| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 04 February 2024 2nd Sunday before Lent |
 WELCOME We gather to worship the God who made Heaven and earth, whose love never ends. Even in the devastation and darkness of the world the light of God, the Living God, is never extinguished. God chooses to dwell with us, giving us the power to be God’s children through grace. Our first reading is from Proverbs, chapter 8, vv 1 and 22-31 It’s a beautiful wisdom poem about the beginning of the world, telling of God’s delight in shaping the rich and intricate diversity of creation. The second reading is from the letter to the Collossions, chapter 1, vv 15-20 This passage speaks of the absolute significance of Jesus to the creation, salvation and sustaining of the world. And the gospel reading from St John chapter 1 vv 1-14 It is the prologue to John’s gospel. It tells how the word of God, who created the world, gives us power to be God’s children. Canon Brian COLLECT 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 READINGS Proverbs 8.1, 22-31 Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth – when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Colossians 1.15-20 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. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God THE GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. John 1.1-14 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. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Everliving God, our creator and redeemer, you love us and know us better than we know ourselves. With a word, you created all things and so we pray that you will hear the words of your children as we pray; giving thanks to you for your church, the world and its peoples. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Mighty God, we pray for the worldwide Christian Church in all its wonderful diversity. We pray especially for those churches who meet together in difficult and dangerous circumstances. May they feel your abiding presence to uphold their courage and strengthen their faith. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Creator God we pray for your world and its peoples with all their needs, questions and longings. So often we struggle to understand the reasons behind the many inhumane acts of violence that have already occurred this year; and yet we know that in the midst of such events your love is shown in the acts of bravery, selflessness and compassion which follow. We pray for all who suffer in such dreadful circumstances and for those who are tasked with rescue, providing the medical and community support and, eventually, in the long task of reconstruction. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Father God, Lord of life and love, this week sees the start of “Marriage Week” we pray for all who are preparing for marriage; for those who are already married and for those who find their marriages difficult. Be with them all; in their joy and sadness, their hope and their expectations, and above all, help them to understand that you hold them in love each moment of their lives. Be near to those going through separation and divorce. Cleanse their hearts of all bitterness and resentment. Guide them as they plan their future lives. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Loving God we pray for those in need in our own community, the sick and the dying, the elderly, the housebound and those in care homes, hospitals and hospices and for the work and devotion of those who care for them. We thank you for Carers whose love and compassion bring both material and spiritual comfort at times of need. We raise before you now those from our Parish for whom prayer has been requested. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Merciful God be close to those who feel the pain of grief at the loss of a loved one whether recent or as each anniversary passes. Help us to support all those who mourn with our prayers, with words of comfort and with practical help as they struggle to come to terms with their loss. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Send us out into the coming week to live the Good News. Give us the will each day to live in life eternal. Let our citizenship be in heaven with the whole company of the redeemed and with countless angels, praising, worshipping and adoring him who sits upon the throne forever and ever. Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen POST COMMUNION God our creator, by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church: may we who have been nourished at your table on earth be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross and enjoy the delights of eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for Candlemas last Sunday Listen NOTICES EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY Sunday Evening’s Service is a Eucharist in Church. SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Church Open every day 10.00am to Dusk, except Monday and Tuesday this week Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00pm, Evening Prayer via Zoom Sun 04 Feb 10.30am All Age Eucharist – Second Sunday before Lent 5.00pm Eucharist – in Church Sun 11 Feb 10.30am Parish Eucharist – Sunday Next Before Lent 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom Wed 14 Feb 12.00 Eucharist – Ash Wednesday 7.30pm Eucharist Sun 18 Feb 10.30am Parish Eucharist – The First Sunday of Lent 3.00pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer – in Church Sun 25 Feb 10.30am Parish Eucharist – The Second Sunday of Lent 5.00pm Evening Prayer – in Church 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, Vivienne, the Brocas family, Martin, and Jane. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Lisa Barrott, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those baptised: Aimee Trot. Weddings: 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 work in, or visit, Legoland, Dedworth Medical Centre, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Thames Hospice, Guards Club, Tennis Club, and Windsor Gym. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the Church of South America. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Cameroon (West Africa), El Camino Real (USA), Canberra and Goulburn (Australia), Canterbury (England), Cape Coast (West Africa), and Cape Town (Southern Africa).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. MYTIME The next MyTime outing is on Wenesday 07 Feb, with a trip to Oaktrees for coffee. Lifts can be arranged, if interested please see Maureen.  FUNDRAISING FOR A NEW SOUND SYSTEM We are raising money to pay for a new sound system for St Andrews, to replace the aging system we use currently.If you can help, please use either: * Our bank account (details below, please use a reference of “Sound System”). * Our Parish Giving page: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/clewer-st-andrew-windsor/ The QR code above goes to the same page Thanks to everyone for all the donations towards the sound system so far, if anyone would like to help with fundraising and events please talk to Revd Rosie.   Come and Sing Stainer’s Crucifixion Windsor Parish Church and Thames Valley Church Music invite you to come and take part in a devotional performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion in Windsor Parish Church. Details available on the posters in Church  A Warm Hub will be running at the Alma Beacon starting on the 7th of January. Please share the poster where you can. Download here: https://www.standrewsclewer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Alma-Beacon-Warm-Hub.pdf  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 very short of: UHT milk Tinned Fruit Cooking sauces Rice Tinned tomatoes Tinned veg This week we helped 212 people with the food that the community has donated to us. 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 two 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… We still ask that any food donations for Windsor Foodshare are dropped into Dedworth Green Baptist church as this will still be our main base. 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 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 |