Services and Preachers in the Parish

Transcription

1 The Third Sunday of Lent 4 March 2018 Services and Preachers in the Parish St Nicholas Church 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am Sung Eucharist 11.30am Morning Praise 4.30pm Simply Worship with Holy Communion 6.30pm Choral Evensong Revd Canon Dennis Stamps (Rector) Revd Canon Dennis Stamps Revd Gareth Lewis (Christchurch) Revd Canon Dennis Stamps Revd Linda Williams (Associate Vicar, All Saints) All Saints Church 9.00am Communion Service 10.30am Worship Service with Communion Revd Linda Williams (Associate Vicar, All Saints) Revd Linda Williams St Mary s Church 9.30am Family Worship 11.00am Said Holy Communion Nina Featherstone (Lay Leader of Worship, St Mary s) Revd Sally Goodson (Associate Vicar, St Mary s) All our churches are fitted with an induction loop. Those wearing a hearing aid should switch to T in order to benefit from it. A collection will be taken during the Offertory Hymn. If you are a UK tax payer, please use the white Gift Aid envelope in the pew, remembering to date it and print your details. If you give by standing order or the like please put a token in the offering in the offering bags as they go around as an act of worship and as a token of what you give in thanks to God. Children are welcome at every service. If your child becomes restless during the service, please feel free to go in and out. You are warmly invited to join us for coffee, tea and biscuits after the morning services. We are an inclusive church, called to be caring, loving and welcoming to all. To be a lively community connecting with God s love in new and imaginative ways PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS Monday - Friday Saturday (Staffed by Volunteers) 10.00am 2.00pm 9.30am 12.00noon

2 Collect, Reading, Psalm and Post-Communion Prayer COLLECT Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; 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. Or ADDITIONAL COLLECT Eternal God, give us insight to discern your will for us, to give up what harms us, and to seek the perfection we are promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. FIRST READING Exodus Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. You shall not covet your neighbour s house; you shall not covet your neighbour s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour. SECOND READING 1 Corinthians The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumblingblock to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God s weakness is stronger than human strength.

3 PSALM Psalm The law of the Lord is an undefiled law con verting the soul : the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right and re joice the heart : the commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean and en dureth for ever : the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous alto gether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold : sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb. Moreover by them is thy servant taught : and in keeping of them there is great re ward. Who can tell how oft he of fendeth : O cleanse thou me from my secret faults. Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the do minion over me : so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great of fence. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart : be alway ac ceptable in thy sight, 2nd Pt. O - Lord : my strength and my re deemer. GLORIA GOSPEL John The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father s house a market-place! His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for your house will consume me. The Jews then said to him, What sign can you show us for doing this? Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. They then said, This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days? But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. POST COMMUNION Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS Parish Outreach: Living God s Love: Going Deeper into God: Parish Prayer Groups The Sick: Jim, John Martin, Katy, Simon Thomas, Rosemary Wickens, Thomas Fox, Scott Barber, Andrew Inglis, Andrew Laughray, Emma, Leonie White The Recently Departed: Erika Beresford First Anniversary of Death: Pam Russom, Wendy Harris

4 Prayers & Parish Notices for all three churches A FRIENDLY TEA GROUP FOR THE BEREAVED: today at 2.30pm in St Nicholas Church Hall. All welcome. FOOD BANK: The following items are urgently required by FEED at the Vineyard, St Albans - Fruit juice and squash, UHT milk (semi skimmed please), Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, Cleaning products (all varieties, e.g. washing up liquid, multipurpose cleaners), Washing powder and conditioner, Tinned meat (tinned casseroles, curries, mince), Nappies size 3, 4+, 5+, 6 and 6+ only please, Toilet and kitchen roll. Items can be left in the usual place at church. Many thanks in advance for your generosity. LINK: Is now available for collection from the Parish Office. HARPENDEN S BIG QUESTIONS, FOUR SESSIONS, 6 March, What s the evidence for God?; 8 March, Why is there suffering and evil? both at 8pm, Harpenden Public Halls. 13 March, How does science fit with faith?; 15 March, What s the meaning of life? both at 8pm at Rothamsted Lecture Halls. Speaker Dr Andrew Sach. ELECTORAL ROLL REVISION: Notice is hereby given that the Electoral Roll of the Parish of Harpenden will be revised by the PCC beginning on Sunday 4 March and ending on Monday 26 March. If you are not on the Electoral Roll and would like to be, please pick up a form (available in all 3 churches) and return by 26 March at the latest. Also, if you are already on the roll and your details (eg address, phone number, address) have changed, please electoralroll@parishofharpenden.org or contact the parish office, no later than 26 March. Ro Marriott, Parish Electoral Roll Officer. FREE DAILY LENT REFLECTIONS: Go to this website and register: LENT GROUPS in the PARISH: We encourage any groups meeting in Lent to use the 5-week course from CofE, Let Your Light Shine available to download free (see website above). If you need help, ask the parish office. Revd Linda Williams is leading a group at All Saints on Monday Evenings at All Saints, 8pm; Revd Sally Goodson leads a group on Tuesday evenings at 86 Tufnells Way. The material also will be used for the sermon slots at the Communion services, Tuesdays,10.00am at St Mary s and Wednesdays, 10.30am at St Nicholas. Canon Dennis Stamps will lead a group on Wednesday afternoons, pm at E. Pestell s home, 25 Thornbury, Harpenden, AL5 5SN. You are welcome to attend ANY of these groups. HOLY WEEK: Bishop Robin Smith (retired bishop of Hertford) will be our guest preacher this year at our Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Compline Service with address, 8pm at St Nicholas Church. This theme for the three talks will be: Where is your God? Everyone welcome. ALL CHURCH SCHOOL APPLICATIONS All children intending to apply to St George's and St Nicholas Schools need to complete a Record Of Attendance in order to assist with the preparation of clergy references. The Record of Attendance needs to be completed for the duration of the following periods prior to date of application: 2 years for St George's and 1 year for St Nicholas. Please see the schools website for further details of the schools' admissions criteria including both the relevant period of attendance and frequency of attendance required by both St George's and St Nicholas schools. Any queries regarding the admissions criteria should be directed to the schools' admissions officers. If you would like a Home Visit or Home Communion, please contact Parish Clergy or the Parish Office.

5 PRAYER REQUESTS: If you would like prayer for yourself or a someone you know, clergy pray daily for those who have asked for our prayers. Anyone may put a name on our prayer list by contacting the clergy, a Reader, or the parish office. If you wish to be prayed for publicly at our Sunday Services please say so, otherwise your name remains on the clergy daily prayer list. FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT STARTED ON MONDAY 26 FEBRUARY and Cornelia s coffee shop are serving Fairtrade breakfasts from Thursday 1 March to Saturday 10 March. Do come and try some Fairtrade muesli, jam and marmalade among other Fairtrade treats. And look out for extra Fairtrade goods on the Fairtrade stalls after the 9.30 service at St Nicholas on Sundays 4 and 11 March. SAS YOUTH GROUP next meets today, Sunday 11 March, 5-7pm at All Saints. There will be a speaker from NOAH, one of the organisations SAS has supported. For school years 6-9. Contact Sally Hart, sallyhart11@yahoo.co.uk or Revd Sally Goodson, associate.vicar@stmarys.parishofharpenden.org if you need further information. SUPPER CLUB: The next meeting is on Monday 12 March. The speakers will be Trevor Evans and Gillian Robertson talking about The Quaker Faith and Practice Today. Please notify a member of the team BY FRIDAY before the meeting if you are unable to attend BY TELEPHONE ONLY. This prevents over catering and unnecessary expense. Contact either Brenda Elliott, or Jackie Hall, Please try to arrive promptly at 6.00pm as this gives maximum time for eating and the speaker. Thank you. Brenda REMINDER: Patchwork workshop Saturday 17 March 2018, 10am 12.30pm in the Cunningham Room, St Nicholas Hall. Quilt for auction will be on display and we will still be happy to receive sealed bids over 100 (name, address and bid in envelope and mark envelope QUILT BID) that morning. Other small items will be on sale in order to fund buying fabric to finish the quilts in time for the June Arts Exhibition. Please come and see what we have done and what we are still doing! Enquiries contact Revd Janet Spicer or Audrey Went OUR ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING (APCM) will be held on Monday, 23 April, 8pm at All Saints Church. Refreshments at 7.45pm. PARISH WARDENS are elected annually at the APCM. There is a vacancy this year as Michelle McCulloch steps down. Tony Gilbert is willing to stand again. Nomination forms are available from the parish office. If you wish to discuss the role, contact the Rector. PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC) NEEDS YOU! Please consider standing to be a PCC member to help us in our mission and ministry and our charity duties. PCC Representatives needed for all three churches. All Saints needs 2 new reps. St Mary s needs 2 new reps. St Nicholas needs 6 new reps. PCC meets six times a year. If you have questions about the role contact me or Sara Payne (PCC Secretary). Nomination forms are available from the parish office. BRITISH HUMANITARIAN AID - FEBRUARY 2018 Very many thanks to everyone who contributed to last weekend s BHA collection of goods and money, and to those who helped pack on Saturday and with loading the van on Sunday. We sent approximately 170 assorted boxes and bags of donated goods, and just over 700. Margaret Hewitt & Anne Harper Please follow & interact with our Parish via twitter, facebook, pinterest or blog. You can also access them all through the church website: If you have anything to go on our sites please digital.media@parishofharpenden.org

6 All Saints Church Notices ALL SAINTS' LOCAL MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT TEAM exists to support every member of our church family in: enabling people to encounter God in worship and prayer encouraging and teaching people to grow as His disciples equipping people to live as Christians in the community. Prayer ministry is available after the 10.30am Worship Service BIBLE READING NOTES: Please order from Rosemary (761322). ALL SAINTS EMERGENCY PRAYER CHAIN: Please call LIFTS TO CHURCH: tel RECORDINGS OF 10.30am SERMONS: & MOVING SERVICE TIMES. As a majority of worshippers were open to moving our Sunday morning service times there will be a two month trial period. The service times from 1 September to 31 October will be 9.30am Holy Communion and 11am Worship. In November there will be a review of the trial. LENT. A group meets in the choir vestry at 8pm on Mondays in Lent (5, 12 & 19 March) working together on Live Lent - Let your light shine. All welcome. LET THE SUNSHINE IN...Whether you count your age in years or months, we ll find a task for you at ALL SAINTS ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN this coming Saturday, 10 March, between 9.00 and a.m. Come along in anything but your Sunday Best and choose your chore. It may well involve buckets of soapy water, with windows, pews, kneelers and floors to be washed, so don t forget your Marigolds. Coffee will be supplied by the lovely ladies making the Mothering Sunday posies. We ll finish at 11.30am, to allow the Child Contact Centre to set up for their visitors. AGAPE SUPPER Maundy Thursday. Please sign up and come along to this very special evening. A meal shared together, Holy Communion, a walk in the garden and vigil until midnight to remember our Lord Jesus suffering. MOTHERING SUNDAY There will be one service at 10.30am for all the family with posies and a cake sale after the service. 22 APRIL AT 9.30AM - ANNUAL DISTRICT CHURCH MEETING. We begin with worship at 9.30am to move promptly into our annual meeting over coffee, tea and cake. Please attend and support your church. St Mary s Church Notices ST MARY S LENT GROUP will meet at 86 Tuffnells Way at 8pm, starting on Tuesday 20 February for five weeks. ST MARY S FETE: We have two people willing to organise our fete, but we would like a couple more please to spread the load. Please speak to Sally if you can help. MOTHERING SUNDAY POSIES Ladies, can you spare an hour on Saturday afternoon, 10 March, from 2.30pm to help make the Mothering Sunday posies. It s quite a fun hour or so and if we have enough volunteers we get them done quite quickly. We would love to welcome some younger mums to our ranks do try and come. The daffodils, etc. will be provided, but please bring as much small leaf greenery as you can, we never have enough euonymous, heather, large ivy leaves, hebe, pittosporum, etc; no prickles please! Don t forget your secateurs. CHILDREN S GROUPS : Our Explorers team is in need of new people to join the team. Might this be you? Or someone you know? Do speak to Jenny G or to Sally if you might be able to help.

7 St Nicholas Church Notices 9.30 PARISH EUCHARIST: We welcome our new Lay Sub-Deacons helping with our 9.30am worship: Sarah Cripps, Tim Fleming, and Jane Todd. We also welcome a new team of chalice assistants. ST NICHOLAS QUIZ will be held on Saturday 28 April, proceeds towards our Sound and Light upgrade and modification and the Samaritans. Please save the date and start arranging your teams. Tables of up to 8 people. CHILDREN S SOCIETY RE-MADE GREETINGS CARDS on sale today by Fenella in the church hall after the 9.30am service. OUR 800 TH YEAR OF WORSHIPPING ON THIS SITE. The first church built on this site was started in 1217 and as best we can account for worship started in We will be celebrating this anniversary this year. If you have any suggestions how we might do so, please contact the Rector or one of the wardens. Also ALL GROUPS are asked to consider how they might celebrate our anniversary at one of their meetings/events this year. ST NICHOLAS BIRTHDAY BAKE OFF - SUNDAY 11 MARCH. As part of St Nicholas church celebrating 800 years we are holding a Bake Off competition on Sunday 11 March. We are looking for birthday cakes (Under 12 s, Best Bake and Most Imaginative) and a special category for cakes featuring Sound" and Light" (our new church appeal this year). Entry is open to everyone and don t forget to use Fairtrade ingredients - sugar, cocoa etc - where possible. Please bring to the church hall before the 9.30am service for judging. All the cakes will be available for tasting between the 9.30 and services, and there will be a collection to kick start our appeal for upgrading Sound and Light in our church. More details please contact Sue Bentley, Jane Todd or Rachael Threlfall. PUBLIC NOTICES have gone up in Porch and on Baptistery Notice Board about the application for a Faculty for the Installation of LED and emergency lighting and a new sound system for St Nicholas church. Copies of the relevant plans and documents may be examined in the Parish Office. FAITH AND LIGHT TEA on Sunday 8 April: it is St Nicholas turn to prepare food and serve tea for those attending Faith & Light at St John's, an ecumenical worship group for adults with learning disabilities, their families and friends. We need about 6-8 helpers from 4.15pm pm, and cakes and sandwiches. Please sign up on the lists on the welcome table, please contact Jean McIntosh for further details HEARING LOOP: Neil and Dicky would like adult help to replace the hearing loop on Saturday 17 March from 9.30 am. Bacon sandwiches will be provided to keep volunteers sustained! No experience required, just a bit of DIY aptitude and enthusiasm. The loop cable is about 40 metres long, and replacing it ourselves under Dicky s expert direction will save a significant expenditure. If you able to help in this one off practical manner please let Rachael Threlfall or Sue Bentley know, or sign up at the back of church. Whilst tools will be provided, if you have them please bring a free-standing lantern, a small hammer, pliers and pincers. ANNUAL DISTRICT CHURCH MEETING (ADCM) will be held on Sunday, 15 th April. Everyone welcome. There will be an 8am service and ONE service at followed by coffee, then the meeting in church, then a church lunch in the hall. We will be discussing the Sound and Light Modernisation and Upgrade project. DISTRICT WARDENS ARE ELECTED AT THE ADCM. Rachael Threlfall is willing to stand again. Sue Bentley is stepping down so there is a vacancy. If interested, speak with the Rector or one of the wardens. Nomination forms are available from the parish office. DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL (DCC) NEEDS YOU! We need six persons to serve on the DCC. It meets six times a year to help with the mission and ministry of St Nicholas. If you are interested or have any questions, please ask the Rector or wardens. Nomination forms from parish office.

8 Monday 5 What s on This Week am Chat Monday in Cornelia s Coffee Shop. All welcome 9.15am Morning Prayer at All Saints Tuesday am Morning Prayer at St Mary s 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary s 2.30pm Guild of Health Prayer Group at 6 Timbers Court 5.00pm Evening Prayer at St Nicholas Wednesday am Morning Prayer at St Nicholas 10.30am Holy Communion at St Nicholas 2.00pm Outreach Sewing Afternoon at 60 Willoughby Road. All welcome 5.00pm Evening Prayer at St Nicholas Thursday am Toddler Time in St Nicholas Church Hall 9.30am Busy Bunnies in All Saints Church Hall 2.30pm Bible Reading Fellowship (Daylight) Group at 6 Timbers Court, All Friday 9 welcome 8.00am Holy Communion at St Nicholas 5.00pm Evening Prayer at St Nicholas Saturday am Holy Communion at St Nicholas Sunday 11 Mothering Sunday St Nicholas Church 8.00am Holy Communion 9.30am All Age Eucharist 11.30am All Age Morning Praise 3.00pm Holy Baptism of Nieve and Sebastian Trindade 6.30pm Choral Evensong Revd Canon Dennis Stamps (Rector) The Cubs Chris Powell Revd Linda Williams (Associate Vicar, All Saints) All Saints Church 10.30am Worship Together St Mary s Church 9.30am Sung Eucharist Natalie Edwards Hilary Pask (Trainee Reader, St Mary s) Readings: 1 Samuel Corinthians John 19.25b-27 Please tell the Parish Office about meetings, events and notices by 12 noon on Wednesday on or office@parishofharpenden.org