Text Box: Sunday 5th March

First Sunday in Lent

 

Welcome on this first Sunday in Lent. Lent, a call

from God to each of us to meet him in our life

by dedication to prayer and spiritual inner growth.

                                         

                              “Return to the Lord your God, for

                                                        he is gracious and merciful…..

                                                        even now return to me with all your

                                                       heart.”  Joel. 2

                   

 

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Opening hymn   145  Forty Days and forty Nights

 

 

First Reading   Joel 2: 1-2,  12-17

 

Text Box: 1. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near - a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come. 12 Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain-offering and a drink-offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, 'Spare your people, o Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, "Where is their God?"'

 

 

                                                                                   Around the Gospel   61  Bless the Lord

 

Gospel : Luke 4: 1-13

 

Text Box: Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

 

 

                                                                                            Offertory Hymn: 36  O For a Heart

 
Communion / Eucharistic Prayer:
Sung responses can be found on page 8
If you would like to receive blessing at the altar rail you are very welcome, and if you
would like a special  prayer or a prayer for healing  please indicate that to the priest
when he comes to you

 

 

Communion hymn:    120 Father Hear the Prayer We Offer

(sung  quietly and prayerfully)

 

Text Box: Lord God, you refresh and renew us through your living spirit. May your spirit lead us to you, that we growing through Christian self discipline may have our spiritual hunger satisfied in Christ, who is the living bread of life. Through him who has called us by baptism to be his disciples, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

 

 

                                                                           Recessional hymn:   90 Come Down O Love Divine

 

 

 

 

 

Lent.  In lent there will be some time for us to reflect upon the booklet   ‘A Christian Pocket Guide to Islam,’ by Patrick Sookhdeo a Muslim convert to Christianity. The booklet is very short and accessible and will not only help our understanding of some of the problems in the world today, but also enhance and strengthen our Christian faith.

Dates: Wednesday,  10.00 at Ben and Anne’s home beginning  Wednesday 8th March. Please sign up at the back of the church if you are interested so that we know how many photocopiescopies of the book we need.

 

Bishop’s visit. Bishop David Hamid, assistant  Bishop of the Diocese of Europe, will be visiting St. John’s on Sunday 2nd April. Put this date in your diary and be sure to be here so that we can give him a good welcome.

 

Sunday Lunch. The next Sunday lunch will be on the third Sunday of the month as usual, 19th March.  Please sign on the list at the back of the church. Volunteers are needed to cook, recipes will be given and all expenses reimbursed

 

Christmas Cards. We would be grateful to receive your old Christmas cards for recycling next year.

 

A quiz supper  is being organized by Stuart in aid of the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. March 17th at Prassada in Montaroux. 18.30 Donation 10euros. Phone Sister Jean to reserve. 0494477426

 

Centenary Appeal. If you look at the thermometer at the back of the church you will see that the total is now 57000 euros. Thank you to everyone. Only 18000 euros to go!.

 

St. John’s Church                      The Reverend Canon Ben Eaton

                                                                                                              Avenue Paul Doumer

St Raphael                               04 94 40 48 61

www.sjevar.com                     revbeaton@aol.com