| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 28 May 2023 Pentecost |
 WELCOME Pentecost is the feast of the Holy Spirit, and is the second most important event in the Church’s calendar and it falls 50 days after Easter. The Holy Spirit is quite a difficult thing to understand, so here is the short version! Waiting The disciples were waiting for the Holy Spirit to come. Jesus had gone to heaven and left the disciples with his peace, saying that the Holy Spirit is coming. They were waiting. It is very hard to wait for something special, I know children find it hard to wait for birthdays! How were the disciples feeling, waiting, waiting patiently? We heard that they continued to meet and pray after Jesus had gone to heaven and had left them with his Peace, a dove is the symbol of peace. I think Jesus was saying ..be patient, the Holy Spirit is coming. So they knew something was going to happen, Receiving The Holy Spirit comes. How do we know its a windy day, what keeps a balloon in the air? Wind is invisible, we only know it is there by watching and listening – suddenly there was a noise, the noise of a violent wind rushing and it filled the whole house and because wind is hard to see it appeared as flames on their heads. I wonder how the disciples were feeling now. The Holy Spirit had come, wow! We know that wind has power. It has power to move things and power to change direction. It is the Holy Spirit that has the power to make new things happen in our lives. Telling After the Holy Spirit came, the disciples began to tell everyone. Their lives where changed. They began to tell everyone about ..Jesus. How did they do it..with fire, with passion. Their hearts burned so much with the Holy Spirit that the fire spread to others. The disciples received the gift of speaking in other languages, language was no barrier. This ensured that the good news of Christ travelled as fast and as far as possible. These days we have amazing technology that enables us to talk to other people wherever they are in the world and the internet is understood by everyone, it has become a common way of communicating universally. We know that one of the symbols for the Holy Spirit is a flame of fire. Our paschal candle is a symbol of passing on the good news. From it smaller candles are lit, the fire is passed on from one candle to another filling the space with more light. Perhaps you could thank God for the first person who told you about Jesus or think about how do we spread the flame of fire? Doing After the Holy Spirit came, the disciples were bold enough to take action. The wind blew them from Jerusalem to Rome. The disciples had the courage and faith to do what they had seen Jesus do. I’m sure we have all heard stories of courage and acts of bravery. It is the power of God’s Holy Spirit that helps us to do those difficult things. Yes, it is true, actions do speak louder than words. The Holy Spirit gives us the courage and power to do something to make a difference in our world, can you make a difference? Sharing After the Holy Spirit came, they began to work together. All those who had come to believe in Jesus met together and shared everything. They helped each other in every way. They worked out their gifts, everybody’s gifts were equally important. Church is not just a word that describes this building, Church is what we are, sharing our gifts and working together to spread the good news of Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to share our abilities and talents with one another. Are you sharing your gifts and talents to meet the needs of others? Growing After the Holy Spirit came, the church began to grow. It is with sadness that we know that there are still Christians in the world today who are persecuted for their faith. Faith starts small and grows, Christianity is still growing and today I think there are over 2 billion Christians scattered throughout the world! Today we celebrate that it started somewhere! Pentecost, is the feast of the Holy Spirit, a feast that makes our hearts full. But in order to receive the Holy Spirit our hearts need to be open. Our hearts are transformed if they are open. The Holy Spirit came as wind to change us, as fire to ignite us, to make us bold. Without change and fire we cannot take risks, we cannot pass on the light and therefore we cannot have hope. Is your heart open, are you ready to receive, to receive the wind of change and the burning fire of the Holy Spirit? Blessings for your week Revd Rosie COLLECT God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. All Amen READINGS Acts 2.1-21 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’ But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 1 Corinthians 12.3b-13 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 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 20.19-23 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS – TREVOR MORGAN Loving Lord, you gave the disciples the task of being your witness in our world and empowered them with your Holy Spirit so that they might undertake this mission. Please help each one of us in whatever way we can to continue the mighty work started on the Day of Pentecost as we use the gift of the Holy Spirit to draw others to you. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Almighty God of Wind and Fire, today we celebrate the gift of your Holy Spirit which you sent on your disciples on the first day of Pentecost. Lord, we thank you for the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Give us we pray more boldness to proclaim the Gospel in the way we lead our lives. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Today we ask again that you give us the life changing power which is the gift of the Holy Spirit. In our lives may others see the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Help us to use these gifts of the Spirit to bless the church and build your kingdom on earth. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Heavenly Lord, just as the outpouring of your Holy Spirit so drastically changed the lives of your disciples, may the burning fire of your Holy Spirit refine and renew us. May we move in the power of the Spirit and may our lives be infused with your divine touch. May the Spirit of wisdom and revelation help us to grow in our knowledge of you. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Loving Father, on this Sunday we commend to your love and care all those who are unable to be present with us this morning. We pray for all who are unwell and for all whose personal circumstances make attendance at church difficult. Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Faithful God, who fulfilled the promises of Easter by sending us your Holy Spirit and opening to every race and nation the way of life eternal: open our lips by your Spirit, that every tongue may tell of your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon last Sunday LISTEN NOTICES SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Every Tue & Thu, 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Church Open every day 10.00am – 6.00pm Sun 28 May10.30am Pentecost – Parish Eucharist 5.00pmCTW Taize at Windsor Methodist Church Sun 04 Jun 10.30am Family Eucharist 5.00pm Eucharist Sun 11 Jun 10.30am Parish Eucharist 3.00pm Wild Worship 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Sun 18 Jun 10.30am Parish Eucharist 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Sun 25 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, and Martin & Ishbel. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Tom Hinds, 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 Extra-Provincial Churches. Please pray also for the churches in these dioceses: Western Tanganyika (Tanzania), Tarime (Tanzania), Tasmania (Australia), Taungoo (Myanmar), Te Pihopatanga o Te Waipounamu (Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia), and Temotu (Melanesia). Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. CHURCHYARD TIDY – SATURDAY 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.    Rory’s fundraiser for Windsor Homeless Project https://www.justgiving.com/page/liza-macrobert-1683047618888 Rory loves drawing and was recently inspired by a homeless man that we met in Windsor. Every time we go into town he wants to do something to help. We came up with the idea that he could draw a picture and sell copies. So for a donation to his chosen charity you could own a magnificent piece of artwork! Thank you for supporting him to help Windsor Homeless.Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity. WINDSOR FOODSHARE https://www.windsorfoodshare.org.uk Read the latest Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/904610299e1f/whps-latest-news-5414681?e=d0785ce42b From their Facebook and Twittter Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare CAN YOU HELP? We are very low on Long Life Milk and Desserts (tinned or packet). 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 |