sunday letter - 24th april 2016

WeeklyServices&Groups

PeopleBishop:TheRt.RevdErrolBrooksVicar:TheRevdCharlieVereNicollVisitingPriest:TheRevdCanonDrSandyZabriskieParishAdministrator:PhilipTrangmarTelephone:0690541799Email:info.stbartholomews@gmail.comParishOffice:Mon,Wed&Fri–9amto12noonWebsite:www.stbartholomewsanglicanchurch.comChurchWardens:MarjorieRomney,TrinetteWellesley-Wesley&RachelBarrett-TrangmarTreasurer:AlexHarbordVestry:TheWardens,DawnDrouant,ClarionRomney,Richard Lester, Nancy Swann, Philip Trangmar andLloydYoungerMusicDirector:OmbelineCollinSundayPianist:MichaelParisot

St.Bartholomew’sAnglicanChurch

FifthSundayofEaster24thApril2016

DearFriends,

Weliveinatroubledworld.Acrossallsocietiesthereispainandsuffering,intolerance,andpoverty.Giventhishurt, the question that many ask is what can God doaboutit?

We read in today’s second lesson, from the Book ofRevelation,thattheauthorhearda loudvoicefromonhighsayingthatGodisamongmortals–Hedwellswiththem and He himself will be with them. Equally, weshould realise thatGod isalsowithus. Hiskingdom isnotjusttobefoundinHeaven;buthere,rightnow,onEarthandallaround–Hedwellsinus!

Thatdoesn’tmeanthatGodisalwaysabletopreventortakeawayallpainandsuffering,intoleranceorpoverty.ButHeisconstantlytheretodirectus,ifweopenupourhearts;andtogivepeoplestrengthtochangedirection,iftheyopenuptheirminds:“See,Iammakingallthingsnew.” He is also there to give comfortwhenwe faceadversity:to“wipeeverytear”fromoureyes.

Inordertofindthisstrengthandcomfort,weshouldtrytofollowJesus’commandmentasmentionedintoday’sGospel reading: “Just as I have loved you, you alsoshould love one another” (and that means to loveeveryone–nomatterhowharditmightseematfirst!).ThenwewillknowthatGodiswithusandwecanhelpfillthisWorldwithpeaceandjoy;andproudlybeabletopassitontothenextgeneration.

Withblessings,TheVestryToday’sHymnsProcessional:GuideMeOThyGreatRedeemer#188Gradual:Alleluia,GiveThankstotheRisenLord#24PostGospel:BeStillandKnowThatIAmGod#52Communion:BreakBread#299&WereYouThere#540Recessional:HereIamLord#235

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TheReadingsTheActsoftheApostles–Ch11Now,theapostlesandthebelievers,whowereinJudea,heardthatthe Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peterwent up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him,saying,"Whydidyougotouncircumcisedmenandeatwiththem?"ThenPeterbegantoexplainittothem,stepbystep,saying,"Iwas in the cityof Joppapraying, and ina trance I sawavision.Therewassomethinglikealargesheetcomingdownfromheaven,beingloweredbyitsfourcorners;anditcameclosetome.As I lookedat it closely I saw four-footedanimals,beastsofprey,reptiles,andbirdsoftheair.Ialsoheardavoicesayingtome,'Getup, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; fornothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But asecondtimethevoiceansweredfromheaven,'WhatGodhasmadeclean,youmustnotcallprofane.'Thishappenedthreetimes;theneverythingwaspulledupagaintoheaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me fromCaesarea,arrivedatthehousewherewewere.The Spirit toldme to gowith themandnot tomakeadistinctionbetween them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me,andweenteredtheman'shouse.He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house andsaying,'SendtoJoppaandbringSimon,whoiscalledPeter;hewillgiveyouamessagebywhichyouandyourentirehouseholdwillbesaved.'AndasIbegantospeak,theHolySpiritfelluponthemjustasithaduponusatthebeginning.And I remembered theword of the Lord, how he had said, 'Johnbaptizedwithwater,butyouwillbebaptizedwiththeHolySpirit.'If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when webelieved in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinderGod?"When theyheard this, theywere silenced.And theypraisedGod,saying, "ThenGod has given even to theGentiles the repentancethatleadstolife."

TheBookofRevelation–Ch21I,John,sawanewheavenandanewearth;forthefirstheavenandthefirstearthhadpassedaway,andtheseawasnomore.And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out ofheavenfromGod,preparedasabrideadornedforherhusband.AndIheardaloudvoicefromthethronesaying,"See,thehomeofGod isamongmortals.Hewilldwellwith themas theirGod; theywillbehispeoples,andGodhimselfwillbewiththem;hewillwipeeverytearfromtheireyes.Deathwillbenomore;mourning,cryingandpainwillbenomore,forthefirstthingshavepassedaway."Andtheonewhowasseatedonthethronesaid,"See,Iammakingall things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words aretrustworthyandtrue."Thenhesaidtome,"Itisdone!IamtheAlphaandtheOmega,thebeginningandtheend.TothethirstyIwillgivewaterasagiftfromthespringofthewateroflife."

TheGospelaccordingtoJohn–Ch13Duringthesupper,whenJudashadgoneout, Jesussaid,"NowtheSonofManhasbeenglorified,andGodhasbeenglorifiedinhim.IfGodhasbeenglorifiedinhim,Godwillalsoglorifyhiminhimselfandwillglorifyhimatonce.Littlechildren,Iamwithyouonlyalittlelonger.Youwilllookforme;andas IsaidtotheJewssonowIsaytoyou, 'WhereIamgoing,youcannotcome.'Igiveyouanewcommandment,thatyouloveoneanother.JustasIhavelovedyou,youalsoshouldloveoneanother.Bythiseveryonewillknowthatyouaremydisciples,ifyouhaveloveforoneanother."

TheEucharisticPrayerCELEBRANTALL

TheLordbewithyou.Andalsowithyou.

CELEBRANTALL

Liftupyourhearts.WeliftthemupuntototheLord.

CELEBRANTALL

LetusgivethankstotheLordourGod.ItisrighttogiveHimthanks&praise.

CELEBRANT: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, alwaysand everywhere to give you thanks, Father almighty,everlasting God. … Therefore we praise you, joining ourvoiceswithangelsandarchangelsandwithallthecompanyofheaven,whoforeversingthishymntoproclaimthegloryofyourName:ALL:Holy,holy,holyLord,Godofpowerandmight;Heavenandeartharefullofyourglory,Hosannainthehighest.BlessedisHewhocomesinthenameoftheLord,Hosannainthehighest.CELEBRANT: Holy and gracious Father, all creation rightlygives you praise. All life, all holiness, comes from youthroughyourSon, JesusChristourLord,whomyousent toshare our human nature, to live and die as one of us, toreconcileustoyou,theGodandFatherofall.Wethereforebringyouthesegifts,andweaskyoutomakethem holy by the power of your Spirit, that they maybecometheBodyandBloodofyourSon,ourSaviour JesusChrist, who offered Himself in obedience to your will,thePerfectSacrificeforallmankind.OnthenightHewasbetrayed,Hetookbread,andwhenHehad given thanks to you, He broke it and gave it to Hisdisciplesandsaid:"Takethisandeatit:ThisismyBody,whichisgivenforyou.Dothisfortheremembranceofme.”After supper He took the cup of wine: and when He hadgiventhanks,Hegaveittothemandsaid:“Drinkthis,allofyou:ThisismyBloodoftheNewCovenant,which is shed for you and for many forthe forgiveness ofsins.Dothis,wheneveryoudrinkit,fortheremembranceofme.”Letusproclaimthemysteryoffaith:ALL:Christhasdied,Christisrisen,Christwillcomeagain.CELEBRANT Father, calling to mind the death your Sonendured for our salvation; Hisglorious Resurrection andAscension;His continual intercession for us in heaven; andlooking for His coming again in glory, we offer you, inthanksgiving, this holy and life-giving sacrifice. Look withfavouronyourChurch’soffering,andgrantthatwewhoeatanddrinktheseholygiftsmaybefilledwithyourHolySpiritand become one body in Christ, and serve you in unity,constancyandpeace.MayHemakeusaperpetualofferingtoyouandenableus,incommunionwithTheMostBlessedVirginMary,SaintBartholomewandthewholecompanyofheaven,toshareintheinheritanceofyourSaints.WithHim,andinHim,andthroughHim,bythepoweroftheHoly Spirit, weworship you, Father Almighty, with all whostandbeforeyouinearthandheaveninsongsofeverlastingpraise:ALL:Blessingandhonourandgloryandpowerbeyoursforeverandever.Amen.(ContinuingwiththeLord’sPrayeronPage7oftheBooklet)