| WELCOME More directives from the Government this week and then, of course, very closely followed by updated guidance from the Church of England via the Diocese. On my Facebook page this week I posted .. Every time we get sent new guidance and I start to read … then as if by magic, it all merges into a splurge of out of focus words that don’t make sense, is it just me? New areas are finding themselves in lockdown and we are all tasked with downloading the NHS app for test and trace and all the relevant signage and QR codes are required at churches. But the government has the authority to make laws that hopefully will protect us all if we follow the rules. Sometimes it feels as if we are not in control of our lives anymore, which makes me think…what areas of your life do you have authority over? Today’s readings are like summit talks – Ezekiel and the House of Israel – ‘it’s not fair’, just like children constantly cross about their perceived injustices. God speaks to Ezekiel to say things have to change, its not about the sins of the fathers anymore but about their sins, their behaviour. Paul in his letter to the Philippians unfolds the mystery of the incarnation ‘do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit … Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others’. And Matthew requires us to ‘reckon with the authority of Jesus’, and to stop playing games with him! So then the question about authority – do you sometimes feel as if you have absolutely no power or control over your life? You do, you always have a choice. We all have authority over many things, how we spend our time and money for a start. The position of Rector comes with it a multitude of roles within the community, trustee for various charities etc. With that comes authority, authority to serve not to ‘lord it over’ people, but to help. Authority is given, not taken. As usual the pharisees were trying to catch Jesus out, they felt their perceived authority was threatened by Jesus. But their authority was not honest and their question was not an honest question and Jesus turned it upside down again with the story of the sons and the vineyard. This parable shows us that authority is about reconciliation. The first son ended up being reconciled as he changed his mind and did as he was asked, the second was not honest about his intentions. My role as mother, grandmother, rector, are roles entrusted to me by God, entrusted to bring peace and justice, not to lord it over my family or parish. Any role I have is God given by God’s good grace. Where things go wrong is when people with authority don’t recognise it as God given and they have a need to prove themselves and then we see abuse. Jesus didn’t need to prove himself to anybody. There are different types of authority, of course there is, like an ID badge from the gas board to prove the gas man has the authority to fix the boiler, or a mitre and crozier to prove the bishop has the authority to take a confirmation service. Jesus had the authority- fishermen left their nets for him, he taught as one with authority right from the start, he didn’t need miracles, signs and wonders to prove his authority! When we are given a role, why we are given that role? How does it reflect God’s intention for our lives? We are given it because God wants us to be his ambassadors, to work for reconciliation and justice, to bring peace. Jesus invites us to trust him and follow him, if we stop and say ‘what right has he to ask me?’, then the response will be just the same as he gave those who demanded his credentials…’I won’t tell you’. Jesus’ only authorisation is who he is. I leave you with an extract from Pilgrims Progress: Christian had reached the cross and his burdens fell from him and he was given the ‘roll’ by the angels, this was authority to enter the celestial city. Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart, “He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.” Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks. Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with “Peace be unto thee“. So the first said to him, “Thy sins be forgiven thee” [Mark 2:5]; the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate. So they went their way […] This week as you go your way through all the government guidance and instructions, reflect on your roles in life, your authority and recognise this as God given, ‘for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure’. Blessings Revd Rosie |
| 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 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 for ever. Amen. READINGS Ezekiel 18.1-4, 25-end 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. 25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Philippians 2.1-13 1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 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 21.23-32 23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ 24 Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” 26 But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ 27 So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” 29 He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. PRAYERS – STUART Let us pray, for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness. Give to the Church the spirit of service and humility by the power of Jesus Christ who became man for our sake. And we pray for the Church, and all Bishops and Priests, throughout the world. We pray especially for our Archbishops Justin and Stephen. And in our area, we pray for our Bishops: Stephen, Olivia, Alan, and Colin; Revd Rosie, and Canon Brian. We pray for all decision makers in the Church. We pray especially for the new ordinands this weekend. In the Anglican cycle of prayer we pray for the Church in Sudan. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer Dispel the pride that holds people apart from people and nation from nation. May your power be acknowledged and your will be done through all the world. We pray for all those who work for peace, negotiators and world leaders. We pray for the all the countries of the world in a state of war; we pray especially today for Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Nigeria, Sudan, and South Sudan. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer Visit and heal with your love those whose lives come close to ours but are divided by pride and self-will. Let the love of Jesus direct us in all our relationships. And in our local community, we pray for everyone in Clewer, Dedworth, and in Windsor. We pray for our Church school, Clewer Green, the head teacher Martin Tinsley and all the pupils, staff and governors. For all our Care Homes, for the safety of residents and staff. And in our parish Cycle of Prayer: Please we pray for all who live or work in Cleves Court, Carter Close, St Johns Road, Gordon Road, Dawson Close, Convent Road, and Bailey Close. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer Father, we bring to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ those whose lives are broken by ill health. May your healing Spirit assist all who work to restore them, that in your goodness they may find wholeness in body, mind and spirit. Especially today: Blake, Sam, Reuben, Margaret, David, Don, Karl, Hugh, Sarah, Elsie, Lesley, Joanna, Pam, Andy, Jean, Victoria, 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. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer We remember those who have followed Jesus until death. As he is highly exalted, raise them up with him into your eternal presence . And 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. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law: grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbours as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 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 EUCHARIST AT 10.30am This Sunday’s service in Church is a Eucharist. The order of service may be downloaded from here. The service will be recorded, and should be uploaded to YouTube later. The readings are the same as the readings above. 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 [120], [123], 124 Ezekiel 37.15-28 1 John 2.22-29 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. WEDNESDAY HOLY COMMUNION AT 10.00am The Church is still open on Wednesdays from 10am-12 for private prayer. Revd Rosie will conduct a short Eucharist service at 10am for those who wish to take communion. This gives us an additional or alternative opportunity to receive the Sacrament and also to help with limited amount of seating. PRAYERS AND BEARS Prayers and Bears will now be held at the Pirate Park every Friday at 10.00am as we can’t meet in church. This is an act of worship, therefore is exempt from the six person rule. OXFORD DIOCESE CHURCH AT HOME 27 September 2020 10am Church at Home takes place online at 10am on Sunday. As ever, links to listen, watch or dial-in in to the service will be published here a few hours beforehand. This Sunday we celebrate Harvest. This is an opportunity to thank God for the many blessings we enjoy and to consider how we can share these. Our thanksgiving is particularly focused around the food which sustains us and those who work to feed us, while remembering those locally and across the world who live with food insecurity. The Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, presides. Our reflection is given by The Revd Charlotte Bannister-Parker, Associate Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford. William helps to lead our intercessions and like many leaders, such as Moses and King George VI, speaks with a stammer. William was glad to participate in this service, together with his friends from Roots youth group, St Peter and St Paul, Great Missenden. Please also pray especially this weekend for our ordinands this weekend. All are welcome to watch live streams of the ordination services. You’ll find links to each at the top of this page. 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. 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 The suffering: Blake, Sam, Reuben, Margaret, David, Don, Karl, Hugh, Sarah, Elsie, Lesley, Joanna, Pam, Andy, Jean, Victoria, Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The departed: those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Community prayers: Clewer Green School, the head teacher Martin Tinsley and all the pupils, staff and governors. 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 Cleves Court, Carter Close, St Johns Road, Gordon Road, Dawson Close, Convent Road, and Bailey Close. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Pray for the Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. Please also pray for the Churches in Patna (North India), Chandigarh (North India), Pelotas (Brazil), Chelmsford (England), Pennsylvania (The Episcopal Church), Chester (England), Perth (Australia), Chhattisgarh (North India), Chicago (The Episcopal Church), Peru (South America), Chichester (England), Peshawar (Pakistan), Chotanagpur (North India), and Koforidua (West Africa). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. NOTICES Harvest Festival October 4th October we will have our morning Eucharist celebrating the harvest theme of Generosity And at 2pm Church Outside will be at Clewer Fuel allotments, St Andrews Crescent for a special Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving. The allotment holders are welcoming us in and joining our service together in the community. Please come along and there will be an opportunity to buy some of the Holders’ veggies. 11th October continues with Harvest, celebrating the theme of Gratitude Another opportunity to give thanks and reflect on our giving. Each week we will be collecting produce for the Food Share. This year they have requested: Tinned fruit, desserts, custard. Tea, coffee, sugar. Toiletries – shampoo etc. There will be labelled crates at the back of the church for you to place your items in directly. This means just the crates will need to be transferred to the Food Share for safe storage for 72 hours. Please put items in the right crate. Thank you. Sunday Morning Eucharist directions 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. At all times, please keep at least two metres away from people not in your own household, this includes when entering and leaving the church, receiving communion, and when taking your pew. 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. On entering the Church, please use the available hand sanitiser. We need to record who is attending Church for test and trace purposes, so will be keeping a log. A data protection (GDPR) statement is available. It is also now mandatory for all places of worship to display the NHS Test and Trace QR codes, and there will be one on the door as you enter the Church, and another with the paper Test and Trace log. If you can check in with the NHS COVID-19 App on your phone, you do not need to be recorded in the paper log. The QR code is on an NHS poster, and looks a bit like this (this is actually the one for the St Andrews website):  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. After the Eucharistic Prayer and Agnus Dei, we will go up to receive communion at the high altar. Please ensure you keep well spaced out (two metres or more). Please wear your face covering. Hand sanitiser is available in the Chancel, and near the main door of the Church. Revd Rosie will drop the consecrated wafer into your outstretched hands. Please either take the wafer back to your pew to consume it, or lift your mask to eat it immediately after receiving it. Please return to your pew through the Brocas Chapel and the South aisle, not back down the centre aisle. We will not be taking a collection during the service; your envelopes may be left in the brass collection plate as you leave. We also have a credit card reader available. After the service, please leave the building promptly, keeping social distancing at all times. On leaving the Church, please use the hand sanitiser again. Electoral Roll – Inclusion in the Electoral Roll indicates the willingness of the person concerned to identify with the role of the Church, and in particular confers the right to vote on motions at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Everyone who worships at St Andrews is strongly encouraged to join the Electoral Roll. If you are not on the current Roll and qualify to be so, then please consider applying, using the form available at the back of Church, and return it to the Parish Office, preferably before 11 November 2020. The form lists the qualifications which apply. Those uncertain as to whether they are currently on the Roll should apply to the Parish Office for confirmation. office@clewerparish.org Parish Mailing List – If you know of anyone who would like to receive the Pews News by email, please ask them to email office@clewerparish.org to be added to the list. We currently have 91 subscribers. If you know anyone without internet access who would like to receive a printed copy of the Pews News, please send their name and address to office@clewerparish.org Welcome back to Sharon as she returns to the parish office, which will be open 3 mornings a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Its good to have her back and have some ‘normality’! Message from Pam Hockedy – Pam has been in touch (via Trevor Morgan) to say that she has been very pleased and touched that so many people sent cards and good wishes to her after her fall but cannot write to everyone, so we are including her thanks here. Christmas Market – advance notice. This year’s market is hopefully going to continue to be held, but outside in the churchyard. We’ll keep you posted. 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. Note that we have a card reader in Church that accepts payments from debit and credit cards, and phones. 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 Windsor Foodshare – are now putting boxes in various locations in the area for donations. They welcome all non-perishable foods. At the moment they are short of tinned fruit. Details on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare Revd Rosie will be trekking 13 miles for Alzheimer’s Society on 17th October, if you haven’t yet sponsored her and still want to, then please do so. See Andrew or Revd Rosie. With thanks. CONTACTS The Parish Office is now open Monday Wednesday and Friday mornings. Out of hours office number: 07490 094261 Email: office@clewerparish.org Revd Rosie Webb: rector@clewerparish.org Tel: 01753 852334 Parish website: www.standrewsclewer.org Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Pastoral helpline number: 07946 590223 |
27 September 2020 Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
