Sunday School meets in St Stephen's School
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

The arrangement of chairs around the altar has been changed in order to make sure that the servers, the congregation and Sam can see each other.

May 17th is the date for Confirmation. The Bishop is visiting and would love the chance to baptise or confirm anyone interested. The Alpha Course is having the day away together next Saturday in Wimbledon. There are different courses due to start next term. Some people want Bible teaching during the day. There will be a four week (Monday evenings) course for baptism families. Talk to Bob if interested.

Dates to note

• 18th March Bring and Share at St Michaels for Sarah’s last Sunday
• 24th March at 6.30pm in Stephen’s School hall.  St Stephen’s Bingo Night to fundraise for Christian Aid. Tickets will cost £5 per person in advance and £6 on the door Please see Barry Clarke, Liz Clarke, Frank Moore or Brenda Moore for more details
• 25th March (after church) St Stephen’s Annual Church Meeting
• April 5th Maundy Thursday meal together

Fast from fear; Feast on Faith
Fast from despair; Feed on hope.
Fast from depressing news; Feed on prayer.
Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger and worry; Feed on patience.
Fast from negative thinking; Feast on positive thinking.
Fast from bitterness; Feed on love and forgiveness.
Fast from words that wound; Feast on words that heal.
Fast from gravity; Feast on joy and humor.

Processional Hymn                   

Collect of the Day
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; 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                 Isaiah 55.1-9                                       (p.827)
The LORD says this: 1Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  3Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.  I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.  4See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.  5See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.  6Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.  9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Gradual Hymn                             

GOSPEL                         Luke 13.1-9                                         (p.830)
1There were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them - do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’  6Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”’

INTERCESSIONS
Please pray for
- The sick and suffering: especially Felix Okike, Lucilda Bernard, Joan Andrew, Elizabeth Dorsett, Clive Heywood, Ron & Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, John Asbridge, Caroline Nevill, Ruth and Tracey Davies.
The family and friends of William Shepherd whose year’s mind falls at this time.

Offertory Hymn                           

Communion Hymn                    

Post Communion Prayer
Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn                    

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. Post Communion (3rd of Lent) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:        18 March 2007           Mothering Sunday

10 am ALL AGE EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
1 Samuel 1.20-28 (p126), Luke 2.33-35 (p129), John 19.25b-27 (p130)

Services for Holy Week and Easter 2007

Visit the church web site at www.ststephensw12.org