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

I am away from the parish next Sunday. The services will be taken by Donald Reece my predecessor as Vicar at St Stephens.

Our next All-age family service will be on March 2nd. You are all invited to bring a ‘pet in a cage’ – Hampsters, Gerbils, Rabbits, Cats, Goldfish are all welcome. If this works well then we can have a full Pet’s Service next year.

Week 2 of Lent! How are you getting on? I asked Year 3 at St Stephens what they thought that Lent was about. A child replied that the point of Lent was to ‘clear out space so that you can think of other things to do’.

Our Lent Course continues this week with the second meeting on Thursday 21st February – 7pm at the vicarage. We are looking together at the Lord’s Prayer

Processional Hymn        277         All for Jesus

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 12.1-4a                                   (p.109)
1The LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’  4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him.

Second Reading             Romans 4.1-5,13-17                              (p.110)
1What are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.  13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’). Abraham believed in the presence of the God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Gradual Hymn                 338         My God, accept my heart this day

GOSPEL                          John 3.1-17                                           (p.111)
1There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?  11‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’

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, Pam Coelho, Althea Ferns, Dorian Henry, Detroy Henry.

Offertory Hymn               506         Lord of all being, throned afar

Communion Hymn          Taize    

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.

NOTICES

THIS WEEK:

THIS MONTH -
25th Feb - 7.30 pm - Vicarage - PCC Meeting
26th Feb - 8pm - All Saints Fulham - Hammersmith & Fulham Deanery meeting

NEXT MONTH - Confirmations at St Paul’s 22 March at 7pm

NEXT SUNDAY:            24 February 2008     Third Sunday of Lent

10 am SUNG EUCHARIST
Celebrant and Preacher – The Reverend Donald Reece
Exodus 17.1-7 (p 113), Romans 5.1-11 (p 115), John 4.5-42 (p 116)

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. Why does Nicodemus know Jesus is sent from God?
2. What is the only way that Jesus says someone can enter the kingdom of God?
3. Why did God send Jesus to us?

Dates for Your Diary

• Fairtrade fortnight, 25 February – 9 March
• Women’s World Day of Prayer – ‘Let our Light Shine’ – prepared by the women of Poland, 7 March; www.wwdp-natcomm.org

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.