Pew Sheet 26th February 2012

St Dunstan’s Church, Monks Risborough
& St. Peter’s Chapel, Owlswick

Part of the Risborough Team Ministry

www.stdunstanschurch.com

Vicar – The Revd James Tomkins

01844 275944 (day off Tuesday)
jamestomkins@btinternet.com
The Rectory, Mill Lane, Monks Risborough, HP27 9JE

Welcome!

We hope you will enjoy worshipping here with us.


The Junior Church (10 o’clock Club) meet in the Church Hall before coming into Church for Communion.
Please join us for refreshments in the Church Hall immediately after the 10.00am service.  

All are welcome.

Sunday 26th February 2012

First Sunday of Lent

10.00 am Parish Eucharist    (Merbecke Setting)

Before Jesus had begun his ministry, God called him “beloved Son”.  God calls us all his beloved children, whether or not we have done anything remarkable.  In our worship today, let us respond to God’s overwhelming love for each one of us... 

Hymns

Introit: 190
Psalm: 25:1-9 
Offertory: 343
Communion: 374, Pavan (W Byrd)
Anthem: Hide not thou thy face, R. Farrant
Recessional: 252

First Reading               Genesis 9: 8-17

God promises Noah and the whole of creation that never again will the earth be destroyed by floods.  The rainbow is the sign of god’s promise.    


Second Reading           1 Peter 3: 18 – end

Just as Noah and his family were saved from the flood by God, so Baptism is a sign of our salvation through the resurrection of Jesus.   


Gospel Reading            Mark 1: 9-15

Following his baptism, Jesus is immediately driven into the wilderness by God’s Spirit, but returns to begin his own ministry after John the Baptist is arrested.


3.00pm             Owlswick Choral Evensong

Readings: Genesis 2:15-17 & 3:1–7, Romans 5:12-19

Hymns: 332, Psalm 119:25-32, 414, 420


Prayer for the Week

God of the covenant, as the forty days of deluge swept away the world’s corruption and watered new beginnings of righteousness and life, so in the saving flood of baptism your people are washed clean and born again.  Throughout these forty days, we beg you, unseal for us the wellspring of your grace, cleanse our hearts of all that is not holy, and cause your gift of new life to flourish once again.  Grant this through Christ our liberator from sin, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and might God for ever and ever. Amen

 

Your prayers are asked this week for:

• for countries where the people are being oppressed or diminished through violence, hunger or disease
• School Governors and the responsibility they carry for the life our schools, teachers, pupils and the wider community.  
• The various courses such as ‘small group BIG QUESTIONS’, ‘living lives with integrity’ and ‘the Lenten Messiah’ taking place during Lent
• Residents of Sawmill Rd (Longwick), Dairymeade (Speen)
• Those in need who are known in our parish:
• and also further afield for:
• Gordon Haynes; Christine; Joan Male; Emma, Matt and Olivia; Richard Irvine; Sarah and Matt; Sally Maddox, Sylvia Jackson, Marjorie Palmer
• For the recently departed including: 
• ‘Alf’ Godfrey
• Those whose anniversary of death falls at this time particularly:  
•  David Brewer, Evelyn How, Muriel Birrell, Doreen Gatensbury

Please remember the charities that St Dunstan's supports, in particular this week:

The Church Housing Trust – dedicated to the rehabilitation and resettlement of homeless people of all ages and backgrounds.       

Notices

Small group, BIG QUESTIONS,

Running weekly on a Friday from10 -11.30 am until March 23rd, everyone is welcome to come along to The Rectory at the top of Mill Lane to explore questions of faith and other aspects of Christianity. Topics will include ‘Who is Jesus’ and ‘how can I be sure of my Faith’. To book a place please contact either James or Alan Barnes (01844) 273390 alanazzsoul@aol.com

‘Youth’ group starting up, February 26th

We are looking to create a space called ‘later’; for young people to come together to have fun, to ‘chill out’ with their friends and to make new ones. The initial meeting will be at 26 Summerleys Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 9DT on Sunday February 26th at 6.00 pm, finishing at 8.00 pm. At this first meeting we will serve Pizza and Hot Chocolate and ask the young people what sort of things they would like to do in the future. Anyone in years 6 to 10 are very welcome. Please let James know if your son(s)/daughter (s) is interested in coming along.

“The Lenten Messiah”, the Bethany House Group

This course is adapted from ‘Forty Days with the Messiah’ by David Winter, with music by Handel. It will take place on Wednesdays: 29 February, 7, 14, 21, 28 March 2012 at 76 Westmead from: 10.30 – 12.00 noon. Whilst there is a theme to this five week course, each one can stand alone, so you are welcome to some - or all – and we look forward to your company. For further details please ring: Su Viney (275461), Jill Iredale  (346488) or speak with James.

‘Living Lives of Integrity’

This is an evening course for anyone to come along to hear what various speakers have to say on variety of topics followed by time for questions and discussion. This will run on Tuesdays from 7.00 – 9.00pm at Costa Coffee, Princes Risborough. More information is available on the notice board.

Churchyard ‘spring’ tidy up

This was to take place on March 10th but has been postponed until later in the spring.

Church Concert with Princes Risborough Methodist Church Saturday 10th March 7.00pm

Tickets for the Concert Presentation by Rev David and Mrs Paula Jenkins are available from Pat Kimber (273942) and Rosemary Woodward-Court (344417).  It promises to be an exciting evening of music, poetry, pictures and songs.  See the newsletter and posters for additional information.

March 12th at the Rectory ‘the group with no name’!

On Monday March 12th at 8 pm a new group is being set up to encourage people in their faith through friendship. This initial meeting will help shape when, where, what format and how frequently the group will meet. Please do come along or contact James for further details.

Annual Meetings, Friday March 16th at 8 pm

Please make every effort to come along to this. We will be looking at ways we can ensure the parish continues to grow and everyone’s input will be very valuable. James

A ‘Pilgrim Tour’ of Westminster Abbey, Wednesday March 21st

This is now full but please do let me know if you would like to come on a future trip as I am creating a ‘reserve list’. If you are coming on this trip pass me a cheque of cash for £12 made payable to ‘PCC Monks Risborough’

A ‘Quiet Day’ for Holy Week, Saturday March 30th

On Saturday March 30th from 9.45 am to 4 pm there will be a ‘quiet day’ to reflect upon the forthcoming events of Holy Week. There will be short readings, music and reflections followed by time and space for your own thoughts and an opportunity to walk in the surrounding countryside. The day will conclude with a simple service of Holy Communion. The venue is Lee Common Methodist Chapel set in the midst of the beautiful Chiltern Hills. The cost is £5 per person with a limited number of spaces available. Please bring your own lunch. The address of the chapel for navigation purposes is Oxford Street, Lee Common, Great Missenden, HP16 9JP. To book a place please contact Rev James Tomkins jamestomkins@btinternet.com (01844 275944)

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

There is another opportunity to ‘be a pilgrim’ with the Bishop of Oxford from February 25th to March 6th 2013. This is a wonderful opportunity and leaflets can be found in the porch. James

Stop Press

Following the great success of the Flower Festival in 2010, another one on the theme of ‘Saints preserve us’ will take from May 17th to May 20th, 2013

Church Services – Your feedback is appreciated

The words that we use, the hymns/songs that we sing and the music that we listen to are all aids to help us draw closer to God.  As the choir develops and we look to enhance our worship, I would greatly value your feedback both positive and negative.  I am keen that our worship is both accessible and enriching as part of the Church of England. I look forward to hearing from you. James

The Next Couple of Weeks

Morning Prayer takes place on Monday (apart from Bank Holidays), Wednesday and Thursday at 8.45 at St. Dunstan’s

Sun 26th Feb	10.00am Parish Eucharist 3.00pm  Owlswick Choral Evensong
Tue 28th Feb	9.15am Fellowship Walk (meet in lay-by)
Wed 29th Feb	2.00 pm ‘Alf’s’ funeral service
Thurs 1st March	9.30am  Healing and Holy Communion 2.00 pm Monks Monkeys
Fri 2nd March	11.00 am Women’s World Day of Prayer at the Baptist Church (see notices)
Sun 4th March	8.00am  Holy Communion 10.00am  All Age Family Eucharist 6.00pm Choral Evensong
Mon 5th March	8.00 pm Silent Prayer meeting (church hall)
Thurs 8th March	9.30am  Holy Communion 8.00pm  Fellowship AGM and talk preceded by Communion at 7.30am
Sat 10th March	7.00 pm  Concert (see notices)
Sun 11th March	10.00am  Parish Eucharist 11.30am  Owlswick Holy Communion 6.00pm  Choral Evensong