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Our Faith

The Society pew sheets are published by Forward in Faith, 2A The Cloisters, Gordon Square, London WC1H 0AG

(www.forwardinfaith.com)and printed by the Additional Curates Society.

7th

Faithful Service

The idea of being in a job for sixty-nine years wouldoverwhelm many of us, but at the start of February theQueen celebrated reigning for that length of time. TheBible encourages us to pray for those who lead thenations of the world, because it recognizes that goodgovernment is vital for the well-being of all and that ifwe enjoy the privileges of living in a country we haveresponsibilities towards it too. Most people admire thefaithful service of Elizabeth II and it is probably easy tobe sincere in our prayers for her. She sets a greatexample with her faithful attendance at worship andwillingness to describe how her faith sustains her life.On the other hand we may feel less enthusiastic aboutsome of our elected politicians. Arguably those wethink are wrong may be even more in need of ourprayers! But there are times when Our Lord’s words togive God what belongs to God may trump His othercommand to give the state what it deserves. Quiterightly we admire in history those faithful Christianswho spoke truth to power in both Fascist andCommunist regimes. We have work to do to remindgovernment that the Christian faith is a positive in thepublic sphere and not a problem to be solved. WhenElizabeth II was a young woman the governmentregularly promoted days of national prayer in a time ofcrisis; can we persuade them to do so again?

The Second Sundaybefore Lent

5th Week of the Year

The natural world is much in the news at themoment as our need to be wise stewards of ourplanet is discussed. Noah arguably led the firstconservation endeavour when he used his ark toprotect all living life from extinction. We mightalso think of the wonderful biblical song fromShadrach, Meshach and Abednego, after theyhad survived the flaming fiery furnace, and sangof how all creation points to and celebrates God.Famously our Lord Jesus Christ told us to look atthe lilies of the field, which God has made sobeautiful. With such a divine fan it is notsurprising that there are so many Christianlegends about the plants and the flowers. Thoseof you who have been to Walsingham, inFebruary, have probably enjoyed the wonderfulsnowdrop walk around the Abbey grounds. Onestory describes how the first snowdrop grew fromthe tears of Eve as she left the Garden of Eden. Itwas a tiny sign of hope for the future of betterthings to come; something more than fulfilledwhen Mary, the second Eve, said yes to therequest to be the Mother of God’s Son. Almost noplant can flourish above ground without unseenroots. They all remind us that to grow in faith weneed to be rooted in God, which means we needto be connected with things such as thescriptures, prayer, the Sacraments, the Spirit-filledtraditions of the church and daily lives of lovingservice.

February2021

From the FathersGod the Creator answers the world’s frustrations by givinghimself to be the Rescuer and Saviour. Humanity fails to giveitself rightly to humanity and to God; so God’s answer is to givehimself utterly to humanity. That is the meaning of Jesus Christ,and Calvary, and Easter.

‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheldhis glory, full of grace and truth.’ God was rescuing the worldand humanity from mess into which it had got itself.

Archbishop Michael Ramsey (1904-1988)

Prayers to RememberO Lord, our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lordof lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy thronebehold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseechthee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady,Queen ELIZABETH; and so replenish her with the grace of thyHoly Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk inthy way. Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant her inhealth and wealth long to live; strengthen her that she mayvanquish and overcome all her enemies; and finally after thislife she may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through JesusChrist our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for the Queen’s Majesty, Book of Common Prayer(1662).

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INTRODORY RITE

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THE 5th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

INTRODUCTORY RITES

ANTIPHON Psalm 94:6-7O come, let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.

GREETINGPriest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.All: Amen.Priest: The Lord be with you.People: And with your spirit.

The celebrant introduces the Mass.

PENITENTIAL ACT The celebrant asks the people to acknowledge their sins.

After a pause for silence:

All: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do;

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Holy Communion is now given.

CONCLUDING RITE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION The people STANDPriest: O God, who have willed that we be partakers in the one Bread and the one Chalice, grant us, we pray, so to live that, made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruit for the salvation of the world. Through Christ our Lord.All: Amen.

BLESSING AND DISMISSALPriest: The Lord be with you.People: And with your spirit.

Priest: Go in peace to love and serve the lord.People: Thanks be to God

St Luke’s Parish Church Kingston upon Thames

We welcome you to St Luke’s Kingston, a traditional Forward in Faith parish under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Fulham the Rt Rev’d Jonathan Baker SSC. His website is: http://www.bishopoffulham.org.uk. As a community we are dedicated to making the love of Christ known through excellence in worship and active care and concern for others.St Luke’s Church is kept open most days during the daylight hours for prayer and meditation.

SUNDAY SERVICES 8.00am & 10.30am Mass5.00pm Evensong

WEEKDAYS 9.00am Mass Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday & Friday

Corner of Burton Road & Gibbon RoadKingston upon Thames,

Surrey KT2 6AB Parish Office : 020 8974 8079

HELP THE PARISH AS YOU SHOP

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All you have to do is go through easy fundraising website or App whenever you shop online and then the parish receives a % of your spend as a free donation, at no extra cost to you or the parish.

www.easyfundraising.org.ukkingston stlukes pcc

And, striking their breast, they say: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.People: Amen.

KYRIE ELEISON Priest: Kyrie eleison. People: Kyrie eleison. Priest: Christe eleisonPeople: Christe eleisonPriest: Kyrie eleison. People: Kyrie eleison.

GLORIA All: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world: receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

COLLECTPriest: Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.All: Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

THE FIRST READING Job 7:1-4, 6-7 (ESV)A reading from the book of Job. Job began to speak: “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle and come to their end without hope. “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.’”

The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God

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Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.People: It is right and just.

Priest: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For out of compassion for the waywardness that is ours, he humbled himself and was born of the Virgin; by the passion of the Cross he freed us from unending death, and by rising from the dead he gave us life eternal. And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim

All: Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts, 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 people KNEEL

During this prayer, by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.

After the Lord’s Words of Institution:

Priest: The mystery of faith.All: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.The People STAND

THE COMMUNION RITEPriest: At the Saviour’s command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say

All: 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.Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may always be free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.All: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you: look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.All: Amen.Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.All: And with your spirit.

Then is said: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace

THE RESPONSORIAL PSALM 146 (147)R. Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.

Alleluia!Praise the Lord for he is good;sing to our God for he is loving:to him our praise is due. R.

The Lord builds up Jerusalemand brings back Israel’s exiles,he heals the broken-hearted,he binds up all their wounds.He fixes the number of the stars;he calls each one by its name. R.

Our Lord is great and almighty;his wisdom can never be measured.The Lord raises the lowly;he humbles the wicked to the dust. R.

THE SECOND READING 1 Cor. 9:16-19, 22-23 (ESV) A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians. If I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

The Word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God.GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John 8:12v. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!v. He took our sicknesses away, and carried our diseases for us.R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

THE GOSPEL Mark 1:29-39 (ESV) Jesus immediately left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Priest: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

HOMILY The people SIT

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NICENE CREED The people STANDI believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven:All bow: and by the power of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried,and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sinsand I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL At the end of each bidding, silence is kept, followed by: Lord, hear us. People: Lord, graciously hear us.

At the end of the prayers:People: Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

INVITATION TO PRAYERPriest: Pray, brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.People: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all his holy Church.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS Priest: O Lord our God, who once established these created things to sustain us in our frailty, grant, we pray, that they may become for us now the Sacrament of eternal life. Through Christ our LordAll: Amen.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYERPriest: The Lord be with you.People: And with your spirit.Priest: Lift up your hearts.People: We lift them up to the Lord.