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

On Wednesday night 35 people come to the vicarage for the first evening of the Alpha Course. This is a joint initiative between St Stephens and St Simons. The Alpha Course is designed for people who want to explore the Christian faith further. Some of those who came would not call themselves Christians and will decide during the course whether or not they will make a commitment to Christ. Some people have been church goers for a number of years but want to learn more about the faith. A ten minute sermon on Sundays is very limited in what it can teach.

The evening was a mixture of nerves, interest, caution and excitement. Some people talked a lot; some people sat and looked on. Please pray that the course will be fun and that during the ten week (Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm) people will find their natural levels, be free to learn about the Christian faith will come to know Christ personally.

The Alpha Course is an important part of the church’s life. It may be that you or someone known to you will want to be a part of the next Alpha Course that will start after this one has finished.

Processional Hymn     87           Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Collect of the Day
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; 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                 Nehemiah 8.1-3,5-6,8-10                 (p.779)

1All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.  5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.  8So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.  9And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’

Gradual Hymn               411        Dear Lord and Father of mankind

GOSPEL                         Luke 4.14-21                                      (p.782)
14Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.  16When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

INTERCESSIONS
Please pray for

1. 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.
2. Christian Unity

Offertory Hymn             470        I, the Lord of sea and sky

Communion Hymn      Wait for the Lord          

Wait for the Lord
Whose day is near
Wait for the Lord
Keep watch, take heart!

Post Communion Prayer
Almighty Father, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world: may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Recessional Hymn      386        Be thou my vision

Coffee in Church after the service

1 Corinthians 12.12-31a ©  1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton. Post Communion (3rd of Epiphany) ©  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

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

NEXT SUNDAY:        28 January 2007 – Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Jeremiah 1.4-10 (p 783), Luke 4.21–30 (p 785)

What about Today’s Gospel Reading?

1. Where did Jesus teach?
2. Where had Jesus grown up?
3. Which scroll did Jesus read from?
4. What did Jesus say about the lesson?

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