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

There is a St Stephens Committee meeting on Monday 14th January in the vicarage at 7.30pm

Pia tells me that there may tickets available for THE ALAN TITCHMARSH SHOW

With celebrity guests, music, prizes and Alan at the helm, the show will be a mix of laughter, glamour and good old-fashioned entertainment.

Processional Hymn            
       
Collect of the Day
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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                 Acts 10.34-43                                       (p.44)
34Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius. ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Gradual Hymn                             

GOSPEL                         Matthew 3.13-17                                  (p.45)
13Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ 15But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

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, Ivy Smith, Susie Leach, Norbert Edwards, Brother Paul Anthony, Sylvia Steed, Caroline Nevill, Tracey Davies, Esmay Young, Roger Cox.

Offertory Hymn                           

Communion Hymn                    

Post Communion Prayer
Lord of all time and eternity,
you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father
in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:
by the power of your Spirit
complete the heavenly work of our rebirth
through the waters of the new creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recessional Hymn                    

Coffee in Church after the service

Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton. Collect (Baptism of Christ) © Oxford University Press: The Book of Common Worship of the Church of South India. Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

NEXT SUNDAY:            20 January 2008           Third Sunday of Epiphany

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST WITH BAPTISM
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Dr Bob Mayo
1 Corinthians 1.1-9 (p 47), John 1.29-42  (p 48)

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. Who is the Christ?
2. What happened when Jesus prayed at his own baptism?
3. What did the people hear?

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

St Stephen’s Quiz Night to be held at St Michael’s Church on 9th Feb  opening at 6.30 – quiz starts at 7 pm  Entry to quiz - £2 per person (4-6 people in a team) with a bring and share supper

• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2008, 18-25 January; www.ctbi.org.uk
• Peace Sunday, 20 January; www.paxchristi.org.uk/PeaceSunday1.htm
• Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, 31 January – 3 February; www.church-poverty.org.uk
• World Peace Weekend 2008, 8-10 February; www.world-disarm.org.uk
• Confirmations at St Paul’s,  22 March at 7pm

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.