Author: Reuben

2nd Sunday of Easter & St George’s Day Sunday 23 April 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen.
FIRST READING Acts 2.14a, 22–32
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
On the day of Pentecost, 14 Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, 22 ‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know – 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” 29 Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.” 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.’
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
PSALM Psalm 16
R: The Lord is at my right hand; I shall not fall.
Preserve me, O God, for in you have I taken refuge; I have said to the Lord, “You are my lord, all my good depends on you.” All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, upon those who are noble in heart. R Though the idols are legion that many run after, their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, neither make mention of their names upon my lips. The Lord himself is my portion and my cup; in your hands alone is my fortune. R My share has fallen in a fair land; indeed, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel, and in the night watches he instructs my heart. R I have set the Lord always before me; he is at my right hand; I shall not fall. Wherefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my flesh also shall rest secure. R For you will not abandon my soul to Death, nor suffer your faithful one to see the Pit. You will show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. R

SECOND READING 1 Peter 1:3-9
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL John 20:19-31
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. GLORY TO YOU O LORD
19 When it was evening on the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ 28 Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29 Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION Lord God our Father, through our Saviour Jesus Christ you have assured your children of eternal life and in baptism have made us one with him: deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in your love, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 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 of Easter 2017

Worship in the Benefice today-2nd Sunday of Easter 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP—Fr Mac 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion—Rev Lionel 1100 Felmersham Choral Matins—LLW Rosemary 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong - JaneT
Monday—St George trans from yesterday 1145 Messy Church 1400 St Peters Guild 2000 Meditation Group in SPR Tuesday—Feast Day—St Mark’s Day 0930 Holy Communion (CW) at Felmersham Fr Mac Wednesday—feria 0930 Holy Communion CW 4th Wed at Sharnbrook 1930 Sharnbrook PCC meeting in SPR Thursday—Commemoration—Christina Rossetti, Poet, 1894 Friday—Commemoration—Peter Chanel, Martyr, 1841 1800 First Communion Rehearsal 1900 First Communion parents and Carers social Saturday—Lesser Festival -Catherine of Siena, 1380 12noon Sharnbrook Wedding Blessing UNLOCK walk in LONDON all day Next Sunday—3rd Sunday of Easter 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion -First Communions & Baptisms 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion - Rev Vicky 1800 Sharnbrook Taise Service—LLW Andrea Sunday 30 April 0930 at St Peter’s First Communion & Baptism celebrations following the diocesan programme we are admitting some of our Rise ‘n Shine youngsters to Communion giving them a full place in the sacramental life of the church. Please pray for them and their parents as they make this step into church life and membership.

Christian Meditation Group meets on Mondays at at 8pm in St Peter’s Room—all welcome!

Intercessions The sick and in need: Marjorie, Ron, Connie, Paul, Pat, Rex, Betty, Martin, The Departed: Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for Sharnbrook parish as we look for two people to be churchwardens for the coming year Pray for the St Peters appeal for support to the whole parish—may we receive the financial help necessary through generous donations Pray for the children preparing for their First Communions on Sunday 30 April. Pray for those moving into new homes in the village this week

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 and add your name to the lists in church and then as we have final numbers we can organize our transport in cars or minibus. Please Add you name to the list in church so we know who has decided to sign up.

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: vacant St Mary’s Church: Jane Wells 01234 782462 &
Sue Whitehouse 01234 781300 All Saints Church: Nick Wells 07841 759497 Safeguarding Co-Ord: Rosemary Drewery 01234 783598 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 thanksgiving for those adults who helped with Messy Holy Week and the Holy activities 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)

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 and add your name to the lists in church and then as we have final numbers we can organize our transport in cars or minibus

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.