Author: Reuben

3rd Sunday after Trinity Sunday 17 June 2018 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT
God our saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. FIRST READING 1 Samuel 15.34 – 16.13
A reading from the first book of Samuel.
34 Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. 1 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ 2 Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me. ’ And the LORD said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.” 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.’ 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ 5 He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the LORD.’ 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.’ 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the LORD chosen this one.’ 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the LORD chosen this one.’ 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The LORD has not chosen any of these.’ 11 Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’ 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.’ 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
Responsorial Psalm 92:1-8
R: You, O Lord, shall be exalted for evermore. It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to your name, O Most High; To tell of your love early in the morning and of your faithfulness in the night-time, Upon the ten-stringed instrument, upon the harp, and to the melody of the lyre. R For you, Lord, have made me glad by your acts, and I sing aloud at the works of

your hands. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon. Such as are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. R They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be vigorous and in full leaf; That they may show that the Lord is true; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. R
SECOND READING 2 Corinthians 5.6–10, 14–17
A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters, 6 we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord – 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. 14 The love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD Gospel Mark 4.26–34
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
GLORY TO YOU O LORD
Such a large crowd gathered around Jesus that he got into a boat and began to teach them using many parables. 26 Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,
27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.
29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’ 30 Jesus also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?
31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST POST COMMUNION
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 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 to church as we keep the 2nd Sunday of Trinity…..

Worship in the Benefice today… 3rd after Trinity 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion & RnS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong – LLW Rosemary
Monday-Commemoration—Bernard Mizeki, Martyr, 1896
1145 Messy Church
1930 Deanery Synod at Bletsoe Village Hall with speaker Mark Dunwoody “Reading New People” open meeting to all Tuesday—Commemoration-Sundar Singh of India, Evangelist,,1929
Wednesday-feria
0930 Sharnbrook Holy Communion 3rd Wed BCP-Lady Chapel
1930 Souldrop Nativity meeting at Garry’s Thursday—feria
0930 Felmersham Holy Communion CW
Friday—Lesser Festival-Alban, first Martyr of Britain, c.250
1800-2000 Drinks and nibbles at Pear Tree Cottage
Saturday—Lesser Festival-Etheldreda, Abbess of Ely, c.678
0930 Sharnbrook Mothers’ Union Wave of Prayer followed by Gift Day and open tower, refreshments and organ music
1400 St Peter’s Fete in Sharnbrook House Garden Next Sunday services— St Peter’s Patronal Festival Celebrations
1030 Sharnbrook Benefice
Patronal Festival Communion and saying goodbye to Andrea as she leaves St Peter’s no service in Felmersham or Souldrop 1600 Festival Concert
by Sharnbrook Community Choir
followed by 1715 Songs of Praise

We are getting a coach to go to St Albans Cathedral on Sunday 1 July for the Ordinations Service
If you would like to go on the coach (52 seats) please add your names to the lists in St Peter’s and St Mary’s
Depart St Peters 9am and then pick up in Felmersham 910am

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

Friday 22nd. June 2018 As an opener to St. Peter’s Festival weekend, Paul & Alison Monk invite you to Drinks and Nibbles in the garden of ‘Pear Tree Cottage’ 97, High St. from 6– 8pm.
Donations for Church funds.
Please contact Alison 782149 or Judy 781057 if you would like to come.
St. Peter's Garden Fete, Sat 23rd June 2pm Sharnbrook House.
Items needed: Books: to Mary Farnsworth, 16 Home Close - 782192. Cakes: (Judy Lee) , Bric-a- Brac: (Alison Monk) , Plants: (on the day), Draw prizes. Bric-a- Bac, Tombola: (bottles etc.), Children's Lucky Dip: (Boxes at rear of Church.)
Offers of help, suggestions: - Colin on 781559. colinjscott1@aol.com

Church Contacts
The Rector: Reuben Preston, The Rectory, 81 High Street, Sharnbrook MK44 1PE 01234 782000 07971 895897 rectorofsharnbrook@rjpmedia.co.uk Reader: Garry Johnson 07855 762922 Lay Leaders of Worship: Rosemary Drewery 07792926004, Jane Templeman, Andrea Maffie 07881 046255 Churchwardens:- St Peter’s Church: Roland Carpenter 01234 781551 Janet Norman 01234 781997 St Mary’s Church: 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.

Intercessions The sick and in need: Isabela, Doll, Keri, Maureen, Matthew, Barbara, Sally, Pam, Marjorie, Doreen, Conrad & Cynthia
The Departed: none
Prayer requests for the week: Pray for students finishing their exams Pray for the CofE work of the CAR WASH App Pray for the preparations of St Peters weekend

To make arrangements for Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms/Christenings, Confessions, House Blessings etc. please contact the Rector

Spnsorship: in prayer & thanksgiving for all members of the Armed Forces serving abroad in areas of conflict 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)

a collection is started to buy the traditional ordination gifts of an Ordination stole & Preaching Scarf, in your generosity give your donations to the Rector in cash, or cheques payable to “R. Preston” or Paypal to rjp@reubenjamespreston.co.uk or BACS 20-07-82 10181048 Ref ’Andrea’

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

Help with Maintenance at St Peter’s.
1. The Churchyard—On Fridays 10am=noon, we will be working to tidy up the churchyard, and tackle the damaging infestation of ivy. If you can spare a couple of hours - on any Friday morning, we would be very pleased to see you..
Leadership at St Peter’s through 2018 into 2019
The current situation at St Peter’s is inadequate to help the church to grow. We need people to take on leadership roles at St Peter’s. The most urgent need is one, preferably two people to join the PCC and be willing to assist and train for the duties of Church Warden. We have past wardens and people who would gladly help and give advice to achieve this. Please give this some serious thought as you might be somebody who could fulfil this role and relieve Roland who has been covering the roles of Treasurer and a single Church Warden in this past year, this ought not continue into the new year ahead.’ Pray for people to come forward and offer to take up the roles of Church Wardens and PCC members—we have very capable women and men at St Peter’s who have the skills and aptitude to take hold of these responsibilities.

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

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.

2018 Annual Meetings Souldrop 7.30pm Tues 17 April Sharnbrook 7.30pm Wed 18 April come along and support the officers elected and have your say about the mission and witness of our churches in the Benefice.

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.