NOTICES The ANNUAL VESTRY MEETING and ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING are on Tuesday 28th April at 8.00 pm following Holy Communion at 7.15 pm. Guest speaker: Emma Woollon, Head Teacher of Bedmond School. Copies of the ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS are available at the back of church; a contribution towards the cost of printing would be appreciated or visit our website: www.abbotslangley.org.uk to view a copy. ELECTORAL ROLL - this is the membership list for St Lawrence and Bedmond - please speak to Pam if you would like a form to complete to become a member. PCC - there is three spaces for a PCC member and two spaces for Deanery Synod see list displayed. Order forms are available at the back of church if you wish to place an order for BEDDING PLANTS - completed orders should be returned by today (26th) to Jane McHugh or the church office, delivery of plants early May. Contact Jane McHugh on 2 6 4 2 8 0 o r e - m a i l : janemchugh123@btinternet.com for more information. GENERAL ELECTION HUSTINGS Thursday 30th April at 7.45 pm in the Methodist Church Hall. Come along and quiz your local candidates. If you wish to send a question in advance e-mail: derek.mclean@methodist.org.uk. This event is organised by CTAL. A series of SPRING CONCERTS in St Lawrence during May begins on Saturday 2nd May at 11.00 am; refreshments from 10.30 am. Tickets £5 each (children free) available on the door. See the handout for all concert dates and times. All proceeds towards the Organ Restoration Appeal. LIVING GOD’S LOVE - inside out! A diocesan roadshow to explore local mission at St Luke’s, Watford on Saturday 9th May. Find us and Like us on THE PARISH OF ABBOTS LANGLEY BEATING THE BOUNDS Sunday 10th May - Walking 11 miles (or parts of it) of the parish boundary - following the Second Sunday service - all welcome. CHRISTIAN AID WEEK (10th-16th May) - offers of help delivering and collecting envelopes would be appreciated. Please speak to Pam or phone the office 261795. OUTLOOK (church magazine - 40p) is available for May. Please take a copy. Come and hear the DAWN CHORUS in our churchyard on Saturday 2nd May at 5.00 am. An expert will help you to identify the birds from their songs. The walk around the churchyard lasts about an hour followed by refreshments in the hall. If you want to know more contact Carol 01923 678457. Churches Together has organised a QUIZ in aid of Christian Aid in St Saviour’s Parish Centre on Saturday 9th May, 7.00 for 7.30 pm. Tickets are £10 each to include fish and chips - tables of 8, so why not get a group together? Tickets from the church office (261795). FRIENDS’ OPEN GARDEN with BBQ and live MUSIC on Saturday 6th June in the Abbots House Garden from 11.30 am to 4.30 pm - see May Outlook for more details. CONTACT NUMBERS Vicar: The Revd Dr Jo Spreadbury 01923 263013 Curate: The Revd David Warner 01923 518262 Assistant Priest: The Revd Angela Milton 01923 519453 Assistant Priest: The Revd Guy Buckler via the Church Office Reader: Mrs Sally Sanderson 01923 265963 In an emergency please contact Jo or David directly at anytime, day or night, if someone needs the ministry of a priest. StLawrenceChurchAbbotsLangley and TheTinChurchBedmond St Lawrence the Martyr, Abbots Langley with the Church of the Ascension, Bedmond 26th April 2015 THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Vocation Sunday TODAY WELCOME 8.00 am President: Preacher: Reader: Holy Communion The Revd Jo Spreadbury Kate Carter David Staines Welcome to everyone at our worship today especially to visitors and newcomers - please introduce yourself if you are new or a visitor. 9.30 am President: Preacher: Hymns: Readers: Intercessions: Parish Communion with Seekers The Revd David Warner Kate Carter 76 - 490 - 26 - 325 - 117 - 422 Brian Peters and Sarah Reeve Sally Sanderson If you have been confirmed or usually receive Communion in your own church, please do so here. If not, you are welcome to come to the altar rail for a Blessing, and if you carry a book with you the priest will know not to offer you the bread and wine. 12.00 noon Baptism of Henry Marshall-Clarke 6.30 pm Leader: Evening Prayer The Revd David Warner SERVICES THIS WEEK Holy Communion 10.15 am Wednesday 7.00 pm Tuesday 9.30 am Friday (inc. Morning Prayer) Morning Prayer 9.30 am Monday to Friday Evening Prayer 5.15 pm Monday to Friday including prayers for peace on Monday and prayers for healing on Tuesday Prayer Extra 8.15 am Thursday: prayers for the parish and local community Please tell a sidesman before the service if you would like a gluten-free wafer. A T-loop is provided for hearing aid users. For our younger members at 9.30 am: Crèche - there is a room in the church hall with suitable toys (0-3 years) Seekers in the church hall (3-10 years) except Second Sundays (the Church Hall is at the end of the car park) Quiet Children’s Corner in Church Before the service, listen to God; and after the service, listen to each other. If you have come to the service at 9.30 am please stay for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat in the church hall. A collection is taken at each main service. (If you are a tax payer, please use a gift aid envelope.) This money is fundamental to the life of the church: its ministry, mission and charitable giving. You may notice that some people put nothing in the bag; this is because their giving is made by standing order. JustTextGiving - a new way to give - text STLA12 followed by the amount to 70070. www.abbotslangley.org.uk THE PRAYERS AND BIBLE READINGS FOR OUR PRAYERS THE COMING WEEK COLLECT: Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. GIVE THANKS FOR » Christ the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for you » the guidance of the Holy Spirit PRAY FOR » those who are persecuted for their faith » a greater confidence in God’s grace and the gospel » the peoples of Ukraine and Nigeria, Iraq and Syria, Palestine & Israel; and all seeking to end terror and conflict » Henry Marshall-Clarke who is being baptised today » those who worship at The Methodist Church » Messy Church and its leaders » those who live in Gypsy Lane, Halifax Close and Hamilton Road THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR IN NEED » Joyce Leadley : Owen Nelson : Bernard Besch : Tom Stuart : Ellis Haggith : Sally Lawrence : James Stevens : Lesley Durtnall : Chris : Michael Beadle : Beryl Russell : Christine Corners R.I.P. » Lorraine Potiuk : Alan Dicker : Jill Partridge MONDAY 27th 12.00 noon Bell Toll for World War I Soldier Charles Lewis England 12.00 noon Funeral of Alan Dicker at Bedmond Church followed by Cremation 3.30 pm Pastoral Assistants’ meeting in the Vicarage 7.30 pm Ringers’ practice TUESDAY 28th 10.15 am Tuesday Coffee in St Lawrence 7.15 pm Holy Communion 8.00 pm Annual Vestry Meeting followed by Annual Parochial Church Meeting in the church hall WEDNESDAY 29th Catherine of Siena, Teacher of FIRST READING Acts 4.5-12 Pew Bible page 117 Peter and John have just cured a crippled beggar and preached the resurrection of Jesus to the people. The high priests, annoyed and angered by their witness to the resurrection, arrest them and call them to account. Peter and John are firm in their faith that the power of the risen Christ is at work in the world: acting in his name they are filled with courage and the ability to bring healing. SECOND READING 1 John 3.16-end Pew Bible page 237 Love is the evidence for the resurrection, the evidence for life under the new covenant. The Christian life should be marked by love, not by enmity and selfishness. This love must be active, not hypothetical: it must be evident in real, concrete situations. Love is self-giving and selfless. The example we follow and into which we grow is the love of Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for us. GOSPEL John 10.11-18 Pew Bible page 100 Drawing on the imagery of the Old Testament, where wayward kings and leaders of Israel are referred to as bad shepherds, Jesus depicts himself as the Good Shepherd. Far from the comforting pastoral scenes of religious art and stained glass, this is a shepherd who will die for the sake of his sheep, who will give his life that they might live. POST COMMUNION PRAYER: 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. READINGS NEXT SUNDAY Acts 8.26-end 1 John 4.7-end John 15.1-8 AVAILABILITY Jo - day off: Friday David - day off: Thursday Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus A prayer for Vocation Sunday Almighty God, you have entrusted to your Church a share in the ministry of your Son our great high priest: inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many to offer themselves for the ministry of your Church, that strengthened by his power, they may work for the increase of your kingdom and set forward the eternal praise of your name; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. **** Amongst the charities we support financially and with our prayers, this week we pray for the work of the CRISIS. Since 2010 there has been a rise of 55% in the number of people sleeping rough in the UK. You are encouraged to ask your local General Election candidate if he/she is supporting the “No one turned away” campaign. The next government will be called upon to review the help which single homeless people receive. Homeless people are eligible to vote in the General Election even if they do not have a permanent address, but this fact is generally not known. Crisis has set up a “Register to vote” campaign to highlight this and help homeless people to complete the necessary paperwork. Various events are upcoming, amongst them the Crisis Square Mile Relay in London on 4th June and the Ride London bike ride on 2nd August. You can support these by sponsoring participants or by attending. Also do remember our local charities helping the homeless, such as New Hope in Watford. the Faith, 1380 10.15 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Carers’ Network in the Methodist hall THURSDAY 30th 8.15 am Prayers for the local community 7.45 pm General Election Hustings in the Methodist Church hall FRIDAY 1st Philip and James, Apostles 9.30 am Morning Prayer with Holy Communion 10.00 am Heart for Abbots Langley Coffee in the Henderson Hall 6.15 pm Youth Choir SATURDAY 2nd Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith, 373 5.00 am Dawn Chorus in St Lawrence Churchyard 9.30 am Churchyard Working Party 11.00 am Spring Concerts in St Lawrence begin with Tom Winpenny 7.00-8.30 pm District Ringers in St Lawrence followed by meeting NEXT SUNDAY THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 3rd May 2015 8.00 am Holy Communion President & Preacher: The Revd Angela Milton 9.30 am Parish Communion with Seekers President: The Revd David Warner Preacher: The Revd Angela Milton 11.00 am Holy Communion at Bedmond followed by congregational meeting President & Preacher: The Revd Jo Spreadbury 12.30 pm Sunday Lunch Club 6.30 pm Choral Evensong