRAYER DURING THE WEEK We are continuing to hold Evening Prayer meetings every Tuesday and Thursday at 1700 (5.00pm). The liturgy is Common Worship in contemporary language. The best way to follow along is using the Church of England’s Daily Prayer App. It can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. We will resend the meeting details later. —————————————————————-—————————————— OXFORD DIOCESE CHURCH AT HOME Live-streamed and ‘as live’ worship is available for everyone across the Diocese of Oxford, these services complement the prayers, meditations and worship offered by local churches. Our principal Diocesan services take place at 10 am each Sunday, except during August. Church at home during August Follow the link below for churches which will be welcoming our regular Church at Home congregation for worship during August. A range of family, all-age, modern and traditional services are available. For those unable to access a church service online, dial 0800 804 8044 for daily hymns, reflections and prayers. Wherever you are, however you join in, you are most welcome. https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream Reflections for a Church in Lockdown Episodes are available to listen to now, or download it wherever you get your podcasts (search ‘My extraordinary family’) https://blogs.oxford.anglican.org/podcast PLEASE PRAY FOR —————————————————————-—————————————— Community prayers: Clewer Green School, the head teacher Martin Tinsley and all the pupils, staff and governors now taking a well earned summer break. For all our Care Homes, for the safety of residents and staff. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who live or work in Shirley Avenue, Rutherford Close, West Crescent, East Crescent, Hatch Lane, and Firs Avenue. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for the Province de L’Eglise Anglicane au Rwanda. Please also pray for the Churches in Ohaji / Egbema (Nigeria), Brisbane (Australia), Ohio (The Episcopal Church), Bristol (England), Katanga (Congo), Oji River (Nigeria), British Columbia (Canada), Okene (Nigeria), Buhiga (Burundi), Bujumbura (Burundi), Oke-Ogun (Nigeria), Bukavu (Congo), Oke-Osun (Nigeria), Bukedi (Uganda), and Katsina (Nigeria). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. —————————————————————-—————————————— NOTICES  |
Please be patient as we implement the recommendations to ensure everyone’s safety. Please note that in the event that all available pews are taken, we may not allow any more people into Church, as we must not exceed our maximum capacity, for everyone’s’ safety. The advice from the Church of England and Oxford Diocese is that we must all wear face coverings in Church, unless we have an exemption. However, this does not apply to worship leaders, who do not have to wear face coverings when leading worship. The one way system we used for Private Prayer is no longer in place, and all three aisles are in use. On entering the Church, please use the available hand sanitiser. We need to record who is attending Church for NHS Test and Trace, so will be keeping a log. A data protection (GDPR) statement is available. Please find a pew marked with the green Available Pew sign. One person, or one household/bubble per pew. If you would like to light a candle, please do so one by one. Take an unlit candle from the top of the candle stand, light it and then put it back. We will not be taking a collection during the service, your envelopes may be left in the brass collection plate as you leave. After the service, please leave the building promptly, keeping social distancing at all times. On leaving the Church, please use the hand sanitiser again. |
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| We are still waiting to hear from you and share your stories. Please email them to rector@clewerparish.org or office@clewerparish.org Church Finances – message from Andrew Now Sunday services have resumed, you can put your envelopes in the collection plate in Church on the table outside the bell tower, or if you come to private prayer, on Wednesday. Or you might like to consider continuing your regular giving by paying directly to our bank account, the details of which are: HSBC Bank, High Street, Windsor Sort Code: 40-47-37 Account number: 11373366 Account name: PCC St Andrews Church Symbols of hope and happiness – I would like to set you all a creative challenge. How about knitting or crocheting symbols of hope and happiness, flowers, hearts, crosses, doves etc. Any colours and shape. Then when we are able to gather, we can join them all together to make an altar frontal or a banner, in celebration of faith, hope and love. Let me know if you’d like to join in. Revd Rosie Pictures can be posted to the St Andrews Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/standrewsclewer Piano Appeal – St Andrews has been gifted a baby grand piano. Thank you to everyone who contributed towards the cost of moving it, it should be in Church on Tuesday. |
| Windsor Foodshare – are now putting boxes in various locations in the area for donations. They welcome all non-perishable foods. Details on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare/ |
| Trevor Morgan’s Fundraising for a school in Kenya Trevor has asked us to remind you that he is still collecting banknotes and coins, from any country, any age. The need for funds in the school in Nakuru, Kenya is even greater as a result of the pandemic and like here, the school has had to close, and children are struggling. Trevor is happy to collect coins and notes from anyone. Please email the Parish Office – office@clewerparish.org – if you can help. Psalm Resource Robert, our organist, has sent us a link to a YouTube video of Psalms being sung by Guildford Cathedral Choir, directed by Barry Rose, during services at Guildford Cathedral and elsewhere, 1961-1974. It is many hours in length, and there is a key to which psalms are where in the recording in the first comment on the video. Click ‘Read more’ to expand the comment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9uHfqSnU94 You might find that it helps to reflect and relax in these times. Thanks to Robert. |
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WEST WINDSOR HUB A PROVISION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY – A SUPPORT HELP-LINE CONNECTING YOU TO RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE OR A FRIENDLY CHAT OVER THE PHONE If you have help from family or friends we encourage you to continue to accept help from them as usual. If any of your circumstances change and you need help from outside these support groups then please contact us to let us know. If you are having difficulties we advise you to call the HUB number above and we’ll arrange help for you. More information: https://allsaintschurchdedworth.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestWindsorHub |
| CONTACTS The Parish Office is now closed. Sharon (our administrator) is currently on furlough. Out of hours office number: 07490 094261 Email: office@clewerparish.org – Stuart will pick up any emails Revd Rosie Webb: rector@clewerparish.org Tel: 01753 852334 Parish website: www.standrewsclewer.org Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Pastoral helpline number: 07946 590223 |