Author: Reuben

St Peter’s Festival weekend Sunday 25 June 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT Almighty God, who inspired your apostle Saint Peter to confess Jesus as Christ and Son of the living God: build up your Church upon this rock, that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth and follow one Lord, your Son our Saviour Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
FIRST READING Ezekiel 3. 22-27
A reading from the prophecy of Ezekiel.
The hand of the Lord was upon me there; and he said to me, Rise up, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you. So I rose up and went out into the valley; and the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face. The spirit entered into me, and set me on my feet; and he spoke with me and said to me: Go, shut yourself inside your house. As for you, mortal, cords shall be placed on you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people; and I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be speechless and unable to reprove them; for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord God"; let those who will hear, hear; and let those who refuse to hear, refuse; for they are a rebellious house. This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD PSALM Psalm 125
R: Show your goodness, O Lord, to those who are good . Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever. R
The hills stand about Jerusalem; so does the Lord stand round about his people, from this time forth for evermore. R
The sceptre of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just, so that the just shall not put their hands to evil. R
As for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will lead them away with the evildoers; but peace be upon Israel. R SECOND READING Acts 12. 1-11
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also (this was during the festival of Unleavened Bread). When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard

him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly," and the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." Peter went out and followed him; he did not realise that what was happening with the angel's help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Matthew 16. 13-19
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew GLORY TO YOU O LORD When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessèd are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION Lord God, the source of truth and love, keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, united in prayer and the breaking of bread, and one in joy and simplicity of heart, in 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 for this celebration of St Peter!

Worship in the Benefice today- St Peter’s Patronal Festival 1030 Sharnbrook Benefice Sung Communion followed by Hog Roast at village Hall—see JaneR for tickets no services in Felmersham or Souldrop 1500 Baptisms at St Peters 1800 Sharnbrook Songs of Praise in St Peter’s Close
Monday—feria 1145 Messy Church 1400 Funeral Service of Late Connie Askew at St Peters Tuesday—- Commemoration-Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria 444 0930 Holy Communion (CW) at Felmersham 1130 Cremation of late Janet Barbour Bedford 1230 Funeral Service of late Janet Barbour at St Mary’s Wednesday—Lesser Festival-Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons c.200 0930 Holy Communion CW 4th Wed at Sharnbrook 1930 Sharnbrook RC Pre-emptory Mass for St Peter 1930 Friends of St Peter’s meeting Thursday—Red Letter Day—Ss Peter & Paul Friday—Lesser Festival -Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678 Saturday—Commemoration-John and Henry Venn 1813 and 1873 1300 Felmersham Wedding & Baptism Next Sunday—3rd Sunday after Trinity 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion and RnS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Service of the Word—LLW JaneT 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evenson—LLW Andrea
.Morning Prayer is Mon to Sat 8am in Lady Chapel of St Peter’s
Living God’s Love—Going Deeper As we think about going deeper in our life of faith, what prayer groups, events would you value and support in our Benefice? Please ass your ideas to the ideas’ sheets in each church as our PCCs consider how we can go deeper in our faith.

Intercessions The sick and in need: Marjorie, Ron, Connie, Paul, Martin, Rex, Betty, Elizabeth, Pat, Henry, Neil, Osvaldo, Claire The Departed: Connie Askew, Violet, Janet Barbour Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for peace and an end to hatred in our nation Pray for people living with life limiting and terminal illnesses Pray for our Lay Leaders of Worship—Rosemary, JaneT & Andrea

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

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.

Italian Visitors arrive on Friday 14 July until Tues 18 July
Please look out for notices and posters to sign up for joining in our celebrations and days out together—full details from Colin Scott

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

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 prayer for an end to hate violence in our Nation 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)

Sharnbrook extra-ordinary Annual Parochial Meeting on Wed 31 May 2017 at 7:30pm for the election of churchwardens

Benefice Warden’s meeting Thursday 22 June 7:30pm in Souldrop

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

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.