Author: Reuben

Advent 2 Sunday 10 December 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ
comes again as judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 40.1-11
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’ 6 A voice says, ‘Cry out!’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ 10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
Responsorial Psalm 85:1-2. 8-13
Response: Show us your mercy, O Lord.
Lord, you were gracious to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the offence of your people and covered all their sins. R I will listen to what the Lord God will say, for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful, that they turn not again to folly. Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. R Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other; Truth shall spring up from the earth and righteousness look down from heaven. R The Lord will indeed give all that is good, and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness shall go before him and direct his steps in the way.
SECOND READING 2 Peter 3.8-15a
A reading from the second letter of Peter.
8 Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish,

but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Mark 1.1-8
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark GLORY TO YOU O LORD
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,”’ 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION
Father in heaven,
who sent your Son to redeem the world
and will send him again to be our judge:
give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming
that, when he comes again,
we may be ready to greet him
with joyful love and firm faith;
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 on this 2nd Sunday in Advent!

Worship in the Benefice today—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
Monday—feria 1145 Sharnbrook Messy Church 2000 Christian Meditation in SPR 2000 Advent Compline in St Peter’s Tuesday—-feria 1000 Felmersham School Nativity in church 1000 LLW Annual appraisal at Rectory
Wednesday—Lesser Festival- Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304 0930 Sharnbrook Holy Communion 1st Wed CW—FrMac 1400 Felmersham School Nativity in church 2000 Advent Compline at St Peter’s Thursday—Lesser Festival- John of the Cross, Poet, Teacher of the Faith, 1591
0930 Felmersham Holy Communion CW 1830 Felmersham School Nativity in church Friday-feria 1800 Sharnbrook Confessions & Spiritual Counsel 1900 Sharnbrook HOLY HOUR (with incense as normal)
2000 Advent Compline in St Peter’s Saturday—feria Next Sunday—Advent 3—Gaudete Sunday 0930 Sharnbrook Litany & Parish Communion 1100 Felmersham Litany & Parish Communion 1600 Felmersham 9 Lessons & Carols 1800 Souldrop 9 Lessons & Carols 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!

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.

Announcement—It is announced that Andrea will be curate in Flitwick Benefice after her ordination on Sunday 1 July next year.

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

COMPLINE is on Mon, Wed and Fri at 8pm in St Peter’s during Advent

Christingle Service this afternoon at St Peters followed by refreshments in SPR—all proceeds to the Childrens Society
Thank you to the makers of the Christinges!

The Ashes of Late Mary Hardgrave will be interred on Thurs 21 Dec at 2pm all welcome to attend at St Peter’s

Please take copies of the Churches Together Christmas cards to deliver across Sharnbrook and Souldrop as well as out Service flyers for the Benefice.

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: Barbara, Sally, Martin, Mary, Linda, Judy, Marjorie, Doreen, David, & James, The Departed: George, Hogg, 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 teenagers in our villages and the pressures they face Thanksgiving for the success of the Christmas Tree festival in St Peters Pray for the LyCiG initiative across the Benefice as we share in prayer together

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

Spnsorship: In memory of late Don Gough 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)

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’

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.