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BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY

September 30th is ‘Back to Church Sunday’ when we are asked to invite to church anyone we know that has come to church in the past, but has now stopped coming. There are a lot of people like this who have simply fallen out of the habit. This might be due to a change in their life circumstances: they might have moved house, need to work at weekends or started taking their child to a Sunday sports activity. Coming back to church might feel like a step too far.

It is up to us to take the initiative and to make people feel comfortable and welcome.

There are any number of cultural hurdles for people to jump before they come to church. If they have children they might be worried at the noise they will make, they might be embarrassed at not knowing what to do at different points in the sermon, they might be unwilling to make the move and to come on their own. People might work at weekends, stay out late on Saturday nights or go away for the weekend.

It is up to us to help. Who might you invite back to church on September 30th?

Processional Hymn                   

Collect of the Day
God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; 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 Timothy 1.12-17                             (p.990)
12I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost. 16But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gradual Hymn                             

GOSPEL                         Luke 15.1-10                                      (p.991)
1All the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
3So he told them this parable: 4‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” 7Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
8Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” 10Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

Amazing love, oh what sacrifice
The Son of God, given for me
My debt He paid, and my death He died
That I might live, that I might live

INTERCESSIONS
Please pray for
- The sick and suffering: especially Felix Okike, Lucilda Bernard, Joan Andrew, Elizabeth Dorsett, Ron & Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, John Asbridge, Caroline Nevill, Tracey Davies, Esmay Young, Roger Cox.

Offertory Hymn                           

Communion Hymn                    

Post Communion Prayer
Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy; and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall, keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn                    

Coffee in church after the service

Collect (15th after Trinity) ©  1980, 1986 Mowbray, a Cassell Imprint: Prayers for the Alternative Services comp. David Silk. 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 (15th after Trinity) ©  The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

THIS MONTH

Back to Church Sunday - 30 September - www.backtochurch.co.uk

NEXT SUNDAY:   23 September 2007 - Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
1 Timothy 2.1-7  (p 995), Luke 16:1-13 (p 995)

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

What about today’s Gospel
1. Why were the scribes and Pharisees angry at Jesus?
2. Which sheep (or people) is the shepherd most worried about?
3. What does the shepherd do?
4. What does the shepherd do when he comes home with the lost sheep?
5. Did Jesus care about the tax collectors and sinners?
6. Does God care about us when we are lost as much as a shepherd cares about his sheep?

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 Father Bob. The only time that Bob will be unavailable is between Friday pm and Sunday am.