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The Presentation of Christ in the
Temple –Sunday 1 February 2015
Services and Preachers in the Parish Today
St Nicholas Church
8.00am
Holy Communion
Revd Shaun Speller(Assistant Curate)
9.30am
Sung Eucharist
Revd Shaun Speller
11.30am
Morning Praise
Jacqui Hibbert (Reader, St Nicholas)
4.30pm
Simply Worship
Revd Canon Dennis Stamps (Rector)
6.30pm
Choral Evensong
Revd Becky Leach (Associate Vicar, St Mary’s)
All Saints Church Celebrating 50 years in the heart of the community
9.00am
10.30am
6.30pm
Communion Service
Revd Linda Williams (Associate Vicar, All Saints)
Worship Service with Holy Communion
Revd Linda Williams
Evening Worship for Candlemas
St Mary’s Church
10.00am
Messy Mass
Revd Becky Leach
All our churches are fitted with an induction loop. Those wearing a hearing
aid should switch to “T” in order to benefit from it.
A collection will be taken during the Offertory Hymn. If you are a UK tax
payer, please use the white Gift Aid envelope in the pew, remembering to
date it and print your details.
If you give by standing order or the like please put a token in the offering in
the offering bags as they go around as an act of worship and as a token of
what you give in thanks to God.
Children are welcome at every service. If your child becomes restless during
the service, please feel free to go in and out.
You are warmly invited to join us for coffee after our morning services.
Collects, Readings, Psalm, Gospel &
Post-Communion Prayer
COLLECT
Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day
presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts, by 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.
Or ADDITIONAL COLLECT
Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and
present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God.
FIRST READING Malachi 3.1–5
Thus says the LORD God: See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the
covenant in whom you delight – indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can
endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s
fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the
descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the
LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the
LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for
judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers,
against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their
wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear
me, says the LORD of hosts.
SECOND READING Hebrews 2.14–18
Since the children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the same things, so
that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that
he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to
become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the
people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who
are being tested.
PSALM Psalm 24. 7–10
Lift up your heads O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye ever’lasting ‘ doors : and the King of ‘ glory
‘ shall come ‘ in.
Who is the ‘ King of ‘ glory : it is the Lord strong and mighty, even the ‘ Lord ‘ mighty in ‘
battle.
Lift up your heads O ye gates, and be ye lift up ye ever’lasting ‘ doors : and the King of ‘ glory
‘ shall come ‘ in.
Who is the ‘ King of ‘ glory : even the Lord of hosts, ‘ he is the ‘ King of ‘ glory. GLORIA
GOSPEL Luke 2.22–40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph
brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (as it is written in the law of the
Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a
sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two
young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was
righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit
rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under
the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are
dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your
salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to
the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child’s father and mother were
amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his
mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be
a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a
sword will pierce your own soul too.’ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the
temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she
came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the
redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the
Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became
strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
POST COMMUNION
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah: may
we, who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he
comes to bring us to eternal life; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Please Remember in your Prayers
Parish Outreach: Living God’s Love: Going Deeper into God: The Diocesan
Cursillo Group
The Sick: Kirstin Williamson, Emma Mitchell, Rosie Choueka, Sarah Sherwood,
Andrew, Lin Millins, Jenny, Trevor, Elaine, Ray Meldrum, Myrtle Hughes,
Marion Stubbins, Rosemary Allen and Ann Payne
The Recently Departed: Ron Staff
First Anniversary of Death: Edward Burnett
Please tell the Parish Office about next week’s meetings, events and notices by
12 noon on Wednesday on 01582 765524 or office@parishofharpenden.org
More information can be found at www.parishofharpenden.org
This pew leaflet is available in large print form at the back of church and
can be downloaded from the website: www.parishofharpenden.org
Parish News for all three churches
APPLICATIONS FOR THE POST OF PARISH ADMINISTRATOR for the Parish of Harpenden
are now being taken. To receive details, please contact the parish office. Deadline for
applications is midday, 11 February 2015. Interview date to be advised.
DATES FOR CONFIRMATION courses for young people and adults are as follows:
Young people 4.30-6.00 pm on Sundays 22 February, 1, 8, 15 & 22 March, 12, 19 & 26 April,
3 & 10 May; meeting in St Nicholas Church Hall, probably the Cunningham Room
Adults - 8-10pm on Wednesdays 11, 18 & 25 March, 8, 22 & 29 April, 6 & 13 May .
Venue to be confirmed.
Shaun and Dennis will be leading the course for young people and Linda and Becky the one
for adults. The confirmation service will be at 6.30pm on Sunday 17 May at St Mary’s,
Redbourn. Please let the clergy or parish office know if you are interested and sign up on
the list in church.
ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL FLOWER FESTIVAL (MUSIC IN BLOOM): A short film by Neil
Armstrong may be downloaded at : - https://vimeo.com/108990944
CHURCH WATCH AT ST NICHOLAS: The new roster (February - July) has now been
distributed. Please would any volunteers who have not received a copy contact Judith
Etheridge via the Parish Office.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
14-16 February, Wedding Dress Experience at St Mary’s Church
3 NIGHT BREAK IN EDINBURGH OR DINNER FOR TWO IN THE WERNHER RESTAURANT,
LUTON HOO!? Just two of the many exciting prizes to win in the St Mary's Church Wedding
Dress Experience raffle. Draw will take place 16 February,on the last day of the Wedding
Dress Experience being held at the church (14 - 16 February). Tickets cost only £1 each (£5
for a book of 5) and go on sale from the end of January. If you would like the opportunity to
win one of these prizes, please come to the event and purchase tickets there. If you are
unable to come or would like to purchase tickets in advance, please contact Julia Lloyd via
the Parish Office.
RENEWAL OF WEDDING VOWS: An important part of the Wedding Dress Experience is the
joint renewal of wedding vows at 5.30pm on Sunday 15 February, for everyone who would
like avail themselves of this opportunity. Please let Revd Becky Leach know by emailing
associate.vicar@stmarys.parishofharpenden.org by 12 February if you would like to come.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH (PAST AND PRESENT) WANTED! Please give any
pictures you might have, especially of people and events, to Ellen Hills, via the Parish Office,
by 1 June so that she can compile a display as part of the All Saints Golden Jubilee
Celebrations.
PARISH LENT GROUPS will begin the week of 16 February. Please sign up for these parish
groups now (by 8 February at the latest) by filling out the form at the back of church. . If you
would be willing to host or lead a group, please do indicate. There will be a choice of two
courses, one based on Stephen Cotterill’s book ’The Things He Carried - A Journey to the
Cross’ and the other based on the film ’Chocolat’. You will be informed of your group in the
week commencing 9 February.
FOR THE CELEBRATION OF ALL SAINTS JUBILEE YEAR members of the parish are invited to
make a donation: 50 for 50, such as 50 pennies or 50 £1 coins. or even 50 £50 notes. Please
put any donation in an envelope marked ‘All Saints Jubilee’. If you wish to gift aid please
indicate this and give your name and address.
BRITISH HUMANITARIAN AID: There will be a collection for BHA during the weekend of
21/22 February. Donated goods can be left in the Cunningham Room at the Church Hall
between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 21st. Money donations can be made after each service
on the 22nd. The donated goods will be collected by BHA during the Sunday morning. For
further information please contact either Anne Harper or Margaret Hewitt via the Parish
Office. Thank you for your continued support.
SUPPER CLUB meets on Monday 9 February. The speaker will be Sue Mutter, talking about
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller People. To help with catering please will members let Brenda
Elliott know by Friday if they will not be attending.
CAN YOU HELP WITH THE EASTER EXPERIENCE? It is St Nicholas’ turn to run the Easter
Experience, an event which gives school children and the public a life size encounter with the
Easter story-a great outreach opportunity. We need someone willing to organise a group of
people from the parish to run this 23-27/28 March. There are resources in the parish
already. Please contact the Rector if you or a couple persons might be willing to organise
this.
PARISH OFFICE AND ST NICHOLAS CHURCH WEEKDAY OPENING HOURS :
Monday: closed
Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10.00am to 3.30pm
Thursday: 10.00am to 12.30pm (manned by volunteers)
Please follow & interact with our Parish:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@ParishHarpenden
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParishofHarpenden
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/parishharpenden
Blog: http://parishofharpenden.blogspot.co.uk
You can also access them all through the church website: www.parishofharpenden.org
If you have anything to go on our sites please email Rachel at:
digital.media@parishofharpenden.org
Church Notices
St Nicholas Church
MUSIC TODAY
9.30am
Sung Eucharist
6.30pm
Choral Evensong
Setting:
Motet:
Canticles:
Anthem:
Shephard
When to the temple (Eccard)
Bairstow in D
My soul, there is a country (Parry)
FAIRTRADE GROCERIES STALL TODAY in St Nicholas Church Hall between the
9.30am and 11.30am services.
A FRIENDLY TEA GROUP FOR THE BEREAVED today at 3pm in St Nicholas
Church Hall. All welcome.
BOOK STALL next Sunday, following the 9.30am Service, in St Nicholas Church
Hall.
HOME MADE CARDS WILL BE ON SALE in the Church Hall to raise funds for
the Children’s Society after the 9.30am Service today.
TRAVELLING CRIB IN LADY CHAPEL: It's not Lent yet, so too early for Jesus to
be wandering in the desert, but sadly the baby Jesus has disappeared from our
Crib set. If by chance you have come across this little 'doll' (or have a
replacement), then I would be most grateful if you could hand it in to the
Church office, please. Thank you. Pamela Woodford-Smith
CHILDREN’S SOCIETY COLLECTION BOXES can be returned to the hall TODAY
after the 9.30am service for counting. If you have never had one before, we
should be delighted if you’d like to take one away today, in which to collect your
loose change, all of which adds up to help the work of the charity.
CAN YOU HELP WITH A LIFT? We have occasional requests for persons who
would like to come to church but need a lift. If you are able to offer an
occasional lift and go on a rota (we are not asking for regular commitments),
please contact the Parish Office or Jean McIntosh or the Rector.
St Mary’s Church
FEBRUARY MISSIVE, CALENDAR FOR 2015 and SOCIAL CALENDAR - are all
available to collect from the back of church.
WEDDING DRESS EXPERIENCE - DRIVERS NEEDED to help collect and deliver
mannequins to church on Tuesday 10 or Wednesday 11 February and/or to take
them back again on Monday 16 or Tuesday 17 February. Please speak to Becky if
you can help.
Church Notices Continued
All Saints Church Celebrating 50 years in the heart of the community
BIBLE READING NOTES: Please order from Rosemary (761322).
ALL SAINTS EMERGENCY PRAYER CHAIN: Please call 622862.
50 FOR 50: Launched on 11 January to raise funds for our Golden Jubilee events
and projects. We suggested donations in multiples of 50 – from 1p pieces to £50
notes! Whatever you are able to give will help the fund. Envelopes to fill are
available at the back of the church – or a Smarties tube for school age people.
(We recommend eating the Smarties before trying to get the money in.)
Thank you from the Jubilee Committee.
BUSY BUNNIES-under new management-follow us on Facebook-needs a little
help. Could you offer an hour every now and again on a Thursday morning 1011am or up to 11.30am. Let Linda know if interested or just turn up in the hall at
All Saints.
CAFE STOP -People wanted to meet and greet Mums coming in from the cold for
a cuppa in church while their other children are in dance classes. Speak to
Pauline, Heather or Natalie for more info or just turn up on a Tuesday afternoon
3.30pm.
GOLDEN JUBILEE EVENTS-the first of the year’s special events is a walk (kinda
'Beating the Bounds') around the District boundary on 2 May starting at 10am
and ending with a ‘bring your own’ picnic lunch at All Saints church. All are very
welcome to join all or part of the walk. The aim is to pass as many homes of
members of our fellowship as possible. To help with planning, please can you let
Linda or the Wardens know if the walk may stop at your home for prayer/
possible comfort break please.
GOLDEN JUBILEE EVENTS-8PM THURSDAY 14 MAY ASCENSION DAY DEANERY
EUCHARIST SERVICE All are welcome to attend, please pop the date in your
diary. President Rev'd Ian Hill, Rector of Buntingford, Preacher Rev'd Paul
Manuel, Vicar of St Mark's Leamington Spa, Coventry Diocese. Followed by
refreshments.
SUNDAY 19 JULY 10AM SERVICE OF CELEBRATION AND THANKSGIVING
please note this is an invitation only event.
WOOD -there is a pile of unwanted, used, old wood behind the Gordon Facer
room. Thank you to CMP & Oliver Randell for taking some away to recycle. If
anyone can use any of the rest for renewing raised beds, fence gravel posts or in
the garden-please help yourself to prevent it being disposed of by burning.
CANDLEMAS 6.30PM SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY - there is a special evening service
today in which the crib scene beneath the altar is closed and we celebrate the
light of Christ that now dwells within and with us in words and music. Please
come along. Tea afterwards.
What’s on This Week
Tuesday:
10.00am
2.30pm
Holy Communion at St Mary’s
Guild of Health Prayer Group at 6 Timbers Court
Wednesday:
10.30am
2.00pm
Holy Communion at St Nicholas
Outreach Sewing Afternoon at 60 Willoughby Road. All welcome (even if you
don’t want to sew!)
Thursday:
9.30am
Toddler Time in St Nicholas Church Hall
9.30am
Busy Bunnies in All Saints Church Hall
9.30am
Holy Communion at All Saints
Friday:
8.00am
Holy Communion at St Nicholas
Saturday:
10.30am
Holy Communion (1662) at St Nicholas
Sunday:
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple- Services and Preachers in the Parish
St Nicholas Church
8.00am
Holy Communion
9.30am
All-Age Eucharist
11.30am
6.30pm
Revd Canon Dennis Stamps (Rector)
St Nicholas School
Morning Praise
Choral Evensong
Revd Linda Williams (Associate Vicar, All Saints)
All Saints Church
9.00am
Communion Service
Revd Linda Williams (Associate Vicar, All Saints)
10.30am
Worship Service with Holy Communion
Revd Linda Williams
11.15am
Service at The Stewarts led by members of All Saints
St Mary’s Church
9.15am
Sung Eucharist
Jenny Goulding (Reader, St Mary’s)
11.00am
Morning Praise
Jenny Goulding
6.30pm
Readings:
Alternative Worship
Proverbs 8: 1, 22–31
Revd Becky Leach (Associate Vicar, St Mary’s)
Colossians 1 : 1-15
John1 : 1-14
To be a lively community connecting with God’s love in new and imaginative ways