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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
I was asked in the week what my vision was for the church. I have two immediate dreams for the church. The first one is that people might spend more time in church after the service drinking a cup of coffee and talking to someone they do not know. For some it might feel safer to come to the service and then to leave straight away. It is not always easy to talk with someone new. However we are called together as the people of God. If we don’t try to get to know each other (rather than simply the people we already know) we could walk past each other in the street and not recognise that we go to the same church (I have heard of that happening more than once).
The second dream is for a weekly crèche so that we can welcome families with young children into our church as a part of our fellowship here at St Stephens.
Processional Hymn 497 Let all the world in every corner sing
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
First Reading Genesis 15.1-12,17-18 (p.822)
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram.I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I shall gain possession of it?” So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking brazier with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.”
Gradual Hymn 470 I, the Lord of sea and sky
GOSPEL Luke 13.31-35 (p.826)
31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ 32He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”’
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 366 A safe stronghold our God is still
Communion Hymn 384 Be still, my soul
Post Communion Prayer
Almighty God, you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Recessional Hymn 598 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Coffee in church after the service
Genesis 15.1-12,17-18 © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton. 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. Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)
NOTICES
THIS WEEK:
| Tues 5th |
6-8pm |
Bush City Youth Academy, 11-19 years, St Stephens |
| Wed 6th |
7.30 pm |
Alpha Course, St Stephen’s Vicarage |
| Thurs 7th |
6.30 pm |
Christian Meditation Group, St Stephen’s |
| Fri 8th |
7.30-8.30 pm |
Youth - Connecting with God, Glebe House |
NEXT SUNDAY:
10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
Isaiah 55.1-9 (p 827), Luke 13.1-9 (p 830)
THIS MONTH
11th PCC Meeting (after the St Michael’s Service)
4th St Michael’s Annual Church Meeting
18th Mothering Sunday Bring and Share at St Michaels for Sarah’s last Sunday
25th St Stephen’s Annual Church Meeting
Saturday 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
What about Today’s Gospel Reading?
1. What does Jerusalem do to prophets?
2. When will Jesus come back?
New Electoral Roll – every 6 years we have to compile a new electoral roll. Being on the Roll is a way of saying that you belong to the local worshipping community and to the Church of England as a whole. It allows you to play a full part in the running of the parish. Members of St Stephen’s Church can vote for candidates and stand to be elected to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the St Stephen’s Church Committee (SSCC) and vote at the Annual Church Meeting. It is also an important act of witness. Your name on the Electoral Roll will show the growing strength of the Church in Shepherd’s Bush and London.
All that you need to do is complete an application form and return it to Tim Turnbull c/o the vicarage, or you can place your completed reply, addressed to Tim, on the table at the back of the church. Forms are available at the back of the church, and have been posted to everyone for whom we have contact details. Or you can download a form from the church web site www.ststephensw12.org
All forms must be returned by 9th April please.
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The
Church of St Stephen & St Thomas
