Author: Reuben

4th Sunday before Advent Sunday 5 November 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
God of glory,
touch our lips with the fire of your Spirit,
that we with all creation
may rejoice to sing your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING Micah 3.5–12
A reading from the book of the prophet Micah.
5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry ‘Peace’ when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. 6 Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them;
7 the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.
8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. 9 Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, 10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong! 11 Its rulers give judgement for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the LORD and say, ‘Surely the LORD is with us! No harm shall come upon us.’ 12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be ploughed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD Responsorial Psalm
Response: O put your trust in God.
Give judgement for me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked. For you are the God of my refuge; why have you cast me from you, and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresses me? R O send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling,
That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the lyre I will give thanks to you, O God my God. R Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul, and why are you so disquieted within me? O put your trust in God; for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. R

SECOND READING 1 Thessalonians 2.9–13
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians.
9 You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Matthew 24.1–14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew GLORY TO YOU O LORD 1 As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.
2 Then he asked them, ‘You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ 3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ 4 Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs. 9 Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION
Lord of heaven,
in this eucharist you have brought us near to an innumerable company of angels and to the spirits of the saints made perfect: as in this food of our earthly pilgrimage we have shared their fellowship, so may we come to share their joy in heaven;
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! We are in the Kingdom Season—who is your king?

Worship in the Benefice today-4th before Advent 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion with RnS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong—Rector Monday—Commemoration- William Temple, 1944 1130 Sharnbrook Messy Church 2000 Christian Meditation in SPR Tuesday—-Lesser Festival-Willibrord of York, 739 Wednesday—Lesser Festival- The Saints and Martyrs of England 0930 Sharnbrook Holy Communion BCP Thursday—Commemoration-Margery Kempe, Mystic, c.1440 0930 Felmersham Holy Communion CW 1430 Sharnbrook Mothers Union meeting in SPR Friday-Lesser Festival- Leo the Great, 461 Saturday—Lesser Festival-Martin, Bishop of Tours, c.397 1030-noon Souldrop SCRUB ‘n PUB Church yard clear up Next Sunday—Remembrance Sunday 1045 Sharnbrook Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial followed by Parish Communion—Rector 1045 Felmersham Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial followed by Community Service– LLW JaneT 1045 Souldrop Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial - PCC 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong—LLW Andrea
Thursday 16th November
St Peter’s Church Winter Warmer Lunch 12.30pm St Peter’s Room—Soup & Sandwiches, Crumble & Custard - Tea/Coffee
Tickets £6: Judy Lee 781057 / Ali Monk 782149
All Proceeds to St Peter’s Church and All Welcome
The Benefice Diary is online on the websites www.sharnbrookcofechurches.org & www.felmersham.net

Christian Meditation Group meets on Mondays 2000 in SPR—all welcome!

Supporting the Flower Guild—there will be a bucket retiring collection on Sunday 12 Nov at St Peters to raise funds towards the work of the creating a St Peters display at the St Paul’s Candlemas Festival. Bring your donations towards the costs involved.

HOLLYWOOD COMES TO SHARNBROOK!! Alfred Hitchcock's classic film TO CATCH A THIEF starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly Saturday 18 November, Sharnbrook Village Hall Doors open 7pm, Film starts 7.30pm Refreshments available Tickets £5 from Ian 01234 781721 All proceeds to Friend's of St Peter's Church, Sharnbrook
REMEMBRANCE DAY FLOWERS If you would like to remember a loved one by sponsoring the flowers at St Peter's church, please speak to Gail in church or telephone 781721

Launde Abbey 2018 Retreat Programmes now in church to take LENT retreat: Be Radiant Mon 5-8 Mar—book your place and add your name to the list if you want to go. Looking at Ps34

ADVENT calendar orders are being taken—last order day is today EXTENDED to Sunday 5 Nov

Intercessions The sick and in need: Mary, Linda, Judy, Marjorie, Connie, Doreen, Bryan, Hanne, James, Barbara & Martin The Departed: Denis Scott Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for the preparations for the Remembrance Sunday commemorations Pray the homeless and destitute near us in Bedford and Northampton Thanksgiving for the comforts of contemporary life and health care Pray for our musicians and organists

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: Roland Carpenter 01234 781551 St Mary’s Church: Jane Wells 01234 782462 &
Sue Whitehouse 01234 781300 All Saints Church: Nick Wells 07841 759497 Safeguarding Co-Ord: Rosemary Drewery 07792 926004 Items for inclusion should be sent to sharnbrookbenefice@gmail.com by 0900 on Wednesdays.

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

Spnsorship: in prayer for all the organizations working to help the destitute around our area & refugees seeking a home 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)

3 Sunday morning Readers at St Peter’s needed for the Rota—please see Roland if you would like to give this a go!

Sharnbrook extra-ordinary Annual Parochial Meeting on Wed 31 May 2017 at 7:30pm for the election of churchwardens

LAUNDE Abbey retreat programmes available—let’s go to the ADVENT Retreat Tues 21 Nov—Fri 24 Nov 2017 £245 plus travel—Pick up a leaflet in Church for details.
Book your own place & Please Add you name to the list in church so we know who has decided to sign up.

STOP PRESS– Grenfell Tower collection after each service today. If you would like to contribute to the relief help which has been offered to the Grenfell Tower survivors please put your contribution in the box/plate after the services today

Benefice Warden’s meeting Thursday 22 June 7:30pm in Souldrop

The OT Apocrapha books can be found online at http://bible.oremus.org
There are 14 books in the OT Apocrapha which the Church o England uses in the lectionary and they are used to edify the people but not derive doctrine.

THANK YOU to the flower team who have decorated church for Eastertide
And thank you to everyone who has helped make our Holy Week and Easter services take place this year—your hard work is appreciated.

Leading Your Church Into Growth We pray for those attending this conference as part of our Mission Action Plan: Stephen, JaneT, Colin, Josh & Gary along with Fr Reuben. May they be richly blessed in their time to discover new ways of reaching out to our villages.