Author: Reuben

Lent 3—Year B Sunday 4 March 2018 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
Eternal God,
give us insight
to discern your will for us,
to give up what harms us,
and to seek the perfection we are promised
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING Exodus 20.1–17
A reading from the book of Exodus.
Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;
3 you shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labour and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work – you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 17 You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
Responsorial Psalm 19:7-end
Response: The commandment of the Lord is pure and gives light to the eyes
The statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and gives light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. R More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey, dripping from the honeycomb. By them also is your servant taught and in keeping them there is great reward. R Who can tell how often they offend? O cleanse me from my secret faults! Keep your servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get dominion over me; so shall I be undefiled, and innocent of great offence. R Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. R

SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1.18–25
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
18 The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL John 2:13-22
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
GLORY TO YOU O LORD
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
16 He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ 18 The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ 19 Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20 They then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST POST COMMUNION
Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; 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 this Sunday as we keep Lent 3—even amidst the snow

Worship in the Benefice today… Lent 3 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion & RnS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion (cancelled if snow still on the roads) 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong – Rector
Monday—feria 1145 Messy Church 2000 Sharnbrook Compline—Fr Mac
Tuesday-feria
Wednesday—Lesser Festival-Perpetua, Felicity and Compan 203 0930 Sharnbrook Holy Communion 1st Wed BCP– FrMac No Visual Stations of the Cross this week 2000 Sharnbrook Compline—FrMac Thursday—Lesser Festival– Edward King, Bishop of Lincoln, 1910 0930 Felmersham Holy Communion—FrMac Friday—feria 1030-noon Coffee and Chat at The Rectory 1930 LYCIG Session 4 at Felmersham School No Holy Hour & No Compline Saturday—feria 0930-11 Lent Book Group at Sports and Social Club chp 10-12
1430-1630 GRAVE TALK session Felmersham Committee Room Next Sunday morning—Mothering Sunday 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 0930 Sharnbrook All Age Communion 1100 Felmersham Mothering Sunday Community Service 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong – LLW Andrea
With the usual posies of flowers for everyone to take away at the end of the services.

LYCiG Local Study Course
Main Session 4: Fri 9 March 7:30pm— at Felmersham School new classrooms Main Session 5: Tues 20 March 7:30pm– in Souldrop Village Hall Main Session 6: Sat 21 April 2pm-3:30pm—in SPR
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!

Sunday 18 March—7pm Darkness Falls—a play of St John’s Gospel—commissioned by the Deanery for you to bring your friends along to encounter St Johns presentation of the Gospel message—entry free, retiring collection. Book Your own seats now—tickets allocated

HOLLYWOOD IN SHARNBROOK Smash Hit Oscar winning LA LA LAND starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone Sharnbrook Village Hall—Saturday 17 March Doors open 7.00 (film 7.30pm) Tickets £5 from Ian 781721 (please book before ) Proceeds to Friends of St Peter's

LENT lunch Thursday 15 March 1230pm in SPR £5 a simple lunch of homemade Soup and desert

Sharnbrook Churches Together rep needed for the Benefice—please talk to Marion if you could do this role

Intercessions The sick and in need: Pam, Barbara, Sally, Pam, Martin, Marjorie, Doreen, Conrad, Roger & Cynthia The Departed: none Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for safe travel and a good Lent Retreat this week Pray for leaders to emerge as Churchwardens at St Peters Pray for people struggling with the winter weather at this time Pray for those working and supporting the homeless in Bedford area

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 thanksgiving for Hanne’s 80th birthday celebrations 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)

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’

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

Sanctuary Cleaning Rota Can you spare an hour on a regular basis and become a member of the Sanctuary Cleaning Rota? Several folk have retired, in particular I would like to thank Marion and John Tyler for many years of service. If you can help, speak to Kate Ritchie (ph 781155)

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 the LENT retreat: Be Radiant is NOW FULL

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.