Author: Reuben

1st Sunday of Christmas Sunday 31 December 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
God in Trinity,
eternal unity of perfect love:
gather the nations to be one family,
and draw us into your holy life
through the birth of Emmanuel,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 61.10 – 62.3
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD Responsorial Psalm 148
Response: Praise, O praise the name of the Lord.
Alleluia. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all his host. R Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you stars of light. Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. R Let them praise the name of the Lord; for he commanded and they were created. He made them fast for ever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away. R
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and mist, tempestuous wind, fulfilling his word; Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and birds on the wing; R Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; Young men and women, old and young together; let them praise the name of the Lord. R For his name only is exalted, his splendour above earth and heaven. He has raised up the horn of his people and praise for all his faithful servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Alleluia. R

SECOND READING Galatians 4.4–7
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Galatians.
4 When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Luke 2.15–21
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke GLORY TO YOU O LORD
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION
Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth the life of an earthly home:
help your Church to live as one family,
united in love and obedience,
and bring us all at last to our home in heaven;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LyCiG Prayer God of Mission, who alone brings growth to your Church, send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions, and power to our witness. Help our church to grow in numbers, in spiritual commitment to you, and in service to our local community, 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 today as we pray together on this last day of 2017

Worship in the Benefice today—Christmas 1 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP
0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion with Rise ‘n Shine
1100 Felmersham Said Parish Communion
1800 Sharnbrook Taize and refreshments after
Monday—Naming & Circumcision of Jesus 12noon Sharnbrook Holy Communion
to mark the New Year & Feast Day
Tuesday—-Lesser Festival- Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishops, Teachers of the Faith, 379 and 389
Wednesday—feria; 0930 Sharnbrook Holy Communion 1st Wed BCP Thursday—feria 0930 Felmersham Holy Communion CW 1030 Sharnbrook House Holy Communion
Friday—feria Saturday—Principal Festival– The Epiphany
Next Sunday morning—Epiphany Celebration 1030 Sharnbrook Benefice Epiphany Sung Communion followed by Bring ‘n Share pot luck lunch in SPR
1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong for Epiphany
The Benefice Diary is online at www.sharnbrookcofechurches.org

Leading Your Church Into Growth 2018
Doing LyCiG Local Study Course
Leaders Session 1: Wednesday 24 January 7:30pm The Rectory Main Session 1: Saturday 3 February 2pm\
hosted at Felmersham Main Session 2: Tuesday 13 February 7:30pm hosted at Souldrop Main Session 3: Saturday 24 February 2pm-3:30pm hosted in St Peter’s Room Leaders Session 2: Tuesday 27 February 7:30pm The Rectory LyCiG Diocesan Day 3 March 9:30am-3pm at The Rufus Centre, Flitwick MK45 1AH – 10 places booked for the Benefice – cost free Main Session 4: Friday 9 March 7:30pm hosted at Felmersham Main Session 5: Tuesday 20 March 7:30pm hosted at Souldrop Main Session 6: Saturday 21 April 2pm-3:30pm hosted in St Peter’s Room
This study course is for all who come to church to help us work together in growing our churches.

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

Please bring food to share for our Epiphany Pot Luck Bring ‘n Share lunch—no lists just bring something to add to the table

Launde Abbey 2018 Retreat Programmes now in church to take the LENT retreat: Be Radiant is NOW FULL

Intercessions The sick and in need: Barbara, Sally, Martin, Mary, Linda, Marjorie, Doreen, David & James, The Departed: George Hogg, Iris Elliott, Janice Woodfield Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for our churches as we look to a new year—May we look to Christ as our Light and guide. Pray for peace amongst the Nations and for our PM & Queen Pray for our Church Treasurers as they work on our end of year accounts

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 memory of late Iris Elliott—May she rest in peace 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.