| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 29 October 2023 Sunday Last after Trinity Bible Sunday |
 WELCOME Today is Bible Sunday, it comes at the end of the long season of Ordinary Time, ‘after Trinity’ or ‘green season’ in the Church’s liturgical calendar. The long Ordinary Time is when we read and reflect on the words of Jesus and who Jesus is, it’s our time for growing and renewing and refreshing our knowledge and understanding of the person Jesus. So what have you learnt about Jesus this year? Was it through reading the bible, listening, or talking to someone? Of course, we learn about Jesus throughout our lives and all year, not just in Ordinary Time. And there are seasons in the church’s year where we set aside specific study time, like Lent and Advent. How often do you set aside time to read the Bible? I expect you know it is the best-selling book of the year, every year, of all time, based on the number of copies sold. But how many actually read it? And, actually, how should we set about reading it? Perhaps you read it in the pews news then look the text up and continue to read further, or perhaps you use daily bible reading notes that give you a text, thought and prayer every day? Perhaps you like to revisit specific bible stories that you learnt in your childhood? Or you may be a ‘beginning to end’ person? Trying to encourage people to read the bible is not an easy task! But I guess if asked, most people would say the Bible is a source of knowledge, good for general knowledge quiz and more seriously as teaching, instruction, for living. The Old Testament foretells us about the promise of the one to come, Jesus. All the Prophets point to Jesus, the Word become flesh and lived among us, Jesus the living Word, without him ‘you can do nothing’. In the NT, the four Gospels are four portraits of Jesus, they reveal way more than any painting or photo (if they had had cameras then!). They record everything that Jesus said or did and the impression he had on people’s lives. The Bible then, is a signpost to Jesus. It draws us to Jesus and as we seek him we discover that he has already set out to meet us. Meeting Jesus through the bible enables us to see the world and ourselves differently, it challenges us, it critiques and contradicts our world view, and it offers us an alternative view of the world and our future. A view that is dependant on God’s grace, called to love and serve others. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the bible fuels our imagination to see a kingdom of God that is for everyone. It gives us a clear focus from learning about Jewish Christian history to our present and future relationship with God, through Jesus. This week’s challenge: Who is your favourite bible character and why? Try to discover a new one and tell someone about them. Reflect on what reading the bible means to you and how much time do you give to reading it? Blessings Revd Rosie COLLECT Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Nehemiah 8.1-4a 8-12 All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Colossians 3.12-17 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew . Glory to you, O Lord. Matthew 24.30-35 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. ‘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 all these things, 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. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Everlasting God, you made a covenant with our ancestors and pledged them descendants more numerous than the stars. Grant that all people may share in the blessings of your covenant, accomplished through the death and resurrection of your Son and sealed by the gift of your Spirit. Amen. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Loving God, we hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dearly as our own needs. Help us to love you with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our minds and to love our neighbours as ourselves. With these commandments before us we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church here in Clewer, and throughout the world. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Creator God, we pray for the peoples of the world that they may enjoy un-perverted justice whether they be poor or rich, great or small. We pray that those who use violence and terror to bring about their desires and those who then so readily seek revenge following acts of terrorism may instead pursue all that makes for peace. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Father God, we thank you for our families and friends. We thank you for modern technology which enables us to hear and see them so easily and to keep in touch even though separated by great distances. We especially pray at this time for those friends and family members as they enjoy a half-term break from schools and colleges. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Holy God, friend of those in need, your Son Jesus has loosened our burdens and healed our spirits. We lift before you for those still burdened, those seeking healing, those in need within the church and the world. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Loving God of all consolation, your Son Jesus was moved to tears at the grave of Lazarus his friend. Look with compassion on those bereaved and grieving at the loss of a loved one; give to their troubled hearts the light of hope and strengthen in all of us the gift of faith, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Gracious God, at the start of this new week, recognising your trust in us to live and preach the Gospel, make us always more ready to please you rather than to seek the praise of the secular world Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. From the Chaplaincy of the Holy Spirit Costa Blanca POST COMMUNION God of all grace, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your true and living bread; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen NOTICESCLOCKS CHANGE TONIGHT Don’t forget that the clocks go back one hour tonight! NO EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY As it is the 5th Sunday of the month, there is no Sunday evening service. SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS Tuesday and Thursday 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Church Open every day 10.00am – 6.00pm Sun 29 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist – Bible Sunday [Commentated Eucharist] No Evening Prayer (5th Sunday) Sun 05 Nov 10.30am All Age Eucharist – All Saints Day 5.00pm Service for All Souls Sun 12 Nov Remembrance Sunday – No 10.30 service in Church 10.45am Service at the War Memorial in the Rec 5.00pm Parish Eucharist for Remembrance Sunday Sun 19 Nov 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 2nd Sunday before Advent 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Blake, Sam, Hugo, Don, Karl, Sarah, Joanna, Holly, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Diane, Sylvia, Mary, Gracie, Carmel, Christine, and Vivienne. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: David Wallis, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those baptised: Weddings: David & Jennifer. 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. We pray also for Windsor Christian Action, and the work of the Homeless Project, Street Angels, FoodShare, and The Night Shelter. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who live or work 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 of Melanesia. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Araucanía (Chile), The Arctic (Canada), Argentina, Northern Argentina, Argyll and The Isles (Scotland), and Arizona (USA).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.   Our Remembrance Day Service will be at the Clewer Memorial Park, not in Church, our Eucharist service will be at 5pm in Church.MY TIME COFFEE MORNING – 14 NOV 2023 MY TIME COFFEE MORNING – 14 NOV 2023 The next My Time event is Tues 14th Nov at Dorney.   WINDSOR FOODSHARE  From their Facebook, Twittter and Website Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk CAN YOU HELP? We are currently very short ofCooking SaucesUHT MilkBiscuitsTinned FruitTea bagsWe get less food donations in the spring and summer, even though we are still feeding the same amount of people. We have a permanent donation box at Tesco Superstore and also at Waitrose & Partners. So if you are shopping it is easy to pop a carton or 2 in. Or why not try our Wishlist on Common Good and Amazon. https://www.forcommongood.co.uk/…/giftr…/registry/215636 https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/23EUESGGRMAVZ… You can drop off to us on Wednesdays 9.30-1.30 or Thursdays 9.30-3.00 at Dedworth Green Baptist Church. We do not like to ask as we know times are tough for lots of people right now. Imagine if your whole street donated one tin each to us how this would help our stocks. CHURCH FINANCES – MESSAGE FROM ANDREW Thank you to everyone for all you have been able to give in this difficult time. We prefer 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 in Church, or contact the Parish Office by email office@clewerparish.org Alternatively, 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 CONTACTS The Parish Office is now closed. email: office@clewerparish.org Revd Rosie 01753 852334 email rector@clewerparish.org Parish Website: www.standrewsclewer.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/standrewsclewer Rector: Revd Rosie Webb 01753 852334 rector@clewerparish.org Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Contact via email: office@clewerparish.org Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |