| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 25th May 2025 The Sixth Sunday of Easter |
 WELCOME Over the Easter period two members of my family moved house and began to build a home in a new place. Home. It’s a word that comes with a lot of stuff. In a literal sense. We put our stuff, our physical belongings, in our homes, the things we need, the things we treasure and all the stuff in between. Home is where we feel ‘at home’, to feel at ease, comfortable, to be safe and secure. Home is where we have a private life. The little lamb in today’s picture had somehow got itself lost and was trying to find home. It was found outside my sister’s back door of her new home. They put the lamb back in the field with the other sheep and it was chaos, this was not the right flock. Finally they found the right farmer and the right flock and the lamb was welcomed back with much nuzzling and baaa ing. The Gospel today, Jesus is trying to prepare the disciples for what is to come. He has just washed their feet in the upper room, gave them a new commandment to love one another and gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus makes an astonishing statement, he talks about God making a home with his people. God makes a home among us, God doesn’t just prepare a place for us in heaven, God makes a home among us while we are living daily life in the here and now. God doesn’t just give us a home or help us to feel at home, God makes a home with us. Where ever you live, where ever you lay your hat, whatever home means to you God is right there. Whatever we experience, our joys and our hardship, God is right there. God builds and makes with us, the places where we are most ordinary and honest, the places we call home. Blessings for your week Revd Rosie COLLECT God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; 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 Revelation 21.10, 22-22.5 And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practises abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign for ever and ever. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Acts 16.9-15 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. The Conversion of Lydia We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home. And she prevailed upon us. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Gospel Reading John 14.23-29 Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONSEverlasting God, you made the world and everything in it, we pray with one voice, proclaiming your presence to all the earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you and give thanks for all wonders of your marvellous creation. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. We pray for our Bishops Stephen and Mary and for Archdeacon Stephen, that they will be guided in their ministry by the influence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for the Church, both here in Clewer, and worldwide that we may go forward together in unity and strength. Help us to respect the beliefs of others even if we do not share them, to celebrate what we have in common and to accept our differences. Guide us all in our ministries as we live each day. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Creator God, we pray for governments and world leaders, for captains of industry and workers; for inventors and technicians, for entertainers and audiences. For those who set the targets at work, in education and training and in the pews. For all who are powerful, that they may be guided by the Spirit of Truth that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. We continue to pray for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine and for peace in the Holy Land. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Father God, we pray for our family and colleagues, friends and lovers, for neighbours and strangers; For those with whom we break bread at home, at work, in the community, and in our church; For all who grow, harvest and prepare the food we eat and for those who cook it and serve it; For all who share with the less fortunate through foodbanks and charities. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Merciful God, your son Jesus asked the man at the pool “Do you want to be made well?” We pray for all those who have been ill for so long that it has become part of their life. Help them and those who care for them to see all the possibilities that life still holds despite their disabilities and to make the most of all the wonderful aids that are now available to help people lead enjoyable and fulfilled lives. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Merciful God, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Gracious God, as we go out into the world help us to remember the words of today’s psalm and to work to make your way become known upon earth and your saving power among all nations. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of you Son,our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen Adapted from the web site of The Anglican Chaplaincy of the Costa Blanca POST COMMUNION God our Father, whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life: may we thirst for you, the spring of life and source of goodness, through him who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen NOTICES Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for last Sunday LISTEN EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY The service on Sunday evening is Evening Prayer at 5.00pm. SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Church open every day 10.00am until 6.00pm Evening Prayer via Zoom at 5.00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8.00am in Church Sun 25 May 10:30am Parish Eucharist – The 6th Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Evening Prayer Thu 29 May 12.00 Midday Eucharist – Ascension Day Sun 01 Jun 10:30am All Age Eucharist – The 7th Sunday of Easter 5.00pm Eucharist Sun 08 Jun 10:30am Parish Eucharist – Pentecost 5.00pm Evening Prayer Sun 15 Jun 10:30am Parish Eucharist – Trinity Sunday 5.00pm Evening Prayer PLEASE PRAY FOR The Suffering: Sam, Matt, Al, Sharon, Vivienne, Stef, John F, Joanna, Jane P, Tom B, Val, and Bronwyn. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: John Collins, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Baptisms: Lewis and Iris. Weddings: 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, and the work of the Homeless Project, Street Angels, FoodShare, and the Alma Beacon Hub. 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 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 Church of Kenya. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Morobo (South Sudan), Morogoro (Tanzania), and Mount Kenya Central, South & West (Kenya).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. UPCOMING EVENTS St Andrews Volunteers Day Sat 24 May from 9.00-12.00. Please see notice belowCoffee and More is starting again on 4th June at 10.00am CTW Pentecost Picnic Sun 8th Jun 2.30-4.30pm Alexandra Gardens (see below) Churchyard tidies are being organised, please keep an eye out for dates, and help when you can. ST ANDREWS VOLUNTEERS DAY – SAT 24 MAY 9.00-12.00 Did you sign to help volunteer for roles within St Andrews? Now is the time for action! Come along on Saturday 24th May for churchyard tidy, silver and brass cleaning, training on chalice assistant, sound system, serving and the ministry of welcome. Training lasts an hour, starting promptly on the hour, come for one or rotate round each. Churchyard tidy will be continuous outside. Refreshments available See you then.    Please consider supporting the work of the Baby Bank. You can donate your second-hand baby clothes/supplies or even volunteer your time. Alternatively, you can help us out with a cash donation to help with the day-to-day running costs of The Baby Bank. Simply click on the link below to see how you can get involved.https://thebabybank.org  WINDSOR FOODSHARE Loving our neighbours From their Facebook, Twittter and Website Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk And their new page https://taplink.cc/windsorfoodshare URGENT APPEAL We’re running low on some essential items at Windsor Foodshare and need your help! If you can donate, we’d be so grateful for:  Tinned Pasta Tinned Pulses Tinned Fruit Jars of Sauces Biscuits Strong Carrier BagsThere are many ways to donate food to us – https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk/donating-food. We have a permanent donation box at Tesco Superstore, Dedworth and also at Waitrose & Partners in Windsor town centre. So if you are shopping it is easy to pop a pack or two in the donation box. Or why not try our Wishlist on Common Good and Amazon (you can click through to these from our linktree at https://taplink.cc/windsorfoodshare). You can also drop off to us on: – Wednesdays 09.00-13.30; or – Thursdays 09.00-15.00 at Dedworth Green Baptist Church (Smiths Lane, Windsor SL4 5PE). Thank you all so much for your continued support! Click here for the Windsor Foodshare January 2025 Newsletter 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 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 Churchwarden: Vacant Contact via email: office@clewerparish.org Safeguarding Policy: www.standrewsclewer.org/safeguarding-policy Safeguarding Officer: clewerparishsafeguarding@gmail.com |