Author: Reuben

Advent Sunday Sunday 3 December 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 64.1–9
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
1 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence –
2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. 5 You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. 6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. 8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
Responsorial Psalm 80:1-8
Response: Turn us again, O God; show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved
Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock; Shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your mighty strength and come to our salvation. R O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer? You feed them with the bread of tears; you give them abundance of tears to drink. You have made us the derision of our neighbours and our enemies laugh us to scorn. R
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1.3–9
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
My brothers and sisters:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind –
6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you –
7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Mark 13.24–37
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark GLORY TO YOU O LORD
Jesus said to his disciples:
24 ‘In those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. 28 From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
33 Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35 Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36 or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.
37 And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION
O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
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 at the start of Year B—St Mark’s Year

Worship in the Benefice today-Advent Sunday 0930 Sharnbrook Litany & Parish Communion &RnS 1100 Felmersham Litany & Parish Communion 1500 St Peters Christmas Tree Festival Concert of Advent & Christmas music with Ouse Valley Singers NB No Benefice Evensong & No Services in Souldrop today
Monday—Commem-John of Damascus, Monk, c.749 1145 Sharnbrook Messy Church 2000 Christian Meditation in SPR 2000 Advent Compline in St Peter’s Tuesday—-feria
Wednesday—Lesser Festival- Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, c.326 0930 Sharnbrook Holy Communion 1st Wed BCP 1500 Felmersham Interment of Ashes 2000 Advent Compline at St Peter’s Thursday—Lesser Festival- Ambrose, Bishop of Milan 397
0930 Felmersham Holy Communion CW 1430 Mothers Union Carols in SPR 1030-1400 ERMC Ordinands Day Friday-Lesser Festival -Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1800 Sharnbrook Confessions & Spiritual Counsell 1900 HOLY HOUR (with incense as normal)
2000 Advent Compline in St Peter’s Saturday—feria 0930-1600 Quiet Day with St John’s Gospel in SPR and St Peter’s Next Sunday—Advent 2 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 0930 Sharnbrook Litany & All Age Communion 1100 Felmersham Litany & All Age Communion 1600 Sharnbrook Christingle Service 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong—LLW Andrea
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!

This Weekend and next…… Starting on Friday 1 Dec—CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL all weekend ending with Christmas Tree Festival Concert at 1500hrs in St Peters with music for Advent & Christmas by Ouse Valley Singers & Sunday 10 Dec CHRISTINGLE service at 4pm at St Peters in aid of Children’s Society & bring Christmas Gifts for ‘The Salvation Army Christmas Gift Appeal’

Announcement—It is announced that Andrea will be curate in Flitwick Benefice after her ordination next summer.

Thank you from the Flower Guild at St Peter’s for the £70 donations received towards the flowers for the Candlemas display in January—we shall go across and join in the Sunday evening Service on Sunday 4 Feb to have a look’

Take your LiCiG prayer postcard to use at home. The LyCiG prayer will be used at all church happenings—services and groups as we pray for our way forward. Take a LyCiG leaflet too.

An Advent Quiet Day with John’s Gospel Sat 9 Dec 9am-4pm in St Peters: a day of reflection for Advent £15 book with Andrea—including breakfast, lunch, tea with teaching input from Dean Richard Burridge and times of quiet and reflection and liturgical prayer

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.

Intercessions The sick and in need: David, Barbara, Sally, Martin, Mary, Linda, Judy, Marjorie, Doreen, Hanne, & James, The Departed: Georgie Hayles, Mary Claxton Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for the Salvation Army in Bedford in their work with the vulnerable Thanksgiving for the opportunity to give to good causes at Christmas Pray for the LyCiG initiative across the Benefice

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

Spnsorship: In prayer this Advent for all who wait in hope, and watch in faith 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.

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

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.