Christ Church C of E Ireton Road Colchester 01206 542307 christ-church-vestry@btconnect.com www.colchesterchristchurch.org.uk Sunday 25 th March 2012 Welcome to Christ Church We extend a very warm welcome to everyone. Services today 9.30 am Holy Communion John 12:-20-33 Refreshments - the service will be followed by refreshments please do stay and share some fellowship together. For those with children - Flames (Sunday School) meets together in the Headgate Room every Sunday during term time. All primary age children are very welcome and those who are younger too, if accompanied by an adult. Please do ask the door stewards for directions. Hearing loop there is a hearing loop in the building. If you use a hearing aid please set it to t. Services this week Tuesday 27 th March 8.30 am Morning Prayer Wednesday 28 th March 10.00 am Holy Communion Thursday 29 th March 8.30 am Morning Prayer All these services take place in St Mary s Chapel Christ Church Anglican Congregation Vision Statement Through our worship, mission, nurture and service we want to enable all people to enter into a living relationship with Jesus Christ
The Week Ahead Monday 26 th March 10.00 am Coffee + Tuesday 27 th 8.30 am Morning Prayer in St Mary s Chapel 10.00 am Time Together on Tuesday A time for pre-school children and their parents and carers NB all children must be accompanied by an adult 3.30 pm TnT after school club For children and their parents and carers to have fun exploring the Christian faith NB all children must be accompanied by an adult Wednesday 28 th 10.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel followed by Lent group Thursday 29 th 8.30 am Morning Prayer in St Mary s Chapel 12.00 noon Prayer Walk meet at church at 11.55 am Friday 30 th 6.00 pm Crusaders Games, Bible stories, crafts, fun and friends for children aged 5-11 years Saturday 31 st 10.00 am Prayer for Healing An opportunity to come and be prayed for or to have a chat over a cup of tea or coffee Sunday 1 st April Palm Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion 9.30 am Family Worship 6.30 pm Prayer and Praise Rector: Rev Paul Norrington (01206) 563478 Curate: Church Treasurer: Revd Jackie Sams (01206) 530586 Brian Taylor (01206) 540392 Churchwardens: Church Office: Delia Bloom (01206) 571788 Liz Bird (01206) 542307 Rod Green (01206) 768242 christ-church-vestry@btconnect.com WATERAID LENT APPEAL CAKE SALE Many thanks to all those who provided cakes last Sunday and also to those who bought them. We raised over 70. Thank you
Gathering words I will meditate on your commandments and contemplate your ways. My delight shall be in your statutes and I will not forget your word. Psalm 19:15, 16 Opening worship As God s people in Christ we have gathered: let us worship him together. Hymn Come, see the Lord in his breathtaking splendour Conversation and prayer with our children and their leaders before they go out to Flames Sunday School We prepare our hearts and confess our sins: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise. Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion, and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith. Amen. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. cf Psalm 51 Absolution Song All Heaven declares the Glory of the risen Lord
Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday) Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; 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. Amen. The Gospel Reading Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory. Blessed are those who have endured temptation; they have stood the test and will receive the crown of life. James 1.12 Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory. Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. John 12:20-33 This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ Sermon Song Jesus, name above all names We proclaim our faith Remain seated Let us declare our faith in God. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. We pray together Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen The peace The peace of the Lord be always with you, and also with you. Offertory hymn Come and see The Communion The Lord be with you; and also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise....we may find a voice to give you praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Jesus Christ is Lord: Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world. build us into a living temple to your glory. Bring us at the last with all the saints to the vision of that eternal splendour for which you have created us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, by whom, with whom, and in whom, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Father almighty in songs of everlasting praise: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen
The Lord s Prayer As our Saviour taught us, so we pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. Breaking of the Bread We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread. We share bread and wine together During the sharing of communion there will be an opportunity for prayer for healing or blessing. If you would like prayer, please come to the left side of the dais where someone will pray with you. Prayer after Communion Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do also for you: give us the will to be the servant of others as you were the servant of all, and gave up your life and died for us, but are alive and reign, now and for ever. Amen. Notices Closing hymn In Christ Alone The Blessing Christ crucified draw you to himself, to find in him a sure ground for faith, a firm support for hope, and the assurance of sins forgiven; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.
PLEASE CAN YOU HELP? We need some volunteers to help set up the chairs for the National Trust and NADFAS meetings. These meetings take place usually on the second Wednesday and Thursday of each month. (Not during the summer) If you can spare about thirty minutes to help please contact Rod or Delia. The Children's Society Please note that 'The Children's Society Collecting Boxes are now due and would you please bring them next Sunday. If there are any who do not hold a box and would like to make a donation. Please do so by making it payable to 'The Children's Society'. Thank you! Riding Lights Riding Lights Theatre Company are coming to Colchester (see picture above). This promises to be a wonderful evening don t miss out - sign up in the foyer if you would like tickets. If more than 10 people sign up we can take advantage of the group rate of 9 per ticket.
PRAYER The World The situations in Syria and Mali The families of those who were killed in France by Mohammed Merah, and also those were injured and left in a state of shock Afghanistan where more than 2.5 million people face hunger. West Africa where 13 million people are at risk of serious food shortages and East Africa where over 13 million people are affected by the severe drought and lack of basic food, water and medical supplies. Those areas of the world affected severely with flooding and landslides leading to deaths, disease and malnutrition All those who face lack of clean water, starvation and homelessness. The many troubled areas of the world including Somalia, Afghanistan, Egypt, Haiti, Japan, Libya, Yemen, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Malawi, North and South Korea, Southern Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Iraq, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Palestine, and Israel. National and Local Our Queen and those who govern our lands. Those deployed in Afghanistan and around the world. Our own pastoral needs All those who mourn. Those undergoing hospital tests, recovering from surgery or who are unwell. If you have prayer requests, please do remember the prayer book available in the foyer to write such requests. Praying for the Olympics The only way the Church will truly be able to make an impact on the 2012 Games is if we start praying early. If we wait till the starting gun then we will be way too late. This month let us pray for: Planning Pray for the planning and delivery of the Games - for LOCOG; ODA, More Than Gold, all staff and volunteers working to make the Games happen, security at and before the Games: for the police, the intelligence services and venue security staff, safety and smooth running of all transport networks and chaplains and Games Pastors seeking to be the presence of Jesus in the athletes villages, on the streets, in venues and at transport hubs Social Justice Homelessness The UK has one of the highest levels of homelessness in Europe with more than 4 people per 1,000 estimated to be homeless Source: Homeless Pages, 2004 The average life expectancy of a Homeless Person in the UK is 42 years, compared to the national average of 74 for men and 79 for women. This is lower than the life expectancy of Ethiopia or the DR Congo) Source: Still Dying for a Home Crisis, 1996 In the UK there are 10,459 rough sleepers and 98,750 households in temporary accommodation Source: Department for Communities and Local Government, 2005