| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 19 July 2026 |
 WELCOME Another story about the challenges of the rectory vegetable patch. I’m not a very patient gardener, and my husband is always saying that weeds are simply plants growing in the wrong place. My vegetable patch is a constant challenge because I don’t tend it as often as I should. Last week I finally decided I had to weed around the beetroot because the weeds had grown bigger than the beetroot itself. As I started pulling them out, up came some of my tiny beetroot plants as well. In trying to remove the weeds, I was also pulling up the crop I was hoping to grow. So, I stopped immediately. Last week, from Matthew’s Gospel, we heard the parable of the sower. This week Matthew’s Gospel continues with another of the Kingdom parables: the parable of the wheat and the tares (weeds). All of these parables reveal something about the Kingdom of God and the way God’s reign is at work in the world. In this parable, the field is the world. That’s what I want us to focus on this Sunday. Although the story uses the familiar image of a farmer’s field, it isn’t really about gardening or solving a horticultural problem. It’s about Christians living in the world. The world we live in today is, of course, very different from the world of Jesus’ time, but as so often happens, Jesus turns our expectations upside down. Those who follow him are called to live the risky life of being fully present in the world. We are not asked to decide who is righteous and who is not. We are not called to stand in judgement over others. Instead, we are called to live faithfully in the world where God has placed us. Seen in that light, the weeds become less about plants and more about attitudes. Throughout history—and sadly still today—people are persecuted because of their faith, the colour of their skin, their gender, their sexuality, or because they hold different theological views. Too often, people have been judged, excluded and, tragically, rooted out of the Church itself. This parable challenges us to ask how far we are willing to go in ministering to those who are different from us, because this is the world in which God has called us to live and serve. According to this parable, the world is the field—the very place where God’s love is already at work, seeking to make all things new. And it is there, in that same field, that we too are called to serve. Blessings for your week Revd Rosie SUNDAY SERVICES 19TH JULY 7TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 10:30am Parish Eucharist 3:00pm Wild Worship 5:00pm Evening Prayer COLLECT Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; 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 44.6-8 6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 7 Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. 8 Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one. Romans 8.12-25 12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For 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!’ 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and 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.18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43 24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ 37He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen! Sermon Recording from Sunday 12th July 2026 (Rev John Quick) NOTICES PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Bill, Jennifer, Matt, Stef, and Joanna. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: John Bruce and all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Baptisms: Weddings: Those preparing for marriage Amber and Phillip 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 Hermitage Lane, Longbourn, Maidenhead Road, Rays Avenue, Wells Close, Vale Road and Buckland Crescent. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the Episcopal Church of Sudan. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: the Arctic (Canada), Argentina (South America), Northern Argentina (South America), argll and The Isles (Scotland), Arizona (USA) and Arkansas (USA).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 (breaks for August) The church is open for private prayer 10.00am – 5.00pm daily Sun 26 July 10:30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 02 August 10:30am All Age Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist Sun 09 August 10:30am Eucharist + Baptism 5.00pm Evening Prayer UPCOMING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES Community Day at The Swan Pub Sunday 19th July – https://theswanwindsor.co.uk/event/the-swans-7th-birthday/ Wild Worship Sunday 19th July 3pm at the allotments, meet at Church and walk together Bat Watch 21st July 8.30pm Whilst there are no Prayers & Bears sessions in August every Friday from 10am-12pm there will be craft activities happening at St Andrews John Bruce’s Funeral 11th August 1pm at St Andrews Churchyard Tidy Dates – Save the Date – 9-11am Saturday 15th Aug Sat 5th Sept Churchyard Tea Saturday 15th August 3-5pm (updated date!)     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 |