| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 21 April 2024 The 4th Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday |
 Simon Bull, Herdwick Ram WELCOME The 4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday Jesus is the shepherd who cares for and protects us, comforts, guides and revives us. So trusting in his love and compassion, this Sunday we bring to him the times when we have been perverse and foolish, and ask for his forgiveness. The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles chapter 4 vv 5-12 Peter and John use the opportunity of appearing before the rulers of Israel to speak boldly about the power in the name of Jesus Christ to heal men and women. The second reading is from 1 John 3, vv16-end Our sacrificial love for one another should be seen in action not just words, since God’s son sacrificed his own life for us. And the gospel reading is John 10, vv 11-18 Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd who is ready to die for his sheep and he will gather all sheep into one fold. God spreads the table before us and offers us bread and wine to feed and sustain us on the pilgrimage of our lives. So this Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, let us give thanks and praise for our loving Jesus whose goodness and mercy surround us all the days of our lives. Canon Brian COLLECT Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Acts 4.5-12 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’ This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God 1 John 3.16-end We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Gospel Reading John 10.11-18 Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away – and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Holy God, your Son remained with his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection, teaching them to love all people as friends and neighbours. We too are his disciples and we offer our prayers on behalf of the church, the world in which we live and all those with whom we share it. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Loving God, the letter of John reminds us that “ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” Help us as a Parish to try to aspire to love with actions and truth and not merely with words or speech. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Loving God we pray for all world leaders that, using Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd as the ultimate model of leadership, they would lead and care for their own flocks in such a way that peace might abound, righteousness flourish and injustice be eradicated. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Father God, help us to reach out to strangers in our midst. As we remember the way the early Church lived in one heart and mind and shared everything they had may we too in this Parish be always mindful of the needs of others less fortunate and always welcome the newcomer joyfully into our midst. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Loving God we pray for those who do not know your peace and for those who are struggling with their lives. We ask for your healing on those who are sick, your strength for those who are tired and your love for those who live with despair and fear Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Gracious God, we pray for those who now walk in the valley of the shadow of death. We know from the Psalm that you are with them and have gone before them to prepare them a table overflowing with all good things. Guide those who are left behind in the paths of righteousness and uphold them in their sorrow with the assurance of your goodness and love. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Everlasting God, we ask that you would bless us here in Clewer with vision for the future and reverence for the past. Guide us each day as we minister to one another and to the world. Help us each day to bear witness to your name and to do your bidding, always mindful of your amazing love for us. 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 Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen NOTICES EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY The Sunday Evening Service is Evening Prayer. The readings are: Psalm 81.8-16 Exodus 16.4-15 Revelation 3.11-13 SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Church Open every day 10.00am to 6.00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00pm, Evening Prayer via Zoom Sun 21 Apr 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 4th Sunday of Easter 3.00pm Wild Worship – See Below 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 28 Apr 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 5th Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 05 May 10.30am Family Eucharist – 6th Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Eucharist Thu 09 May 12.00 Ascension Day – Midday Prayers 7.30pm Eucharist for Ascension Day Sun 12 May 10.30am Parish Eucharist – 7th Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Evening Prayer 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, Ishbel, and Jane. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Martin Chandler. 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. Those preparing for Confirmation Community Prayers: Clewer Green School, the head teacher Martin Tinsley, all the pupils, staff and governors, and the 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 live in Clewer Park, Mill Lane, White Lilies Island, Stephensons Drive, Clewer Court Road, Swan Terrace, Petworth Court, and the Boatyard Flats. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Doko (Nigeria (Anglican Communion), The Dominican Republic), Dornakal (South India), Down and Dromore (Ireland), Dublin and Glendalough (Ireland), and Duk (South Sudan).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.   A celebration of Martin Chandler’s life Funeral service is at St Andrews Church on Monday 29th April 2024 at 1pm Parking for St Andrew’s Church is available at Windsor Leisure Centre, Clewer Avenue, Stovell Road Windsor SL4 5JB. See a tribute, with lots of pictures here: https://martinchandler.muchloved.com    THANK YOU CENTRICA VOLUNTEERS A big thank you to the Centrica volunteers who spent Tuesday working in our churchyard. Your hard work is much appreciated! CHURCHYARD TIDY – POSTPONED The churchyard tidy planned for 20th April has been postponed. With the work Vikki has done with the Centrica volunteers the churchyard will be fine for a few weeks. Thanks as ever to Vikki and Lesley for everthing that they do. The date for the next tidy will be published here, as usual, nearer the time. BABY & CHILD FIRST AID – ST AGNES HALL, WED 24 APR 6.30-8.30 PM There is a free (charity) event for anyone to learn how to administer baby and child CPR and other emergency first aid like choking. This is run monthly by Sarah Shepherd. On this months free baby and child first aid session we will be talking about febrile convulsions (seizures that occur when an infant or child’s temperature gets too high) and severe allergic reactions in babies and children. There will be a table for Windsor baby bank donations.   This year Windsor Foodshare are holding their first ever sponsored walk Click for more details: https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk/loop-the-lake On Saturday 27 April 2024 ‘LOOP THE LAKE’ at Virginia Water to raise funds and supplies.It’s not too late to sign up. Come and join us. Just follow the link to sign up If you can’t make it how about a small sponsor for the manager of Windsor Foodshare to do the walk  . Let’s make our first ever Sponsored walk a success so we can continue to help local families in need. https://www.justgiving.com/page/sarah-kember-loopthelakesponsershipwindsorfoodshare  CHRISTIAN AID WEEK Taking place between 12-18 May 2024, Christian Aid Week, is seven days of action. From community events to individual challenges – your way, to fund lasting change.  CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WINDSOR, THY KINGDOM COME / PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY, 09–19 MAY 2024 During these 11 days churches in Windsor are offering various opportunities for us to come together to pray. During these times, and at any other time you are able to, please pray for an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon our churches and communities. ‘First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone.’ 1 Timothy 2.1 Details of Service and Events nearer the time. For more details of Thy Kingdom Come 2024, and to sign up for daily prayer videos during the above dates, visit https://www.thykingdomcome.global/lightuptheworld Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. What started in 2016 as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.  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 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. Click here for the Windsor Foodshare April Newsletter 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 |