| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 24 September 2023 The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity |
 WELCOME Our generous God calls us to work in the vineyard. Either early in the day or late in the afternoon, we are never too late to contribute to the Kingdom of Heaven. The first reading is from Jonah, chapter 3 vv 10 – the end of chapter 4 God provides Jonah with a bush for shade, but then sends a worm to destroy it. Jonah is angry and upset. If you’re concerned about the bush, asked God, should I not be concerned about Ninevah? The second reading is from Philippians, chapter 1 vv 21 – end St Paul cannot decide whether he prefers to live or die with Jesus, but he sees that it is better for the Philippians for him to remain on earth to help them on their journey. So he urges them to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel. The gospel reading is from St Matthew, chapter 20 vv 1 – 16 Here Jesus tells a parable about a generous vineyard owner who hires workers at different times of the day, from early morning to just an hour before work ends, and pays them all the same wage. Those who have worked all day complain that it’s not fair. The vineyard owner asks them if they are jealous because he is generous. Canon Brian COLLECT O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; 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 Jonah 3.10-end of 4 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lordand said, ‘O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ And the Lordsaid, ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city. The Lord God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’ But God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?’ And he said, ‘Yes, angry enough to die.’ Then the Lordsaid, ‘You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labour and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?’ This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Philippians 1.21-end For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well – since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew . Glory to you, O Lord. Matthew 20.1-16 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” hen evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Everlasting God, you do everything possible for our spiritual growth and well-being, but yet we so often choose the path of hostility and rejection. Let us pray trustfully to the God who has loved us into being and cherished us all our lives. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Almighty God, we pray for your Church; for Bishops, Priests and Deacons; for Readers and Lay Ministers; for Churchwardens and PCCs; that they will know how to strike the right balance between their work and family lives. We pray that You will give them courage when they need to resist being controlled by others, and will teach them to take control with understanding, always reflecting the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Creator God, refugees continue to flee from crisis throughout the world, and over half of them are children. Lord God we pray for all those who have willingly invested their time and energy in serving the most vulnerable in the world, that they will find opportunities to rest, and will be strengthened for their work. We also remember aid workers throughout the rest of the world working in places and situations that are no longer newsworthy; give them the encouragement to continue their invaluable contribution of love and care for those people rebuilding their lives after man-made or natural disasters. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Father God, we pray for all those working on the land in the world: in vineyards and olive groves, and all who work on farms. Help them in their labours especially in these times of climate change and enable them all to get a fair price for the tremendously hard work they undertake. We pray also for the world’s supermarket chains asking that they put the welfare of the farming community before massive profit achieved through exploitation. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Loving God, we pray for abundant life for anyone we know who has recently been given bad news about their health or the health of a loved-one. Lord, help us know what to say and when to speak. May we always be ready to give practical help whenever we can and to ensure that those on their own are able to manage and cope with the day to day life. Especially: Blake, Sam, Don, Karl, Sarah, Joanna, Holly, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Diane, Sylvia, Mary, Gracie, Carmel, Christine, Vivienne, and Elizabetta. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Merciful God, when death separates from us those we love and we find it hard to live without them, take from us all bitterness and resentment and help us to remember that death has no power at all over the peace you give and the love we shared with the departed goes beyond the grave. We pray for all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Holy God, as we prepare for the week to come, help us to know Christ and the power of his resurrection day by day and in the sharing of his sufferings to become more like him in his death. Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. From the Chaplaincy of the Holy Spirit Costa Blanca POST COMMUNION Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law: grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbours as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Listen to Revd Rosie’s Sermon last Sunday morning LISTEN NOTICES SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS Tuesday and Thursday 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Church Open every day 10.00am – 6.00pm Sun 24 Sep 10.30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom Sun 01 Oct 10.30am All Age Family Eucharist – Harvest Festival 5.00pm Parish Eucharist Sun 08 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist No Evening Prayer Sun 15 Oct 10.30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE This Sunday there will an Evening Prayer service at 5.00pm on Zoom. PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Blake, Sam, Hugo, Don, Karl, Sarah, Joanna, Holly, Frank and Barbara, Bill, Suzanne, Christopher, Jackie, Diane, Sylvia, Mary, Gracie, Carmel, Christine, Vivienne, and Elizabetta. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those baptised: Kobe. Weddings: David & Jennifer. 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 or work in Shirley Avenue, Kingsbury Mews, Rutherford Close, West Crescent, East Crescent, and Hatch Lane, Firs Avenue (off Hatch Lane) Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for The Church of Ireland. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Aguata (Nigeria), Ahoada (Nigeria), Aipo Rongo (Papua New Guinea), Ajayi Crowther (Nigeria), Akobo (South Sudan), and Akoko (Nigeria).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.   HARVEST MARKET Saturday’s Harvest Market was a huge success, and raised about £500 for Windsor Foodshare (exact figure TBC). Many thanks to all who helped, and visited. PCC MEETING The next meeting of St Andrews PCC (Parochial Church Council) is this Tuesday 26 October, at 7.30pm in Church. CLEWER GREEN SCHOOL HARVEST VISIT Our Church School will be visiting St Andrews on 05 October, morning and afternoon. If you could help out, please see Revd Rosie. CHURCHYARD TIDY Our end of season Churchyard Tidy will be on 30 September 10.00am-12.00. Please see Bob if you can help, or have any questions.  HARVEST FESTIVAL Our Harvest Festival is next Sunday, 01 October. Please bring any food items for Windsor Foodshare. If you could help with decorating the Church, please see Revd Rosie.  CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WINDSOR NEWSLETTER CTW | Churches Together in Windsor https://www.facebook.com/ChurchesTogetherInWindsor A summary of events from the Summer edition: 8th September and continuing The fortnightly meeting for teenagers entitled “Geese” re-starts at Windsor Methodist Church. This is a Bible study and discussion group with Pizzas. This meeting meets on alternate weeks with the youth club for the 11+ age group. Both meetings begin at 6pm. Visiting youngsters are welcome at each of these meetings. 17th September at 6pm Taizé-style Holy Communion at St Stephen & St Agnes Church. All welcome. Sunday 24th September at 10.30am Dedworth Green Baptist Church: family-friendly Harvest celebration 30th September 6.30pm for 7pm Quiz Night in aid of Windsor Christian Action, 73a Alma Road Project. Parish Hall at All Saints’ Church, Frances Road, SL4 1HU. £10 per person, includes Harvest Supper. Book as a team of 6 or 8, or come by yourself and join a team on the night. Licensed bar. Please book in advance: windsor.churchbookings@gmail.com 1st October 10.30am Harvest Festival at St Andrews Clewer. 1st October at 7pm Organ Recital at Windsor Parish Church. Leading international concert organist, Thomas Trotter, re-launches the recently restored three-manual pipe organ in a concert designed to highlight the instrument’s varied tonal palette and power. Bookings through Thomas Trotter: Inaugural Recital on rebuilt Organ (windsorfestival.com) Saturday 7th October 3.45 to 6pm Windsor Methodist Church messy church afternoon. 8th October at 5pm Joint Harvest Choral Evensong at All Saints Francis Rd, singers welcome to join the choir. Saturday 21st October 7.00 for 7.30pm A CONCERT at Windsor Methodist Church by the award winning Christian singer/songwriter Rob Halligan. Tickets £7-50 (under 18s free) from Phil Mount (philmount@aol.com) or pay on the door. Thursday 16th November 7.45pm Churches Together in Windsor short AGM and social time at Windsor Methodist Church. Saturday 2nd December: 2.30pm Christmas Concert and Organ Recital at Windsor Methodist Church with our minister Vicci Davidson and the renowned organist Paul Leddington-Wright.   HARVEST EVENSONG – DATE FOR THE DIARY There will be a Harvest Evensong with All Saints Frances Rd, 8th October 5pm. Singers welcome. There are two Choir practices before the event: Friday 22nd September 7.35pm Friday 6th October 7.35pm WINDSOR FOODSHARE From their Facebook and Twittter Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare CAN YOU HELP? We are currently very short ofCooking SaucesUHT MilkBiscuitsTinned FruitTea bagsWe get less food donations in the spring and summer, even though we are still feeding the same amount of people. 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. WINDSOR FOODSHARE ASSISTANT Windsor Foodshare are looking for a FoodShare Assistant. Up to 10 hours/week at £15 per hour, subject to review after 6 months. To download the job description, please click here. 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 Rector: Revd Rosie Webb 01753 852334 rector@clewerparish.org Churchwarden: Stuart Cockman Contact via email: office@clewerparish.org Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |