Author: Reuben

Baptism of Christ Sunday 8 January 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church this week

COLLECT Heavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 42:1-9
A reading from the prophet Isaiah.
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; 3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
PSALM 29
Response: The Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
Ascribe to the Lord, you powers of heaven, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is upon the mighty waters. Response
The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation; the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon; He makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Sirion like a young wild ox. Response
The voice of the Lord splits the flash of lightning; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare; in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Response
The Lord sits enthroned above the water flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore. The Lord shall give strength to his people; the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace. Response

SECOND READING Acts 10:34-43
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Then Peter began to speak saying: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ This is the word of the Lord THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Matthew 3:13-end
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew GLORY TO YOU O LORD
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ 15But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy New Year!

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 …. Please TAKE THIS SHEET HOME with you!
Sunday 27 November 2016—ADVENT SUNDAY

Worship in the Benefice today— Festival Day Baptism of Christ 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 0930 Sharnbrook All Age Communion 1100 Felmersham All Age Communion 1800 Benefice Evensong at Sharnbrook Monday— feria 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 1000 Holy Communion at Sharnbrook House 1145 Messy Church at Sharnbrook 1900 Friends of St Peters Committee meeting at Ivan’s 2000 Christian Meditation Group in SPR Tuesday—Commemoration—William Laud AD1645 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 0930 Holy Communion (CW) at Felmersham 1100 Funeral & Burial of late Don Gough at Felmersham Wednesday—Commemoration—Mary Slessor AD1915 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 0930 Holy Communion BCP at Sharnbrook 1500 SCT meeting in SPR 1930 Benefice Pastoral Care Consultation meeting in SPR Thursday—Lesser Festival—Aelred of Hexham AD1167 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 1430 Mothers Union meeting in SPR Friday—Lesser Festival—Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers AD367 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 1930 St Peter’s Choir Party at Colin’s Saturday—feria 0800 Morning Prayer at Sharnbrook 1400-1600 Felmersham PCC 800 celebration planning gathering Next Sunday—2nd Sunday of Epiphany 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion & RnS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion 1800 Benefice Evensong at Sharnbrook
Items for inclusion should be sent to sharnbrookbenefice@gmail.com by 0900 on Wednesdays. Please look at our parishes websites for the ONLINE Diary of everything that is happening in the Benefice churches

Benefice Pastoral Meeting—good advance notice of the Benefice Pastoral Consultation meeting on Wed 11 Jan from 7:30pm-9pm in SPR. This meeting is for all involved in or who would like to be involved in the Pastoral Care work of the Benefice. A chance to discover what is happening and what will be happening.

Christian Meditation Group meets on 9/1 & 16/1 gathering at 8pm in St Peter’s Room

Intercessions The Sick and in need: Neil, Martin, Catherine, Jean, Marjorie, Ron, Connie, Norman The Departed: Don Gough Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for St Peter’s that we may lookout for and choose good people to be our churchwardens at the AGM Pray for the work of the Benefice Pastoral Meeting on Wednes evening Pray for the Sharnbrook Churches Together meeting as they consider widening the group to include Felmersham & Souldrop, also as they think more about setting up a Carers’ Group in the village Pray for the work of our Mission Action Plans in this year ahead

You can sponsor this sheet for £5 a week—either with a message of prayer or thanksgiving or anonymously. Please tell the Rector when you would like to sponsor the sheet.

The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John is coming to BELIEF to speak on: “All generations shall call her blessed” Mary in the New Testament and in the church. Sat 18th Feb 10am-1pm see the posters in church for details
St Andrews Church Kimbolton Road Bedford. MK40 2PF
£10 per person, payable on the day
We do not want anyone to be deterred from attending any BELIEF events for financial reasons. If you find the fees prohibitive , please contact us."

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 01234 783598, 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

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

This Pew Sheet was sponsored this week…. No sponsorship this week :( 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)