Author: Reuben

18th Sunday after Trinity Sunday 15 October 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
God, our judge and saviour,
teach us to be open to your truth
and to trust in your love,
that we may live each day
with confidence in the salvation which is given
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 25.1–9
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 2 For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
4 For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, 5 the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled. 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. 8 Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD PSALM Psalm 23 R: I will dwell in your house for ever.
The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. R He shall refresh my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. R You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full. Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. R
SECOND READING Philippians 4.1–9
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with

Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Matthew 22.1–14
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew GLORY TO YOU O LORD Once more Jesus spoke to the chief priests and Pharisees in parables, saying: 2 ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”14 For many are called, but few are chosen.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION
We praise and thank you, O Christ, for this sacred feast:
for here we receive you,
here the memory of your passion is renewed,
here our minds are filled with grace,
and here a pledge of future glory is given,
when we shall feast at that table where you reign
with all your saints for ever. 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– may you be touched by the Holy Spirit at church today

Worship in the Benefice today-18th Sun after Trinity 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong- LLW Rosemary Monday—Comm-Nicholas Ridley Reformation Martyrs, 1555 1145 Messy Church 1500 Sharnbrook Interment of Ashes 2000 LYCIG meeting at the Rectory 2000 Christian Meditation in SPR Tuesday—-Lesser Festival-Ignatius, Martyr, c.107 1930 Souldrop PCC meeting moved from last week! Wednesday—RED LETTER DAY-St Luke’s Day 0930 Sharnbrk Holy Communion BCP —followed by drinks and nibbles to keep the feast 1930 Sharnbrook PCC meeting Thursday—Lesser Festival- Henry Martyn, 1812 0930 Felmersham Holy Communion—Rector Friday-feria Saturday—feria 1030-1200 COFFEE MORNING at 16 Townsend Road.Coffee, Cakes, Raffle - All Welcome - Proceeds to St.Peter's Next Sunday—19th Sun after Trinity 1030 Churches Together One World Week Service hosted at Park Lane Methodist Church no services in Felmersham or Souldrop 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Parish Communion—Rector

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

CANCELLED due to lack of participants we shall One Jesus? A day with Matthew try again next spring

rEFORMATIONs - study day Saturday 28 October 9:30am-4pm—pick up a leaflet in church today

CLARIFICATION and change
Saturday 28 October is the rEFORMATIONs study day so the Communion Service for Ss Simon and Jude is cancelled—we shall remember them in our prayers during the day

All Saints Church Patronal Festival Sunday 29 Oct 1030 at Souldrop Church Benefice Communion

ADVENT calendar orders are being taken—add your name and numbers to the lists in St Mary’s or St Peter’s Room

Intercessions The sick and in need: Linda, Judy, Marjorie, Connie, Doreen, Bryan, Audrey, Hanne, James, Barbara & Martin The Departed: Roy Durston Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for the Church Council meets happening this week Pray for the gift of the desire to grow as churches in our Benefice Pray for the Espiscopal brothers and sisters in Scotland Thanksgiving for our young peoples sleep over in St Peters on Friday night

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: none 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)

3 Sunday morning Readers at St Peter’s needed for the Rota—please see Roland if you would like to give this a go!

Ouse Valley Singers & Four in a bar Saxaphone Quartet Concert 7:30pm Sat 30 Sept in Village Hall tickets £7 incl wine from Colin Scott 01234 781559 0r Alan Brown 01234 823344 all proceeds to St Peter’s Church funds

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.

Leading Your Church Into Growth We pray for those attending this conference as part of our Mission Action Plan: Stephen, JaneT, Colin, Josh & Gary along with Fr Reuben. May they be richly blessed in their time to discover new ways of reaching out to our villages.