The Parish of Great Berkhamsted

St Peter’s Church

The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

17 August 2008

Welcome to St Peter’s Berkhamsted. If you are new to the parish or this service, please feel confident to introduce yourself to a “welcomer,” or one of the Clergy or sidesmen.

Communicant members of all Churches are invited to receive Holy Communion. If you are not receiving Communion, please come to the Altar rail for a blessing but carry a book so the minister knows.

There will be no Sunday School, Pathfinders or Crèche today, but children are welcome to stay in the service. There are children’s games at the back of the church.

Coffee and biscuits are served in the Court House after the 9:30am service. All are invited. Please do come if you have time.

9:30am service details: Hymns, Collect, Readings & Post Communion Prayer will be found on the Insert.

6:00pm service details: Evening Prayer said Psalm 90

Website: http://stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk

Notices

§ CONFIRMATION at St Peter’s, 9:30am Sunday 26^th April, with Christopher Bp Hertford. Please sign the list on the notice board if you are interested. Fr Michael Bowie 864194, Fr John Pritchard 870016 or John Malcolm 874993 will be happy to discuss.

§ BEDS & HERTS HISTORIC CHUCHES SPONSORED BIKE’N HIKE 10am-6pm Saturday 13^th September. Ride or Walk: sponsorship gives half to named church and half to the Trust. Please apply NOW. Forms and details available from Chris Clegg 875818

§ There will be a PASTORAL VISITORS TRAINING COURSE taking place in the Court House on four consecutive Sunday afternoons in October/November. The course will cover many aspects of Pastoral Care and will give participants a chance to decide if they are suitable for this work. If you are interested in hearing more, please contact Philippa Seldon - 871534, or Richard Hackworth - 863990.

§ BERKHAMSTED WALK: The Committee THANKS all who participated in, or sponsored others for, this year’s Walk. A total of £6,000 was raised for The Children’s Society. Next year’s Berkhamsted Walk is Sunday 10^th May – we hope to see you then. Thank you all

§ GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT GROUP MONTHLY LUNCH 12:30pm Wednesday 20 August at The White Horse, Bourne End. Whether bereaved recently or a few years ago you will be very welcome to join us. If you would like to attend, need help with transport or would like further details, please contact Sheila Miller 864277

§ WEEK OF ACCOMPANIED PRAYER 10-17 October 2008. Information sheets and forms on church tables. Anne Strach 872542 or Jackie Harbron 873012 if interested.

§ SECURITY AT OUR CHURCHES If you are passing the church during the day, do please go in at any time and especially now in a holiday period, in the lunch hour or in the late afternoon, when the open door can welcome our less well intentioned visitors. Thank you.

§ ARE YOU CONSIDERING PUTTING CASH IN THE OFFERTORY PLATE TODAY? If so, Please remember an additional 28p for every pound given by a tax-payer can still be reclaimed? Do please use and complete a Gift Aid envelope – available in church.

PEW LEAFLET notices, in writing: The Parish Office, The Court House, Berkhamsted HP4 2AX
email ChurchOffice@greatberkhamsted.org.uk tel.878227 & rota swaps by 12nn Wednesday please
PARISH OFFICE hours this week: mornings only – Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday.

Prayer Diary

A daily reminder to pray for the Church, Country, Parish & community in Berkhamsted.

Sunday 17^th

Trinity 13

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

Memorial / RIP

Rowan Williams, Christopher Bp of St Albans & Staff

Badda Sugandhar, Bp of Medak in the United Church of South India

Rhiannon McCarthy, Tom Montague, Rene Dunford, Alex Wright, Judith Hill, Arthur Williams, Harry Arnfield, Christina Billington, Angela Morris, Geraldine Wright, Nigel Franklin, Nancy Lawrenson, Joan Gregory, John Davison.

Galina Carter, Eileen Picton, Eric Bayliss; Robert Williams RIP

Monday 18^th

Matthew 19: 16-22

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

Solomon Johnson, Bp of Gambia, West Africa

Those people involved in the Mission of the Church

The flower arrangers at St Peter’s

Arthur Williams, Judith Hill

Tuesday 19^th

Matthew 19: 23-end

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

Donald Harker, Bp of George, South Africa

Those suffering from long term ill-health

All those involved in arranging and competing in the Olympics

Tom Montague, Harry Arnfield,

Wednesday 20^th

Matthew 20: 1-16

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

Henry Louttit, Bp of Georgia, USA

Tear Fund

Local farmers and High Street market stall holders

Christina Billington, Alex Wright, John Davison

Thursday 21^st

Matthew 22: 1-14

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

John McIntyre, Bp of Gippsland, Australia

Those preparing for retirement

Castle Village and its residents

Angela Morris, Rene Dunford, Nigel Franklin

Friday 22^nd

Matthew 22: 34-40

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

Jean Nduwayo, Bp of Gitega, Burundi

Samaritans

Val Atkinson and the Catering Committee

Those of our family & friends departed this life

Saturday 23^rd

Matthew 23: 1-12

Sick, Anxious & Bereaved

Idris Jones, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

All missionaries at home and abroad

Jamie Travis & Louise Hiscocks being married in St Peter’s today

Thanksgiving for this year’s Petertide Fair

Rhiannon McCarthy, Geraldine Wright

Sunday 24^th Bartholomew

Readings: Isaiah 43:8-13 Acts 5:12-16 Luke 22:24-30

For all pastoral matters please contact Fr Michael Bowie 01442 864194.
Fr Michael takes Thursday off. Fr John is not on duty this week.

*ST PETER’S*	*Today Sunday 17 August*	*Next week Sunday 24 August*
SIDESMEN	8:00am Frank Allum 9:30am Pamela Pennock, Barbara Conway Janet & Mike Eller 6:00pm EP	8:00am Stephen Wade 9:30am Barbara Northcott, Frank Norman Barbara & Ron Fisher 6:00pm EP
INTERCESSOR	9:30am Chrichton Limbert	9:30am Carolina Bowie
CHALICE	9:30am Mike Eller, Nicky Evans, June Haile	9:30am Kate Hennessey, Chris H. Elizabeth J.
SERVERS	8:00am Rachel Hill 9:30am Chris Clegg (MC), Alex Evans (Cr) Simon Good, Ted Lewis	8:00am Mike Hart 9:30am David Northcott (MC), Will Morgan (Cr) Francesca Gurdon, James Ruffell
READINGS	8:00am Elizabeth Jackson 9:30am Penny Abbott, John Abbott	8:00am Janet Eller 9:30am Tony Roberts, Priscilla Watt
CRÈCHE	9:30am No crèche	9:30am No crèche
CHURCH CLEANING Marjorie Bowden, Clare Nelson, Philippa Seldon, Ruth Kemp, Hayley Gerry, Fiona Powell

This Week’s Diary

In Church O= services where the PA Loop system is in use

SUNDAY 17^th August

The Thirteenth after Trinity

8:00am EUCHARIST O(Fr Michael Bowie)

9:30am SUNG EUCHARIST O (Fr Michael Bowie)
No Crèche, Sunday School or Pathfinders

6:00pm EVENING PRAYER - said O (Fr Michael Bowie)

Monday 18

7:30am Morning Prayer

5:00pm Evening Prayer

6:00pm EUCHARIST

8:00pm Bellringing - Quarter Peal

Tuesday 19

7:30am Morning Prayer

9:30am EUCHARIST, All Saints’, Shrublands Rd.

5:00pm Evening Prayer

No Choir Practice

Wednesday 20

St Bernard

7:30am Morning Prayer

8:00am EUCHARIST

5:00pm Evening Prayer

Thursday 21

No Morning Prayer

9:30am Funeral: Robert Williams

11:00am EUCHARIST O

No Evening Prayer

7:45pm Bellringing (9:15pm) south door

Friday 22

7:30am Morning Prayer

9:15am EUCHARIST

5:00pm Evening Prayer

No Choir Practice

Saturday 23

9:30am Morning Prayer

10:00am EUCHARIST

1:00pm Wedding: Jamie Travis & Louise Hiscocks

3:00pm Organ/piano: Jon Lee (5:00pm)

5:00pm Evening Prayer

SUNDAY 24^th August

St Bartholomew

8:00am EUCHARIST O(Fr Michael Bowie)

9:30am SUNG EUCHARIST O (Fr Michael Bowie)
No Crèche, Sunday School or Pathfinders

11:30am HOLY BAPTISM (The Revd John Russell)

6:00pm MEDITATIVE EVENING PRAYER (The Revd John Russell)

Other Church Activities this week

Wednesday 20^th

Grief and Loss Support Group Monthly Lunch 12:30pm at The White Horse, Bourne End. Contact Sheila Miller 864277.

Future Dates

29 Aug 8:00pm	Bellringing: Quarter Peal, St Peter’s
31 Aug 6:30pm	Choral Evensong, Ashridge Chapel
12 Sep 1:00pm	Recital: Angela Brownridge piano
13 Sep 10:00am 7:30pm	Beds & Herts Historic Churches BikeNHike (ends 6pm), over 600 churches & chapels to visit The Cowper Society presents – The Bridgewater Sinfonia, St Peter’s
14 Sep 2:00pm 6:00pm	History Society Tours, St Peter’s Choral Evensong, St Peter’s
19 Sep 1:00pm	Recital: Felicity Vincent ’cello, Dominic Saunders piano, St Peter’s
20 Sep 8:00am 7:30pm	Association of Berkhamsted Churches Prayer Breakfast, Kings Road Church The Cowper Society presents – Berkhamsted Choral Society, St Peter’s
27 Sep 9:15am	Bellringing: Full Peal, St Peter’s
28 Sep 9:30am	Preachers: Gautam & Sabrina (Church Missionary Society), Gautam Money, India, St Peter’s
4 Oct 11:15am	Bellringing visitors: Quarter Peal, St Peter’s

SUNDAY The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity 17^th August 2008

Hymns NEH

Processional 433

Gradual 385

Offertory 332

Recessional 401

Collect

Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN

First Reading Isaiah 56:1, 6–8

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the LORD:

Maintain justice, and do what is right,

for soon my salvation will come,

and my deliverance be revealed.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,

to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD,

and to be his servants,

all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,

and hold fast my covenant –

these I will bring to my holy mountain,

and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

for all peoples.

Thus says the Lord GOD,

who gathers the outcasts of Israel,

I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

This is the word of the Lord

(Reply Thanks be to God)

Second Reading Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

This is the word of the Lord

(Reply Thanks be to God)

Gospel Matthew 15:10-28

The Lord be with you

(Reply And also with you)

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

(Reply Glory to you, O Lord)

Then Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’

Jesus went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

(Reply Praise to you, O Christ)

Post Communion Prayer

God our creator, you feed your children with the true manna, the living bread from heaven: let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN