The Parish of Balham St. Mary and St. John the Divine Sunday 24 January 2016 Epiphany 3 8am Officiant: Said Eucharist (BCP) The Revd. Mtr. Wilma Roest 10.30am Sung Eucharist with baptism President: The Revd. Mtr. Wilma Roest Deacon: The Revd. Fr. Iain Faulkner Minister: The Revd Alice Venning Preacher: The Revd. Mtr. Wilma Roest Reader: Joan McGowan Intercessor: Jamie Morton Junior Church: Claire Synge Janet Jones Setting: St. Thomas OoS: Special 4pm Churches Together Service At Upper Tooting Methodist Church 270 Balham High Road 6.30pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Officiant: Susanne Mitchell Psalm(s): 149 Readings: Isaiah 49:1-13 Acts 22:3-16
Collect and Readings Collect: God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen. New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 12.12-31a A reading from Paul s first letter to the Corinthians 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. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care 2
for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. All This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gospel Reading: John 4.14-21 All All The Lord be with you. And also with you. Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favour. And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. All This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 3
Church Community News GOLDEN YEARS The next meeting of Golden Years will be on Wednesday 27 January at 1.15pm in the Narthex. Olu and Janet will be telling us about Nigeria. Everybody welcome and definitely no age restrictions! JUNIOR CHURCH LEADERS The leaders and helpers of Junior and Senior Church are invited to a planning meeting on Saturday 30 January, 10.30-12. A chance to share ideas, to support each other and to build confidence. COME & SING EVENSONG On Sunday 31 January there will be rehearsal from 4.30pm to 6pm for Evensong at 6.30pm. All singers are welcome, so you can invite friends from other churches or no church at all! For more information contact Lizzie, our director of music, or Fr Iain. FILM CLUB The next meeting of the Film Club will be in the Narthex on Wednesday, February 3rd at 1.15 for 1.30pm, when we ll be showing The Theory of Everything with Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones (2014, running time 123 minutes). Suggested donation 3.50, to include tea and biscuits. PANCAKE PARTY & BEETLE DRIVE Saturday 6th February, 7.30 pm Come and celebrate for the last time before Lent. Test your skills at Beetle. 2 course pancake supper and a chance to toss your own pancake. Pay bar or bring your own drinks. Tickets 5 from Diane MESSY CHURCH Saturday 13 February, 11-1pm. Don t forget to invite friends and family! e-pewsheet If you would like an electronic copy of the pewsheet, please speak to Chris or email: christopher.serbutt@btinternet.com 4
Preparing For Lent Palm Crosses Please return Palm crosses by 7 February so they can be used to make the ashes used on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, 10 February There will be two services: 12.30pm Eucharist with Litany 8pm Eucharist with imposition of ashes Lent Course - Pilgrims There will be two Lent courses on offer at St Mary s this year, one on Tuesday evenings and one on Wednesday afternoons. They will follow the same programme, helping to think about the Ten Commandments The course is for everyone, whether new to faith or experienced! There are 6 sessions in total. If you would like to commit, please sign up on the list on the notice board. The book accompanying the course costs 5 and can be bought at the first session. More information from Mtr Wilma. Lent Quiet Day 12 March, 10.30am - 3.30pm. A day of silence, short talks and time for prayer. More information from Fr Iain, Lent lunches for Bishop s Lent Call Every Wednesday, 1pm, and Saturday in Lent, 12.1.30pm: soup, bread, cheese, fruit; suggested donation 5. All money goes to the Bishop of Southwark s Lent Call 5
Local Community News BOX ON THE HIGH ROAD In January the Box on the High Road is for Water Aid. The government has promised to double anything we collect! CHILDREN S SOCIETY BOXES Calling all box owners. Please bring your box to church for the yearly emptying. Thank you, Diane WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY This will be an exciting and interactive service that will take place on today at 4pm at Upper Tooting Methodist Church, 270 Balham High Road, SW17 All are welcome, especially children and well behaved (caged) pets. The service will celebrate the marvels of God's creation and will include workshops, floral displays, musical contributions, photographs and pictures which highlight this. We aim to make the service both dynamic and appealing to all, so please come along, take part, and help to make it a thank you offering to God. Rose Harley, Di Berry, Thelma Lewis CHRISTMAS TREE On Saturday January 30, at 10am, we will be taking down the Christmas tree in preparation for Candlemas. All help would be greatly appreciated. Mtr. Wilma. 6
Our Prayers This Week For the church: For greater respect and understanding between Christians For the world: For all minority religious and ethnic groups who face persecution, especially the Christians in Iraq and the Karen people of Burma - This is my prayer: I pray that your love will grow more and more. I pray that you will have better understanding and be wise in all things. I pray that you will know what is the very best. I pray that you will be true and without blame until the day Christ comes again. And I pray that you will be filled with the fruits of right living. These come from Jesus Christ, with honor and thanks to God. St. Paul to the Philippians - A complete list of prayer requests is on the printed version of this pewsheet. 7
Sun 24 Jan Epiphany 3 8am Said Eucharist (BCP) 10.30am Sung Eucharist with baptism 4pm Service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (at Upper Tooting Methodist) 6.30pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Wed 27 Jan 9.30-11 Mary s Little Lambs 12.30pm Lunchtime Eucharist 1.15pm Golden Years 8pm Tooting Deanery Synod Sat 30 Jan 9.30am Morning Prayer 10-12 Coffee and chat 10.30am Junior Church leaders meeting Sun 31 Jan 8am Said Eucharist (BCP) 10.30am Sung Festival Eucharist With candle procession 6.30pm Choral Evensong Wed 3 Feb 9.30-11 Mary s Little Lambs 12.30pm Lunchtime Eucharist 1.15pm Film Club Contact details: Parish Priest: The Revd Mtr Wilma Roest SCP T: 0208 673 1188 E: vicar@stmarybalham.org.uk Twitter: @Balhamvicar Honorary Curate: The Revd Fr Iain Faulkner T: 07432 678139 E: curate@stmarybalham.org.uk Assistant Priests: The Revd. Eileen Serbutt T: 0208 767 8383 The Revd. Canon Bill Norman Reader: Susanne Mitchell T: 0208 675 5057 SPA: Daphne Clarke The Week Ahead 8 Candlemas Churchwardens: Martin Gray M: 07789 981 484 E: churchwardens@stmarybalham.org.uk Keith Holmes T: 0208 677 8947 Director of Music: Lizzie Hayward E: lizziehayward@gmail.com Administrator: Pat Nevard T: 0208 675 3278 E: administrator@stmarybalham.org.uk Office Hours: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10-12 Website: www.stmarybalham.org.uk All songs covered by Christian Copyright Licensing reproduced under No. 156221 Registered Charity Number 1139488