| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 15 November 2026 |
 WELCOME Under one of my spare beds is a plastic box containing what I’m light-heartedly calling my ‘apocalypse kit’; my response to the government’s call to have three days of food, water and other essentials in readiness for a disruption in supply lines.I’m not sure that the government would fully sign up to my definition of what is essential: alongside the inevitable tins of tuna and sweetcorn, the dehydrated pasta and the cereal bars, are no fewer than 12 bars of Cadbury’s Diary Milk and two tins of luxury mixed nuts: important, I think, to have a balanced diet!Recent stories about cyber attacks on supermarket freezers move my under-bed stores from the realm of geeky prepping to something that feels much more like sensible precaution; a way of caring for myself, and for my neighbours, should things get difficult for a time.It’s made me wonder what else I need to stockpile. I’m not thinking here about toilet rolls – we can all remember the empty supermarket shelves at the onset of Covid – but about spiritual stockpiling.We know, don’t we, that we can’t live by bread alone – so how are we investing in food for our souls? Food that might sustain us through times that we might find troubling, even though ‘the Earth should change’.You might recognise those words – and the title of this article – as coming from Psalm 46, a psalm that envisages great upheaval: mountains shaking, waters roaring, nations tottering. In anticipation of this disruption, the psalmist defiantly rehearses what they know to be true: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble;’ ‘the Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge’.In the storm and earthquake, these things hold the psalmist steady; enable them to hear God’s voice bidding them ‘Be still and know that I am God!’.In his poem The Wasteland, TS Eliot draws upon his faith, literature, culture and tradition, and writes: “These fragments I have shored against my ruin.”The picture is of a crumbling or leaning wall propped up with stays, with scaffolding. This is what the psalmist is doing: facing collapse they remember that God is present, that God is strong, that God helps. “These fragments I have shored against my ruin.”This is a time to be prepared, but also a time to be still; to remember that whatever happens we are not abandoned, but God is with us; to hold on to the hope that we have, that out of fragility God brings security; out of distress, peace; out of chaos, order; out of death new, limitless life. The Earth might change, perhaps, but God is unchanging and God is good and powerful, and present.So do create your own apocalypse kit, and alongside the batteries and the hand sanitiser stock hope and peace and a knowledge that, through it all, you are held by God.God bless you! Bishop Mary Taken from eNews from the Diocese of Oxford Thursday 12th November SUNDAY SERVICES 15TH NOVEMBER 2ND SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT 10:30am Parish Eucharist 3:00pm Wild Worship 5:00pm Evening Prayer COLLECT Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Zephaniah 1.7, 12-end 7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. 12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.’ 13 Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. 15 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. 17 I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth. 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. Matthew 25.14-30 14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” 21His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” 23His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” 26But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” NOTICES PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: John, Vicci, Christine, Bill, Matt, Stef, and Joanna. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Michael Bowles,Michael Castleden,Brian Hawes and 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 Little Buntings, Tyrell Gardens, Duncroft, Perry Croft, Ryecroft, Rydings, Ellison Close and Addington Close. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for Iglesia Anglicana de Chile. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Chichester (England), Chotanagpur (India), Christ the King (Mozambique and Angola), Christ the King (South Africa), Christchurch (New Zealand) and Chubu (Japan).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 – Dusk daily Prayers & Bears Early Years Liturgy Fridays 9.30am Sun 15 November 10:30am Parish Eucharist 3.00pm Wild Worship with guest from Berkshire Birds of Prey 5.00pm Evening Prayer 6.00pm CTW AGM at St Edwards Church Sun 22 November 10:30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 29 November 10:30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Advent Carol Service St Andrews Day Festival Fair Request St Andrews Day Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday 28th November 11am-3pm. Please can we ask for donations of chocolate or bottles for our tombola stalls. All donations can be bought to church or please email office@clewerparish.org to organise collection.  UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Wild Worship Sunday 15th November at 3pm in the churchyard with Berkshire Birds of Prey Pudding Club is next on on Monday 16th Novemeber from 7.30pm at Peel Close       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@babblenchatgmail-com |