THE ABBEY CHURCH OF THE
HOLY CROSS, PERSHORE
Sunday, 8th March, 2015
THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
Common Worship, Order One
WEEKLY SERVICE SHEET & BULLETIN
INTROIT HYMN
1. Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own
ardour glowing;
O comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy
flame bestowing.
2. O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its
heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while
my path illuming.
A&M 238
(Down Ampney)
3. Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine
inner clothing:
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own shortcomings
weeps with loathing.
4. And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of
human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit
makes his dwelling.
[Bianco da Siena, d.1434]
THE COLLECT
Almighty God, your most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and
entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the
way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
world without end. Amen.
Exodus 20:1-17
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book, Exodus
Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the
land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You
shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall
not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God,
punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of
those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those
who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the
name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your
work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work
– you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien
resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all
that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day
and consecrated it. Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long
in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not
commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbour. You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your
neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to
your neighbour.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
SECOND READING
A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are
being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,‘I will destroy the wisdom of the
wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise?
Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the
wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God
through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save
those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim
Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who
are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger
than human strength.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL HYMN
1. All ye who seek for sure relief
in trouble or distress,
whatever sorrow vex the mind,
or guilt the soul oppress;
2. Jesus, who gave himself for you
upon the cross to die,
opens to you his sacred heart;
O to that heart draw nigh.
A&M 140
(St Bernard)
3. Ye hear how kindly he invites;
ye hear his words so blest –
‘All ye that labour come to me,
and I will give you rest.’
4. Wash thou our wounds in that dear blood
which from thy heart doth flow;
a new and contrite heart on all
who cry to thee bestow.
[Latin, 18th Century, tr. Edward Caswall, 1814-1878]
THE GOSPEL
John 2:13-22
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory. The Lord is a great God; O that today you
would listen to his voice. Harden not your hearts.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he
found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their
tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep
and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their
tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop
making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was
written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign
can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up.’ They then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for
forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple
of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had
said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ
OFFERTORY HYMN
1. Thine for ever! God of love,
hear us from thy throne above;
thine for ever may we be
here and in eternity.
2. Thine for ever! Lord of life,
shield us through our earthly strife;
thou the Life, the Truth, the Way,
guide us to the realms of day.
A&M 807
(Newington)
3. Thine for ever! O how blest
they who find in thee their rest!
Saviour, guardian, heavenly friend,
O defend us to the end.
4. Thine for ever! Shepherd, keep
us thy frail and trembling sheep;
safe alone beneath thy care,
let us all thy goodness share.
5. Thine for ever! Thou our guide,
all our wants by thee supplied,
all our sins by thee forgiven,
lead us, Lord, from earth to heaven.
[M. F. Maude, 1819-1913]
COMMUNION MOTET
God be in my head - John Rutter
COMMUNION HYMN
A&M 448
(St Botolph)
1. I come with joy, a child of God,
Forgiven, loved and free,
The life of Jesus to recall,
In love laid down for me.
3. As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share,
Each proud division ends.
The love that made us, makes us one,
And strangers now are friends.
2. I come with Christians far and near
To find, as all are fed,
The new community of love
In Christ’s communion bread.
4. The Spirit of the risen Christ,
Unseen, but ever near,
Is in such friendship better known,
Alive among us here.
[Brian A Wren, b.1936]
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
A&M 757
1. One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new,
keep me travelling along with you:
(Southcote)
3. As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me travelling the way I should;
where I see no way to go
you'll be telling me the way, I know:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.
4. Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
2. Round the corners of the world I turn,
keep me travelling along with you:
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see
5. You are older than the world can be,
you'll be looking at along with me:
you are younger than the life in me;
ever old and ever new,
keep me travelling along with you:
[Sydney Carter, b. 1915]
PLEASE TAKE THIS SERVICE SHEET HOME WITH YOU.
PLEASE LEAVE THE SERVICE BOOK AS YOU LEAVE.
Do join us for refreshments in the south transept.
WEEKLY BULLETIN & DIARY
SERVICES TODAY
0800 Eucharist
1030 Sung Eucharist
1430 Service of Holy Baptism Elliot Joshua Newman
1700 Wholeness & Healing
(To be held this month at the Abbey)
(Youth Group at 1730 in St Andrew’s
Centre with Suzanne Clarke)
Personnel Today:
0800 Canon Richard Etheridge is Officiating
Elizabeth Kearney is Assisting
1030 Revd Alma Organ is Presiding &
Preaching, Joanna Williams is Deacon
David Bray is Subdeacon
1430 Revd Alma Organ is Presiding at the
Service of Holy Baptism
1700 Pauline Greenwood is President
Revd Alma Organ is Preaching
JUNIOR CHURCH & CONFIRMATION CLASSES
Children of all ages are welcome at the Abbey services. Junior Church begins at 10.15 in St Andrew’s
Centre and the children come into church during the administration of the Eucharist, except when
Junior Church are taking part in Morning Praise on the 4th Sunday of the month. Some children are
confirmed and receive the sacrament. If you are interested in confirmation please speak to the Abbey
Wardens.
THE SEASONAL COLOUR
The colour of the Christian Year for Lent is PURPLE, a subdued red, representing the nature of
penitence and quietness. Because purple is a rich colour, it reminds us of the kingship of Christ
who humbles himself and takes the form of a servant, born in our likeness. It’s a colour which
inspires humility in us all.
Pershore Abbey is part of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester:
The Bishop is The Rt Revd Dr John Inge
Suffragan Bishop is The Rt Revd Graham Usher
Vicar: The Benefice is in Interregnum
Associate Priest: The Revd Alma Organ (01386) 554248
Organist & Choirmaster: Mr Michael Pegg (01386) 552071
Wardens: Mr David Long (01386 554981), Dr Judith Dale (01386 552744)
Weekday Verger: Mr Robin Hancox (01386 553779)
Abbey Office:
Secretary: Mrs Sarah Martin (Monday, Wednesday & Thursday) (01386 552071)
Asst. Secretary: Mrs Ann Bray (Tuesday & Friday) (01386 552071)
Office Hours: 1100-1300 & 1400-1600
Monday - Friday
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.pershoreabbey.org.uk
Notices for next Bulletin no later than Thursday at 1200 please.
NOTICES AND EVENTS
MOTHERING SUNDAY SERVICE: This will be held next Sunday, 15th March, and will
be a special family-friendly communion service, which will replace our Junior Church who
will join us for the service. We are hoping that lots of families will attend for a service that we
plan to be enjoyable and let us celebrate mothers wherever they may be. Do join us and
encourage your family and friends to come too. This is our Wholeness and Healing Sunday
and “laying on of hands” will be available after the service.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS: Notice is hereby given that the Annual General
Meeting of the St Andrew’s Parish Centre Trust and the Abbey Parish Annual General
Meeting will take place on Thursday 23rd April, at 1900 in St Andrew’s Centre - the Trust
AGM first. All members registered on the Electoral Roll of the Abbey Parish of Pershore
are entitled to attend and vote.
AGM REPORTS Thank you very much to all those who have submitted their reports.
Please let the office have any remaining reports today for inclusion.
Email: [email protected]
EASTER FLOWERS: Memorial donations are invited for Easter flowers. Donations may
be passed to the Abbey Office, or, placed in the collection in envelopes clearly marked “Easter
Flowers” a supply of which is available at the back of the Abbey or cheques made payable to
“Pershore Abbey Flower Guild”. Thank you.
VOLUNTEERS PLEASE - COME & HELP SPRING CLEAN THE ABBEY - THIS
THURSDAY, 12th MARCH, commencing at 0930. Thank you to all those who regularly
clean and care for particular areas in the Abbey but there is a need for a cobweb hunt and
general spring clean ready for Easter and the arrival of our new Vicar in May! Please come
and join us if you can. Thank you.
CHRISTIAN AID EVENING Thursday, March 12th, starting at 1900 in St Andrew's
Centre. This is an evening not just for the Abbey but for churches all around, to hear about
what Christian Aid is doing overseas in places like Ethiopia and Ebola ridden West Africa.
We'll also learn about plans for Christian Aid week in May. Do come. You don't have to be a
volunteer, just someone interested in hearing more about this world wide charity's exceptional
work and wanting to know more. Everyone will be very welcome.
PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ON FRIDAY 13th MARCH - PREPARE MOTHERING
SUNDAY FLOWERS: Suzanne would be very grateful for some help this year at her home
(Greenbank, 1A, Worcester Road, Pershore) at 1300, preparing the posies. Donations of
flowers would be also very greatly appreciated. Many thanks. Suzanne Clarke 553293
CONCERT CORRECTION, 21st MARCH: The Pershore Town Choir, not the Pershore
Choral (as listed in Abbey Link) will be taking part in the Mayor's Charity Concert on
Saturday 21st March at 1900, together with Kidderminster Male Choir. Tickets are available
from the Town Hall.
CHORAL EVENSONG: Choral Evensong will not take place on 5th April, Easter Day.
TIME TO ORDER YOUR EASTER EGGS FROM TRAIDCRAFT this year there are
three eggs to choose from ....... The Original egg which has a 24 page Easter storybook set
in a 3ft Happy Easter banner,125g egg containing a pack of Chunky chocolate buttons (25g)
£3.99 each, The Special Peace Edition containing an olive wood Dove key ring, an orange
chocolate bar (80g) with the 200g Milk Chocolate egg £9.99 each, Dark chocolate 165g egg
with three dark chocolate mini squares (5g) and a simple Easter story , £5.50 each. Please
order from Dora Paynter email [email protected] or mobile -txt to 07745119974
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN PERSHORE - REFLECTION DAY: On Saturday, 21st
March, Pershore Baptist Church will be hosting on behalf of Churches Together in Pershore a
day of reflection looking at how we can develop our relationship with the Lord through prayer
and how that prayer makes a difference to our daily living. We are delighted to confirm Dr
Christine Dodd, an experienced Retreat Leader, will be leading and facilitating this day.
The day will commence at 1030 with coffee, include a break for lunch (please bring your own
sandwiches) and conclude by 1530. Sessions, to which you are welcome to come to all or as
many as you are able, are based on John 21 and include themes of Searching and Recognising;
Experiencing and Conversing; Choosing and Following. There will be opportunity to pause
and reflect.
THE LICENSING SERVICE FOR THE REVD CLAIRE LORDING AS PRIEST IN
CHARGE of the Benefice of Pershore w Pinvin, Wick & Birlingham will be Friday, 29th
May at 1900. Please remember Claire in your prayers as she prepares to move.
ABBEY BELLS: On Saturday, 14th March, a peal attempt will take place at 1000 to mark
the 50th anniversary of the first visit to the tower by Michael Uphill, a renowned ringer and
ringing author from Putney. He was a longstanding friend of Arthur Berry and frequently rang
here in the 60’s and 70’s both in peals and for services. Michael will be ringing along with Ian
Lloyd, another former Pershore ringer now living in Yorkshire, and 6 more of his many friends
from Worcestershire (although the anniversary fell last August the peal attempt then was
cancelled due to the oppressive heat conditions). The method will be Grandsire Triples – early
last month the peal in memory of Arthur Berry was of Stedman Triples and lasted 3 hours and
16 minutes.
ABBEY DIARY
(A) Abbey, (B) Birlingham, (P) Pinvin, (W) Wick,
(St A) St Andrew’s, (V) Vicarage (CTIP) Churches Together in Pershore
The various Lent & Study Groups continue throughout the week.
Monday, 9th March
0900 Morning Prayers (A)
1030 Bells (St A)
1900 CTIP Prayer Meeting (At the Baptist Church)
1900 Bells (St A)
Tuesday, 10th March
0900 Morning Prayers (A)
1100 CTIP Food Bank (St A)
Wednesday, 11th March
0800 Eucharist (St John Chapel)
1730 Weight Watchers’ Meeting (St A)
Thursday, 12th March
0900 Morning Prayers (A)
0915 Weight Watchers’ Meeting (St A)
0930 Spring Cleaning the Abbey (A)
1100 Eucharist (Roland Rutter Court)
1730 Choir Practice (A)
1800 Christian Aid (St A)
1900 Guitar Class (St A Upstairs)
Friday, 13th March
0930 Parent & Toddler Group (St A)
1100 Eucharist (A)
1200 Lent Lunches (Baptist Church)
1300 CTIP Food Bank (St A)
1430 Mothers’ Union Wave of Prayer (A)
Saturday, 14th March
0900 Morning Prayers (A)
1000 Bells (A)
1000-1700 Handmade Oriental Rug Sale (St A)
ABBEY SERVICES - SUNDAY, 15th MARCH
MOTHERING SUNDAY
0800 Eucharist
1030 All-Age Eucharist
A LOOP SYSTEM is installed throughout the Abbey. If the T setting
does not work, please use the ordinary setting for our new PA system.