Holy Communion Oct 25th APCM Service

Welcome to our APCM Service.

Welcome to our APCM Service.

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 835 5621 1775

Passcode: 489409

 

We meet in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

 

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

pour down your Spirit upon us and your whole church.

Grant us a new vision of your glory,

a new experience of your power,

a new faithfulness to your word,

a new consecration to your service,

that through our renewed witness your holy name may be glorified

and your kingdom advanced

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Vestry Meeting

1. Election of Clerk (John)
2. Previous Minutes

1. Minutes from 24^th March 2019 Vestry Meeting

1. 1.     Opening prayer

   2.     Election of Clerk - John Franks was elected as Clerk for a 1-year term (2019-2020)

   3.     Reviewed and approved the minutes from the 22^nd April 2018 Vestry Meeting –

   a.     Opening prayer

   b.     John Franks was elected as Clerk for a 1-year term (2018–2019)

   c.     Minutes from the previous year’s Vestry Meeting were reviewed and approved

   d.     Pam Haylings was elected unanimously as Churchwarden for a 1-year term (2018-2019)

   4.     Nomination and Election of Churchwarden for a 1-year term (2019—2020) - Antoinette Nyandwi was elected unanimously 

   
   
2. Appointment of Churchwarden

Song: 10,000 Reasons  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSxocnIaN0A

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Saying Sorry to God:

Father God you have promised to hear us when we call to you.

Lord, we confess our sins

Keep your promise and forgive us, we pray.

For the times when we have hurt others through the words we have said,

Lord we confess our sins.

Keep your promise and forgive us, we pray.

For the times when our actions have been harmful and not loving,

Lord we confess our sins.

Keep your promise and forgive us, we pray.

For the times when we have forgotten you and ignored your commands,

Lord we confess our sins.

Keep your promise and forgive us, we pray.

May the God of grace,

who loves all that he has made,

and in Christ welcomes home all who come to him,

heal your brokenness,

forgive you your sins

and return you to a life of justice, mercy and simplicity.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Song: Bind us together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuhIBLp5aHM

Annual Parish Church Meeting

Apologies

Minutes from 24^th March 2019 APCM

1.     Present & Apologies

2.     Minutes of the previous Annual Parochial Church Meeting for St Catherine’s, 24th April 2018 - Approved and carried unanimously

a.     Matters Arising – none

b.     John Franks, the Electoral Roll Officer, reported that the total on the electoral roll is 31.

c.     Treasurer’s Report was presented by Helen Tebbatt

d.     Fabric and Churchwarden’s Reports were given by Antoinette Nyandwi

e.     Deanery Synod and PCC Secretary’s Reports were presented by John Franks

f.       Election of John Franks as Electoral Roll Officer for a 1-year term (2019-2020)

g.     Election of PCC Members for 3-year terms (2019-2022) – Sandra Davidson, Tope Idowu, Karen Jenkins, Rob Tebbatt, Faith Yusuf, and Melisa Waithera

h.     Election of Sides People for 1-year term (2019-2020) – John Franks, Karen Jenkins, Rob Tebbatt

3.     Minister’s Report was presented by the Rev’d Buff Forbes Stone

Reports

Electoral Roll report 

Our current electoral roll is 33, up two from the previous year. Of those, 22 live inside the parish and 11 live outside the parish.

Secretary’s report of PCC activities

Finance

(appointment of independent external examiner)

Elections to:

Electoral Roll Officer

PCC Pauline Machokoto

Welcomers (sidespeople) 

Bible Reading Psalm 90

 O Lord, you have always been our home.
² Before you created the hills
    or brought the world into being,
    you were eternally God,
    and will be God forever.

³ You tell us to return to what we were;
    you change us back to dust.
⁴ A thousand years to you are like one day;
    they are like yesterday, already gone,
    like a short hour in the night.
⁵ You carry us away like a flood;
    we last no longer than a dream.
We are like weeds that sprout in the morning,
⁶     that grow and burst into bloom,
    then dry up and die in the evening.

 

¹³ How much longer will your anger last?
    Have pity, O Lord, on your servants!
¹⁴ Fill us each morning with your constant love,
    so that we may sing and be glad all our life.
¹⁵ Give us now as much happiness as the sadness you gave us
    during all our years of misery.
¹⁶ Let us, your servants, see your mighty deeds;
    let our descendants see your glorious might.
¹⁷ Lord our God, may your blessings be with us.
    Give us success in all we do!

 This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

 Song: For I’m building a People of Power https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAVdz4a7s6s 

 Bible Reading: Matthew 22.34-40

 ³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, ³⁵ and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. ³⁶ “Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. ³⁹ The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ ⁴⁰ The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

 Minister’s report:

Our vision for the next 5 years is to grow as a multicultural church

where we experience God’s love,

express his love in action

and share his love with the people of

Stoke Aldermoor, New Century Park

and beyond!

Today we have to do some mental gymnastics. We actually looking back on what happened- what God has done for us as a church in 2019. That may well seem a very long time ago.

 Firstly we need to look back and say “Thank you”- Thank you to God for everything that we received.

 

The most obvious thing is our wonderful new building and the fantastic opening service we had in Oct 2019. It is such a great gift to us and to be shared with all our community. And we had great support from the central church, the diocese, John Scouller and our builders Mayway.

Next, we need to remember all that happened in our buildings!

We have heard already about many of the activities that meet week by week which are good things themselves.

We need to say “thank you” to everyone who makes all those things happen.

So there are formal “thank you”s in the report (available on line or in the building) but please let’s just stop and give ourselves a huge round of applause.

We are a team and a family together here and everyone’s contribution is valued.

 

But these things are all part of our overarching vision- that we grow as a multicultural church where we experience God’s love.

So we’re also remembering how God has met with us as a community here and where we have met with others or on our own at home – in small groups, in our youth events and holidays, in worship throughout the seasons. You might want to post in our whatsapp after the service- what God has done for you in 2019 so we can remember and give thanks together.

 

We’re challenged, too, to think about the ways we have shared all that we have received with others. I’m particularly proud that St Catherine’s has support IBBA Girls’ School and Pastor Albert in Djembering, the outdoor Nativity celebrations but also the week by week meeting with children, families and young people, our afternoon tea team, and the small group bible studies that have sprung up.

Though this is a service where the focus is on looking back, we also look forward. And that might seem particularly hard at the present time.

Our Bible readings today are the ones set for this week but they seem to be really appropriate. Let’s just glance back to the Psalm.

The first part contrasts God’s eternal nature with how fragile humans are. We might feel that acutely right now. We are tossed about by COVID, politics, the weather and seem to have no control. But God is always, there has always been, will always be.

And the psalmist  cries out to God- give us the blessings we had before!

Psalm both speak to us – telling us things we need to know about God but also speak for us- we can use their words to shout out to God our anger or distress, confusion or pain, knowing that he will hear us.

 

But I wonder what God would say to us in these uncertain times. It’s important to look back to last year, as we can see just how good God has been to us.

However our gospel reading also gives us a framework for moving forward. When we really don’t know what’s coming next; when nothing we’re had before feels like this, then we focus on our central vision and message. Our vision…

             Our vision for the next 5 years is to grow as a multicultural church

where we experience God’s love,

express his love in action

and share his love with the people of

Stoke Aldermoor, New Century Park

and beyond!

…expresses it one way. The gospel reading reminds us too:

 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. ³⁹ The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’

 

Looking back encourages, helps us be thankful, gives us perspective- it won’t always be like this. Looking forward, we focus on the main task. And leave the worrying to God.

The Creed:

Let us declare our faith in God.

 

We believe in God the Father,

from whom every family

in heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son,

who lives in our hearts through faith,

and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,

who strengthens us

with power from on high.

We believe in one God;

Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Our Prayers Led by Julie

 Our Prayers are based on the 5 marks of mission- the 5 ‘T’s.

Tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure…

1. Tell

Lord you have called us to proclaim your gospel throughout the world. We pray for our own outreach- we pray for the work of Keith and Ally and their partners in Christ at WEC….and also the girls and all who work at Ibba Girls school in South Sudan….

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our prayer

2. Teach

Loving Father you have given us your story in the bible- it is a story we too are a part of. Bless all those who teach from your word- that they may be blessed with the gift of listening to your Holy Spirit and discerning what may be your message for your people of today. We pray for our ministers and all who teach here at St Catherine’s. We ask your blessing on Keith and Pauline’s Bible study group, that they may hear your word afresh in their hearts and help others to find their part in your story.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our prayer

3. Tend

Lord you called your church to serve her community- to look for ways in which we can bring in the good news of the kingdom. We pray for all our efforts in bringing community together especially thinking of our Afternoon Tea group. We thank you for the blessing of friendship- for new relationships formed and growing. Lord, let us show your love by being the heart that beats in this community.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our prayer

4. Transform

Lord, you came into our world- born into poverty, born in a stable. We pray that this church will always be proactive in responding to those in need. We pray for all who give their time to helping at our Foodbank here on a Monday. We give you thanks for all the initiatives that have been followed through during this time of pandemic, for the opportunities to come together as a community and help those in need. We continue to pray for the work of S.A.S.A.P-the Stoke Aldermoor Social Action Partnership and our own relationships with the school and the Life Centre.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our prayer

5. Treasure

Creator God we pray for our planet. We thank you that during the lockdown, many people started to re-engage with nature again- to see the wonders of your creation as the world stopped to look and listen. We pray that we may use the earth’s resources wisely, re-cycling where we can. We continue to pray for those who work hard to conserve all that is precious in your sight.

Lord Jesus we pray for the greatest treasure of all, for our children and for all the work the church is involved in to help nurture and grow them in love of you. We pray for our Youth café that our young people will once again enjoy and thrive in their friendships with one another. We pray for our children’s groups- for GLU and the Toy Library we have just started. In these ever changing troubling times keep our young ones safe Lord.

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers

For the sake of your Son

Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace

 

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

 

Song: Lord I lift your name on high https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COQ6cni_TG8

 

Holy Communion

 

The Lord be with you

and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

Almighty God, good Father to us all,

your face is turned towards your world.

In love you gave us Jesus your Son

to rescue us from sin and death.

Your Word goes out to call us home

to the city where angels sing your praise.

We join with them in heaven's song

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might

Heaven and earth are full of your glory

Hosanna in the highest

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

Hosanna in the highest

Father of all, we give you thanks

for every gift that comes from heaven.

To the darkness Jesus came as your light.

With signs of faith and words of hope

he touched untouchables with love and washed the guilty clean.

This is his story.

This is our song:

Hosanna in the highest.

The crowds came out to see your Son,

yet at the end they turned on him.

On the night he was betrayed

he came to table with his friends

to celebrate the freedom of your people.

This is his story.

This is our song:

Hosanna in the highest.

Jesus blessed you, Father, for the food;

he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:

This is my body, given for you all.

Jesus then gave thanks for the wine;

he took the cup, gave it and said:

This is my blood, shed for you all

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in remembrance of me.

This is our story.

This is our song:

Hosanna in the highest.

Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup

we celebrate the cross

on which he died to set us free.

Defying death he rose again

and is alive with you to plead for us and all the world.

This is our story.

This is our song:

Hosanna in the highest.

Send your Spirit on us now

that by these gifts we may feed on Christ

with opened eyes and hearts on fire.

May we and all who share this food

offer ourselves to live for you

and be welcomed at your feast in heaven

where all creation worships you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many we are one body because we all share in one bread.

Jesus, Lamb of God

have mercy on us.

Jesus bearer of our sins,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

grant us peace.

Draw near with faith.

Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ

which he gave for you,

and his blood which he shed for you.

Eat and drink

in remembrance that he died for you,

and feed on him in your hearts

by faith with thanksgiving.

Song during Communion

O Praise the Name https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYdGxKkAwlM

Prayer of Spiritual Communion

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,

for all the benefits you have given me,

for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,

I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,

may I know you more clearly,

love you more dearly,

and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen

The Blessing

The peace of God,

which passes all understanding,

keep your hearts and minds

in the knowledge and love of God,

and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Final Song: My God is able https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2MoUW78Auk

 

Notices

Birthdays

The Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.