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

Dear Reverend Dr. Bob Mayo and dear members of St. Stephen’s and St. Thomas

Today we celebrate the Link-Sunday. Since years Sunday before Lent is the usual date for it. We are glad that this tradition has been built up. In the Sunday service the transfiguration of Jesus will be thought of. Some of the disciples are allowed to see the Lord in his brightness. The final revelation could be only seen at the cross. The transfiguration takes place in order that the diciples don’t fall in desperation or get mad on the passion. In the brightness of God, the truth becomes obvious. We can see, how God is coming to us, how he is looking for us and it shows what is his determination for us.

The disciples which Jesus takes with him to the mountain, have no special achievements nor did they understand Jesus in a better way than others. No merits but only the love of Jesus Christ opens the eyes for the shine which comes with Jesus Christ in our life.  All belongs to his grace. And in his grace and in honouring our Lord we are connected. In our service we shall hear the letter from London and are pleased about the connection in faith which overcomes the limit of our language, nationality and tradition. At the same time you hear from us and everybody can take a little bit part of the life of the others.

In the year gone by a lot has happened which is part of a Christian parish. We have lost dearest people and had to mourn and tried to give the mourning ones comfort and help. Many children were born so that we celebrated 54 baptisms in our churches. Under the baptised were not only babies but also young people and adults, which had found the way to God. 16 wedding-couples had started there marriage under the blessing of the Lord. 52 youngsters celebrated their confirmation and the new confirmation year have begun with 65 girls and boys. They will be confirmed at Whitsun. The groups and circles met further on and new members had been found. Our children’s choir has developed very well. At 30.th Oct. the day of reformation, we heard a cantata of the children regarding Martin Luther. Further on we had a party at the fire in the garden. One of our two kindergarten celebrated the jubilee of his 50 years. We celebrated the service in the forest garden surrounding our church. Many children are visiting our kindergarten  and the organist and the reverend are visiting the children in due course. In spring we made with the congregation a very nice trip  to a famous place of pilgrimage in northern Germany. We hat many highlights in the work with our youth group.  At Christmas they had written their own play which they showed during the service. In an interesting way they showed the differences between the advertising in TV in contrary to the gospel. Their play was very funny and run a consequent way to faith. We had a lot of trouble to prepare the restoration of our old Dorfkirche. With pleasure we had like to start with the building works last year but a tremendous lot of regulations had to be taken. Especially with the ministry for historic monuments we had great problems. Now all preparations are finished and the works have started. The old colours had to be scratched off and then the church will be brought into the old historical appearance. At the end of May we can return into the church. But the restoration of the altar will go forth. At harvest festival, we hope, that all works will be finished. In the meantime the services will be held in our nice parish-hall.

We had a lot of god experiences last year. Unfortunately the visit of a group of your parish has not been possible last year. Maybe it will be possible this year. We hope to see you. In the meantime we could communicate by mail or phone and  we could pray for each other.

So we are connected in faith, in hope and in love. May the Lord bless you all. We send you our best greetings.
With best regards the members of the Evangelische Kirhengemeinde Berlin-Heiligensee
all members of the link group and Reverend Dr. Ulf Zastrow.

Processional Hymn            435          Glorious things of thee are spoken        

Collect of the Day
Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                     Exodus 34.29-35                                       (p. 811)
29Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 31But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. 32Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; 34but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Gradual Hymn                    84            Brightest and best

GOSPEL                            Luke 9.28-36                                             (p. 813)
28Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ Peter did not know what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And the disciples kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

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.

Offertory Hymn                                  175          Come down O love divine

Communion Hymn                            439          God be in my head

Post Communion Prayer
Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed, that all the world may know his power to change and save. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn                            435         Great is they faithfulness

Coffee in Church after the service

THIS WEEK:

21st             Ash Wednesday     6pm Said Communion

NEXT SUNDAY:            25 February 2007          First Sunday of Lent

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Deuteronomy 26.1-11 (p 818), Luke 4.1-13 (p 821)

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.

Visit the church web site at www.ststephensw12.org

Post Communion (Sunday next before Lent) ©  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