| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 07 June 2026 |
 WELCOME 1st Sunday after Trinity – 7th June What Christian values or virtues guide your life? Values shape what we believe and why we believe it. They act as our moral compass and help guide our goals and choices. Virtues are how we live those values out each day through our actions, such as honesty, courage, and patience. A virtue is not just something we admire; it is something we practise. In today’s readings, we reflect on the virtue of mercy. Mercy is one of the most important Christian virtues. We see it in the Old Testament, especially in the message of the prophet Hosea. Hosea spoke about God’s love for his people and their love for him. He asked what value there is in following God’s law if it is done without love or sincerity. The Hebrew word he used was ‘hesed’, which means faithful love, kindness, devotion, loyalty, and mercy. Through Hosea, God says, ‘I desire steadfast love [hesed] and not sacrifice’ (Hosea 6:6). Jesus continued this same message. The Pharisees criticised him for spending time with people they saw as sinners or outsiders, such as prostitutes, tax collectors, and gamblers. But Jesus showed that they had missed the heart of God’s teaching. Just as sick people need a doctor, those who are struggling need help and compassion. When Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” he was teaching that God values kindness and love more than the simple keeping of religious rules. Many of Jesus’ best-known parables help us understand this truth, for example: the Good Samaritan and the father in the Prodigal Son So, should we always show mercy? We might ask the same question about forgiveness, which is closely linked to mercy. There is no simple answer, because mercy can be difficult in some situations. I expect every one of us has a list of things that we consider ‘unforgiveable.’ But in everyday life, even when we feel we are legally or morally right, we can still choose to show mercy. This is the kind of loving kindness—hesed—that blesses both the person who gives it and the person who receives it. Prayer of preparation and for forgiveness All that we ought to have thought and have not thought, All that we ought to have said and have not said, All that we ought to have done and have not done; All that we ought not to have thought and yet have thought, All that we ought not to have spoken and yet have spoken, All that we ought not to have done and yet have done; For thoughts, words and works, we pray, O God, for forgiveness, And repent with penance. Amen. (The Zenda vesta) Blessings for your week. Revd Rosie SUNDAY SERVICES 07TH JUNE 1ST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 10:30am All- Age Eucharist 5:00pm Eurcharist COLLECT O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Hosea 5.15-6.6 15I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour: 6‘Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.’ 4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. 5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgement goes forth as the light. 6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings. Romans 4.13-end 13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ 23Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26 9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ 12But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ 19And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. 23When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, 24he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. 25But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26And the report of this spread throughout that district. Sermon Recording from Sunday 31st May 2026 (Rev Rosie) NOTICES  PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Jennifer, John B, Matt, Stef, and Joanna. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Judith Parrott, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Baptisms: Nellie, Archie, Ellie, Finley Weddings: Those preparing for marriage Georgina and Ben Community Prayers: Clewer Green School, Mrs Branch, Mr Seymour, and all the staff, pupils, staff and governors. 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. For EMERGE advocacy for their work in hosptials. Please pray for the PCC as they work through the Mission Action Plan and discern God’s mission in Clewer. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who live or work in Clarence Road, Trevelyan Estate, Helston Lane, Green Lane, Clewer Avenue, Clewer New Town and Birchington Road. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Scottish Episcopal Church. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Accra (West Africa), Adelaide (Australia), Afikpo (Nigeria), North Africa (The Episcopal / Anglican Province of Alexandria), Agra (India) and Aguata (Nigeria).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families. If you would like anyone added to our Prayer List please email the office office@clewerparish.org SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8.00am in Church Evening Prayer on Tuesday and Thursdays at 5pm on Zoom Prayers & Bears – Early Years Liturgy on Fridays at 9.30am in Church The church is open for private prayer 10.00am – 5.00pm daily Sun 14 June 10:30am Eucharist 3.30pm Faith Explorers (Middler Schoolers Group) 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 21 June 10:30am Eucharist 3.30pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 28 June 10:30am Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Bake-Off this Sunday as usual after the all-age eucharist we have a bake off event after the service Clewer Green Family Worship Sessions on Wednesday 10th June 2.15pm if you’d like to come and help welcome them to church Bellringing Competition taking place on Saturday 13th June at St Andrews Faith Explorers (Middle Schoolers Group) meet next on Sunday 14th June with Revd Andy coming as a special guest. GiN (God in Nuture) Summer Walks are back next one is Monday 15th June meeting at 7.30pm at the Lesiure Centre   CHURCH GIVING Thank you to everyone who continues to contribute to our church financially as well as through their time and skills. As we see our congregation grow and our community events increase we invite you to prayerfully consider how you might support this ongoing growth. Every contribution helps us serve our parish here in Clewer. Finance Details Parish Giving Scheme – where one off payments or regular giving can be set up. Alternatively, financial contributions can be paid 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 If you haven’t already please consider downloading the Church of Englands EverydayFaith app to help with daily reflections to inspire, equip and encourage you in your everday faith. CONTACTS Rector Revd Rosie Webb 01753 852334, email: rector@clewerparish.org Parish Office email: office@clewerparish.org Parish Website: www.standrewsclewer.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/standrewsclewer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st_andrews_clewer/ Churchwarden: Vacant Contact via email: office@clewerparish.org Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |