| † St Andrews Proclaiming Christ in Clewer 30 April 2023 The Fourth Sunday of Easter |
 I AM THE GATE FOR THE SHEEP Welcome I have always lived my life in or near towns, not in the middle of nowhere, and definitely not in the countryside surrounded by sheep, so the language of shepherds and sheep can feel a little alien! For those of us familiar with going to church, the language of sheep and shepherds is very familiar and in fact, I remember having to write an essay on what it means to be a shepherd whilst at theological college. Although I’m a townie, I know that sheep need a shepherd to take care of them. We can see sheep in the fields as we travel through the countryside, and it is important that the sheep are placed where they can get all the things that they need to stay healthy. A shepherd must place them in good pastureland where they can get water as well as food. In the dry area where Jesus lived, it was important that shepherds led their flocks to good pasture and streams of water. In those days the shepherd walked ahead of his sheep and the sheep followed him. The staff the shepherd carried had a curved bit at the top so that if a sheep got stuck in a bush or down a cliff, the shepherd could pull it out. If you’re a fan of Country File, you’ll know that sheep can get into all sorts of trouble! When Jesus spoke about sheep, we know he was speaking about people. He describes us as his sheep. Do you sometimes get all tangled up in a problem, in frustration? And the more you try to get free, the more stuck you become? Do you sometimes feel afraid and don’t know which way to turn? Do you sometimes feel helpless, or weak, or lost or in danger? Aren’t we all a bit like sheep? When we come into a relationship with Jesus, we enter a place of safety where those who would exploit and abuse us cannot come. Jesus offers not only a safe place to rest- the sheepfold- but total freedom to come and go into abundant pasture. This is Jesus not as gatekeeper but one who genuinely brings the fullness of life. Blessings for your week Revd Rosie COLLECT Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. one God, now and for ever. All Amen READINGS Acts 2.42-end They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 1 Peter 2.19-end For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. 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 10.1-10 ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. INTERCESSIONS Lord, you are our Shepherd, and we pray that you will protect us from all danger by keeping watch over us, guide us towards green pastures where we can be nourished by your word and lead us to pure still waters where we can be refreshed by your love. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Lord, you are our Shepherd, and we pray for our church leaders that they too may care for and lead us by following the example of love and service you demonstrated in your earthly ministry. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Lord, you are our Shepherd, and we pray for the world that was given to us as an inheritance, on the understanding that we would care for it as shepherds care for their flocks. Teach us to look after our beautiful planet and care for it wisely, whilst sharing its gifts more fairly and working together with all of its inhabitants to ease its sufferings. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Lord, you are our Shepherd, and we pray for our families and friends who need to hear the voice of Jesus the Good Shepherd; who knows every one of them by name; who offers rest to the weary and salvation to sinners and life eternal to all who accept him into their lives. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Lord, you are our Shepherd who seeks out the lost and the sick. We pray for those we know who are lost in illness and ask you to reassure them with the knowledge that you are watching over them in their suffering and that many are praying for their recovery. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Lord, you are our Shepherd, so we pray for those who have died and for those who ache with sorrow in their loss of a loved one. May those we now name before you find rest in the Spirit’s embrace as you welcome them into the great sheepfold, safe in your keeping for ever. Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer Lord, you are our Shepherd, and we thank you for this time we have shared in prayer and thanksgiving. In the week ahead we ask you to lead us down the streets of our towns and villages and guide us safely along the roads and motorways we travel. A Prayer for the Coronation Lord God, in your power you provide for your people and rule over them in love: Grant to your servant Charles, our King the spirit of wisdom and government, that being devoted to you with his whole heart, he may so wisely govern, that during his reign your church may be protected, and Christian devotion may continue in peace; that so persevering in good works to the end, he may by your mercy enter your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen. Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Listen to Canon Brian’s Sermon from 23 Apr 2023 LISTEN NOTICES SERVICES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS Tue & Thu, Evening Prayer at 5.00pm via Zoom Church Open every day 10.00am – 6.00pm Sun 30 Apr 10.30am Fourth Sunday of Easter – Parish Eucharist No Evening Service Sun 07 May 10.30am Coronation Thanksgiving No Evening Service Sun 14 May10.30am Sixth Sunday of Easter – Parish Eucharist 5.00pmEvening Prayer Thu 18 May 12.00 Ascension Day – Service of the Word 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Fri 19-Sat 20 May 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Sun 21 May10.30am Seventh Sunday of Easter – Parish Eucharist 3.00pm Wild Worship – in the Churchyard 5.30pm Choral Evensong at All Saints Frances Road Wed 24 May 12.00 TKC Midday Prayers + Lunch + More Mon 22-Sat 27 May 5.00pm Evening Prayer on Zoom Sun 28 May10.30am Pentecost – Parish Eucharist 5.00pm CTW Taize at Windsor Methodist Church 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, Martin & Ishbel, and Austin I. Refugees, Prisoners, the Homeless and those who mourn. The Departed: Katherine Munday, all those recently departed this life, and those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Those recently baptised: Antoine, Freya, Zachary, Catalaya, Mila, Jacob, Albie and Mollie. Those recently married: Rhys and Stephanie. 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 Clewer Park, Mill Lane, White Lilies Island, Stephensons Drive, Clewer Court Road, Swan Terrace, Petworth Court, and the Boatyard Flats. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: please pray for the churches in The USA. Please pray also for the churches in these dioceses: Sokoto (Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Central Solomons (Melanesia), Soroti (Uganda), Southwark (England), Southwell & Nottingham (England), and Spain.Please continue to pray for and support your neighbours and families in any way you can whilst keeping yourself safe. MANY THANKS TO CENTRICA Thanks to all the volunteers from Centrica who helped out with various jobs in the Churchyard this week. We look forward to this becoming an annual event.  “I totally recommend visiting the sculpture at the parish church in town. It is absolutely phenomenal! “Made using computer keys and depicts the Last Supper by Peter Barnes. It is full of quotes and the disciples are named. The best bit is that all the arrow keys flow up towards the centre of Jesus, and, the centre is ‘home’ keys” Revd Rosie (via Facebook) MY TIME PRE-CORONATION LUNCH AND MORE – WED 03 MAY 12.00 ‘MyTime Pre-Coronation Lunch and More’ on Wednesday 3rd May to be held in church at 12.00. We may also continue meeting for lunch on the first Wednesday of the month.  CORONATION PRAYERS We have a few copies left of the booklet ‘Daily Prayers for the Coronation of King Charles III’. If you would like one, they are at the back of church. Donations towards their cost would be welcome. It is also available as a free download if you prefer: https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/features/coronation-prayers ST ANDREWS APCM This years’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting (sometimes known as the AGM) will be after the 10.30am service in Church on 14 May 2023. The notice announcing this officially is already up, and the reports will be in Church next Sunday. WILD WORSHIP The next Wild Worship is May 21st in the churchyard at 3.00pm.   https://www.thykingdomcome.globalThy Kingdom Come (TKC) is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. For more information please see the Thy Kingdom Come website TKC begins with Ascension day, 18 May, we will have a Service of the Word at 12 midday. There will be Evening Prayer on Zoom every day for the period between Ascension and Pentecost. Churches Together in Windsor will publish what’s happening where for our town in the TKC season, so please keep a look out. And a date for your diary: our town Pentecost service will be at Windsor Methodist Church at 5pm on 28 May. We have TKC prayer booklets which will be available in Church nearer the time.  CHRISTIAN AID PLANT SALE AND COFFEE MORNING There will be a Christian Aid Plant sale and coffee morning at the Rectory, on 20 May from 10.30am – 12.00. Please start potting on your seedlings to sell, and plan your baking for this annual event. This year the Berkshire Birds of Prey will be joining us to help boost our fundraising. So spread the word please, get potting and baking! Joint Choral Evensong with Windsor town centre Parishes Singers welcome. If you would like to have a go at singing evensong- now is your opportunity! Sunday 21st May at 5.30pm Message from John Halsey, music director Our normal pattern is for BCP Choral Evensong at 5.30pm, preceded by Tea for choir and congregation at 4.45pm and Choir practice at 4.10pm. It might be best to bring forward Choir practice to 4.00pm on this occasion. We will also have a practice on Friday 12th May, so the list of times would be: All Saints’ Church, Frances Road, Windsor Friday 12th May – 7.35pm-8.45pm Choir Practice Sunday 21st May – 4.00pm Choir Practice – 4.45pm Tea for choir and congregation together – 5.30pm BCP Choral Evensong CHURCHYARD TIDY – MARK THE DATE – 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. CHRISTIAN AID REP We are still looking for someone to be our Christian Aid representative. This does not need to be a PCC member or other church official. Please see Revd Rosie if you can help. WINDSOR FOODSHARE From their Facebook and Twittter Pages: https://www.facebook.com/windsorfoodshare https://twitter.com/WindsrFoodshare CAN YOU HELP? We are very low on:Cooking SauceTinned FishTinned VegTinned Meat Tinned PastaBiscuitsWe 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. The Emergency Office Number is: 07490 094261 Email: office@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 |