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

‘You add and we multiply’ is the slogan being used to raise money for Christian Aid.  There was a whole series of different local activities to mark the week. The evening of hymn singing at Holy Innocents Church attracted a congregation of over 200 people and raised around £500. On Sunday a number of people went on the Christian Aid walk round the city churches. It poured with rain the whole afternoon but didn’t dampen spirits. Sponsorship is slowly trickling in. Others were shaking tins and collecting money. Thank you to all who gave their time and energy for such a good cause.

Brenda and Frank

Every Tuesday at 7.30 there is a music workshop for young people. If you are interested in singing, acting, dance, poetry or any creative performance

Elaine

Processional Hymn     166        Crown him with many crowns

Collect of the Day
O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 Acts 1.15-17,21-26                            (p.564)
15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people). He said, 16‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus – 17for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. 21So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ 23So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Second Reading           1 John 5.9-13                                   (p.565)
9If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Gradual Hymn               318        O Thou, who at thy Eucharist

GOSPEL                         John 17.6-19                                      (p.566)
Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed: 6‘Father, I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.’

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             398        Christ triumphant, ever reigning

Communion Hymn      470        I, the Lord of sea and sky

Post Communion Prayer
Eternal God, giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom: confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn      490  Jesus shall reign, where’er the sun

Coffee in church after the service

Post Communion (7th of Easter) ©  1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services. 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 (7th of Easter) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:        4 June 2006   Pentecost

10 am  ALL AGE WORSHIP
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo with input from the Sunday Youth
Acts 2.1-21 (p 567), Romans 8.22-27 (p 571), John 15.26-27; 16.4b-15 (p 572)

Love (I forgot to include this in the sermon last week – the disadvantage of preaching without notes). I am not asking you to love the whole world in a flurry, blurry way but to love one another. This is a much more prickly thing to ask of you. I am asking you to love one another, not necessarily to like one another. We are asked to love our enemies (Lk 6:27) after all. Augustine was asked if he could sum up all the law and the prophets in one sentence. He replied “Love God and do what you want’.

Home Communion – Available to any unable to come on a Sunday.  Talk to Father Bob (8743 3166) if you or anyone else might be interested.

Any enquiries about pastoral concerns, baptisms, weddings or funerals please get in touch with either Bob Mayo, the vicar, or Sarah Archer, the Associate-Vicar at St Michaels. The only time that Bob will be unavailable is between Friday pm and Sunday am.

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.