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Welcome to St Margaret’s Church Ifield7th February 2016

The Sunday Before LentA Narrated Eucharist

All are welcome to St Margaret’s and we encourage all to take part fully in this service. If you have mobility issues that make it difficult for you to

come and receive communion or laying-on-of-hands for healing, should you want to, then do please notify our sides-people, and we will come to you.

Please do stay for coffee served at the back of church after the service. There is a toilet at the back of church should you need to use it during the

service.

The Eucharist has, since earliest times, been the main act of Christian worship. Today, it still incorporates features which date back to the first days of church, as well as texts, prayers and actions which have given the church the means to better worship through the centuries.

There are many ways to look at the Eucharist, many views on it, and many questions to ask about it. The chief question is, ‘what is the Eucharist?’ What is it for? Why do we celebrate? When we gather as a church around the altar, what are we doing?

There are, of course, many answers to this question. But my suggestion, throughout today’s service, is that the Eucharist is a prayer; a prayer that each of us makes, a prayer that we make as a church family, a prayer which the whole church makes- the universal church throughout the world. It is the great prayer of thanksgiving, which we offer to God. The name ‘Eucharist’ is derived from the Greek word for thanksgiving, and so, as God’s family, we bring all our prayers together, in this one act, and give thanks for God’s goodness.

And so it is that context that I shall be exploring the Eucharist with you today. I shall be explaining the parts which make up the service, exploring how they overlap and build in intensity, so that we are able to bring all our prayers to God.

‘Accept one another for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you.’ (Romans 15:7)

THE GATHERINGThe first part in the service is where we Gather together as a community in a time of preparation where we long for God’s coming and tune our ears and eyes to recognise his presence. The gathering may seem short, and we might want to just ‘get on with it’. But as we gather, this part of the liturgy reminds us all that this time is set apart and is sacred.The procession isn’t just a way of getting the clergy and choir in. Many parts of the Eucharist are representative. And so as the ministers come into church and gather, we are reminded that we too have gathered. The vestments serve many purposes, but one of them is to show how the wearer is set apart, different to at other times. And it helps us to know that this time is also set apart- this is the time we as a community have set apart to join in prayer.

We stand at the entrance of the choir and clergy and sing:

How shall I sing that Majestywhich angels do admire?Let dust in dust and silence lie;sing, sing, ye heavenly choir.Thousands of thousands stand aroundthy throne, O God most high;ten thousand times ten thousand soundthy praise; but who am I?

Thy brightness unto them appears,whilst I thy footsteps trace;a sound of God comes to my ears;but they behold thy face.They sing because thou art their Sun:Lord, send a beam on me;for where heaven is but once begun,there alleluias be.


How great a being Lord, is thine,which doth all beings keep!Thy knowledge is the only lineto sound so vast a deep.Thou art a sea without a shore,a sun without a sphere;thy time is now and evermore,thy place is everywhere.

THE GREETINGCelebrant The Lord be with youAll and also with you

THE PRAYER OF PREPARATIONThe greeting has formally begun our worship, now the gathered community comes before God; we are aware of the way in which our sin hold us back in praying as we should, we ask God’s forgiveness right at the start, so that we can all pray, unhindered by our own sins:

All Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS OF PENITENCE The recitation of the ten commandments is unique to the book of common prayer and subsequent English liturgy, but it forms a helpful way of reflecting in repentance. It also reminds us all of God’s salvation story, stretching back through time, including the beginning of the calling of God’s chosen people. We can remember that we are part of God’s divine love story, of calling us, and healing and forgiving us.


Celebrant Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength’. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All Amen. Lord have mercy.

Celebrant: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, to be our advocate in heaven, and to bring us to eternal life.

Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments and to live in love and peace with all.

All: Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight. We are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love. Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin. Renew a right spirit within us and restore to us the joy of your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We have asked God’s forgiveness, and the strength to live a new life. Acting on the Lord’s behalf, and with the authority of the church, the priest pronounces absolution, the wiping away of our sin, brought by the loving power of Christ’s death upon the cross.


Celebrant Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, forgive us our sins, open our eyes to God’s truth, strengthen us to do God’s will and give us the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

Carrying on with our preparation we respond with the words of the Gloria. The Gloria is ancient and is a hymn of praise to the three persons of the trinity. It is really the first part of our thanksgiving, when we proclaim the greatness of God, and join with the church in heaven and on earth as we sing:

Glory to God, glory to God, Glory to God, glory to God,glory to the Father. (x2) Son of the Father. (x2)To him be glory forever. (x2) To him be glory forever. (x2)Alleluia, amen. (x4) Alleluia, amen. (x4)

Glory to God, glory to God,glory to the Spirit. (x2)To him be glory forever. (x2)Alleluia, amen. (x4)

THE COLLECTCelebrant Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty

before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen


We sit for the readings. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

It can seem strange to think of the readings as a prayer, but the church has prayed the scriptures for centuries. The monastic offices, or prayer services, are full of scripture, from reciting the psalms, through to various responses based on texts from all over the bible. Here, at morning and evening prayer, we still do the same, day after day. Hear these readings, and mull them over in your mind, allow them to add to your ongoing prayer.

First Reading Exodus 34:29-end

This is the word of the Lord.All Thanks be to God

Second Reading 2Corinthians 3:12-4:2

This is the word of the Lord.All Thanks be to God

Hymn

Let us break bread together on our knees. Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,Oh Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together....

Let us praise God together....


The Gospel comes next and we stand and turn to face the Gospel. The Gospel is normally proclaimed from the nave: and this is one of the moments where what we do in church reflects an important doctrine, or teaching of the church. At the incarnation, the eternal word, Jesus, came and dwelt among us. And so the gospel, often including the very words Christ himself spoke, who is with us by His spirit, are proclaimed from the midst of the people. We hear the words of Jesus spoken at the heart of the congregation and heard in our own hearts too. You might see the deacon or priest sign the cross on their head, lips and hearts to symbolise the words of the lips being understood by the head and the heart.

Remain standing and turn to face the Gospel:

The Gospel ReadingLuke 9:28-36

The Lord be with you.All And also with you.

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

All Glory to you, O Lord.

At the end:This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermons are a means of teaching and nurturing our faith and whether the sermon is awesome, inspiring, motivating or challenging, it should always say something about the Good News of Christ. The sermon today is replaced by the on-going narration of this service.

THE SERMON


THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Having prepared ourselves as a community, confessed our sinfulness, received forgiveness, listened to God’s word and received the Good News of Christ we now state, as a community what we believe in the words of The Creed. The creeds developed during the early centuries of the church’s life, when the early believers were trying to work out the complexities of the faith, defending it from its opponents and combating heresy. They are an ancient form of words and help us express the reality of God revealed in Jesus Christ and active in our lives in the Holy Spirit. As we remember the truth about God and his divine plan to save us, we are given the springboard to deeper prayer.

All We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again 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.

We 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 worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONBefore we share in the Eucharistic feast, we remember before God those who cannot be here. Strictly speaking, the bishop is the one who ought to celebrate the Eucharist, he is the ordinary minister. But the bishop is unable to be in all parts of his diocese and so delegates the job of celebrating the Eucharist to his priests. So it is right that we remember him in our prayers in his absence. We also pray for those who are in need, and those who cannot join us due to sickness. We pray too for those who cannot be with us because they have passed into God’s presence in death, asking that God would mercifully accept them into his loving arms.

After each petition the following responses may be used:Lord in your mercy

All Hear our prayer

and at the end of the prayers: Merciful father,All accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.


THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENTWe have shared in praise, prayer and our need for God’s help and now we journey to the liturgy of the Sacrament where we are open to God’s transforming of our lives by Christ’s dying and rising in his passion and resurrection

The first thing we do in this section of the service is to stand and share the peace. In the 2nd century Justin Martyr wrote an account of the proceedings in the church saying ‘When we have ended the prayers we greet one another with a kiss’. When we say “peace be with you” we don’t mean ‘may my peace be with you’, we’re saying ‘Christ’s peace IS with you, and whilst we may not kiss, we are in a very real sense, establishing and maintaining a connection with our Christian heritage, going all the way back to the birth of the church.

The PeaceCelebrant Christ is our peace. He has reconciled us to God in

one body by the cross. We meet in his name and share his peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you. All And also with you.Deacon Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

As the Body of Christ receives its life from God, and offers its life to God, so we, as members of that Body, greet each other in love.

The Preparation of the TableThe Taking of the Bread and Wine


We now come to what can often look like a very busy part of the Eucharist but, like the setting of the dinner table at home, this is a crucial and also symbolic part of the service. We are getting ready to eat and drink together.

The bread and wine are brought forward to the altar, not because we need to get them here, we could have put them on the altar from the beginning. But it’s important to recognise that the Eucharist is the thanksgiving offering of the whole community. So the elements are brought forward, as a symbolic action to demonstrate that they are part of the whole offering presented to the Father, much like the minister’s entrance at the beginning

Additionally, in many churches money is also offered when the collection plate arrives, in proxy of the giving of ourselves to help build Gods kingdom. This is a sign of our response to the mission of the church and should represent a sacrificial and realistic giving.

While this is all going on the ministers prepare the altar. A large white cloth is unfolded and placed on the table. This is called a ‘corporal’ from the Latin word for body and is the place where the bread is placed, and consecrated to become, for us, Christ’s body. It also serves a practical function, collecting any crumbs which can then be reverently consumed or disposed of.

Once the bread and wine have been offered the chalices are charged with wine and a little water is added; originally this was just practical, because wine was very ‘thick’ and had to be diluted in order to be drunk. However, around 500 years after Christ’s earthly life, the church began to understand this as a reminder of Christ’s two natures; divine and earthly, and there is a special prayer about this, which the deacon or priest can say as they fill the chalices.

The priest now washes his hands. This is another symbolic act. Priests are ordained, set apart, for some particular functions which only they can perform, such as the Eucharist. In celebrating the Eucharist, they gather up all the prayers that have gone before in the service, all the prayers of the


week, the concerns of the people, the concerns on their own hearts, and offer them in the great Eucharistic prayer we are about to begin.

And so, just as we asked for forgiveness of sin at the start of our service, so now the priest, undertakes this act as a further reminder of his own need to be in a right relationship with God, as he comes before God in such special and particular way, on behalf of others, and joined with them in prayer.

The final preparation is to thank God for the gifts which we have to offer before him. These prayers are called the ‘Berakah’ prayers, from the Hebrew for ‘blessed’, as these prayers are borrowed and adapted from very very ancient Jewish prayers that were used to give thanks for food at a meal. These are the kind of prayers of blessing which Jesus would have said at the last Passover which he celebrated with his friends:

Graham Kendrick. Copyright © 1986 Kingsway's Thankyou Music.

MEEKNESS AND MAJESTY, O what a mystery,Manhood and Deity, Meekness and majesty.In perfect harmony, Bow down and worshipThe Man who is God. For this is your God,Lord of eternity This is your God.Dwells in humanity,Kneels in humilityAnd washes our feet.

Father's pure radiance,Perfect in innocence,Yet learns obedienceTo death on a cross.Suffering to give us life,Conquering through sacrifice,And as they crucifyPrays: 'Father forgive.'


Wisdom unsearchable,God the invisible,Love indestructibleIn frailty appears.Lord of infinity,Stooping so tenderly,Lifts our humanityTo the heights of His throne.

Should you wish to make a donation to the work of St Margaret’s Church a collection bowl is situated by the entrance/exit door. If you are a UK Tax Payer do please consider placing your gift in one of the

yellow GiftAid envelopes provided and complete the required details as this will enable us to claim back 25p/£1 donated. Thank you!

Celebrant Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation; through your goodness we have this bread and wine to offer which the earth has given and human hands have made. They will become for us the bread of life and cup of salvation.

All Blessed be God for ever.We sit or stand for:The Eucharistic PrayerWe now use a mixture of words and actions to re-tell the events of the last supper, we remember the commands that went with it, we say thank you for both what Christ did and who he is; and ask God to send the Holy Spirit. Through this prayer we draw closer to the story so that we become part of it. There is a sense of mystery as past, present and future are drawn into one. The first part offers praise and thanksgiving acknowledging the New Covenant which God offers freely in Christ – the one final sacrifice for all our


sins - and which shows God’s deep love for us in spite of our human weaknesses.

The Lord is hereAll His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.All We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.All It is right to give thanks and praise.

Celebrant You are worthy of our thanks and praise, Lord God of truth, for by the breath of your mouth you have spoken your word, and all things have come into being. You fashioned us in your image and placed us in the garden of your delight. Though we chose the path of rebellion you would not abandon your own. Again and again you drew us into your covenant of grace. You gave your people the law and taught us by your prophets to look for your reign of justice, mercy and peace. As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth, we echo the song of the angels in heaven, evermore praising you and singing:

(Gathering Mass © Paul Inwood/OCP) Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of pow'r and God of might. Heaven and earth, heaven and earth, are full of your glory, your power and might.

All: Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heav'ns!Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heav'ns!

Blessed, blessed is he who comes. Blessed, blessed is he who comes.


Blessed is he, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

All: Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heav'ns!Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heav'ns!

When we thought we could get distracted or consumed in the action of the altar, the church, those sat next to us, the Sanctus reminds us that our worship is united with that of heaven. Our focus is shifted upwards. The words spoken at Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, words from psalm 118 are also traditionally said or sung, and these words are known as the benedictus; ‘blessed is he...etc.’. As Christ journeyed to the earthly Jerusalem, we now journey with him, and by His salvific work, to the new, heavenly place of worship. The second part of the prayer gives the narrative of the meal Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before he was betrayed and crucified, it is often referred to as the institution narrative. We prayerfully take ourselves to that place, to the room where he sat for the last time, and believe in faith that he will be with us too:

Lord God, you are the most holy one, enthroned in splendour and light, yet in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ you reveal the power of your love made perfect in our human weakness. Embracing our humanity, Jesus showed us the way of salvation; loving us to the end, he gave himself to death for us; dying for his own, he set us free from the bonds of sin, that we might rise and reign with him in glory.

On the night he gave up himself for us all he took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant which


is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Deacon Great is the mystery of Faith:All Christ has died

Christ is risenChrist will come again

Did you hear the bell that announced the Elevation of the Host? We retain that as a mark of the special moment, when the people are able to give special reverence to the focus of Christ’s presence among us. In some churches, incense would also be used at this point, to mark the presence of Christ, and to demonstrate our continued prayer, united with that of the worship of heaven.

After this we made three statements about Christ’s death, resurrection and future coming, reminders of what we are commemorating and celebrating. The Eucharist is therefore simultaneously located in the historical event of the last supper, in the present human context and the eternal life of Christ and His church.

Therefore we proclaim the death that he suffered on the cross, we celebrate his resurrection, his bursting from the tomb, we rejoice that he reigns at your right hand on high and we long for his coming in glory.

Next the priest asks God to send his Holy Spirit onto the bread and wine and the gathered community. The correct term for this is ‘epiclesis’, and along with the words of institution, the epiclesis is one of the bare minimum of things needed for a proper, legal Eucharistic prayer. It is tempting to think of this as the point when the consecration happens, when the gifts are made holy by Christ’s presence. But the whole prayer is a prayer of consecration, we might acknowledge what is happening in different ways


throughout the prayer, but there is a reason why no one takes communion until after the ‘AMEN’

The 39 Articles of Faith of the Church of England describe the sacraments as ‘effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us’. There are no statements about what actually happens when the spirit is called onto the gifts of bread and wine. But we know that Christ is the host of this meal and the words spoken helps our faith as we believe and celebrate that Christ is really present in some way. So in the act of consecration Christ becomes a living presence with us - God’s gift to us –and we can each find our own way to respond to the offering Christ made for us once for all on the cross as our living sacrifice.

As we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our redemption, Father, by your Holy Spirit let these gifts of your creation be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; form us into the likeness of Christ and make us a perfect offering in your sight. Look with favour on your people and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts. Bless the earth, heal the sick, let the oppressed go free and fill your Church with power from on high. Gather your people from the ends of the earth to feast with St Margaret and all your saints at the table in your kingdom, where the new creation is brought to perfection in Jesus Christ our Lord;

And now we bring every part of the service together, as we acknowledge that it is by Jesus’ work, and working with Jesus, and living our lives in him that we are able to come before him at all. And so the whole prayer comes to its climax as the priest says:

by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours,


almighty Father, for ever and ever.All Amen

The Lord’s PrayerWe respond together in prayer and worship, and there are no better words than those that Jesus himself taught us to use. Interestingly the embolism [for the kingdom, the power etc.] were part of the liturgy, not of the Lord’s prayer we find in scripture. Henry viii commanded that they should always be said with the lord’s prayer, and in England, they have been ever since.

All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,your kingdom come, your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yoursnow and forever. Amen.

The Breaking of the BreadThe Priest now breaks the consecrated bread, as symbolised in 1 Cor 10. Just as in Jesus, God had a human body, blessed it, and it was broken, so now the blessed bread is broken too. As we prepare to receive we can think about how God takes our lives, blesses them, breaks them, and remakes them, through the life giving sacrament of the Eucharist. We must realise too that in our receiving we are united as the corporate Body of Christ.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.


All Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

The Giving of CommunionJesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

The words we have just said are from Mt 8:8 and have been used from C10th. They remind us that Jesus is the host who calls us to his table and who gives us his gift of salvation. So we join in the sacred meal, again as disciples. Everyone is welcome at the table – those who do not receive bread and wine receive a special blessing from the priest.

Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Jesus is recognized as the Lamb of God in chapter 1 of John’s Gospel and the devotional prayer the Agnus Dei which we now say or sing reflects the great expanse of God’s love. It was introduced in Rome at end of 7th century to cover the time for the bread to be prepared for distribution, and so it is as much an act of the devotion of the people as a formal part of the liturgy.

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.


As we come forward to receive communion, we come to receive what Jesus himself promised. No matter what your own personal understanding, the Church of England has always believed, and continues to believe, that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist in some way.

No matter how you believe this happens, you can come forward and receive communion, knowing that God will meet with you in some way. It may be a deeply moving experience, you may feel nothing at all. But any encounter with God is transformative, and little by little, God will be enabling you to be more and more the person he would have you be. This might now be your prayer: ‘Lord Jesus, meet me, feed me, make me more like you’ Amen

Laying on of hands for healing is offered in the south aisle chapel during the distribution of communion. This ministry is offered for your own

needs or for someone who maybe on your heart and mind at this time.

Those who are going into hospital in the coming week, or for some other reason, and who would like to be anointed with oil of healing and prayed for by a priest please do have a word with a priest after the service – they

will gladly offer you this ministry.

Communion HymnsDavid J. Evans. Copyright © 1986 Kingsway's Thankyou Music.

BE STILL, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here;Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;He burns with holy fire, with splendour He is crowned.How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.


Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place;He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him;Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place. The Prayers after CommunionAfter communion the priest says a prayer, which, like the Collect near the beginning of the service, will say something about the season, feast or festival. We then say a prayer of thanks together that reflects our understanding of Christ’s saving act. And as we have been fed as a community we acknowledge our responsibility to go into the world as Christ’s hands and feet.

Celebrant Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed, that all the world may know his power to change and save. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

THE BLESSINGAnd so our Eucharistic journey ends -we have been restored to God and each other, made Holy in Him. We have brought our prayers, united them, and offered them on the altar. We have received God’s holy gifts, and now we are given God’s blessing to enable us to go out into the world to love and live for Him and serve others in his name:


Celebrant The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds, in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

All Amen.THE DISMISSAL

Deacon We go into the world to walk in God’s light, to rejoice in God’s love, and to reflect God’s glory.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. All In the name of Christ. Amen. Michael Saward. Words Copyright © Michael Saward/ Jubilate Hymns.CHRIST TRIUMPHANT, ever reigning,Saviour, Master, King,Lord of heaven, our lives sustaining,Hear us as we sing:

Yours the glory and the crown,The high renown, the eternal name.

Word incarnate, truth revealing,Son of Man on earth!Power and majesty concealingBy your humble birth:

Suffering Servant, scorned, ill-treated,Victim crucified!Death is through the cross defeated,Sinners justified:


Priestly King, enthroned foreverHigh in heaven above!Sin and death and hell shall neverStifle hymns of love:

So, our hearts and voices raisingThrough the ages long,Ceaselessly upon You gazing,This shall be our song:

Calamus Licence No: 95 C.C.L. Licence No: 210222The service material in this booklet is taken from Common Worship. © Copyright 2000

The Archbishop’s Council

Notices

Services next Sunday:Lent 1

Said Holy Communion (8am)FIISH (9.30 am)Sung Eucharist (11am)

For our prayersThe Parish:

The Sick:

The Departed:

Lady Margaret Walk, Lancing Close, Langley Lane and Lavington Close, Coombe Close, County Oak Lane and Delrogue Road

Patients of Langley Green Hospital and Jean Bovis, Denise, Mo Knox-Crawford, Ingrid, Joyce Willoughby, Rose Smith, Bill, Lynne, Div and Elston

Pamela Hill and Hilda Mikrut‘Accept one another for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you.’

(Romans 15:7)

Year’s mind:

Also for our Prayers:

William Sallows, Doris Russell, Harry Corbett, Edward Wyatt, Harold Bell, Edith Allen, Pauline McKinnon, Lynn Palk, Carol Beau, Leonard Matthews, Richard Langley and Robert Smith

For those who lead FIISH – our service for young families

For those considering taking part in our Lent Groups

Thanksgiving for all who lead 2nd Ifield (St. Margaret’s) Scout Group

Thanksgiving for our families and friends

Notices Continued

Finance

The position for January was;

Income £12942

Expenditure £ 1824

£11118

Payments outstanding £10856

Net Income £ 262

The report of the Ifield and Crawley Review was published earlier this month and at a meeting held a couple of weeks ago with the Bishop and Archdeacon of Horsham the PCC agreed with the recommendations of the review to split Ifield parish into two parishes (Ifield and Langley Green


making one parish and Gossops Green and Bewbush the other). The full report can be found on the Ifield Parish website (http://ifieldparish.org/parish-news) and a letter from the Team Rector giving a more detailed account of the process and findings is available in church.

WaterAid – The Rectory Farmhouse Housegroup want to say a big big thank you to everyone who contributed to our Advent WaterAid Appeal. In total we have gift-aided £870 (grossed up to £1044 and then doubled by the government grant) to their Christmas Appeal which is enough to provide access to fresh water for a reasonably sized village. Well done St Margaret’s!!

Our new architect, at the direction of St Margaret’s DCC, has produced some initial draft schemes for a much needed extension to St Margaret’s Church. This is a long term project for us as a church which begins with us having a vision for what we would like any extension to do and be. Please do have a look at the three schemes – they are on display at the back of the South aisle – and prayerfully answer the three questions asked about them. Your thoughts will be invaluable in helping your DCC and our architect to progress a scheme for further reflection and planning.

Lent Study Groups: Today is the last day for signing up to our Lent study groups. If you would like to join a group, please complete the form in the Study Group leaflet and leave it in the basket in church.

Living Like a Refugee Lent daily devotions- We are currently all so aware of the plight of refugees from the Middle East. Open Doors has prepared a six week daily devotion guide (with prayers and stories from the persecuted church) to help us gain a better understanding of what it's like to live like a


http://ifieldparish.org/parish-news

refugee. If you would like to use this during Lent (or at any other time) you will find copies on the mission table at the back of church. Please contact me [email protected] or opendoorsuk.org if you would like to know more.

With Lent fast approaching please do take a copy of our Lent 2016 programme which includes some Lent book recommendations. This year will be ‘Beautiful Attitudes’ and we will be exploring Jesus’ teaching on the beatitudes.

Want to find out more about what is going on at Bewbush Barn Church? Then come to our open evening on Monday 8th February at 7pm. Come and join us for tea, coffee and cake and find out more and how you can be part of what's going on.

Bewbush Barn Church Table Top Fair Saturday 13th February 10am-2pm. There are 2 ways you can help - either by coming along on the day or by baking a cake for our refreshment stall. All cakes to Naomi by 12th February. Thank you

SMILE Ladies group - forthcoming events – Spring 2016

Wednesday 2nd March 7pm for 7:30 pm – ‘Dirty Dancing’ sing-a-long – a screening of the romantic movie (cert 15) at The Hawth. There will be a vocal warm up, a fancy dress competition (optional!) and a magic moments fun pack. Tickets now reduced to £15 each. Payment to Clare by 15th February please. Can you resist?!

Sunday 9th April 2:30 pm – Afternoon tea at St. Margaret’s Church. Details to be agreed. This is our Outreach project. Is anyone able to volunteer help organise or to support this event please? Put this date in your diary and invite your friends and neighbours along.

Sunday 29th May – Pillars to Plough charity walk hosted by Ifield Chestnut House. This sponsored walk finishes at the Plough Inn, Ifield and is a real community event. You can opt to walk 5, 10 or 20 miles.


mailto:[email protected]

The Men’s Fellowship are challenging the SMILE ladies to join them – are you up for this?

All ladies are welcome to attend our events (and men too!). For further details, contact Clare Wilson [email protected] or 0776 1122 172

This year’s Lent Quiet Day will be on Saturday 20th February at Crawley Down Monastery (10am – 4pm). The day will be led by Fr Colin (the Abbot of the monastery) and will be on the theme of ‘Beautiful Attitudes’. There will be lots of ‘free’ time built into the day so that you can enjoy both the silence and beauty of the Monastery and its grounds. Due to limited space the day will be open to the first 20 people who sign up and will cost £10 per person. Please contact the Parish Office on 01293 537578 or [email protected] if you want to come.

Women’s World of Prayer on Friday 4th March to be held at 10 am at the Friary Church or at 7.30pm at the Broadfield Christian Fellowship, Coachman’s Drive, Broadfield (buses 20, 10 & 1). We will be praying for Cuba.

Ifield Arts Barn Centre. “Old Actors Never Die… They Simply Lose The Plot”, showing 2nd to the 5th of March at 8pm and the 5th March at 3pm. Tickets are £9 or £7 for members or children. Tickets are available from the Box Office or call 01293 522763.

Wanted - May Queen and attendants for the Ifield May Fayre on 2nd May 2016. If you would like to be considered for this year's May Queen or would like to be one of her attendants, please pick up a flyer with full details info at entrance to the Church. Nominations must be received by 5pm on 14th March. For more information please email [email protected]"





Willing Householders Needed! It's that time of year again when we're looking for locations for Ifield May Fayre 'Estate Agent' boards, you might have seen them in previous years placed by Connells. If you could help us by having a board for a few weeks in March/April, please contact Mark Haymes ([email protected]) with your name and full address. Thank you!

Registration for our Parish Holiday Club is now open! 'The good news kingdom' will take place from Tuesday 9th- Friday 12th August at St Margaret's school. Registration forms can be found at www.stmargaretsifield.wordpress.com/whats-happening/holiday-club/

See www.stmargaretschurchifield.org for service times, The Buzz, current service sheets, Church groups and events


http://www.stmargaretschurchifield.org/

http://www.stmargaretsifield.wordpress.com/whats-happening/holiday-club/


Documents

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