Visit the church web site at www.ststephensw12.org. You can read all the latest news about the parish. You can also read the sermons which are posted each week

Welcome back to our beginning of year Church Service. There has been good news within the church community - Francis George born to Alice and Nathan on 23rd August and Tabitha born to Cosmo and Edie on 11th August.

There has been sad news in the wider community with Ray Jones, a QPR player, killed in a car crash along with three others in the car with him.

Next week 35 of us are going away for one night together. We will stay at a conference centre in Surrey leaving on Friday and coming back on Saturday. The price is £50 and there are still a few places left - it gives us a chance to get to know other people in the church a bit better.

You bring the rum and we will bring the coke!!

Processional Hymn                   

Collect of the Day
Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading                 Hebrews 13.1-8,15-16                                   (p.979)
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Gradual Hymn                             

GOSPEL                         Luke 14.1,7-14                                      (p.980)
1On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
7When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. 8'When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 9and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, "Give this person your place," and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher"; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.' 12He said also to the one who had invited him, 'When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'

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
- Ray Jones (QPR), his family, and the families of the others killed in the road accident.
- 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
God our creator, you feed your children with the true manna, the living bread from heaven: let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn                    

Coffee in church after the service

Hebrews 13.1-8,15-16 © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton. Post Communion (13th 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

NOTICES

NEXT SUNDAY:
9th September 2007 - Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher - The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Jeremiah 18.1-11 (p 981), Luke 14.25-33 (p 986)

FELBURY TRIP
Coach leaves on Friday 6 September at 6 pm sharp from outside the church. Returning approximately 6 pm on Saturday 7 September. Please see Barry, Bob or Liz any more details.

Fair Trade Products. www.tradingfairly.co.uk - is an online database of hundreds of Fair Trade suppliers across the UK and is fully searchable by product line or retailer location. It is hoped that by making access to Fair Trade retailers easier more people will be encouraged to buy fairly traded products.

Forthcoming Events

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

Kensington Area Conference - entitled "For Creed & Creation" - Saturday 15th September 2007 at St Barnabas Church, Kensington from 10.30am to 4.00pm. Each parish may send up to 20 people. Please let Father Bob know if you are interested in attending.

For other forthcoming events and items of interest within the Diocese please see http://gabriel.london.anglican.org/open/Area/Kensington/ and www.london.anglican.org/MinistryMatters. These links can also be found on the church web site www.ststephensw12.org

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. On which day was Jesus invited to dinner?
2. Which place did Jesus tell the disciples to choose at the table?
3. Who did Jesus tell the disciples not to invite to dinner?
4. Who did he tell them to invite instead?
5. Was Jesus also speaking to us when he spoke to the disciples?

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.