The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist 8th February 2015 The Second Sunday before Lent Welcome to the Parish Mass (Sunday Club & JAM in church) Introit Hymn: Thou, whose almighty word Chaos and darkness heard, And took their flight; Hear us, we humbly pray, And where the gospel-day Sheds not its glorious ray, Let there be light! Thou, who didst come to bring On thy redeeming wing Healing and sight, Health to the sick in mind, Sight to the inly blind, O now to all mankind Let there be light! Spirit of truth and love, Life-giving, holy Dove, Speed forth thy flight; Move o’er the waters’ face, Bearing the lamp of grace, And, in earth’s darkest place, Let there be light! Blessèd and holy Three, Glorious Trinity, Wisdom, Love, Might! Boundless as ocean’s tide, Rolling in fullest pride, Through the world far and wide, Let there be light! First Reading: 1 Corinthians 9.16-23 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. Gospel acclamation: ‘I am the light of the world, says the Lord, anyone who follows me will have the light of life’ Gospel: Mark 1.22-39 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured 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. 2 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, ‘Everyone is searching for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.’ And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. Prayers:  Our bishops: +Martin, +Richard and +Mark  The sick: Helen Bance, Cliff Stevens, Anne Colley, Sally Nicholas, Kathleen Welstead, Gladys Cooper, Jonathan David Rawles, and those on our intercessions board.  Year’s Mind: Doris Howell, Rosina Shaw, Minnie Madeleine Burnett Robson, Fr Geoff Mason and John Mudelle. Offertory Hymn: All hail the power of Jesu’s name; Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem To crown him Lord of all. Crown him, ye morning stars of light, Who fixed this floating ball; Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, And crown him Lord of all. Crown him, ye martyrs of your God, Who from his altar call; Praise him whose way of pain ye trod, And crown him Lord of all. Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Ye ransomed of the fall, Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all. Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, Whom David Lord did call, The God incarnate, Man divine, And crown him Lord of all. 3 Read, Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget The wormwood and the gall, Go spread your trophies at his feet, And crown him Lord of all. Let every tribe and every tongue To him their hearts enthral, Lift high the universal song And crown him Lord of all. Communion Hymn: Draw nigh, and take the body of the Lord; And drink the holy blood for you outpoured. Saved by that body, hallowed by that blood, Whereby refreshed, we render thanks to God. Salvation’s giver, Christ, the only Son, By that his cross and blood the victory won. Offered was he for greatest and for least, Himself the Victim, and himself the Priest. Victims were offered by the law of old, That, in a type, celestial mysteries told. He, Ransomer from death, and Light from shade, Giveth his holy grace his saints to aid. Approach ye then with faithful hearts sincere, And take the safeguard of salvation here. He that in this world rules his saints and shields, To all believers life eternal yields. With heavenly bread makes them that hunger whole, Gives living waters to the thirsting soul, Alpha and Omega, to whom shall bow All nations at the doom, is with us now. 4 Communion Hymn: 1. Faithful Shepherd, feed me In the pastures green; Faithful Shepherd, lead me Where thy steps are seen. 4. Hallow every pleasure, Every gift and pain; Be thyself my treasure, Though none else I gain. 2. Hold me fast, and guide me In the narrow way; So, with thee beside me, I shall never stray. 5. Day by day prepare me As thou seest best, Then let angels bear me To thy promised rest. 3. Daily bring me nearer To the heavenly shore; May my faith grow clearer, May I love thee more. Choir Motet: O come, ye servants of the Lord (Tye) Recessional Hymn: Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love. To all, life thou givest - to both great and small; In all life thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, And wither and perish—but naught changeth thee. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; All laud we would render; O help us to see ’Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee, 5 General Notices Adult study group meets fortnightly at 8 pm on Mondays. For more information please contact Phil Morris tel. 01892 668890 or email [email protected]. Trailblazers Youth Group meet Fridays 13th March, 8th May and 12th June, 6-7.15pm at WI Hall. More details from Angela Bains or Jo Hobden. Yoga@StJohn's Mondays 7.30– 8.30pm in the WI Hall £5. Beginners especially welcome! Bring a yoga mat and a single blanket and wear comfortable clothes. Fran Nelson Crowborough Summer Fair 11th July. If you would be willing to organise a stall on behalf of St John’s please speak to Fr Robert. Electoral Roll & Stewardship – if you regularly worship here please consider joining the Electoral Roll (Alan Lockett) and becoming part of our Planned Giving (speak to a Churchwarden). Keep Fit Club has now raised £3,000 towards the church hall! Why not come along? Good company - fresh air - gentle exercise - feeling good - and to add to it all at a cost of £2.50 a session, raising money for our Church Hall. We meet 10am at the Reading room on Saturdays. Jam jars wanted please - I will collect from individuals, or from church, and make up batches of jam to sell for funds. Gill Noakes Women’s World Day of Prayer, Friday 6th March 11-12 noon St Michael’s Church. We need 4 volunteers to read a short passage. There will be a rehearsal at St Michael’s Thursday 19th February, 10.30am. If you are willing to help please speak to Gillian Morris tel. 01892 668890 or email [email protected] Dates for your Diary  16th February – Standing Committee meets at the Vicarage  17th February Shrove Tuesday Quiz and Fish & Chip Supper – See Yvonne Lockett to sign up.  18th February Ash Wednesday Mass at 10am & Solemn Mass at 8pm. Please return palm crosses from last year and leave them in the basket at the back of church. Thank you. 6 Church Hall Update  We have been successful with two more of our grant applications and the current balance (including pledges and gift-aid rebates) has now reached £236,000.  The archaeological team successfully carried out another survey at the church in January, to get compatibility between their graveyard plans and the architect’s drawings for the hall.  We had a set-back in November when the Church Authorities decided they wanted to come and view the proposed site, before permitting us to continue work. This would have delayed the project by about 14 weeks, making it difficult to start the build this year. Thankfully that has now been resolved and everyone is back working on the project.  We are working with the architect to have the design completed and the drawings issued by mid-March, in order to submit the paperwork for the next stage of the process of obtaining a Faculty Application (which is the ‘official’ permission needed from the Church for us to build the hall).  So, although the timescales are tightening up, we are still looking to have the hall finished by the year end - but the next few months will be critical in obtaining full approval from the Church Authorities.  Preliminary drawings from the architect have been issued and approved, and we are now working with the Heating Engineer and the Structural Engineer to catch up with the time lost by the delay in November. 7 Services Next Week Intentions Monday Feria Bishop Martin Tuesday St Scholastica 10am Mass The sick Wednesday Our Lady of Lourdes 9am School Worship Healing Thursday Feria 9.30am Mass Local farmers Friday Feria The Holy Dusters Saturday Ss Cyril & Methodius Peace in the Holy Land Sunday Next Before Lent 8am BCP Mass 10am Parish Mass (Sunday Club & JAM meet in school) 11.30am Family Service Contact Vicar & Parish Priest: Fr Robert Norbury (668188 or 07715 595828) Churchwardens: Ross Sinclair (663911) & Duncan Smith (660159) Flowers: Lynn Page (07767777088) JAM: Eerika Franklin (660050) Organist/Choirmaster: Jon Rawles (07515 951408) PCC Secretary: Michael Hewens (07703 794145) Pewsheet: Rita Burton ([email protected]) Items by Wednesday evening, please. Sacristan: Ron Rose (610495) Social/Events: Yvonne Lockett (660146) Sunday Club: Annemarie Sadler (07500 111945) Website: www.stjohnscrowborough.org.uk Ron Rose (610495) For baptisms, marriages and funerals please contact Fr Robert. Please note Fr Robert's rest day is normally Friday. 8