1. family and parenting
2. children

Daily prayer in church consists of Morning Prayer (MP) and Evening Prayer (EP)
one of which is usually combined with the Eucharist.
Clergy: Anne usually works Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Friday; Fr Andrew’s
time off this week will be parts of Wednesday & Saturday.
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MONDAY 16 March
10 am Lent study & Eucharist [psalm 77 page 681; study
reading Luke 8:43-48] ; 5:30 pm Evensong at the cathedral
Keeping in touch
www.saintnics.com
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TUESDAY 17 Patrick, bishop, missionary, patron of Ireland, c.460
8:15 am MP; 7:30pm EP & Eucharist [ps 80 page 688]
9:45 am Tuesday Group
12:30 pm Christian Meditation Group
Children & Families Worker: www.familylink.webeden.co.uk
Fr Andrew’s blog: connectsaintnics.wordpress.com
with a daily reflection ‘Promptings’ on Twitter:
andrewhnorman
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WEDNESDAY 18 Cyril, bishop, teacher of the faith, 386
7:45 am Eucharist; 5:30 pm EP [ps 91 page 701]
10 – 11:30 am Café Play @ St Nic’s for parents & children
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THURSDAY 19 JOSEPH OF NAZARETH
8:30 am MP; 12:30 pm Open Door quiet with Eucharist at
1pm; 4:30 Reception of the coffin into church followed by
Evening Prayer
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FRIDAY 20 Cuthbert, bishop, missionary, 687
TODAY WE PRAY FOR STREET ANGELS
11am Lent study & Eucharist; [‘Praise Him’ IV with psalm 102
page 712; John 1:1-14]; 5:30 pm EP
From 10:30am Coffee & Lent Lunches in Community
Centre
1:00pm Funeral of Kitty Kimber
& follow us on Facebook
WEEKLY LEAFLET
15th March 2015
4th Sunday of Lent
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SATURDAY 21 Thomas Cranmer, archbishop, Reformation martyr, 1556
7:00 pm Chantry Singers Concert
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SUNDAY 22 March: 5 Sunday of Lent
Passiontide begins
8:15 am Morning Prayer & Eucharist
10 am Parish Eucharist and Children’s Church
ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING
5 pm Julian Meeting
6 pm Evening Liturgy with Stations of the Cross
Notices
Today, in the middle of Lent, may be kept as Mothering
Sunday or Refreshment Sunday
hence the ‘refreshing Eucharist’ and Simnel Cake. Enjoy!
After the Eucharist, and after coffee and cake in the hall, for
those interested there will be a 20 minute practical workshop
back in church on ‘why and how to pray for others’
Intercession : empathic prayer.
“For those going on Pilgrimage to The Shrine of Our Lady of
Walsingham this year from the 12th - 14th June, TODAY is
the last chance to hand in your completed booking forms and
pay the £30pp deposit. The total cost of the weekend is
£132.00 (plus any transport costs). If you speak to Fr Andrew
or myself today there is still time to find out more and put your
name down if you haven't done so already!” Marian Coom
Please consider taking a ½ hour slot in the Maundy Thursday
Night Watch. We must be sure that there will be two people
present in church at all times if we are again going to watch
through the whole night. The rota is on the table in the narthex.
Next Sunday the Annual Church Meeting will take place
immediately after the 10am Parish Eucharist.
Please check today that sufficient nominations have been
made for PCC members, Churchwardens and a Deanery
Synod representative.
Please be sure to take home with you a copy of the reports
booklet today.
We shall be calling it Pledge Sunday this year. Read David
Coom’s letter carefully and consider your whole commitment to
our church life and how this expresses your personal response
to God’s generosity and goodness to you.
Please ask one of the sides-people or clergy before the
Offertory if you need to receive gluten free holy communion at
any Mass.
Fr Andrew to preside today at 8:15am & 10am and throughout
the week.
8:15 am Morning Prayer & Eucharist
Office hymn 77; Psalm 27 page 621
Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21.
10am A Refreshing EUCHARIST
for Mothering Sunday : mid-Lent
The children start in church, then move to the Community
Centre to make posies and think about today’s theme before
re-joining us in church.
The Gathering
ENTRY HYMN 285
+ In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Greeting
Praise God who loves us.
Praise God who cares.
Welcome & Introduction
Prayers of Penitence
Let us call to mind our sin,
our failure to value the love of others,
and our failure to love as Christ has loved us.
Silence for reflection
Your love gives us life from the moment of
conception.
We fail to live as your children.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
You call us to do good.
But we seek just our own good.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
3. Your servant could depart in peace
By him the truth was known.
But humankind today must learn
To make the dream its own.
In different ways we find your love
That change and time reveal
But found in Jesus we declare
The light of love can heal.
You hear us when we cry for help,
while too often we ignore the cries of others.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Copyright Monty Lynds 2004 Progressive Christian Britain Network
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord,
whoever follows me will have the light of life. John 8:12
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
We invite the children and Children’s Church leaders to
receive God’s word.
Deacon: The Lord be with you.
and also with you.
All: Children of God, receive the gift of God’s word;
through the power of the Spirit, may it fill your hearts with
love and your lives with hope and joy; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hear the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, O Lord
GOSPEL (Luke 2: 22-35)
Please turn to face the reader in the middle of the church.
Please remain standing for the Collect.
The Collect
God of love,
passionate and strong,
tender and careful:
watch over us and hold us
all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Please sit for the readings. Today’s reader is June Kennedy.
FIRST READING (Colossians 3:12-17)
A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the
wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness,
humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content
with second place, quick to forgive an offence. Forgive as
quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And
regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic,
all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of
Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each
other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And
cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ - the Message have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives.
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your
lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the
Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
GOSPEL HYMN We Sing a Song of Light Divine t NEH 376
1. We sing our song of light divine
Now born to all the earth.
To every colour, every race
To poor and noble birth.
To those of all and varied paths
With different ways to God.
The gifts of love to humankind
Are on the road he trod.
2. The light of Christ to all revealed
Shines out with radiance bright.
Darkness and sorrows can be healed
When day returns from night.
God’s song is played by all who care
Jesus reveals the dream.
For love is radiant all around
And shows us all God’s scheme.
When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child
was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was
conceived. Then when the days stipulated by Moses for
purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to
offer him to God as commanded in God's Law: "Every male
who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God," and also
to sacrifice the "pair of doves or two young pigeons"
prescribed in God's Law. In Jerusalem at the time, there was a
man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the
prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was
on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the
Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered
the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to
carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms
and blessed God: ‘God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I've
seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to
see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of
glory for your people Israel.’ Jesus' father and mother were
speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to
bless them, and said to Mary his mother, ‘This child marks
both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure
misunderstood and contradicted - the pain of a sword-thrust
through you - but the rejection will force honesty, as God
reveals who they really are.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ
SERMON Father Andrew
We then keep a few moments of silence.
Affirmation of faith
Deacon: Let us declare our faith in God: Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Please kneel or sit for the
Prayers of Intercession
Priest: As children of a loving God who always listens to our
cries, let us pray to our Father in heaven.
David Greenwood: Loving God, you have given us the right to
be called children of God. Help us to show your love in our
homes that they may be places of love, security and truth.
God of love
hear our prayer.
Loving God, we thank you for the family of the Church. We
pray that all may find in her their true home; that the lonely, the
marginalized, the rejected may be welcomed and loved in the
name of Jesus. Our bishop, Andrew, today all chaplains in hospitals,
hospices and Mental Health Trusts; more widely in the Anglican Communion the
diocese of Missouri and their bishop Wayne Smith.
Loving God, as we see the brokenness of our world we pray
for healing among the nations; for food where there is hunger;
for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is
pain; that your love may bring peace to all your children. All who
are ill, especially Sandra Hackett, Joan Jones, Andy White, Geoffrey Smith &
Judith Totman. We commend those who have recently died: Daphne Griffin
(Deacon Anne’s mother), Margaret Henwood, Tom Pomeroy, Pat Redford, Jean
Radley, John Horwood & Kitty Kimber; with those year’s minds’ fall this week:
Queenie Beasley & Jack Waters.
Priest: Loving God, accept the cries of our hearts as we offer
you these prayers; through them transform us and all creation
until you can be seen in all and through all. We pray with Mary,
Mother of the Lord and Mother of all Christians, with the whole
of Mother Church, and so in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
Please stand as we exchange a handshake as a Sign of
Peace
Through the prophet Isaiah, God says, 'As a mother comforts
her child, so I will comfort you.'
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Deacon: Let us offer each other a sign of peace.
OFFERTORY HYMN 478
During this a collection is taken for the work of the Church, and
the Gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar
Preparation of the Table
Taking of the Bread and Wine
Thank you God for the love of our mothers:
thank you God for their care and concern;
thank you God for the joys they have shared with us;
thank you God for the pains they have borne for us;
thank you God for all that they give us;
through the nurturing love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you.
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and good
to give you thanks and praise,
almighty God and everlasting Father,
through Jesus Christ your Son.
For in these forty days
you lead us into the desert of repentance
that through a pilgrimage of prayer and discipline
we may grow in grace
and learn to be your people once again.
Through fasting, prayer and acts of service
you bring us back to your generous heart.
Through study of your holy word
you open our eyes to your presence in the world
and free our hands to welcome others
into the radiant splendour of your love.
As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feast
with joyful hearts and minds
we bless you for your mercy
and join with saints and angels
for ever praising you and singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The bell rings as a sign that you might like to kneel while we
pray that by the Holy Spirit this bread and wine may be to us
the Real Presence of Christ.
... Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying your destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
The Prayer continues and we all respond boldly:
Amen.
A time of silence is kept.
As God's children, and heirs with Christ
we cry in the Spirit, 'Abba', Father Let us pray with
confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
Agnus Dei is sung as the bread is broken
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.
Giving of Communion
Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
Most merciful Lord,
your love compels us to come in.
Our hands were unclean,
our hearts were unprepared;
we were not fit
even to eat the crumbs from under your table.
But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation,
and share your bread with sinners.
So cleanse and feed us
with the precious body and blood of your Son,
that he may live in us and we in him;
and that we, with the whole company of Christ,
may sit and eat in your kingdom. Amen.
The bell rings as a sign to come for communion or a blessing.
All who usually receive Holy Communion are welcome to do
so, others to come for a blessing.
ANTHEM: Love divine, all loves excelling (Willcocks)
COMMUNION HYMN 344
A time of silence is kept.
Prayer After Communion
The children have been making posies for mothers. We also
receive any final announcements.
Please do all join us for coffee and simnel cake in the hall
afterwards.
For the care of mothers;
Thanks be to God.
For their patience when tested
Thanks be to God.
For their love when tired;
Thanks be to God.
For their hope when despairing
Thanks be to God.
For their service without limit;
Thanks be to God.
The Dismissal
FINAL HYMN 413
Blessing
The Lord be with you
And also with you
May God, who gave birth to all creation, bless you.
May God, who became incarnate by an earthly mother, bless
you.
May God, who broods as a mother over her children, bless
you.
May almighty God bless you all, + Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Deacon: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Common Worship material included here is copyright © The Archbishops’
Council
During Sunday afternoon Upper Room Church meet for
worship in church, then socialise in the Community
Centre.
5 pm Julian Meeting in church
6 pm Evensong
Common Worship page 73
Office hymn 77
Psalms 13 & 14 page 605,
Exodus 6:2-13; Romans 5:1-11
Hymn 337; Final Hymn 414