| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 21 May 2023 The Seventh Sunday of Easter |
 Holman Hunt – The Light of the World (Keble College version) WELCOME The Seventh Sunday of Easter or the Sunday after the Ascension Today we remember that Jesus leaves his disciples as he returns to his heavenly Father, and we reflect today on what it means to live in the post-Ascension world, shaped by the transforming power of the Resurrection. The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1, verses 6-17 This is an account of the Ascension of Jesus. We also hear the inclusive vision of Jesus for the whole world, and the part to be played by the disciples once they receive the Holy Spirit. The second reading is from 1 Peter, chapter 4, verses 12-14 and chapter 5, verses 6-11. Following Jesus is not easy. It brings suffering. Peter reminds us that God cares for all people and will bring them through their trials. The gospel reading is from St John, chapter 17, verses 1-11. Here we learn that as he prepares to leave the disciples, Jesus shares his own love for his followers, and connects this explicitly with God’s care for them. Canon Brian COLLECT O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. All Amen READINGS Acts 1.6-14 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ’When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 1 Peter 4.12-14; 1 Peter 5.6-11 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. John 17.1-11 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Almighty God, may our prayers ascend to you just as Jesus Christ, your son, was taken up to heaven. As we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus let it inspire in us feelings of joy and hope rather than fear and separation as we await the coming of the Holy Spirit. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Everlasting God we pray for our Bishops, Stephen and Olivia, and all Church Leaders; for all the clergy and laity who serve this Parish. May the Lord bless them guide them in their work as we move forward together to live the Gospel in Clewer. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Creator God, we pray for our troubled world its peoples and their leaders. We pray for those caught up in war, and violence, and hatred; especially the innocent victims of these evils and those who are abused because of Christ. May peace abound and righteousness flourish, that we may vanquish injustice and wrong and that the suffering won’t last forever. We pray especially for the people of Sudan, and those in Ukraine. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Father God, we pray for all the people that we encounter in our daily lives. Help us to recognise Christ in one another however stressed and tired they may be. We ask that you help us to recognise the risen Christ in the face of someone we meet today and give us an opportunity to brighten their day with a smile or a word. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Loving God, we pray for all those in need; for those who are filled with guilt; who are broken-hearted; who are confused and afraid; or saddened because a relationship has broken down. We pray for all suffering from illness, particularly those requesting our prayers and give joyful thanks for those on the road to recovery. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Merciful God, we pray for all who have died; especially those who encouraged us in our faith by their example. As we pray for them, may they in turn continue to pray for us that we may stay true to our faith and give the same kind of example ourselves to others. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Faithful God, as we go out into the coming week make us mindful that we should constantly pray for your world and your people just as Jesus, your son, prayed for his disciple before returning to you. Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer. Merciful Father, accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Eternal God, giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom: confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen NOTICES SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Every day during TKC, 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom (except Sun 21st) From Tue 30 May, every Tue & Thu, 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Church Open every day 10.00am – 6.00pm Sun 21 May10.30am Seventh Sunday of Easter – Parish Eucharist 3.00pm Wild Worship – in the Churchyard 5.30pm Choral Evensong at All Saints Frances Road Wed 24 May 12.00 TKC Midday Prayers + Lunch + More Sun 28 May10.30am Pentecost – Parish Eucharist 5.00pm CTW Taize at Windsor Methodist Church Sun 04 Jun 10.30am Family Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist Sun 11 Jun 10.30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom 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, Gracie, Carmel, Martin & Ishbel, and Austin I. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Austin’s grandfather, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those recently baptised: Those recently married: 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 live in Parsonage Lane, Errington Drive, Chantry Close, Rectory Close, Haslemere Road, Oak Lane, Orchard Avenue, and Dedworth Road. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the churches in The West Indies. Please pray also for the churches in these dioceses: Taita-Taveta (Kenya), Taiwan, Tamale (West Africa), Tanga (Tanzania), Tanganyika (Tanzania), and South West Tanganyika (Tanzania).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.   https://www.thykingdomcome.globalThy Kingdom Come (TKC) is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.For more information please see the Thy Kingdom Come website TKC begins with Ascension day, 18 May, we will have a Service of the Word at 12 midday. There will be Evening Prayer on Zoom every day for the period between Ascension and Pentecost. Churches Together in Windsor have published what’s happening where for our town in the TKC season, on their web site: https://churchestogetherinwindsor.org.uk/2023/05/ctw-spring-2023-newsletter/ or you can download it here: https://www.standrewsclewer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/CTW-Spring-Newsletter_2023_27-April-2023_jp75.docx And a date for your diary: our town Pentecost service will be at Windsor Methodist Church at 5pm on 28 May. We have TKC prayer booklets which are available in Church.  CHURCHYARD TIDY – MARK THE DATE – 03 JUNE The next churchyard tidy will be on the morning of Saturday 3rd June 10.00am-12.00. Please see Bob Lester if you are able to help. WINDSOR FOODSHARE https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk From their Facebook and Twittter Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare CAN YOU HELP? We are very low on Cooking Sauces We have a permanent donation box at Tesco Superstore and also at Waitrose & Partners. So if you are shopping it is easy to pop a carton or 2 in. Or why not try our Wishlist on Common Good and Amazon. https://www.forcommongood.co.uk/…/giftr…/registry/215636 https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/23EUESGGRMAVZ… You can drop off to us on Wednesdays 9.30-1.30 or Thursdays 9.30-3.00 at Dedworth Green Baptist Church. We do not like to ask as we know times are tough for lots of people right now. Imagine if your whole street donated one tin each to us how this would help our stocks. 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. email: office@clewerparish.org Revd Rosie 01753 852334 email rector@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 |