Author: Reuben

2nd Sunday before Lent Sunday 19 February 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church this week

COLLECT Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. Amen.
FIRST READING Genesis 1.1 – 2.3
A reading from the book of Genesis.
1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6 And God said, ‘Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ 7 So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 9 And God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.’ And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. 14 And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights – the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night – and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ 21 So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 24 And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the

earth.’ 27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ 29 God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
PSALM Psalm 136:1-9. 23-end
Response: For his mercy endures for ever.
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 3.1–9 A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, 21 in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
This is the word of the Lord THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Matthew 6:25-34
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew GLORY TO YOU O LORD at the end of the reading
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION God our creator, by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church: may we who have been nourished at your table on earth be transformed by the glory of the Saviour's cross and enjoy the delights of eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

The materials used in this sheet are from the Common Worship materials of the Church of England www.churchofengland.org all Bible verses are from NRSV translation this sheet created by Fr Reuben James Preston SCP OblOSB rectorofsharnbrook@rjpmedia.co.uk www.sharnbrookcofechurches.org

The United Benefice of Sharnbrook, Felmersham and Knotting with Souldrop
St Peter’s Church, Sharnbrook MK44 1HU, St Mary’s Church, Felmersham MK43 7JP All Saints Church, Souldrop MK44 1EX www.sharnbrookcofechurches.org Welcome to church today! Did you enjoy the readings…?
Sunday 27 November 2016—ADVENT SUNDAY

Worship in the Benefice today-2nd Sunday before Lent 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion & R’nS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1300 Sharnbrook Holy Baptism 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong
Monday—feria 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 1145 Messy Church at Sharnbrook 1400 St Peter’s Guild in SPR 2000 Christian Meditation Group in SPR Tuesday—feria 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 0930 Holy Communion (CW) at Felmersham Wednesday—feria 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 0930 Holy Communion CW 4th Wed at Sharnbrook Thursday—Lesser Festival-Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c.155 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 1030 Souldrop Coffee Morning Village Hall Friday— Lesser Festival—Janani Luwum, Martyr, 1977 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook Saturday—feria 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook Next Sunday—Sunday next before Lent 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion & R’nS 1100 Felmersham Choral Matins 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong
Items for inclusion should be sent to sharnbrookbenefice@gmail.com by 0900 on Wednesdays. APCM & AGM Dates St Peters Wed 15 March 7:30pm St Peters Room (no compline) St Mary’s Sat 8 April 2:30pm Committee Room All Saints Thurs 27 April 7:30pm Village Hall

Intercessions The sick and in need: Neil, Martin, Jean, Ann, Marjorie, Ron, Connie, Mary, Paul, Pat, Rex The Departed: David Folbigg Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for Finley Martin Richard Hargreaves as he is baptised today Pray for people to stand for our PCCs and vacant posts Pray for people recovering from operations

Christian Meditation Group meets on Mondays at at 8pm in St Peter’s Room—all welcome!

CONFIRMATION 2017 if you are interested in being confirmed this year please let Fr Reuben or a Churchwarden know.

Fairtrade—St Peter’s is now using Fairtrade Communion Wine see www.poterionfairtrade.co.uk for more details

Sat 4 March “One Jesus ? A day with Mark’s Gospel”—See posters in churches A day with the text of Mark’s Gospel, with prayer together, individually and renewal of our spirits as we dwell in the scriptures. 9:30-5pm £15 including breakfast, lunch and tea with cake

LENT begins on Wednesday 1 March Ash Wednesday Benefice Sung Communion with Litany and Ashing 7:30pm at St Peters hosted by St Peters this year

Church Contacts
The Rector: Reuben Preston, The Rectory, 81 High Street, Sharnbrook MK44 1PE 01234 782000 07971 895897 rectorofsharnbrook@rjpmedia.co.uk
Lay Leaders of Worship: Rosemary Drewery 07792926004, Jane Templeman, Andrea Maffie 07881 046255 Churchwardens:- St Peter’s Church: Roger Gaunt 01234 782183 &
Andrea Maffei 07881 046255 St Mary’s Church: Jane Wells 01234 782462 &
Sue Whitehouse 01234 781300 All Saints Church: Nick Wells 07841 759497
Safeguarding Co-Ordinator: Rosemary Drewery 01234 783598

Electoral Roll revisions are now taking place —to be added or deleted please see the churches’ electoral roll officer— at St Peter’s Enid Salter

To make arrangements for Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms/Christenings, Confessions, House Blessings etc. please contact the Rector

Spnsorship: a generous anonymous donor—thank you! If you would like to sponsor this sheet please send you £5 donation to The Rectory along with details of the sponsorship (even if anonymous)