| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 11 October 2026 |
 WELCOME I wonder if you have been invited to an event but you really didn’t want to go? It happens. The gospel reading this weekend is about a king who gives a banquet and invites all his friends, none of them attend. When the feast is ready, he invites them again, but again they don’t attend. Parables are not here to make us comfortable, but to challenge us. Most preachers would prefer to avoid this parable! My summery would be…if we are to be an inclusive church we must constantly be alert and not complacent, but to keep inviting, not once, not twice but continually, as all are welcome. Isaiah 25:1–9: Isaiah praises God for protecting people in need and keeping his promises. He looks forward to a feast for all nations, when God will end death, wipe away every tear and take away shame. The reading ends with people joyfully trusting the God they have waited for. Philippians 4:1–9: Paul asks Christians to stand firm, live in unity and settle their disagreements. He tells them to rejoice, be gentle and pray with thanks instead of worrying. God will give them peace as they focus on what is good and put their faith into practice. Matthew 22:1–14: Jesus compares God’s kingdom to a royal wedding feast. The first guests refuse the invitation, so everyone is invited. But the guest without wedding clothes shows that accepting the invitation also means responding in the right way. God welcomes everyone, and each person must take that welcome seriously. God offers salvation, peace and a welcome to everyone. We are called to trust him, rejoice, live faithfully and take his invitation seriously. Are you ready to accept the invitation? Blessings for your week Revd Rosie SUNDAY SERVICES 11TH OCTOBER 19TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 10:30am Parish Eucharist 5:00pm Evening Prayer COLLECT O God, forasmuch as without you we are not able to please you; mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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 Isaiah 25.1-9 1O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 2 For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. 4 For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, 5 the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled.6 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. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; 8 he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9 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. Philippians 4.1-9 1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Matthew 22.1-14 1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 14For many are called, but few are chosen.’ NOTICES PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: John, Michael, Vicci, Christine, Bill, Matt, Stef, and Joanna. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: All those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Baptisms: Weddings: Community Prayers: Clewer Green School, Mrs Branch and all the staff, pupils, staff and governors. 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 Nelson Road, Bridgeman Drive, St Johns Drive, Clewer Green School, St Edwards First School, St Edwards Middle School and Windsor Girls School. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Anglican Church of Burundi. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Central Busoga (Uganda), Butare (Rwanda), Butere (Kenya), Buye (Burundi), Byumba (Rwanda) and Calabar (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 Wednesday Morning Prayer 9am Evening Prayer Thursday 5pm on Zoom The church is open for private prayer 10.00am – 5.00pm daily Prayers & Bears Early Years Liturgy Fridays 9.30am Sun 18 October 10:30am Parish Eucharist 3.00pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 25 October 10:30am Commentated Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 1 November 10:30am All-Age Eucharist 5.00pm All Souls THANK YOU to everyone who support the Harvest Festival weekend we were able to raise £400 for the FoodShare along with lots of donations we’ve been able to donate to them! Save the Date! St Andrews Day Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday 28th November 11am-3pm. If you’d like to support this event by running a stall, offering raffle prizes, helping on the day or in any other way please let Emilie know or email office@clewerparish.org  UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Wild Worship Sunday 18th October at 3pm, bring your pumpkins for decorating! All Welcome. Next Pudding Club is on Monday 19th October from 7.30pm Friday Fun Hub will be running again during half term 10am-12pm on Friday 30th October and Friday 6th Novemeber Sunday 1st Novemeber at 5pm will be our All Souls Service commemorating the faithful departed       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 |