01989 562175 administrator@rawchurch.org.uk rawchurch.org.uk

SERVICES NEXT WEEK

Thursday 11th May

10.00am Holy Communion - Ross

Sunday 14th May

8.00am Holy Communion - Ross

9.30am Sung Eucharist - Ross

9.30am Family Service - Walford

6.30pm Choral Evensong - Ross

Post Communion Prayer

Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus 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.

SERVICES TODAY

8.00am Holy Communion - Ross The Rev’d Colin Leggate

9.30am Sung Eucharist - Ross The Rev’d Sarah Jones and The Rev’d Canon Christopher Blanchard

Setting: Mass of St Cedd - Nardone

Introit: 357 All people that on earth do

dwell

Psalm: 23

Gradual: 653 Happy are they, they that love God Offertory: 671 I will sing the wondrous story Communion: The Lord is my Shepherd—Goodall Post Communion: 650 Great is thy faithfulness

9.30am Morning Prayer - Walford Dr Derek Glover

555 Peace perfect peace 654 The Lord’s my shepherd 35 A new commandment 74 Blessed assurance 186 For the healing of the nations

11.15am Café Church - Brampton Abbotts School The Rev’d Sarah Jones and The Rev’d Simon Tarlton

Please join us for coffee in St Mary’s Hall after the 9.30 service in Ross.

St Mary’s Sunday Kids will be running during the 9.30am Eucharist Service today

Thursday 18th May - the service at 10am will be Morning Prayer rather than Holy Communion

Paddle and Praise - for pre school children: 9.30am - 11.30am: Monday: 8th May, 5th June & 26th June

Paddle and Praise Plus - for children of school age: 3.30pm - 5.30pm: Tuesday 27th June

Please contact Wendy Alston for further information: mandwaton@btinternet.com or 01989 562959

May sees the annual ‘Feast of Consecration’ of our cathedral. Some churches know exactly on which date the church building was consecrated or ‘set apart’ by the bishop, for the worship of God. At Tewkesbury Abbey, where I used to minister, we know that the church was consecrated on 23 October 1121, in the presence of a large number of clergy and bishops, including the then bishop of Hereford, Richard de Capella.

Why do we give thanks for our church buildings in such a way? I think we recognise them as places where generations have glimpsed God – where our forebears have been baptized, married, buried and where the ‘sacrifice of praise’ has been offered up faithfully. The walls of our churches are literally ‘soaked’ with prayer and this makes them ‘thin’ places, where the pavement between heaven and earth is very slender. No wonder people fight for their church buildings – because they speak of the things of the spirit that we so need in our world today.

I like to see all our church buildings – however small – however humble - as places of pilgrimage. Each of us can do this – either in a group or as individuals. We can walk, or look around the church and use each of its parts or furnishings to inspire us to prayer:

The Rev’d Sarah Jones | 01989 562175 | sarah.jones@rawchurch.org.uk (not Tuesdays)

The Rev’d Chris Blanchard | 01989 762368 | frchris2@icloud.com (Sun - Wed)

-the font – give thanks for our baptism and confirmation, whenever that was – have we been faithful to our promises?

-the altar – give thanks for the times we have been sustained by Holy Communion – have we always tried to prepare ourselves before receiving?

-the church door – do we always seek to offer a welcome to all who come through it?

-the lectern – are we faithful in hearing and reading the scriptures?

-the pulpit – do we listen to and really act on the sermons we hear?

-the tombs around the walls – do we give thanks for all who have gone before us and ask their prayers?

Why not spend a little time in your own church soon – consecrating yourself afresh to God’s service and going on your own spiritual pilgrimage?

Michael Tavinor, Dean

This article has been edited. For the full version please see: www.hereford.anglican.org/latestnews/

7TH MAY 2017

Fourth Sunday of Easter

We offer a warm welcome to everyone at our services today

Newsletter The Benefice of Ross with Walford

and

Brampton Abbotts

rawchurch.org.uk

TODAY’S COLLECT Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father.

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading: Acts 2.42-47 Many were baptized and were added to the community. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2.19-25

Brothers and sisters: 19 It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 ‘He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ 23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have

been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel Reading: John 10.1-10

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.7 So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’

FOR YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:

We pray for those who are ill:

We pray for those who have died, and for their families:

Mervyn James, Emily Evans, Kenneth Tyler, Dorothy Dix, Teresa Harrison and Terry Donovan

NOTICES

St Mary’s weekly giving envelopes - the boxes of weekly giving envelopes will shortly be prepared. If anyone who uses them would prefer to give by Standing Order, would they please contact me to make the necessary arrangements. Thank you. Paul Eward Tel: 563845.

Contemplative Prayer Group - will meet at Freda's home on Wednesday 17th May at 11am. Do join us if you feel this form of quiet prayer is for you further information from Freda on 562366

A Diocesan Pentecost Event - with prayer, picnic and praise. On Sunday 4th June at 2.30pm onwards at Hereford Cathedral, bring and share picnic. Service at 3.30pm. Everyone Welcome.

Happy Birthday John Kyrle - As part of this event local primary school children will be taking part in a project led by Mark Sanderson using their computer skills to make films about John Kyrle. The children will be doing the work in and around St Mary's on Monday 15th May from 9-30 am - 2-45 pm and the films will be available to visitors to the event on May 21st and will then go on line afterwards. Would you like to help with this project? If so please contact either Mark or myself - there will be a training workshop for volunteers on May 9th from 1 pm - 4 pm. Do please get in touch if you can help. Freda. (Tel 562366)

St Mary’s Coffee Rota - We need another two people to help with the coffee after church. It is not arduous involving only three Sundays a year. If the allocated dates do not suit it is easy to swop with someone else on the rota. If you feel able to help please contact Sue Edwards 01989 769090 07751693479 suee869@gmail.com

Coffee and Cakes - Thank you very much to everyone who has been helping at ‘Coffee and Cakes’ on a Tuesday morning for the last few months. We have now stopped for the summer and will resume again towards the end of the year. Lindsay

The AGM for the Community Food Larder - will be held on Wednesday 17th May, 7pm at St Frances of Rome Church. All volunteers and supporters of the Larder and ‘Coffee and Cakes’ are very welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Lindsay

Open Gardens - The Friends of St Mary's Committee is looking for volunteers to help with the Open Gardens Event being held on Saturday June 24 and Sunday June 25 2017. There are two slots each day : 11.30-2.30 and 2.15 - 5.30pm.Eight volunteers needed for each slot. There is a list at the back of the church. Please add your name if you are willing to help. Tasks will be allocated according to age and ability!! Sue Edwards

Coffee On A Tuesday - at Wendy Alston’s home, Tuesday 23rd May 10.30am until midday 2 Green Meadows Hom Green Ross On Wye HR9 7RE

Flicks in the Sticks - A United Kingdom is a biographical romantic drama about Prince Seretse Khama, later to become the first president of Botswana, who causes a diplomatic stir when he marries a white woman from London in the late 1940s. Starring David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Tom Felton, Laura Carmichael, Jack Davenport, Charlotte Hope. Showing on Tuesday 9th May in St Mary’s church hall at 7.30pm. William

Piecemakers - meet in St Mary’s church hall at 2pm on Wednesday 10th May. Margaret Willis