| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 05 June 2022 Pentecost |
 THE PENTECOST FAMILY EUCHARIST SERVICE IS IN ST ANDREWS CHURCH AT 10.30 Welcome Pentecost/Jubilee 2022 This year, and in fact, this weekend, our nation has been granted a long Bank Holiday Weekend to celebrate our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and for those of us who are Christians, it coincides with the glorious festival of Pentecost, which for us, is the celebration of the birthday of the church. On the very first Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came rushing through the early church and inflamed the hearts of Jesus’ believers. The Holy Spirit came into the room where the believers waited and prayed with doors and windows locked. The Holy Spirit came with the sound of gushing wind and the look of flames that touch each of the believers without burning them. The believers were empowered by the Holy Spirit to go out and tell others about Jesus and they were so filled with the joy of the Spirit that many people thought they were drunk. God continues to send His Holy Spirit to empower us to go out and tell others about Jesus, but the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us. The Holy Spirit witnesses that we are children of God, and as children of God we are freed and forgiven. The Holy Spirit reminds us who we are when we are fearful, when we are suffering and when we think we are not good enough. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we are made in the image of God, and we are beloved children of God, children of our Heavenly King and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. Our Queen, Elizabeth II is the daughter of an earthly king, but she also knows that she is the daughter of our heavenly king. When we sing the National Anthem, we ask that the Queen be endowed with the gifts that are also available to us. The gifts that God the King pours out on all of us by His Holy Spirit. The traits that we admire in our Queen are the same traits that we should be showing in our service to God. Traits like faithfulness, courage and persistence. The Queen has faithfully served our nation and our Heavenly King for 70 years and that is a reason to celebrate and pray that she will continue to be a wonderful role model for us to follow and show us how we should serve our Heavenly King and Father. As children of our Heavenly King, we too are real princes and princess, as the Queen was a princess before she became Queen. As princes and princesses, we have royal duties to perform, and God calls each of us to our own particular duty or job that he has created us to do, and he gives us the gifts that we need in order to do our job well. But the most important job that we are all called to do is to love each other, to love everyone, even if we don’t really like someone, we are to love them by helping them and caring for them and sharing the love of Christ with them. We need to pray daily for the Holy Spirit to fill us to enable us to do our job, because without the power of the Holy Spirit we are just like a balloon…it may be a pretty colour, but it is unable to fulfil its purpose until someone breathes life into it. Before God sent His Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost, the church was lifeless, the church was not witnessing and telling people about Jesus, but after the Holy Spirit breathed life into the church, the people of the church began telling everyone they saw about Jesus. It didn’t even matter if they spoke the same language, everyone they told about Jesus understood and thought they were being spoken to in their own language. The church became alive, and the believers were able to do the things that God had called them to do. Now the balloon is full and able to do what it was created to do…enhance a celebration by being decorative and entertaining. Like a balloon, and the early church, we too need to be filled with life to be able to be who we were created to be and do the things that God has called us to do, therefore, we need to pray daily to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember that we are beloved children of God our heavenly father and king, and go out each day to do our royal duty as faithfully, courageously and persistently as our Glorious Queen Elizabeth carries out her royal duties. Blessed Jubilee celebrations! Revd Rosie COLLECT God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. All Amen READINGS Acts 2.1-21 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Romans 8.14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL READING John 14.8-17 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Faithful God, we now unite in prayer, as those disciples did on the first Day of Pentecost, and open ourselves to receive the very same Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer Mighty God, we pray that the Church throughout the world and here in Clewer, may through the power of the Holy Spirit, make the Gospel understandable to all people of whatever their race, language, and culture. Let each baptized Christian strive to develop more fully their response to all the gifts of the Spirit and use them in the service of our saviour Jesus Christ. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer Creator God, we pray that the Holy Spirit of Peace might help the leaders of nations to seek justice and peace especially in Ukraine. May there be good news for the poor and the broken hearted; release for those illegally or wrongly imprisoned and an end to the conflicts throughout the world which lead to so much grief and mourning. We pray for all those who are striving to rebuild in places which have been ravaged by war or natural disaster and those who have been forced to flee their homes and are now seeking refuge. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer Gracious God, sustain and strengthen, through the Holy Spirit of Healing, the sick and suffering among us. May they be brought to health and wholeness through the mercy of Christ. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer Merciful God, may the Holy Spirit, who purifies us of sin and raises the dead, bring all our departed loved ones into the fullness of God’s presence. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer Father God, as we move forward into the busy week ahead help us to rejoice in your Holy and Life Giving Spirit. Send him again into our hearts, into our lives, and into our world. Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for the Jubilee Thanksgiving NOTICES SUNDAY 5.00PM EUCHARIST SERVICE Since this Sunday is the first of the month, the evening service will be a Eucharist, in Church. SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Evening Prayer on Zoom, every Tuesday and Thursday at 5.00pm Prayers & Bears at St Agnes every Friday at 9.30am Church open for Private Prayer, every Wednesday 10.00am-12.00 Sun 05 Jun 10.30am Pentecost – Family Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist – in Church Sun 12 Jun 10.30am Trinity Sunday– Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom Sun 19 Jun 10.30am 1st Sunday after Trinity – Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom Sun 26 Jun 10.30am 2nd Sunday after Trinity – Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom CHURCHYARD TIDY The next churchyard tidy is Saturday 16th July from 1000-1200. MUDDY BEARS Our monthly Muddy Bears for 10th June, will meet at Clewer Park, 9.30, dress for the weather and bring snack and drink. MY TIME The next outing is a trip to Hilary Nobes’ house in Warfield (RG42 6EE) on 21st June 2022. Please see Mulle for details. STANDING COMMITTEE The next Standing Committee meeting was due to be Thursday 16th June, it will now be Wednesday 15th June. PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Blake, Sam, Reuben, Don, Karl, Hugh and Sarah, Joanna, Pam, Holly, Hugo, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Norman and Diane, Patricia, and Frank. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: all those recently departed this life, Barry Armstrong and Elenor (Sylvia) Sinclair, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those being Baptised: Henry, Chloe, and Freya. 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. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who live 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 Church of Southern Africa. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Lweru (Tanzania), Macau, Machakos (Kenya), Madhya Kerala (South India), Madi-West Nile (Uganda), and Madras (South India). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. WINDSOR FOODSHARE The Top Five Foods they need most are: * Soup * Tinned Meat * Tinned Fish * Tea * Baked Beans Donations are down 17% this year. Please help! More information, and to donate online: https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk/food-donations 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 |