| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 05 February 2023 The 3rd Sunday before Lent |
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| WELCOME Salt and Light? I’m sure the phrase ‘salt of the earth’ is one we are all familiar with, but is it commonly associated with Christians? To imply that we are the ‘salt of the earth’ implies that we bring flavour to our relationships with each other. Salt has an edge. It brings food to life that would otherwise be bland and tasteless. Salt is a preservative for fresh food and is also used to stimulate thirst. I remember in the 70’s a salt pig appeared in our kitchen, it had a wooden shovel and we discovered rock salt! Now of course we are encouraged to air on the side of caution for our heart’s sake! One of the common questions we hear is- “aren’t all good people Christians?” There are many thoughts on the matter and other thoughts on how people perceive us as Christians. Perhaps this is something you have chatted with someone about? A common assumption is that being a Christian is first and foremost about being good and another is that church is dull and boring! Our society accepts a variety of lifestyles, and people believe it actually doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. When people recognise a person as good, they give credit to the person rather than to God. So what is it that makes us different? After presenting the beatitudes, Jesus begins his sermon by making the analogy that his followers are like salt and light. Jesus could be affirming to a person and then ask them to change their behaviour, for example, Jesus accepted the rich young man, but challenged him to give away his possessions. The challenge for change is the saltiness! And, after all, what is the point of having a torch switched on in a bag, if you don’t take it out and use it in the dark to help you find your way? To be salt and light is to meet people on their own terms, go out to where they are and add flavour. Not just to be good people, but to be Christians and ensure publicly that God gets the credit. How we move and dwell with others makes all the difference in the world as we follow in the footsteps of our crucified risen Lord. So shine for Jesus, add some flavour and why not invite a friend or neighbour to join us for ‘Lunch and More’ on Wednesdays in Lent? Blessings Revd Rosie |
| COLLECT Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity: give your people grace so to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, among the many changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; 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. or Eternal God, whose Son went among the crowds and brought healing with his touch: help us to show his love, in your Church as we gather together, and by our lives as they are transformed into the image of Christ our Lord. All Amen |
| READINGS Isaiah 58.1-9a Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practised righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgements, they delight to draw near to God. ‘Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?’ Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lordshall be your rearguard. Then you shall call, and the Lordwill answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 112.1-9 Alleluia. Blessed are those who fear the Lord and have great delight in his commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land, a generation of the faithful that will be blest. Wealth and riches will be in their house, and their righteousness endures for ever. Light shines in the darkness for the upright; gracious and full of compassion are the righteous. It goes well with those who are generous in lending and order their affairs with justice, For they will never be shaken; the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of any evil tidings; their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their heart is sustained and will not fear, until they see the downfall of their foes. They have given freely to the poor; their righteousness stands fast for ever; their head will be exalted with honour. 1 Corinthians 2.1-12 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. Matthew 5.13-20 ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. |
| INTERCESSIONS Holy God, help us to hold high the standard of your teaching, even when it is hard to apply it to our modern way of life. May we strive to never lower your standards, or to change what you teach, but to pray diligently for a realistic understanding of what you want for us in every aspect of our lives that we too may be seen to be as “The salt of the Earth”. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Gracious God we pray for your blessing to be upon this congregation, upon this church and upon our Parish; and for your presence to be seen vividly in what we do and say each day. We pray that your joy and your love will flow freely in and through us and that we might never be seen by those around us as falling short of the teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Creator God, you gave us this world and made us stewards of it. We are a world family who we should care about, despite our differences of race, colour, creed or gender. Too often we are selfish only thinking of ourselves and so we ask you to forgive our selfishness, widen our vision and help us to be the caring people we ought to be. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Father God we pray for our community, that each of us will might make use of our individual talents enabling each church group to flourish as a witness to the “One Body” of the church. As we approach the time of the APCM, stir up the desire in all of us to serve where appropriate and to attend these important gatherings in order that your gospel may be effectively taken out into every part of the Parish and beyond. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Loving God, we ask for your healing touch on all who are ill or suffering. We especially pray for any we know who are experiencing emotional pain or are broken in spirit through personal or family problems. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Merciful God give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that by casting their cares on you they may find the strength to face the days ahead. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Everlasting God send us out into the world, renewed by our worship and strengthened by our fellowship, so that we may be a testament to the Gospel of your son Jesus Christ and determined to bring healing and reconciliation to our wounded 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 |
| PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Merciful Father, who gave Jesus Christ to be for us the bread of life, that those who come to him should never hunger: draw us to the Lord in faith and love, that we may eat and drink with him at his table in the kingdom, where he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen |
| Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for last Sunday |
| NOTICES |
| SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Tuesdays and Thursdays, Evening Prayer at 5.00pm via Zoom Church Open every Wednesday 10.00am – 12.00 Sun 05 Feb 10.30am Third Sunday before Lent, All Age Eucharist 5.00pmEucharist in Church Sun 12 Feb 10.30am Second Sunday before Lent, Parish Eucharist 5.00pmEvening Prayer in Church Sun 19 Feb 10.30am Sunday Next before Lent, Parish Eucharist 5.00pmEvening Prayer in Church Wed 22 Feb 12.00am Ash Wednesday, Midday Eucharist Sun 26 Feb 10.30am First Sunday of Lent, Parish Eucharist 5.00pmEvening Prayer in Church |
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| —————————————————————————————————————– We are looking for volunteers to help with Lunch and More, please stay behind after the service on Sunday for a chat about how you could help. |
| PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Blake, Sam, Don, Karl, Sarah, Joanna, Holly, Hugo, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Norman and Diane, Sylvia, Mary, and Gracie. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those baptised this month: 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 at, or take part in activities in, 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 Papua New Guinea. Please pray also for the churches these dioceses: the Territory of the People (Canada, BC and Yukon), Perth (Australia), Peru (South America), Peshawar (Pakistan), Peterborough (England) and Central Philippines. Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. |
| WINDSOR FOODSHARE From their Facebook and Twittter Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare SORRY TO ASK BUT PLEASE CAN YOU HELP? This week we are extremely short on Tinned spaghetti. Tinned Meat. Tinned Desserts. Tinned Pulses. Carrier bags. Last week we fed 202 people. The same week last year it was 114 people. With the increasing numbers it is even more important that we keep regular donations coming in. If you are shopping in Tesco Superstore it is an ideal way to donate to us or Waitrose & Partners. Both of these supermarkets have a permanent donation box for us. |
| CHURCH FINANCES – MESSAGE FROM ANDREW Thank you to everyone for all you have been able to give in this difficult time. Please consider continuing your regular giving 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 You may wish to consider transferring to 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, please contact the Parish Office by email. |
| CONTACTS The Parish Office is now closed. The Office Number is: 07490 094261 Email: office@clewerparish.org Parish Website: www.standrewsclewer.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/standrewsclewer Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |