Pew Sheet - 28th June 2015

God says:  Cast all your cares on me. (1 Peter 5.7)

Pray

Gracious Father, by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world: draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him, our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen

Services this Sunday 28th June 

8.00   Holy Communion  Long Crendon          JW

10.00 Family Service      Chearsley                AB

10.30 Family Service      Long Crendon          JW

6.00   Evensong             Nether Winchendon JW

Concert in Chearsley on Saturday 4^th July 2015 at 6:30 pm

Meadowsong, at Long Meadow, Dark Lane, Chearsley

Following the success of this great Chearsley family event in 2013,
Paul and Laura are returning this Summer to perform for us
on the 4th of July – with a great “Ye Ha” flavour!

American burgers, hot-dogs, chocolate brownies (just like Mom used to make)
and ice cream will all be on sale, and “the Six Bells Saloon Bar” will be
well-stocked with Uncle Sam’s finest beers.

Tickets available from Joy and Alicia.   £15 per adult.   Children Free.

All proceeds will go to the church bells fund.

TODAY!!  JUNE 28^th:  12.30 – 3.30 pm

JAZZ PICNIC

At Wapping, High Street, Long Crendon.  

Jubilee Jazz Band.   Children’s Entertainment.   Bring your own picnic and drinks.  Adults £10. Children £2.
Tickets from Geoff Smith 208205 or email Friends@FSMLongCrendon.org 

Date for your diary  19^th JULY:  10.30 am

Benefice Service

at St Mary’s, Long Crendon, to mark the retirement of our Vicar, John Wynburne.   All are welcome.

(Note:   there will be no other services on that day.)

For the full pew sheet please follow this link

Pew Sheet - 21st June 2015

He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice. The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:8

Pray
Come to us, O Christ 
Forgive our feeble faith,

When the winds of life become blustery

And the waves seem to overtake us.

In this hour of worship

Send forth fresh courage

And then send us forth

In full confidence in your Word, O Christ.

Introduction

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

The theme of this hymn by Priscilla Owens (1829-99) is surely right. When life is easy we can plod along regardless, not concerning ourselves with the complexities and deeper mysteries of life.Yet when the going gets tough, when we are faced with enormous problems, then questions come along which can shake the very core of our being. The death of a dear friend, a life threatening illness, these kinds of things can leave us wondering who we are and what point there is in life.

None of us is immune from this angst. In the words of the song by Allan Roberts 'Into each life some rain must fall.' In early Christian art it was not unusual to depict the church as a boat driven hard in a perilous sea, and Jesus in the midst, surrounded by a drenched crew filled with fear as they watch the waves plunge into their boat, while others are at peace as they look to Jesus – ‘steadfast and sure while the billows roll’. We are all like a boat tossed against the "wings of strife." Can we survive ?

The answer, of course, is yes, for we have an anchor that keeps the soul.

Services this Sunday 21st June - Trinity 3

8.00   Holy communion  Long Crendon JW

9.00   Holy Communion Chearsley        JW

10.00 Family Service     Nether W         AB

10.30 Family Service     Long Crendon  RC

Concert in Chearsley. Meadowsong

at Long Meadow.

Following the success of this great Chearsley family event in 2013, Paul and Laura are returning this Summer to perform for us on the 4th of July – with a great “ye Hah flavour!

American burgers, hot-dogs, chocolate brownies (just like Mom used to make) and ice cream will all be on sale, and “the Six Bells Saloon Bar” will be well-stocked with Uncle Sam’s finest beers.

Tickets available from Joy and Alicia. £15 per adult. Children Free.

All proceeds will go to the church bells fund.

 JUNE 28^th:12.30 – 3.30

JAZZ PICNIC

at Wapping High Street Long Crendon. Jubilee Jazz Band. Children’s…PTO…

Entertainment. Bring your own picnic and drinks. Adults £10. Children £2.

Tickets from Geoff Smith 208205 or email Friends@FSMLongCrendon.org

Lord, teach me to trust you in whatever situations I may find myself. Help me to pray, not just when my boat is sinking, but in all the times and places of my life where you can make a real difference. Help me with my family and friends to establish better relationships, in my place of work to allow you to inform the way I behave. Forgive me when I make you a stranger and walk with me always. Amen.

For the full pew sheet please follow this link

Pew Sheet - 14th June 2015

What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.  Mark 4

Pray

Lord, quieten me, as I place in your hands those

 for whom I want to pray. I know that you love

 them with a love greater than I could ever imagine.

In the stillness I am here, with you, for them. Use me, Lord.

Introduction

You could get quite depressed when you look around at the world and see such a pitiful state of affairs and the inability of good people to bring about change and stop violence and wrong. Yet we Christians should not be surprised at our inability to make everything lovely. Jesus never promised to us that we would establish his rule on earth. Indeed it is made quite plain that God's kingdom is not a kingdom established upon this earth, with power and authority. Christians are not supposed to set up an earthly country.That does not mean that God is not at work in this world. There is change and growth going on all the time, but the growth of the kingdom is imperceptible. You have to look for it very carefully and to those who lack the eyes of faith, it will be impossible to see. However those who follow the master will never underestimate the power of God. They belong not to this world but to a world to come, their country is not an earthly state but the kingdom which is growing soul by soul and silently.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
we may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

Services this Sunday June 14th

Trinity 2 - Magna Carta

8.00   Holy Communion       Long Crendon JW

10.00 Morning Celebration  Chearsley        Lay Led + Tearfund 

10.00 Matins                        Nether W         RS 

10.30 Sung Eucharist          Long Crendon JW + John Hooper 

6.00   Evensong                  Chearsley        JW

Saturday July 4th     

Concert in Chearsley. Meadowsong

at Long Meadow.

Following the success of this great Chearsley family event in 2013, Paul and Laura are returning this Summer to perform for us on the 4th of July – with a great “ye Hah flavour!

American burgers, hot-dogs, chocolate brownies (just like Mom used to make) and ice cream will all be on sale, and “the Six Bells Saloon Bar” will be well-stocked with Uncle Sam’s finest beers.

Tickets available from Joy and Alicia. £15 per adult. Children Free.

All proceeds will go to the church bells fund.

There are several hundred books in St. Marys from my bookshelves. You are welcome to any - for free! JW

Meditation

Joyce Ann Zimmerman writes, ‘Much of what we do successfully every day depends upon our cooperation with others. Making visible God's kingdom is first of all the work of God, but isn't it wonderful that God chooses to invite us to cooperate in this great work!’

Today’s reading demonstrates that as ambiguous as God’s Kingdom may seem, we have a responsibility to work alongside God to bring about it’s coming on earth. Sometimes how we do this may seem insignificant, as small as a mustard seed, but God can take our lowly and seemingly small efforts, a brief word spoken, a small act of kindness, a hand of friendship, and from these, do what on our own would have been unimaginable. With God, all things are possible, even if from minuscule and small beginnings. The Kingdom of God is living and growing, and we are an integral part of its evolution and revelation.

A Summer thought
"The mind that comes to rest is tended / In ways that it cannot intend."
poet-farmer Wendell Berry. 'Sabbath',

‘May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts you have received and pass on the love that has been give to you. May you be content knowing that you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.’

For the full pew sheet follow this link

Tearfund at Morning Celebration

On Sunday at 10am, we have the pleasure of welcoming Bob, a speaker from Tearfund who will come along to our Morning Celebration service and tell us all about their water projects in Uganda.  There will be a video clip to enjoy and the chance to try and carry a heavy container of water on your head!

Bob is a regular Tearfund speaker who recently retired from his job as a primary school headteacher. He has spoken in churches, schools and fellowship groups, often with the aid of his guitar. As well as leading a prayer and support group in Witney, he has been on trips to South Africa, Uganda and India with Tearfund. He is a deacon at the local Baptist church as well as a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England.