ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
HARVEST THANKSGIVING
Sunday, 7TH October 2012
Vicky is taking the service and preaching today
Children in Church - The family service is for all ages so do encourage your child to engage with what is going on. But if it is helpful there are busy bags by the south door for little children to use during the service. There is no children’s corner area today because of the harvest lunch.
OPENING HYMN 534
We plough the fields, and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand:
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes, and the sunshine,
and soft, refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
for all his love.
He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the winds and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread.
All good gifts...
We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
for all thy love imparts,
and, what thou most desirest,
our humble thankful hearts.
All good gifts...
Matthias Claudius (1740-1815) trans Jane Montgomery Campbell 1817-78 alt
THE COLLECT
Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
THE READING Matthew 6.25-33
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
HYMN 505
Think of a world without any flowers,
think of a world without any trees,
think of a sky without any sunshine,
think of the air without any breeze.
We thank you, Lord,
for flow'rs and trees and sunshine,
we thank you, Lord,
and praise your holy name.
Think of a world without any animals,
think of a field without any herd,
think of a stream without any fishes,
think of a dawn without any bird.
We thank you, Lord,
for all your living creatures,
we thank you, Lord,
and praise your holy name.
Think of a world without any people,
think of a street with no-one living there,
think of a town without any houses,
no-one to love and nobody to care.
We thank you, Lord, for families and friendships,
we thank you, Lord, and praise your holy name.
Doreen Newport (b. 1927)
Harvest offering prayer
Dear God,
Accept these gifts we offer
to nourish our brothers and sisters
And may our whole lives
Give you praise and glory
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
During the next hymn a collection is taken. If you are a UK tax payer you can donate by Gift Aid and for every £1 you give, St John's gets an extra 25p. Please put your donation in one of the Gift Aid envelopes in the back of the seats, adding your name and address. If you would like to give regularly by Gift Aid please see Jo Need.
Thank you very much for your support.
OFFERTORY HYMN 101
Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest-home!
All is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God’s own temple, come;
raise the song of harvest-home!
We ourselves are God’s own field,
fruit unto his praise to yield;
wheat and tares together sown,
unto joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear:
grant, O harvest Lord, that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.
For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take his harvest home;
from his field shall purge away
all that doth offend, that day;
give his angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast,
but the fruitful ears to store
in his garner evermore.
Then, thou Church triumphant, come,
raise the song of harvest-home;
all be safely gathered in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there for ever purified
in God’s garner to abide:
come, ten thousand angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest-home!
Henry Alford (1810-1871)
FINAL HYMN 202
Have you heard the raindrops
drumming on the rooftops?
Have you heard the raindrops
dripping on the ground?
Have you heard the raindrops
splashing in the streams
and running to the rivers all around?
There's water, water of life
Jesus gives us the water of life;
there's water, water of life,
Jesus gives us the water of life.
There's a busy worker
digging in the desert,
digging with a spade
that flashes in the sun;
soon there will be water
rising in the well-shaft,
spilling from the bucket as it comes.
Nobody can live
who hasn't any water,
when the land is dry
then nothing much grows;
Jesus gives us life
if we drink the living water,
sing it so that ev'rybody knows.
Christian Strover
FOR YOUR PRAYERS
Please pray for those who are ill, among them John Robey, Zac Power, Angela Wickham, Marjorie Oliver, Pauline Whitfield, Enid Johnson, Terry Lines, Doreen Tulley, Dawn Hillier, David Lines.
And for those who have died.
There is a special prayer area in the north aisle side chapel just past the children’s corner. Do write any requests for prayers for situations or people on a slip of paper and pin it to the prayer board there. All requests will be remembered at our weekday evening services. You can also light a candle there.
CHILDREN'S SAFETY IN CHURCH
We are always pleased to welcome children into our church. We wish their experience to be enjoyable and safe but our buildings and grounds contain obvious and hidden hazards. Parents and carers remain responsible for thesafety of their children or wards at all times whilst on our premises. Please ensure they are safe.
ST JOHN'S NOTICES AND NEWS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
OCTOBER
Sat 13 St John's Barn Dance
Sun 21st Older children’s pizza party 5-6pm (year 5+)
NOVEMBER
Sun 4th Joint Service at All Saints 9.30am – no
morning service at St John’s
All Souls Service 6.00pm
Fri 9th Coffee Cafe 9.00-11.30
Sun 11th Remembrance Sunday
Sat 17th Spectacular Spectacular!
Sat 24th Winter Wonderland Bazaar
LITTLE GROOVERS: The parents/carers/toddlers and babies group meets this Tuesday in the church from 9.45–11.15 am.£1.50 per family.
CAN YOU FILL A SHOEBOX FOR CHRISTMAS? Would you be able to fill a shoebox for a family or elderly person in Romania to receive at Christmas time? If you would like to know more, Isobel has leaflets which explains what is needed. The deadlinefor bringing filled boxes to church will be Sunday 28 October, and school shoeboxes will need to be handed in before half term (26 October). Every gift is really appreciated by the receivers.
ANY THOUGHTS ON OUR SERVICES? We are forming a group to review our services and service booklets. Would you be interesting in being on it? It would be particularly good to have feedback from new members. Speak to Vicky if you are interested.
WINTER WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
SATURDAY 24th NOVEMBER – 12.00-3.00pm
It will soon be here! Would you be able to help on a stall or any other way for part of the time? We would like to start collecting things for the stalls and would be pleased to receive home-made preserves, good toys, bottles, sweets, jewellery, gifts, books, DVDs and CDs and christmas gift wrapping paper. Also, is there something you could offer to the legendary SILENT AUCTION? There is a list at the back of the church today for you to say how you can help and there will be a table to receive the items you bring from next Sunday. THANK YOU. Would you like to join the group? New members most welcome. E-mail/speak to Mimi.
Epilepsy Research UK are looking for volunteers to help in the Cards for Good Causes charity Christmas card shop at All Saints one morning or afternoon per week from mid-Oct to mid-Dec. If you’d like to help speak to Vicky for more info.
Thank you to everyone who organised and supported the ONE COMMUNITY ONE WEEK fundraiser. So far £1,600 has been collected and envelopes are still coming in...
Thanks also to everyone who organised and supported the Bollywood Night which raised £1,400 for the regeneration and the Macmillan coffee morning which raised £300 for the charity.
Older Children’s Pizza Party All children year 5 and above are invited to the church on Sunday 21st October between 5-6pm for Pizza and to chat to Jay, a youth worker, about what things they would like to see happening at St John’s for older children and young people. Let Vicky know if your child can come.
CONTACTS FOR ST JOHN'S
Vicar: Revd Vicky Maunder
Tel: 020 8546 9882
Vicky works Wednesdays, Thursdays andSundays.
Administrator: Frances Hazelgrove Tel: 07952085661
Churchwardens: Mimi Fagan: Tel: 07764 188653
Pat Lines: Tel.: 020 8546
ALL SAINTS
Kingston
Upcoming dates
11 Oct / Discussion re Same Sex Marriage14 Oct / Harvest Festival Family Service
2 Nov / All Souls Eucharist 6 pm
4 Nov / Joint family service for All Saints 9.30 am
A discussion about the Church’s response to Government Proposals for the marriage of same sex couples
On Thursday 11th October at 7.30pm we will host a discussion at All Saints to explore the issue and consider the Church’s response. A leaflet with more information is available by the doors. All are welcome.
Surrey Savers
Surrey Savers is a Credit Union which helps people who might not otherwise have access to greatly needed credit to take small loans responsibly. To be able to do this, like any bank, they need people to save with them. It is fully regulated by the FSA. If you might be willing to start saving in a small way with Surrey Savers they will give a modest rate of interest and use the capital to help those in difficulty. For more details go to or call 0844 406 0984.
Cards for Good Causes – volunteers wanted
If you would like to help staff the shop, which is here from mid October to Christmas, please contact the organiser, Sue Anstey on 020 8330 1893 or Volunteers for Saturdays are particularly needed.
Be a friend of the National Churches Trust (NCT)
The NCT (who do great work looking after historic churches) have given us £10,000 and are asking that we try to find people willing to be a "Friend" (£30 per year). If you're interested please speak to Jonathan.
Kingston FOODBANK ....
...helps those who don’t have enough to eat. Please take donations to participating churches around Kingston Borough. Ask Jonathan for details.
Church office:
Tel 020 8546 5964
Development office:
Tel 020 8439 1843
Rector: Rev Jonathan Wilkes Tel: 020 3132 8717
ST JOHN the BAPTIST
Kingston Vale
ALL SOULS SERVICE
Sunday November 4th
Service of prayer and music at 6.30pm
If you would like someone included in this service, please add their name to the sheet at the back of church.
St John’s AUTUMN FAIR
20th October
Are you interested in taking part in the Pumpkin/Squash competition to be held during the Autumn Fair? open to children and adults, entry forms at the back of church.
Service 21 October
A speaker from the Joel Community Homelessness Charity will be speaking at the above service.
KINGSTON INTER FAITH FORUM
An opportunity to explore the role of religion and spirituality in the City of London - Wednesday 17 October
The event will involve visits to two places that provide a fascinating insight into the history and contemporary expression of religious belief in the heart of London, the Bevis Marks Synagogue and the Saint Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.
Introductory presentations will be followed by opportunities for questions and the chance to explore these two inspirational buildings. Tea and coffee will be provided.
The day is being organised by the Kingston Inter Faith Forum, which works to promote the exploration of faith and spirituality amongst all people in Kingston.
The visit is open to people of all faiths and none.
Cost: £10, payable on the day (cash only please) to cover the costs of the visits and refreshments. You will also need a one day travelcard and a packed lunch.
Travel arrangements: Meet in the ticket office of Kingston Station at 9.30am. We will be catching the 9.49am train. The event will end at approximately 3.00pm.
To register your interest, please contact:
The Revd Andrew Williams, Vice Chair of the Kingston Inter Faith Forum:
See poster at the back of Church