| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 03 October 2021 – Harvest (Trinity 18) Family Eucharist  THE MORNING SERVICE WILL BE HELD IN PERSON AT ST ANDREWS CHURCH AT 10.30AM Welcome The Equinox has definitely tipped us into Autumn, there’s a chilly wind and we’ve finally seem some rain this week. We haven’t put the heating on in the Rectory just yet, but we have got the winter duvet back on the bed. Perhaps you have even indulged in a new coat? The season is changing! The photo this week comes from the Green Room 6th Form market garden stall, they have worked very hard throughout the summer and they are selling their harvest to raise money for their charity, a school in Ghana. Their harvest is plentiful, pumpkins and squashes, beetroot and potatoes, kale and courgettes, and this week we had cucumbers from their polytunnel. Harvest is a festival that effortlessly blurs the boundaries between church and nature, between ecclesiastical and secular. Giving thanks is something that as human we can all share, no matter what our religious background. We all need to eat, and so we all share the same harvest. And growing food, however it comes into our homes, is seated deep within the rhythms of sun and rain, in the clean dirt of the fields, in the delicate balance between husbandry and exploitation. Churches bring the things of nature inside them at this time of year, displays of fruit and veg from the allotments and gardens, tins and packets from the supermarket and we bring ourselves to give thanks for the harvest, for the food we eat. But it is also the feast of St Francis, who reminds us about others in creation, the birds, the animals etc, that we share this harvest with the rest of creation. The harvest of conkers, acorns, beech nuts, hazelnuts and hawthorn berries, for the trees of the future for our oxygen, and food for the creatures over the winter. Planting anything takes time and patience, did you know one tree can absorb up to 1000kg of carbon by the time it is forty years old? Trees make the world a better place! This week, with a conker in your pocket, give thanks for the food you have to eat and share, collect seeds, perhaps plant some, make some bird feeders, hug a tree and give thanks to God that we are all made to share in his wonderful creation. Harvest thanksgiving and blessings to you all. Revd Rosie |
| Collect – The Prayer 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 Readings Please note that only the Gospel will be read in the morning service. 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. Psalm 67 1 God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, 2 That your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. 4 O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for you will judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations upon earth. 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. 6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, our own God, will bless us. 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. 2 Corinthians 9.7-15 Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written, ‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.’ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel Reading Matthew 6.25-33 Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to you O Lord. ‘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. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ. Prayers Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world and for all God’s people in their daily life and work. God, the beginning and end of all things, in your providence and care you watch unceasingly over all creation; we offer our prayers that in us and in all your people your will may be done, according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord. Lord of all life: hear our prayer. We pray for all through whom we receive sustenance and life; for farmers and agricultural workers, for packers, distributors and company boards; as you have so ordered our life that we depend upon each other, enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own. Lord of all creation: hear our prayer We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease, and to produce abundant life among those who hunger and whose lives are at risk. Prosper the work of their hands and the searching of their minds, that their labour may be for the welfare of all. Lord of all wisdom: hear our prayer. We pray for governments and aid agencies, and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation. By the grace of your Spirit, touch our hearts and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty, and make us wise stewards of your gifts. Lord of all justice: hear our prayer. We pray for those who are ill, remembering those in hospital and nursing homes and all who are known to us. We pray for all who care for them. Give skill and understanding to all who work for their well-being. Lord of all compassion: hear our prayer. We remember those who have died, whom we entrust to your eternal love in the hope of resurrection to new life. Lord of all peace: hear our prayer. We offer ourselves to your service, asking that by the Spirit at work in us others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace. Lord of all faithfulness: hear our prayer. God of grace, as you are ever at work in your creation, so fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us and in all for whom we pray, that with them and in all that you have made, your glory may be revealed and the whole earth give praise to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer after communion Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Rosie’s Sermon Last Week NOTICES EVENING EUCHARIST SERVICE 03 OCTOBER AT 5PM The evening service on Sunday is a Eucharist, at 5pm in Church. Readings Joel 2.21-27 Psalm 67 2 Corinthians 9.7-15 Matthew 6.25-34 Sunday EP will be on Zoom on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays. 5th Sundays TBC. SERVICES ETC DURING OCTOBER Every Tuesday & Thursday – 5.00pm Evening Prayer Zoom Every Friday – 9.30-11.00am Prayers & Bears at St Agnes Sun 03 Oct 10.30am All Age Service – Harvest Festival in Church 5.00pm Eucharist Service in Church Sun 10 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist in Church 3.00pm Messy Church – Creation – at CG School 5.00pm Evening Prayer Zoom Sun 17 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist in Church 3.00pm Mini Mass – Children’s Church at St Agnes 5.00pm Evening Prayer Zoom Sun 24 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist in Church 5.00pm Evening Prayer Zoom Sun 31 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist in Church 4.00pm All Souls – Light up the Churchyard HARVEST HELP PLEASE Help is needed for the Clewer Green’s visit to Church for their harvest festival, 9.30 on 6th October. Help will also be needed for collecting and sorting the harvest gifts. Please see Revd Rosie if you can help with either. CHURCHYARD LIGHTS AT CHRISTMAS Forward Thinking – we are aiming to light up the churchyard again this Christmas so we need lots more lights! if you want to donate please let Andrew know, money or lights. Thank you. LIFTING OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS The government’s Coronavirus legislation on social distancing, face coverings, capacity, etc has now ended. However, the latest guidance from the Church of England encourages us to make local decisions that are right for our church and community. To this end, we are advising:We should continue to use hand sanitiser as beforeWear face covering when you feel you should (if it is crowded, or you feel the need to, or during singing, which is allowed)The Eucharist will continue under One Kind (wafer only) for nowWhen distributing the Eucharist, Revd Rosie and Canon Brian will continue to wear a face coveringThere is no restriction on the number in each pew, but please ask before sharingThe alternate pews will remain signed as ‘Available Pew’, you are advised to use themWe will continue to record attendance for NHS Test and Trace purposes, or the Test and Trace QR code posters may be used instead COFFEE AFTER SERVICES We will be having coffee together after the service, outside the Church, weather permitting. PRIVATE PRAYER St Andrews is normally open for private prayer on Wednesday mornings from 10.00-12.00. This Wednesday, Clewer Green School are holding their Harvest Festival service at 9.30, so the Church will be left open after the service finishes at about 10.15 PLEASE PRAY FOR The suffering: Blake, Sam, Reuben, Don, Karl, Hugh and Sarah, Joanna, Pam, Holly, Hugo, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Alan, Norman and Diane, Patricia, and John. 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 in Nelson Road, Bridgeman Drive, St Johns Drive, Clewer Green School, St Edwards First School, St Edwards Middle School, and Windsor Girls School. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the Church in Wales. Please also pray for the Churches in the Dioceses of Gambella (North Africa), Gambia (West Africa), Garissa (Kenya), Gasabo (Rwanda), Gboko (Nigeria), and George (Southern Africa). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.  WHP’S ANNUAL SLEEP OUT IS BACK!Join us on 15th October, as we sleep out under the stars, in our sleeping bags and cardboard boxes, at Windsor College. The Sleep Out is Windsor Homeless Project’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The funds we raise every year mean we’re able to be here, when we’re needed, enabling homeless and vulnerable people in our local community to rebuild their lives. What is the WHP Sleep Out? The WHP Sleep Out is an annual fundraising challenge, where people in our community come together to raise funds and awareness for Windsor’s homelessness charity. We won’t fully experience what it is like to sleep rough, but it does open our eyes to the experience that so many people in our community and around the UK find themselves in every day. As always, it will be an evening of education, entertainment, food, and testimonials, all before we bed down for a night in the elements. We would love for you, your friends, and your family to join us. Will you help to make 2021’s Sleep Out our biggest and best yet? ONLINE GIVING In light of recent events, you may want to consider giving to charity online. For Afghanistan – Save the Children https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/where-we-work/asia/afghanistan For Haiti – Christian Aid https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/haiti-earthquake-appeal In addition, there is the Church of England Toolkit for supporting Afghan Refugees https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/community-action/toolkit-supporting-afghan-refugees WINDSOR FOODSHARE Food Share have had to go and buy food from the supermarket as they have run out of so much and not getting the donations in. They need: cereals, UHT milk, tinned meat, beans, pulses, pasta, desserts, fruit, rice, teabags, biscuits, sugar, coffee, toilet rolls, any toiletries, any cleaning items, and carrier bags. Drop off at Dedworth Green Baptist church on Smith’s Lane on Wednesday or Thursdays between 10-3pm. Please continue to donate via the purple bin near the font, or the collection boxes that are around the community, the locations can be found on the Windsor Food Share website. https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk CHURCH FINANCES – MESSAGE FROM ANDREW Thank you to everyone for all you have been able to give in this difficult time. Please 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 or if your bank doesn’t like this Parochial Church Council St Andrews Clewer Parish You may wish to consider transferring to the Parish Giving Scheme, which we promoted in previous years. Details are on our page on their web site: https://bit.ly/2XCLuCr [https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/clewer-st-andrew-windsor/] We also have the printed application forms available, please contact the Parish Office by email. We also have boxes of numbered envelopes available, if you would like to use these please contact the Parish Office office@clewerparish.org CONTACTS The Parish Office is now closed again. 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 Facebook: www.facebook.com/standrewsclewer Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com Pastoral helpline number: 07946 590223 |