Welcome to

St Barnabas’ in Pound Hill and St Nicholas’ in Worth

This sheet details the readings in today’s services as well as notices for everyone.

SERVICES TODAY

Our churches are now open again (With Covid precautions)

Certain services will still be available online (live or recorded)

08:00 Said Eucharist (BCP) St Nicholas’ Celebrant & Preacher Revd Gordon Parry

10:00 Child Friendly Said Eucharist St Barnabas’ Celebrant & Preacher Revd Sarah Upchurch

10:00 Said Eucharist St Nicholas’ Celebrant & Preacher Fr Michael Boag (broadcast)

I am the Good Shepherd Question: Would you rather have a sheepfold without a shepherd or a shepherd without a sheepfold? The Palestinian people of the time would be familiar with the image of a good shepherd. Palestinian sheep are kept primarily for their wool, so the shepherd gets to know the flock over many years and through several generations. The shepherd owns the sheep, knows the sheep, some have even been known to sing to the sheep. They respond to the voice of their shepherd.

Generally speaking, sheep can be trained to obey, tend to stay together but are shortsighted and can only see six feet ahead. If they see a gap in the fence, they are likely to squeeze through and wander off! They are helpless to defend themselves. They need protection. A good shepherd will protect his sheep and not run away at the first sign of danger. In Biblical times a shepherd would have had to defend the sheep against wild animals. David of the Old Testament was a shepherd, remember his skill with a sling shot which he used against Goliath? Jesus does not say I am a good shepherd but the Good Shepherd.

Jesus knows everyone by name; we need to stay close. He will search for us when we are lost. To find our way (back) to him we need to listen for his voice. The voice of Jesus will encourage us to be patient, generous and kind to ourselves and others. Stay close. My answer: The Shepherd.

Peace be with you,

Revd Sarah

25 April 2021

Easter 4

Please send pew sheet notices to pewsheet@worthparish.org or phone

0300 111 8150

Registered Charity no. 1131090

Collect Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father. Amen

Reading Acts 4.5-12 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled

with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been

healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’ Psalm Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness

and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Reading 1 John 3.16-24 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Gospel John 10.11-18 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own

the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away - and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong

to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’

Post Communion Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Tues 27 Apr

10:30 Said Eucharist 14:30 Burial of Ashes

St Barnabas’ St Nicholas’

Thur 29 Apr

10:30 Said Eucharist St Nicholas’

Sun 2 May

8:00 Eucharist (BCP) 10:00 Said Eucharist 10:00 Said Eucharist

St Nicholas’ St Nicholas’ St Barnabas’

Sunday 2 May 2021 Easter 5

Acts 8.26-40 Psalm 22.25-31 1 John 4.7-21 John 15.1-8

Festivals this week

Mon 26 Apr

Mark the Evangelist (F)

Tues 27 Apr

Christina Rossetti, Poet 1894 (C)

Wed 28 Apr

Peter Chanel, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr 1841 (C)

Thur 29 Apr

Catherine of Siena, Teacher 1380 (LF)

Fri 30 Apr

Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures

1922 (C)

Sat 1 May

Philip and James, Apostles (F)

(F) Festival; (LF) Lesser Festival; (C) Commemoration

David Price It is with deep sorrow I have to impart the news that David Price died on Wednesday, after a short illness. A much-loved member of the St Nicholas’ choir and one of the lay intercessors, David had been part of the St Nicholas’ family for a long time and will be greatly missed. He leaves his partner Laith and sister Briar. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Jesu mercy, Mary pray. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Fr Michael

DIARY NOTES & NOTICES

Pastoral Centre

The Refurbishment in the Pastoral Centre is now well underway. Please note there is strictly no admittance to the Pastoral Centre for the next few weeks.

Saturdays 10:30 via Zoom

Please join us via Zoom for our Rise and Shine ‘coffee’ mornings. A chance to chat to friends old and new! Contact Fr Michael or Revd Sarah for further information and/or the Zoom link for the sessions at: rector@worthparish.org or vicarstb@worthparish.org

The Hangout Youth Club

Due to current guidelines the Hangout Youth Club is suspended until further notice.

CONTACTS The Rector Fr Michael Boag 01293 882229 rector@worthparish.org (Tues-Sun)

Vicar at St Barnabas’ Revd Sarah Upchurch 01293 524804 vicarstb@worthparish.org (Tues-Sun)

Assistant Priest Revd Gordon Parry 07802 432398 gordonmwparry@btinternet.com

Honorary Assistant Priest Fr Francis Pole 07764 752608 francis.pole@virgin.net

Assistant Curate Revd Greta, the Curate (Thurs & Sun) curate@worthparish.org

Churchwardens David Anderson (St B) 01293 409914 stbwarden@worthparish.org Gerald Sandwell (St N) 01293 883388 Colin Smith (St N) 01293 889894

Worth Parish Office Sue Perry 0300 111 8150 office@worthparish.org