Prayer

with the Anglican Communion we pray for the Church of Canada; for Archbishop Justin; for Bishops Tim, David and Debbie

our mission giving: £350 for Trinity Winchester, a day centre where people can address the effects of homelessness and vulnerability through specialist, practical and emotional support

indigenous groups and environmentalists campaigning to prevent destruction of the Amazon rainforest

this Stewardship Sunday, for a joyful spirit of generosity in all that we give our parish, as an expression of our faith commitment

giving thanks for generous legacies that are enabling the parish to improve its facilities and offer more to the local community

giving thanks for the gift of faith, praying for each other and all who long to believe

St Valentine’s Day, rejoicing in the gift of love; praying for all marriages and those in committed relationships; a blessing for all who long to love and be loved

places where there is conflict, and where families are torn apart; for deep healing the work of Relate and all who help sustain marriage and long-term relationships St Paul’s pre-school – for the ongoing care and education of very young children;

for the staff, parents, committee and all who support them the unwell: Cheryl Barkwill, Christopher Browne, Emrys Davies, baby Emily,

Phillippa Lerclercq, Louisa (20 months), Louise (Anne Odling’s stepdaughter), Philip Surrage, Brett Tribe and Patricia Watts

the long-term unwell: Caroline Behan, Vera Edwards, Julia Jones, Kate Morgan, Jane Seal and Vera Willnecker

those who have died recently; all living with the pain of untimely death; God’s comfort for all who remember loved ones

Welcome

A warm welcome to everyone, and especially if you are new or visiting. Do please stay on for drinks and to meet people after the 9.30 and 11.15 services

and keep this welcome sheet for your prayers this week.

09 February 2020

Stewardship Sunday; the third Sunday before Lent

Please feel free to send prayer requests to ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org, 844878

Services today, 9 February

8 am St Matthew’s

9.30 am Western

Processional hymn

Storyteller

Children’s song

[BCP] Holy Communion

Readings: p. 78

Parish Communion with DIY crèche, Scramblers, Climbers and Explorers

Destination and Transition are visiting the United Church

Order of service in pale green booklet

1 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us o’er the world’s tempestuous sea; guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, for we have no help but thee; yet possessing every blessing if our God our Father be.

2 Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us, all our weakness thou dost know, thou didst tread this earth before us, thou didst feel its keenest woe; lone and dreary, faint and weary, through the desert thou didst go.

3 Spirit of our God, descending, fill our hearts with heavenly joy, love with every passion blending, pleasure that can never cloy; thus provided, pardoned, guided, nothing can our peace destroy.

James Edmeston (1791–1867)

Adrian McKenzie

1 The wise man built his house upon the rock, (x 3) and the rain came tumbling down. And the rain came down and the floods came up, the rain came down and the floods came up, (x 2) and the house on the rock stood firm.

2 The foolish man built his house upon the sand, (x 3) and the rain came tumbling down. And the rain came down and the floods came up, the rain came down and the floods came up, (x 2) and the house on the sand fell flat.

Collect

Reading

Gradual hymn

Heavenly Father, you have called your Church to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Give us vigorous faith and a love that is genuine, so that all may see our works and give you the glory. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

1 Corinthians 2: 1–12 [p. 64] When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’ – these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

1 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that as you love, so may I love, and do what you would do.

2 Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure: until my will is one with yours to do and to endure.

3 Breathe on me, Breath of God, fulfil my heart’s desire, until this earthly part of me glows with your heavenly fire.

Reading

Sermon

Offertory hymn

4 Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with you the perfect life of your eternity.

Edwin Hatch (1835–1889) alt. Kevin Mayhew Ltd © 1999 Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Used by permission

Matthew 5: 13–20 [‘The Message’ version] ‘Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the rubbish.

‘Here’s another way to put it: you’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

‘Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures – either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.

‘Trivialise even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialised yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honour in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.’

Canon Peter Seal

1 Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee.

Post Communion prayer

Post Communion hymn

4 Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will, and make it thine: it shall be no longer mine; take my heart: it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee.

Frances R. Havergal (1836–1879)

Merciful Father, who gave Jesus Christ to be for us the bread of life, that those who come to him should never hunger: draw us to the Lord in faith and love, that we may eat and drink with him at his table in the kingdom, where he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

1 Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

2 Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us, speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze, teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us: Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.

3 Lord, for our land in this our generation, spirits appressed by pleasure, wealth and care: for young and old, for commonwealth and nation, Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

4 Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt you, loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain, hungry and helpless, lost indeed without you: Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

5 Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us – self on the cross and Christ upon the throne, past put behind us, for the future take us: Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926) © adm. OUP

11 am Tegfield House

11.15 am St Matthew’s

Readings

Holy Communion

[BCP] Mattins

1 Corinthians 2: 1–12; Matthew 5: 13–20 [p. 64] See above

Services next Sunday, 16 February The second Sunday before Lent; [BCP] Sexagesima

8 am St Matthew’s

9.30 am Western

11.15 am St Matthew’s

4 pm Parish rooms

[BCP] Holy Communion Readings: p. 80

Parish Eucharist Readings: Romans 8: 18–25; Matthew 6: 25–34 [p. 75]

[BCP] Mattins Readings: Romans 8: 18–25; Matthew 6: 25–34 [p. 75]

St Paul’s @ 4, ‘Parable of the Sower’

Health and Safety at Western Children and young people playing outside There’s lots of wonderful space! Parents/carers, please remember that your children are your responsibility at all times, and especially after our 9.30 service.

Children are not allowed in the classrooms at any time except when their groups are meeting.

Huge thanks to everyone who is helping enable Western to be such a good place for our Sunday worship.

Peter Seal (Health and safety role!)

The week ahead

Mon 10, 4.30 pm Tues 11, 4.30 pm 7 pm 7.30 pm 8 pm Wed 12, 11 am 12.30–1 pm 4 pm Thurs 13, 9.30–11.30 am

Evening Prayer Evening Prayer Women’s group Christian meditation Men’s group [BCP] Holy Communion Space in the City, speaker Angela Tilby: ‘Structural sin and private despair’ Evening Prayer Toddler group

Parish rooms Parish rooms Roebuck Inn

Parish rooms Roebuck Inn

St Matthew’s United Church

Parish rooms Parish rooms

Diary dates

February Mon 17, 2.30 pm Fri 21, 7.30 pm Sat 22, 5 pm Sun 23, 6 pm Mon 24 Tues 25, 2.30 pm 5.15 pm 6.30–7.30 pm Wed 26, 11 am, 7.30 pm 2.30 pm Fri 28, 7.30 pm March Sun 1, 9.30 am Tues 3, 7.15 pm Wed 4, 10 am 7.30 pm Sat 7, 9 am–1 pm Sun 8, 11 am Mon 9, 7.45 pm Wed 11, 10 am 7.30 pm Sun 15, 4 pm Mon 16, 2.30 pm Tues 17, 7.30 pm Sun 22 Tues 24, 2.30 pm April Sun 12

Building for Life site progress meeting ‘Life is a Cabernet’ wine tasting Mothers’ Union beetle drive Taizé service Fairtrade Fortnight starts Mothers’ Union talk by Ellie Payne Building for Life project board Public lecture on spiritual abuse Holy Communion and Ashing Beyond Ourselves committee Quiz evening with fish and chips Green Family Communion Finance committee Lent study group starts Lent talks/discussion start Christian Aid climate justice campaign Holy Communion PCC meeting Lent study group Lent talk/discussion St Paul’s @ 4 Building for Life site progress meeting Music committee Mothering Sunday Mothers’ Union: Peter Seal, ‘Lent reflections’ Easter Sunday

Site office

Sarum Road St Barnabas’

Cathedral

St Barnabas’ Parish rooms

University St Matthew’s Parish rooms

Holy Trinity

Western Orchard End

St Matthew’s Parish rooms

Wessex Centre Tegfield House

St Matthew’s St Matthew’s Parish rooms Parish rooms

Site office Bereweeke Way

St Barnabas’

Coming up

Space in the City The New Year series of talks, The problem of sin: our fault or our circumstances? is being given by Canon Angela Tilby at the United Church on Wednesdays, 12.30–1 pm (no entrance charge).

The Christian tradition has a lot to say about sin. It is a stain on our souls, a debt that we cannot repay, a virus that infects every human being. It calls out for a remedy, which, the Church teaches, God has provided by sending Jesus to carry the weight of our sins and offer himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. Powerful though this language is, many contemporary Christians and many outside the Church find it virtually incomprehensible. We just don’t feel that bad about ourselves and wonder if we need to. Yet at the same time we are aware that there is much wrong with the world, and wonder whether the Christian tradition can shed light on contemporary issues such as injustice, inequality and environmental degradation.

These talks explore ‘the trouble with sin’ in the light of contemporary Bible study and humanistic psychology. This week’s title is ‘Structural sin and private despair’.

Hot Mikado Please support Jonathan and Oli Eadie, who will be performing at the Theatre Royal on 20–22 February in Encore Youth Theatre’s production of Hot Mikado, a Gilbert and Sullivan favourite re-imagined as a sensational swinging show set in the 1930s golden age of jazz! Tickets: www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk or from box office.

Mothers’ Union February’s meetings, both at St Barnabas’, are: Sat 22, 5 pm Pancakes and beetle drive, fund-raising for MU projects overseas; tickets £2.50, under 14s £1, from St Barnabas’ parish office, 886629 Tues 25, 2.30 pm Ellie Payne, ‘The girl I want to be’

Fairtrade Fortnight this year runs from Mon 24 February to Sun 8 March. This is a time when individuals, groups and companies – to say nothing of parishes – come together to celebrate the people in developing countries who grow our food, but who are often underpaid and exploited. The focus will be on women in the cocoa and coffee industries across the world, campaigning for living incomes – and if this sounds familiar, it is because it is year 2 of a three-year campaign. What can you do this Fortnight? Could you raise some money to help Traidcraft Exchange with its support work? A Big Brew coffee morning? Some friends round for tea or coffee? If so, please contact Rosemary Dunhill, rcdunhill@gmail.com.

Spiritual abuse: promoting healthy Christian cultures Dr Lisa Oakley will be delivering a public lecture at the University of Winchester on Tues 25 February, 6.30–7.30 pm, examining how we can respond well to experiences of coercive control in religious contexts, and prevent their occurrence in the future. Book your place (free) at https://tinyurl.com/yx2sky5l.

Quiz team Holy Trinity Church, Upper Brook Street, is holding a quiz evening on Fri 28 February, 7.30 pm, with a fish and chip supper and wine for £10 per person. Our parish is invited to form one or more quiz teams to take part. Please register your team with Kathy Mabey, rubyslippersoz@googlemail.com.

Lent in the parish Tuesdays, 7.30 pm, parish rooms Silent meditation in the Christian tradition

Wednesdays, 10–10.55 am, St Matthew’s Study group, 4 March–1 April

Wednesdays, 7.30 pm, parish rooms Talks followed by group discussion, 4 March–1 April

Climate Justice Campaign Kick-Off Be part of creating hope-filled action for climate justice in your local area! Do come and join others from the church community at the Wessex Centre in the Cathedral Close on Sat 7 March, 9 am–1 pm, to hear stories from the Global South, spend time in prayer and worship, and explore how people can take part locally in Christian Aid’s new campaign, ‘New Deal for Climate Justice’. People living in poverty are at the forefront of climate breakdown and we have the opportunity to stand with them and work together. The event starts at 9 am with breakfast pastries and fresh coffee. It’s free, but register at https://tinyurl.com/v8jy829.

Notices

#Live Lent: Care for God’s Creation Booklets with daily readings, reflections and challenges to live in greater harmony with God, neighbour and nature are available after the service (£2). With weekly themes and prayers shaped around the first Genesis account of creation, they explore the urgent need for humans to value and protect the abundance God has created.

The Lion King Huge thanks to everyone who made this possible and such a success. Special thanks to Bronwen Dixie for leading the workshop with such skill and enthusiasm, and to Mary Copping, John Schulz and many, many helpers.

Recycling plastic bottle tops Please put type 2 or type 4 plastic tops in the box at St Matthew’s or take them to the collection point at 10 North View, on the footpath from Oram’s Arbour to Cheriton Road.

Building for Life news

The gallery floor has been laid with access via a temporary staircase; to be able to

see where the proposed new meeting room could be, the significant size of the open balcony and views down the length of the church is absolutely fantastic!

Frames for the walls of the utility room and toilets have been constructed

Preparations have been made for insulation under the new oak floor areas

Heating pipes have been installed for radiators that will go on the perimeter walls

Wiring has been laid through ducting for audio-visual provision thanks to John Schulz

The specification of the kitchen equipment has been finalised (subject to quotation)

The technical detail of the font to enable the ‘living water’ has progressed

We’re seeking quotations for a complete redecoration, some limited stone cleaning where it is particularly stained and essential storage cupboards for tables, supplementary chairs, etc., which are not currently in the budget

Coming up: installation of first-fix electrics, and then in half-term week, creation of the new north doorway

Interested in meeting people/getting involved?

Toddler group (0–3 years) runs on term-time Thursdays, 9.30–11.30 am in the parish rooms: play, craft, singing, stories and snacks

Women’s group next meets Tues 11 February, 7 pm, at the Roebuck for supper; contact Ursula Payne, 844878, ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org

Men’s group next meets Tues 11 February, 8 pm, at the Roebuck for a drink and a chat; please contact Mike Russell-Smith, 853584, waldrons@ntlworld.com

Tea with Friends runs on the second Monday of the month, 2.30–4.30 pm; please contact Linda Russell-Smith, 853584, or Heather Riley, 862867

Daytime book group meets on the first Monday of the month, 2–4 pm; please contact Christine Bennett, 852681

Meditation group meets on Tuesdays, 7.30–8.30 pm in the parish rooms – come as you are and rest in God’s presence

Tuesday homegroup meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 7.45–9.15 pm; please contact James Clay, 852141

Thursday homegroup meets fortnightly, 7.30 for 7.45–9.15 pm; please contact Peter and Irene Casey, 808776

Home Communion If you’re housebound but would like to receive Holy Communion, please contact Liz Stuart, liz@stmatthewstpaul.org, or leave a message for her at the parish office, 844878

Contact us

Canon Peter Seal, Rector 854849 (h) 844878 (office) M, Tu, W, Th, peter@stmatthewstpaul.org

Revd Mary Copping, Children/Youth Co-ordinator & Assistant Priest 07921 886016 M, Tu, W, F, youth@stmatthewstpaul.org

Revd Liz Stuart, Curate liz@stmatthewstpaul.org

Katy Palacio, Parish Administrator 844878 M, W, F, admin@stmatthewstpaul.org

Ursula Payne, Rector’s Assistant & Building for Life Administrator 844878 M, Tu, Th, ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org (please send me any notices)

Parish Office (generally open M, W, F, 9.30–3), St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Hill, Winchester SO22 5AB, 844878, www.stmatthewstpaul.org

Please make cheques payable to St Matthew’s PCC – all gifts gratefully received

Hymns copied from HymnQuest: Copyright Licence Users’ Edition Printed on recycled paper