The Parish of Great Berkhamsted

St Peter’s Church

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

and Back to Church Sunday

28 September 2008

Welcome to St Peter’s Berkhamsted and a special welcome to those joining us for Back to Church Sunday. If you are new to the parish or this service, you are invited 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.

The Sunday School, Pathfinders and Crèche run in the Court House from 9:30am.  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, Psalm, Collect, Readings, Anthem, Post Communion Prayer & Voluntary will be found on the Insert.

6:00pm service details:  Meditative Evening Prayer

Website:  http://stpetersberkhamsted.org.uk

Now includes a video of the raising of the new cross as above plus:  /?page=events

Notices

§ HARVEST FESTIVAL AT ST PETER’S next SUNDAY 5^th OCTOBER. 
Plate collections will be taken for the Bishop of St Albans Harvest Appeal Changing climate, changing lives. (cheques payable to PCC of Great Berkhamsted please).   See insert. The more traditional gifts from children & others will be given to local charities: *HYHG West Project (Herts Young Homeless Group), The Hospice of St Francis & The Gossoms End Centre.
     *small coloured leaflets, on the church tables, list the needs of HYHG

§ HARVEST LUNCH – NEXT SUNDAY 5^th  OCTOBER 12:30 for 1:00pm in the Court House.   Tickets adults £6 / children £4 from Barbara Conway 865798

§ REVIEW NOVEMBER COPYDATE is next Friday 3^rd October but earlier receipt of copy would be appreciated.  Copy to Christopher Green 17 Cowper Rd, HP4 3DE (863241), email:  greenc@waitrose.com.  NB The December copydate is earlier: Friday 31^st October.

§ FAIRTRADE STALLS today Sunday 28^th September at St Peter’s & next Sunday 5^th October at All Saints’.  Come and buy fairly traded goods after morning services. Christmas cards and gifts will be available.  Orders can be taken from the Traidcraft catalogue.   Angela Morris 866992, Julie Wakely 875504 

§ IF ARE YOU INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT CHRISTIAN FAITH
please do approach Fr Michael Bowie 864194, Fr John Pritchard 870016 or John Malcolm 874993 who will be happy to discuss.  An Enquirers course will be available next month.
CONFIRMATION at St Peter’s, 9:30am Sunday 26^th April, with Christopher Bp of Hertford.  Please sign the list on the notice board if you are interested.

§ HOSPICE OF ST FRANCIS WE NEED TO TALK 7:00pm Monday 13th October at Berkhamsted Civic Centre.  An open meeting about Hospice care.  This is a chance to find out what the hospice does, ask questions, & enjoy a glass of wine.
also the Hospice asks please:  that any groups or individuals wishing for a tour contact the Hospice in advance (869550) so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

§ CHILDREN’S SOCIETY BOXHOLDERS  If your box has yet to be emptied this year, and you do not have it with you today, please contact Kathie Lally 863526

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

PEW LEAFLET notices, in writing:  The Parish Office, The Court House, Berkhamsted   HP4 2AX
email ChurchOffice@greatberkhamsted.org.uk tel.878227 & rota swaps by 2pm Wednesday please
PARISH OFFICE hours this week:  9:30am-5:00pm Tue & Wed;  9:30am-12noon Thu & Fri.

Prayer Diary

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

Sunday 28^th Back to Church Sunday Sick, Anxious & Bereaved Memorial	Rowan Williams, Christopher Bp of St Albans & Staff Katherine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bp of the Episcopal Church, USA Henry David Charman, William Jonathan Markwort and Eleanor Chiara Preston being baptised today at St Peter’s and their parents & godparents Rhiannon McCarthy, Tom Montague, Rene Dunford, Alex Wright, Judith Hill, Arthur Williams, Harry Arnfield, Christina Billington, Angela Morris, Geraldine Wright, Nigel Franklin, Nancy Lawrenson, Vincent Woodstock, Kath Allen, Rosalyn Yates, Roma Haddock and John Abbott with thanksgiving George Allen, Florence Morgan
Monday 29^th Michaelmas John 1: 47-51 Sick, Anxious & Bereaved	Gabriel Oloniyo, Bp of Ife, Nigeria Preparations for the week of Accompanied Prayer Licensed Lay workers and Readers Arthur Williams, Judith Hill, Vincent Woodstock
Tuesday 30^th Luke 9: 51-56 Sick, Anxious & Bereaved	Michael Akinyemi, Bp of Igbomina, Nigeria St Albans Abbey, The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John, Dean Coroners and pathologists Tom Montague, Harry Arnfield, Rosalyn Yates
Wednesday 1^st October Luke 9: 57- end St Theresa of the Child Jesus Sick, Anxious & Bereaved	Joseph Omoyajowo, Bp of Ijebu, Nigeria Association of Berkhamsted Churches The Inclusive Church Christina Billington, Alex Wright, Nancy Lawrenson
Thursday 2^nd Luke 10: 1-12 Sick, Anxious & Bereaved	Solomon Kuponu, Bp of Ijebu North, Nigeria Victoria First, Thomas Coram Middle and Ashlyns School, teachers Mental health sufferers and research into mental health Angela Morris, Rene Dunford, Nigel Franklin
Friday 3^rd Luke 10 : 13-16	Peter Onekpe, Bp of Ikka, Nigeria Intercessors, confessors and spiritual directors Authors and poets Those of our family & friends departed this life
Saturday 4^th St Francis of Assisi Luke 10 : 17-24 Sick, Anxious & Bereaved	Chigozirim Onyegbule, Bp of Ikwuano, Nigeria  Local pet owners, and pet shops - Barney & Sebastian, Kirby & Bryn Franciscans, novices and oblates Rhiannon McCarthy, Geraldine Wright, Kath Allen
Sunday 5^th       Harvest	Readings:          2 Corinthians 9:6-15          John 4:3-14

For all pastoral matters please contact Fr Michael Bowie 01442 864194 or Fr John Pritchard 01442 870016.

Fr Michael takes Thursday off and Fr John takes Tuesday off.

ST PETER’S	Today Sunday 28^th September	Next week Sunday 5^th October
WELCOME		9:30am    Young people
SIDESMEN	8:00am    Frank Allum 9:30am    Eric Brown, Jane Bartholomew               Michael & Barbara McKenna 6:00pm    Philippa Seldon	8:00am    Stephen Wade 9:30am    Elinor & Michael Mumford               Michael & Rachael Anderson 6:00pm    EP
INTERCESSOR	9:30am    Mike Eller	9:30am    Young People
CHALICE	9:30am    Chris Hunt, Mike Eller, Kate Hennessey	9:30am    Jane Morgan, Frank Norman, Paul J
ELEMENTS		9:30am    Young people
COLLECTION		9:30am    Young people
SERVERS	8:00am    Alan Conway 9:30am    Libby Grundy (MC), Will Morgan (Cr)               Sam Limbert, Francesca Gurdon	8:00am    Mike Hart 9:30am    Will Morgan (MC),  Sam Limbert (Cr)               James Ruffell, Claire Below
READINGS	8:00am    Ann Braddick 9:30am    Frank Norman, Kathie Lally	8:00am    Patrick Lepper 9:30am    Young People
CRÈCHE	9:30am    Hayley Gerry, Jenny Jenkins	9:30am    Karen Walker, Rachel Dell
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 28^th September 19^th after Trinity Back to Church Sunday	8:00am      EUCHARIST O(The Revd Luke Geoghegan) 9:30am      SUNG EUCHARIST Back to Church Sunday O(Fr Michael Bowie) Pr: The Revd Luke Geoghegan ,  Crèche, Sunday School & Pathfinders 11:30am    HOLY BAPTISM 6:00pm      MEDITATIVE EVENING PRAYER O (Fr John Russell)
Monday 29^th St Michael & All Angels	7:30am      Morning Prayer	5:00pm     Evening Prayer 6:00pm     EUCHARIST
Tuesday 30^th St Jerome	7:30am      Morning Prayer 9:30am      EUCHARIST, All Saints’, Shrublands Rd.	11:45am   Thomas Coram Yr 6 School visit  (12:45pm) 5:00pm     Evening Prayer 5:15pm     Choir Practice (6:15pm)
Wednesday 1^st October	7:30am      Morning Prayer 8:00am      EUCHARIST 9:10am      Victoria School Visit (9:50)	5:00pm     Evening Prayer
Thursday 2^nd Holy Guardian Angels	7:30am      Morning Prayer       (Staging up) 9:30am      Victoria School Harvest practice (10:30am)	11:00am    EUCHARIST O 5:00pm     Evening Prayer 7:45pm     Bellringing (9:15pm) south door
Friday 3^rd	7:30am      Morning Prayer 9:15am      EUCHARIST 10:00am    SERVICE Little Fishes 10:30am    Victoria School Access	11:00am   Victoria School Harvest 5:00pm     Evening Prayer 7:00pm     Choir Practice (8:30pm)
Saturday 4^th St Francis of Assisi	9:00am      Staging down 9:30am      Morning Prayer 10:00am    EUCHARIST 10:30am    Sunday School rehearsal	11:15am   Visitors’ Bellringing (12noon) 3:00pm     Organ/piano: Jon Lee (5:00pm) 4:00pm     Visitors’ Bellringing (4:30pm) 5:00pm     Evening Prayer
SUNDAY 5^th October HARVEST THANKSGIVING	8:00am      EUCHARIST O(Fr Michael Bowie) 9:30am      SUNG EUCHARIST O (Fr Michael Bowie), Preacher:  Fr John Russell Youth Service Sunday School & Pathfinders in church & Crèche in Crt Hse 6:00pm      EVENING PRAYER – said O (Fr Michael Bowie)

Other Church Activities    Today Sunday Sunday@5    5:00pm Sunnyside Church

Tuesday	Chuckles Toddlers 10-11:30am All Saints’.  This week: Songs Jenny Wells 870981 Tuesday Club 7:45pm Court House Caribbean Cookery with Sandra Webb.  Val Atkinson 866792
Wednesday	Pathfinder Games Club (yrs 5-8)  7–8:30pm All Saints’ Hall.  Jimmy Young 384929
Thursday	NO T.E.s (youth club for yr 9+) 7–9pm Court House.  This has been put on hold for the present.
Friday	Little Fishes Toddlers 9:30-11:30am Court House.  This week: 10:00am Service St Peter’s.   Carrie Wegener 877404

Future Dates

4 Oct       11:15am 4:30pm	Bellringing visitors from Meldreth, Cambs Bellringing visitors from St Margaret’s Church, Drayton, Norfolk
5 Oct  8 & 9:30am	Harvest Festival at St Peter’s
10 Oct       1:00pm	Recital: Adrian Davis Harpsichord
11 Oct       3:00pm	Cowper Society presents: Cassandra Yong piano in aid of St Elizabeth Hosp., Hyderabad
12 Oct       6:00pm	Choral Evensong
25 Oct       7:00pm	District Bellringing practice (until 9:00pm)
31 Oct       1:00pm	Recital: John Reader & Anna Le Hair Piano Duets
3 Nov        8:00pm	All Souls’ Solemn Requiem
15 Nov      7:30pm	The Cowper Society presents: The Bridgewater Sinfonia
23 Nov      6:00pm	The Cowper Society presents: St Peter’s Choir, St Cecilia Concert
30 Nov      6:00pm	Advent Carol Service
5 Dec         1:00pm	Recital: Adrian Davis Organ
7 Dec         7:30pm	The Cowper Society presents:  Berkhamsted Choral Society
12 Dec       9:15am	Thomas Bourne Eucharist (with Victoria School attendance)

SUNDAY  The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity 28^th September 2008

Hymns NEH

Introit   334

Gradual   Psalm 25.1-9  see P.2

Offertory   271

Recessional   352

Collect

O God, forasmuch as without you we are not able to please you; mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ  your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.   AMEN

First Reading Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-end

A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.

The word of the LORD came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life.

Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.

This is the word of the Lord

(Reply  Thanks be to God)

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

Psalm  25.1-9     ¯

Psalm  25.1-9

¯

R To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; 
O my God, in you I trust; 
let me not be put to shame; 
let not my enemies triumph over me.

Let none who look to you be put to shame,
but let the treacherous be shamed and frustrated. R

Make me to know your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you have I hoped all the day long. R

Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions,
but think on me in your goodness, O Lord, according to your steadfast love. R

Gracious and upright is the Lord;
therefore shall he teach sinners in the way.

He will guide the humble in doing right and teach his way to the lowly.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. R

Second Reading  Philippians 2:1-13

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

This is the word of the Lord

(Reply  Thanks be to God)The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

Gospel  Matthew 21:23-32

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)

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin,” we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

(Reply  Praise to you, O Christ)

Choir Anthem

Locus Iste  Anton Bruckner

Post Communion Prayer

Holy and blessed God, you have fed us with the body and blood of your Son and filled us with your Holy Spirit: may we honour you, not only with our lips but in lives dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ our Lord.   AMEN

Voluntary

Joseph Rheinberger Orgelsonate e-moll op.132: (iii) Scherzo