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Sunday 8 April

Second Sunday of Easter

8.00am

HOLY COMMUNION

Celebrant: The Revd David Powell

Preacher: Dr Diana Stretton

10.00am

PARISH EUCHARIST

Celebrant: The Revd Dr Ian McIntosh

Preacher: Dr Diana Stretton

Readings: Acts 4. 32-35 read by Ian Smith

1 John 1. 1-2.2 read by Nigel Haughton

Gospel: John 20. 19-31

Hymns: NEH 103, NEH 342, NEH 113,

NEH 114, NEH 353, SASP 20

Intercessor: Suzanne Clackson

Everyone is invited to the Main Hall for refreshments.

6.00pm

SAID EVENSONG

Officiant: Alison McDaid

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Prayers and Readings

COLLECT

Almighty Father,

you have given your only Son to die for our sins

and to rise again for our justification:

grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness

that we may always serve you

in pureness of living and truth;

through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

FIRST READING - Acts 4.32–35

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

32The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and

no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they

owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their

testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon

them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as

owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was

sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as

any had need.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING - 1 John 1.1 – 2.2

A reading from the first letter of John.

1We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard,

what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched

with our hands, concerning the word of life – 2this life was revealed, and

we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that

was with the Father and was revealed to us – 3we declare to you what we

have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and

truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are

writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5This is the message

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we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him

there is no darkness at all.

6If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in

darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7but if we walk in the light as

he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the

blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say that we have no

sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins,

he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all

unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ

the righteous; 2and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours

only but also for the sins of the whole world.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL - John 20.19–31

We say or sing Alleluia

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

19It was evening on the first day of the week, and the doors of the house

where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came

and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20After he said this,

he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when

they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the

Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22When he had said this, he breathed

on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins

of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are

retained.’

24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with

them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen

the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his

hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I

will not believe.’

26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with

them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them

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Prayers for our April

Outreach Partner

Schoolreaders

Schoolreaders is a charity which seeks to

improve childhood literacy by providing

free one-to-one reading sessions in

schools. It recruits members of a

community and links them to local

schools. It started in Bedfordshire and now

operates throughout the country.

Eucharist Readings

for 15 April

Easter 3

Year B

Acts 3. 12-19

1 John 3. 1-7

Luke 24. 36b-48

and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 27Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here

and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt

but believe.’ 28Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29Jesus said to

him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who

have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ 30Now Jesus did many other

signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But

these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah,

the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

POST-COMMUNION

Lord God our Father,

through our Saviour Jesus Christ

you have assured your children of eternal life

and in baptism have made us one with him:

deliver us from the death of sin

and raise us to new life in your love,

in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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MONDAY 9 8.30am Morning Prayer Chapel

12noon Deadline for items for May “Fisherman”

5.00pm Evening Prayer Chapel

TUESDAY 10 8.30am Morning Prayer Chapel

5.00pm Evening Prayer Chapel

5.30pm Visiting Bellringers from West Sussex Church

WEDNESDAY 11 8.30am Morning Prayer Chapel

10.30am Holy Communion Holt Room

Celebrant: The Revd David Powell

12noon Organ Fundraising Group Dent Room

5.00pm Evening Prayer Chapel

THURSDAY 12 8.30am Morning Prayer Chapel

5.00pm Evening Prayer Chapel

6.30pm Treble Choir Practice Dent Room

7.45pm Tower Bell Practice Church

FRIDAY 13 8.30am Morning Prayer Chapel

5.00pm Evening Prayer Chapel

SATURDAY 14 8.30am Morning Prayer Chapel

9.30am Diocese of St Albans -

Church Maintenance Workshop Main Hall

10.00am Pentecost Craft Workshop Dent Room

5.00pm Evening Prayer Chapel

SUNDAY 15 8.00am Holy Communion Church

10.00am Parish Eucharist Church

2.00pm Friends of St Andrew’s

Tea Dance Main Hall

6.00pm Said Evensong Church

Notice Sheet Deadline Please send all notices to Karen Parrott, Church Centre Office,

email: office@standrewsbedford.org by 12noon on Wednesday.

This notice sheet is printed on Wednesday afternoon.

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CHURCH

LEADING ST ANDREW’S INTO GROWTH: The Revd Canon Dr Tim Bull, Director

of Ministry, will be coming to speak to our congregation on Thursday 12

April, 7.30pm, in the Holt Room. This is a follow-up presentation on Leading

your Church into Growth and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

LENT CHALLENGE 2018: Thank you to all who participated - your

contributions will be much appreciated by the Bedford Foodbank and the

Prebend Day Centre.

PENTECOST CRAFT WORKSHOP: Saturday 14 April, 10.00am-12noon, in the

Dent Room. Do please sign up and come along to help make decorations

for the church in readiness for Pentecost. All ages welcome and no

specialist craft skills required - just a willingness to join in and have fun

making some colourful decorations. For more information, please speak to

Karen Parrott or Alison Belding.

CAKE STALL: Rosalind Birtwistle, with Rhiannon and Lydia, are holding a cake

stall in aid of Voluntary Service Overseas after the 10.00am service next

Sunday, 15 April. Lots of home baked goodies and tea-time treats on

offer! Rhiannon and Lydia will also be running the London Marathon for

VSO.

QUIZ NIGHT: St Andrew’s is arranging a fun general knowledge quiz in aid

of Christian Aid on Saturday 12 May in the Main Hall. Fish and chip supper.

Bring your own drinks. Teams of six, £6 per person, payable on the night.

Please contact the Church Office or email office@standrewsbedford.org to

reserve your place.

CHELLINGTON QUIET DAY: Important - Due to circumstances beyond our

control the date has had to be changed to 7 June. If you have booked but

cannot come on the new date, please contact Ann Mason.

THE LENT COURSE at St Andrew’s will resume for two further sessions

on Monday 16 and 23 April (7.30pm - 9.00pm) and at St Peter’s on

Thursday 19 and 26 April (2.00pm - 3.30pm). It builds on the Leading

your Church into Growth course. Join us even if you have missed

previous weeks.

DATA PROTECTION CONSENT FORM: If you are on the Electoral Roll, please

remember to complete and return your Data Protection Consent Form to

the Church Office as soon as possible. Envelopes are at the back of church

to collect, if you have not already done so.

ELECTORAL ROLL: The revised Parish Electoral Roll will be

available in church for checking on Sunday 15 April, in the

Church Office during the following week and again in church on

Sunday 22 April. Please remember to check that your details are

correct and mark any corrections on the Roll. Thank you.

Sue Smith, Electoral Roll Officer.

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BELIEF Spring Course 2018 Shaping the World Today

Wednesdays from 25 April to 16 May 2018

25 April: Sexualisation of Society: “Living as a Christian in a Sexualised Society” Canon Reg Bailey, Independent Reviewer for Government of the Commercialisation and Sexuialisation of Childhood

2 May: Media: Cathy Le Feuvre, author/writer, media consultant and trainer

9 May: Religion and the modern world: Dr Nick Wood, Dean, Director of the Centre for Christianity and Culture

16 May: Extremism: Canon Peter Adams, Director, St Mary’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. Consultant and Trainer in Intercultural Relations and Community Relations

St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford, MK40 2PF 8.00pm to 9.30pm. £5 per person per session

There is no need to book - just turn up on the night.

We do not want anyone to be deterred from attending BELIEF events for financial reasons. If you find the fees prohibitive, please contact us.

BELIEF - 07821 796457 - www.beliefbeds.org - belief@standrewsbedford.org

“IT’S CHURCH (BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT)”: Fresh Ways of being Church in

the 21st Century. The Annual Forum of Churches Together in Bedfordshire,

Tuesday 1 May at Bunyan Meeting Church. 6.30pm Buffet Tea. 7.30pm

Talk by Luke Larner - biker, church pioneer, bricklayer and ragamuffin

chaplain. Includes a short AGM for Churches Together in Bedfordshire.

Admission free. All welcome.

RECYCLED EASTER CARDS: When you take down your Easter cards, please

remember to put them at the back of church for me [or in the Treasurer’s

slot in the office]. This year they almost sold out completely and I can't

make more if you don't bring me your old ones! Thank you for your

support. Brenda Mayoh.

A date for everyone’s diaries:

Sunday 29 April 2018

Parish of St Andrew Bedford

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

following the 10.00am Parish Eucharist

Please attend and support the future of our church

Nominations for PCC members and Deanery Synod members required –

for further information speak to the Churchwardens

Please note that there is no 8.00am service on this morning

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ST ANDREW’S CHURCH, KIMBOLTON ROAD, BEDFORD MK40 2PF

VICAR: THE REVD JAMES REVELEY (Day off - Friday or Saturday) 01234 354234

E-MAIL: vicar@standrewsbedford.org

CHURCH CENTRE OFFICE: 01234 216881

(Open Monday - Friday 9.00am-1.00pm & 2.00-4.00pm)

E-MAIL: centremanager@standrewsbedford.org

WEBSITE: www.standrewsbedford.org Charity Registration number 1130171

This Notice Sheet is also available on the website