Author: Reuben

7th Sunday after Trinity Sunday 30 July 2017 when you have finished with this sheet pass it on to someone unable to get to church today

COLLECT Generous God, you give us gifts and make them grow: though our faith is small as mustard seed, make it grow to your glory and the flourishing of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING Genesis 29.15–28
A reading from the book of Genesis.
15 Laban said to Jacob, ‘Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?’ 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’ 19 Laban said, ‘It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.’ 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.’ 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?’ 26 Laban said, ‘This is not done in our country – giving the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.’ 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
PSALM Psalm 119:129-136
R The opening of your word gives light.
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The opening of your word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. R I open my mouth and draw in my breath, as I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. R Order my steps by your word, and let no wickedness have dominion over me. Redeem me from earthly oppressors so that I may keep your commandments. R Show the light of your countenance upon your servant and teach me your statutes. My eyes run down with streams of water, because the wicked do not keep your law. R
SECOND READING Romans 8.26-end
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for

words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height,39 nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD
GOSPEL Matthew 13.31–33, 44–52
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew GLORY TO YOU O LORD Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;
32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ 33 He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened. 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ 52 And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. PRAISE TO YOU O CHRIST
POST COMMUNION
Lord God, whose Son is the true vine and the source of life, ever giving himself that the world may live: may we so receive within ourselves the power of his death and passion that, in his saving cup, we may share his glory and be made perfect in his love; for he is alive and reigns, now and 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 God delights in your presence at church today!

Worship in the Benefice today-7th Sun after Trinity 0830 Souldrop Holy Communion BCP 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion RnS 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Benediction—Rector
Monday—Commemoration-Ignatius of Loyola, 1556 Tuesday—-feria Wednesday—feria 0930 Holy Communion BCP 1st Wed at Sharnbrook—Fr Mac 1400 Deanery MAP meeting Thursday—feria 0930 Holy Communion (CW) at Felmersham—Fr Mac Friday—Commemoration-Jean-Baptist Vianney, Spiritual Guide, 1859 1030 St Peters Flower Team coffee at Rectory Saturday—Lesser Festival-Oswald, Martyr, 642 Next Sunday—Feast of Transfiguration 0930 Sharnbrook Parish Communion 1100 Felmersham Parish Communion 1500 Souldrop Parish Communion 1800 Sharnbrook Benefice Evensong—Rector
.Morning Prayer is Mon to Sat 8am in Lady Chapel of St Peter’s Fairtrade Communion Wine is used at Sharnbrook—see the notice board for full details. Gluten free hosts are available.

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.
also SEEKING THE WAY course leaflets in church—please pick one up and take it home to read

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

Leading Your Church into Growth—both St Peter’s and St Mary’s have paid for 2 reps to attend the LYCIG conference in Sept—both churches are looking for a 2nd rep—please talk to the churchwardens if you are able to attend Mon25 –Thurs 28 Sept Residential at Hayes Conference Centre—all inclusive costs paid by the PCC. Please let Fr Reuben know if you are interested.

rEFORMATIONs Saturday 28 October 9:30am-4pm—watch out for more details

TONIGHT 6pm Benediction Service of prayers for healing and wholeness with music, songs, words and silence Invite your friends and neighbours along In St Peter’s Lady Chapel

Intercessions The sick and in need: Marjorie, Ronald, Connie, Rex, Betty, Pat, Neil, Elizabeth, Audrey, Pam, Molly, Hanne The Departed: none Send the names of people who have asked to be remembered in our parish intercessions to the Rector Pray for those getting married this month at Felmersham Pray for people trying to recover after the hate violence in our cities Pray for the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Taize of young people & Bp Michael Pray for the Faithworkers conference in Barnsley this week

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 events remembering the rEFORMATIONs in the church world-wide this year 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!

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.