| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 31 March 2024 Easter Day |
 WELCOME Easter Day 2024 Alleluia! Christ is risen! So here we are, Easter Day, we have come through the heartache of Holy Week, heard again the stories that led up to and included the Crucifixion. A week where a friend describes it as ‘hard work being a Christian’. Sermons prepared, services taken, a procession, and the finale – the dawn service and the bringing in of the new light, followed by the glorious celebration of our family Eucharist with baptism. And don’t forget the river baptism! It’s been a diet of hot cross buns since Friday, fish and chips from the chip shop and many early nights after compline! How has your Holy Week been? Was it an important week for you, did you reflect on all that Jesus has done in your life, heard the story and wept? Did you see Jesus this week in the world around you? Did you meet him in the bread and wine of the Eucharist and in your prayers? Is your heart prepared and ready for the celebration of Easter? Christ is risen….so that you may have eternal life, so that you may forgive those who hurt you, so you may never be alone, so that you can have a clean heart and start again, so that you may know God’s eternal love for you…..so that you may have hope! Early on the third day, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, she wept, Jesus was not there! Or was he? Waiting to see who would show up first? And he asks..Why are you weeping? The pattern of Jesus’ meeting with Mary on that first Easter morning is the pattern that I recognise from my own experiences of encountering God, and I wonder if it is one you recognise too? God meets us where and when we least expect it, in ways we often don’t recognise at first. He is more interested in asking us about ourselves than telling us about himself. He takes our feelings, positive or negative, seriously. He doesn’t tend to explain. He asks more questions than he answers. And far sooner than we feel ready, he asks us to go and tell other people – tell them things we are hardly sure of ourselves, announce things we feel very unprepared for proclaiming. Proclaim things that we really hope we aren’t asked questions about because we don’t feel we know any more than the little we have been told to share. Its hard work being a Christian! So, as disciples of Christ here in Clewer let’s hear for ourselves this morning the words that Jesus spoke to Mary. Why are you weeping? What are you sorrows? God hears, and listens, and takes your worries and your pain seriously. Who are you looking for? Do you want to find Jesus here today? Do you want to meet him in prayer, in bread and wine, in your neighbour? Go to my friends, to my brothers and sisters, and tell them that you have seen the Lord. Alleluia! Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Revd Rosie COLLECT Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen READINGS Isaiah 25.6-9 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord Godwill wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lordhas spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Acts 10.34-43 † Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Gospel Reading John 20.1-18 Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS (FROM TIMES & SEASONS) In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his glorious and life-giving resurrection … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That God may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That by his power war and famine may cease through all the world … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick, the weak and the dying, to comfort and strengthen them … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That, according to his promises, all who have died in the faith of the resurrection may be raised on the last day we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people, so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection, we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer. Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy; through Christ our Lord. Amen. POST COMMUNION God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen NOTICES  BRITISH SUMMER TIME BEGINS Don’t forget that the clocks go forward tonight. EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY There is no Sunday Evening Service this week. SERVICES FOR SUNDAYS AFTER EASTER Church Open every day 10.00am to Dusk Sun 31 Mar 6.00am Dawn Service, with Easter Bonfire in Churchyard 10.30 Easter Day Family Eucharist, followed by Easter Egg Hunt Sun 07 Apr 10.30am Family Eucharist – 2nd Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Eucharist – in Church From 09 Apr – Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00pm, Evening Prayer via Zoom Sun 14 Apr 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 3rd Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 21 Apr 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 4th Sunday of Easter 3.00pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 28 Apr 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 5th Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Evening Prayer SERVICES AT ALL WINDSOR CHURCHES For details of all services and Church events over Easter, please download the program as a PDF: https://bit.ly/3IRqZtw https://www.standrewsclewer.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EASTER-Services-2024_updated_21-March-2024_v5.pdf PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Blake, Sam, Hugo, Don, Karl, Sarah, Joanna, Holly, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Diane, Sylvia, Mary, Gracie, Christine, Vivienne, the Brocas family, Martin and Ishbel, and Jane. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: All those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Easter Baptisms: Isaac, Alfie, Bailey, Demi, Mayla, Joshua, Joshua, Zach, Isabella, Ava and Jeff. Community Prayers: Clewer Green School, the head teacher Martin Tinsley, all the pupils, staff and governors, and the Bible Explorers. Busy Buttons CORE Charity and for all the work that they do. 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 Alma Beacon Hub. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who work in, or visit, All Retail Premises, Mill Stream Houseboats, Boatyard, Windsor Race Course, Forest House Veterinary Group, Petworth Court, Care Homes: Sandown Park, Queens Court, Mountbatten Grange and Winton House. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Church in The West Indies . Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Damaturu (Nigeria), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Davao (Philippines), Saint Davids (Wales), Delaware (USA), and Delhi (North India).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. THANK YOU Thank you to everyone who helped to decorate the Church for Easter Day. CHURCHYARD TIDY – 20 APR 2024, 10.00 – 12.00 The first Churchyard Tidy of the year is on 20th April starting at 10.00. It will last until about 12.00. Any questions, please see Bob Lester.  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. WINDSOR HOMELESS PROJECT NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2024 Welcome everyone to the first newsletter of 2024, and what a start it has been for us! Its been a really busy period as we settle into our new home and appreciate all the benefits its already bringing and start to plan for a very exciting future. Keep an eye out on all our social media and regular mail updates for all the WHP and Alma Beacon news. To read the Newsletter, click below: https://mailchi.mp/2259b2a293a1/whp-supporters-annual-review-5454566?e=d090be039b  WINDSOR FOODSHARE Loving our neighbours 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:Full fat UHT MilkTinned PastaTea BagsTinned FruitStrong Carrier BagsWe 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. LOOP THE LAKEThis year we are holding our first ever sponsored walk to raise funds for Windsor Foodshare.Join us on Saturday 27 April 2024 as we ‘loop the lake’ at Virginia Water to raise funds and supplies for Windsor Foodshare. Click for more details: https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk/loop-the-lake 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 |