| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 25 February 2024 The Second Sunday of Lent |
 WELCOME Second Sunday of Lent The first reading is from Genesis chapter 17 vv 1-7 and vv 15-16 God gives a new beginning and a promise to an elderly couple, Abraham and Sarah. It’s not just that they will at last become parents, but God will be the God of all their descendents, confirms their identity as God’s people The second reading is from the letter to the Romans chapter 4 vv 13 – end St Paul writes about God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah, and applauds them for believing in something that seems impossible. Their faith is an example for us. The gospel reading from St Mark chapter 8 v 31 – end Jesus begins to explain what it really means to be the Messiah. From St Mark chapter 8 v 35 Those who want to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for my sake and for the sake of the gospel will save it. A paradox is a figure of speech that seems to contradict itself but actually contains a deep truth. There are many examples in literature over thousands of years. In ancient Greece Socrates declaimed “I know only one thing, that I know nothing” Even the paradoxes that look like pure nonsense work to stretch our thinking such as a conversation between Alice and the Mad Hatter, in the story of Alice in Wonderland. When Alice is offered more tea she replies “I have nothing yet, so I can’t take more”. “You mean you can’t take less” said the Hatter. It’s a very easy thing to take more than nothing. Jesus doesn’t call us to reject ourselves, but loves us so we must love ourselves too. Jesus calls us to reject our shallowness so that we can live lives of depth and meaning. He does call us into some paradoxes and when we let go of ourselves we’ll find our real selves. If we cling onto ourselves we will lose our real selves. We find out who we are by learning who Jesus is. So what might this mean to us today? Perhaps there is a step of faith for us to take or perhaps there’s something or someone that we’re holding too tightly. So here Jesus promises that “those who lose their life for my sake or for the sake of the gospel will save it.” The gospel is the way of love. It may be that not just our life will be saved but the lives of those around us as well. To follow the way of Jesus may be costly, painful and self-sacrificial, but it’s also the only way to find freedom, true love, real life. These are the gifts that God, the living God, gives to each one of us, and they are everlasting. Canon Brian COLLECT Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.’ Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’ This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Romans 4.13-end For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God THE GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord. Mark 8.31-end Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Loving God as you revealed yourself to Abraham in ancient days, reveal yourself to in this present age. Make us into a faithful people ready to believe your promises and follow you wherever you will lead us. Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer Holy God, during this period of Lent, give us a new awareness of your presence in our Church here in Clewer and teach us the humility to accept that all our gifts come from you to be used in the service of your people and in the spreading of the Gospel. Live in us through all of our small acts of sacrifice and help us be cheerful in our fasting and giving as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded. Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer Creator God your son walked upon earth and taught us to seek your hand in the beauty and wonders of earth and sea and the sky. We so often see too much of the evidence of poor stewardship in our surroundings and it is easy to forget that the world belongs to you. Help us to recognise your presence in our modern world, and help us to use more wisely the resources of the earth. Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer Father God, we give you thanks for our Local and Church community: for our neighbours, for our friends and for the people around us with whom we work and share our daily lives. We pray for those who are old and lonely, those isolated because of ill-health, and those who find it difficult to be accepted. Show us all that we can do to help those around us and teach us to be good neighbours and true friends. Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer Gracious God, we pray for the sick and the suffering. For those undergoing treatments and surgery; for those convalescing and those who are recovered. We pray that through their suffering they may all experience the light of the Gospel. We pray too for all who administer to the sick and infirm; for those working in our local health centres and hospitals; for those working in care homes and those who daily give help at home; for all of our local charities and Help organisations. Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer Almighty God be near to all those who are grieving today over the loss of a loved one. We raise before you those who have died in the faith of Christ and for those whose belief is known only to you. Lord, we thank you for those who have travelled before us on the way of the cross and are now at peace in your eternal presence. Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer Faithful God as we go out into the world today help us to remember that your son was tempted by the Devil but chose faithfulness before popularity, service before fame and sacrifice before power. Give us the strength to reject temptation through our Lenten journey and beyond it throughout the rest of our lives. Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. POST COMMUNION Almighty God, you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for last Sunday Listen A reflection on Canon Brian’s sermon about time, here is Revd Rosie’s poem: Ode to Harris Time goes slowly on Harris. Time to watch the weather roll off the mountains. Time for sunsets over Taransay. Time for sand dunes and crashing waves. What time is it anyway? No idea No signal No radio Can you make some time to visit? I can fit it in maybe after…. I might make it in time…. Do I have a brief moment in time? I always have time for you. Time goes slowly on Harris. Time to watch the seaweed appear over the rocks as the tide turns. Time to count the sheep. Time soars on the wings of a sea eagle and slips away off the back of a grey seal. Time whispers in the wind and the crackling warmth from the fire. Time sleeps on the sofa with the dogs. Time to stargaze amid the banks of clouds. What time is it anyway? No idea. Time for another cuppa. Time to open the cover of another new book. Tarry a while as time goes blessedly slowly on Harris. NOTICES EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY Sunday Evening’s Service is Evening Prayer in Church at 5.00pm. SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Church Open every day 10.00am to Dusk Sun 25 Feb 10.30am Parish Eucharist – The Second Sunday of Lent 5.00pm Evening Prayer – in Church Sun 03 Mar 10.30am All Age Eucharist – The Third Sunday of Lent 5.00pm Eucharist – in Church Sun 10 Mar 10.30am Mothering Sunday 5.00pm Evening Prayer – in Church Sun 17 Mar 10.30am Parish Eucharist – The Fifth Sunday of Lent 3.00pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer – in Church 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, the Brocas family, Martin, and Jane. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Lisa Barrott, Betty Doughty, Doreen Hiscock, Andrew (Bill) Sinclair, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those baptised: Aimee Trot. Weddings: Community Prayers: Clewer Green School, the head teacher Martin Tinsley and all the 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, and the work of the Homeless Project, Street Angels, FoodShare, and the Alma Beacon Hub. Parish Cycle of Prayer: Please pray for all who work in, or visit, Legoland, Dedworth Medical Centre, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, Thames Hospice, Guards Club, Tennis Club, and Windsor Gym. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the Church of Tanzania. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Chicago (USA), Chichester (England), Chotanagpur (North India), Christ the King (Mocambique e Angola), Christ the King (Southern Africa), and Christchurch (Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.      Come and Sing Stainer’s Crucifixion Windsor Parish Church and Thames Valley Church Music invite you to come and take part in a devotional performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion in Windsor Parish Church. Details available on the posters in Church  LENT STUDY Copies of our Lent Study booklet are avilable in Church, for a suggested £3 donation. Alternatively, you can opt in to receive the section for the day by email from the Diocese of Oxford: https://oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see#register https://mailchi.mp/oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see This has the advantable of having a link to an audio version, so you can listen to the Bishop of Oxford reading it.  A Warm Hub will be running at the Alma Beacon starting on the 7th of January. Please share the poster where you can. Download here: https://www.standrewsclewer.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Alma-Beacon-Warm-Hub.pdf  FUNDRAISING FOR A NEW SOUND SYSTEM We are raising money to pay for a new sound system for St Andrews, to replace the aging system we use currently.If you can help, please use either: * Our bank account (details below, please use a reference of “Sound System”). * Our Parish Giving page: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/clewer-st-andrew-windsor/ The QR code above goes to the same page Thanks to everyone for all the donations towards the sound system so far, if anyone would like to help with fundraising and events please talk to Revd Rosie.  From their Facebook, Twittter and Website Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk CAN YOU HELP? We are very short of: UHT milkTinned FruitCooking saucesRiceTinned tomatoesTinned vegThis week we helped 212 people with the food that the community has donated to us. 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 two 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… We still ask that any food donations for Windsor Foodshare are dropped into Dedworth Green Baptist church as this will still be our main base.  Saturday Volunteers Required We are urgently need more Saturday volunteers from around 11am – 2pm (core opening hours are 11.30am – 1.30pm) at the Alma Beacon. These are relaxed sessions featuring Ieva’s Happy Bunny art classes. Please let me know If you are able to attend these sessions – you can book on knack if you already have an account or email me at: chris@windsorhomelessproject.org ..with details of when you can attend. I can help you set up a knack account if you need assistance. Thank you for your dedication and support. We look forward to hearing from you! Best regards, Chris Speakman CHURCH FINANCES – MESSAGE FROM ANDREW Thank you to everyone for all you have been able to give in this difficult time. We prefer 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 in Church, or contact the Parish Office by email office@clewerparish.org Alternatively, by paying 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 or if your bank doesn’t like this Parochial Church Council St Andrews Clewer Parish 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 |