Sunday School meets in the Vestry
Sunday Youth meets in the Glebe Maisonette
Small Children are welcome to play in St Thomas's Chapel, near the porch
Baptised Communicants of other Churches are encouraged to receive communion
Children and other non-communicants are invited to come to the altar for a blessing
The Ministry of Healing is offered in the Chapel, after Communion is given

Church Warden: Following on from his confirmation Nathan Charlton has taken on the role of Deputy Church Warden to Marjorie Bedasse. His first act as Church Warden was to ask me to clear up the church yard. I am lucky to be able to work with him and Marjorie. Many thanks are due to Elwyn Taylor for all the work she has done. Elwyn is going to take on an increased role with the Samaritans

Beta Course: This course starts on Wednesday 21st June at 7.30. The course will run for four weeks before the summer and then for another four weeks in September. It is a follow on from Alpha with the same format of looking at a video followed by a discussion. The programme is attached. If you are interested in joining this course please let me know (07977003227 or 02087433166 or bob.mayo@london.anglican.org)

Planning Application for the new Church Hall: The consultation for this has finished and it is now due to go to committee for decision. The application will be helped by as many people as possible attending the meeting to show their support. Date to be announced.

July 2nd Barbeque: July 2nd is the Petronal festival of St Thomas. The intention is to have a barbeque in the vicarage gardens straight after church. Liz Clarke will talk about this straight after the service today.

Processional Hymn                    543

Collect of the Day
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 1 Samuel 16.6-13                              (p.590)
6Samuel looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the LORD.’ 7But 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.’ 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the LORD chosen this one.’ 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the LORD chosen this one.’ 10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The LORD has not chosen any of these.’ 11Samuel 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.’ 12He 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.’ 13Then 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.

Second Reading          2 Corinthians 5.6-10, 14-17           (p.594)
Brothers and sisters, 6we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord – 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For 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.  14The love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15And 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.  16From 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. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

Gradual Hymn                              460

GOSPEL                         Mark 4.26-34                                       (p.596)
Such a large crowd gathered around Jesus that he got into a boat and began to teach them using many parables. 26Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’  30Jesus also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet 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.’ 33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

INTERCESSIONS

Please pray for
- The sick and suffering: especially Felix Okike, Lucilda Bernard, Felicity Balwant, Joan Andrew, Elizabeth Dorsett, Sean Lim, Clive Heywood Ron & Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, John Asbridge, Caroline Nevill, Ruth and Tracey Davies.

Offertory Hymn                            612

Communion Hymn                     The Old Rugged Cross

Post Communion Prayer
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts: may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn               513

Coffee in church after the service

Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA. Some material included in this service is copyright: ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000. Collect (1st after Trinity) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:        25 June 2006   Second Sunday after Trinity

10 am  SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
1 Samuel 17.32-49 (p598), 2 Corinthians 6.1-13 (p605), Mark 4.35-41 (p606)

Website: Change of domain name to - StStephensW12.org. Check it out

Hymns in Church: Sam has had a number of requests for different songs to be sung during the service. He likes to be asked because it means that he can be guided by what people want. Do please make any requests to him or to me.

Beta Course (Due to start on Wednesday June 21st)

• Session 1 – Relationships
• Session 2 – Christian Community
• Session 3 – Sin and Atonement
• Session 4 – Forgiveness and reconciliation
• Session 5 – Depression
• Session 6 – Loss and Change
• Session 7 – Stress and Coping
• Session 8 – Suffering and Wholeness
• Session 9 – Self and God

Bookings for the Parish Hall are dealt with by the Parish Secretary, Jill Wigney.  To make a booking please telephone Jill on 020 8740 9879 or email ststephensw12@london.anglican.org

Visit the church web site at www.stmg.org.uk/stephen_thomas.