| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 28 January 2024 Candlemas  WELCOME Today we celebrate one of the principal feasts of the church – the strange thing is that many will never have heard of it! The Feast of the Presentation occurs each year on February 2nd – exactly 40 days after Christmas. And most years the feast falls on a weekday, as it does this year, but it is a moveable feast which is important to keep. The full name of today’s feast is the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple. It’s a celebration of one of Jesus’ major life events; that’s what makes it a principal feast. You may also have heard of it called as Candlemas or The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Candlemas, because this is the feast when candles are traditionally blessed. In also marks the end of the Christmas season, which is not observed as 12 days of Christmas, but 40 days of the Incarnation. And Purification of Mary, because the law of Moses required that Mary – like the infant Jesus – participate in a rite of purification 40 days after childbirth. We celebrate at church by lighting all the candles, everywhere, and we process at the end of the service towards the font with our individual candles. The stable and nativity characters have been packed away, the cross is now placed near the door, we pray for the world and ask God to shine his light among us and ask God’s blessing on us all, that we might walk in the light of God’s love all our lives. Revd Rosie COLLECT Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen READINGS Malachi 3.1-5 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight – indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God Hebrews 2.14-end Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God THE GOSPEL READING Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. Luke 2.22-40 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS (Times & Seasons) Let us pray to the Father through Christ who is our light and life. Father, your Christ is acclaimed as the glory of Israel: look in mercy on your Church, sharing his light. Lord, have mercy. All Christ, have mercy. Father, your Christ in his temple brings judgement on the world: look in mercy on the nations, who long for his justice. Lord, have mercy. All Christ, have mercy. Father, your Christ, who was rich, for our sakes became poor: look in mercy on the needy, suffering with him. Lord, have mercy. All Christ, have mercy. Father, your Christ is the one in whom faithful servants find their peace: look in mercy on the departed, that they may see your salvation. Lord, have mercy. All Christ, have mercy. Father, your Christ is revealed as the one destined to be rejected: look in mercy on us who now turn towards his passion. Lord, have mercy. All Christ, have mercy. Lord God, you kept faith with Simeon and Anna, and showed them the infant King. Give us grace to put all our trust in your promises, and the patience to wait for their fulfilment; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All Amen. POST COMMUNION Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah: may we, who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for Epiphany 3 last Sunday Listen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon for St Agnes last Sunday Listen NOTICES NO EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY There will be no Sunday Evening Service this week. SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Church Open every day 10.00am to Dusk Tuesdays and Thursdays 5.00pm, Evening Prayer via Zoom Sun 28 Jan 10.30am Parish Eucharist – Candlemas 3.00pm Wild Worship – Big Bird Watch (see poster below) No Evening Service Sun 04 Feb 10.30am All Age Eucharist – 2nd Sunday before Lent 5.00pm Eucharist – in Church Sun 11 Feb 10.30am Parish Eucharist – Sunday Next Before Lent 5.00pm Evening Prayer – Zoom Wed 14 Feb 12.00 Eucharist – Ash Wednesday 7.30pm Eucharist Sun 18 Feb 10.30am Parish Eucharist – The First 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: all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those baptised: Weddings: 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 St Leonards Hill, Bridewell, Chestnut Drive, Gratton Drive, Fairlawn Park, Dower Park, Poolmans Road, Snowdon Close, Turnoak Park, and Brudenell. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the Church of Southern Africa. Please pray also for the Churches in these Dioceses: Calabar (Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Calcutta (North India), Caledonia (Canada), Calgary (Canada), California (USA), and Northern California (USA).Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe.   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.   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  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 Milk (ideally full-fat)Tinned Pasta Tea BagsTinned FruitStrong Carrier BagsWe gave food for 184 people this week. Which means we used 184 of every item we give out. 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… 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. We prefer the Parish Giving Scheme, which we promoted in previous years. Details are on our page on their web site: https://bit.ly/2XCLuC r [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, 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 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 |