Sunday 27th June            

 

 

This week I was part of the officiating clergy

at the service of remembrance for the dead and

missing with the Bishop of Toulon ,and President

Sarkosy It was a moving experience, gathering

 the sentiments of the nation with all those who

had suffered

At St John’s last week we collected 460 Euros. Of course so much is needed for those who have lost everything.  The Red Cross, Secours Catholic and others have been at the forefront of helping. If you would like to help please speak to Elizabeth this morning.

 

Welcome everyone to our time of prayer, reflection and worship.

We thank our friend Paul Topham who is our preacher this morning.

 

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep

in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5: 25

 

 

 

Opening  Hymn:  197 For the Fruits of his Creation

 

 

Epistle Reading: Galatians 5: 1,  13-25

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbour as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

 

 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

 

 

Hymn: 300  In the Lord

 

Gospel  Reading:  Luke 9: 51-62

 

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

He said to another man, "Follow me."

But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

 

Offertory Hymn:   268  Gracious Spirit

 
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

      

  

Hymn During Communion:  16 All I Once Held Dear

                                                          sung quietly and prayerfully

Prayer

 

Lord Jesus Christ pour into our hearts, minds, wills, the gifts of the Spirit, that we might be ever more empowered and inspired to live out our lives as your disciples, and so to reflect your compassion in all we are, to the Father’s glory. Amen

 

 

Recessional Hymn: 463 Lord Jesus Christ

 

 

Please take your pew sheet home with you and leave your hymn book  and service book in your seat. Please do stay for refreshments in the side aisle.

 

 

Sunday 11th July Summer Bring and Share Lunch in Anne and Ben’s garden. Bring a delicious main course, or a salad but not pasta, or a delectable dessert.  

Please do bring your chair.

 

Sunday 18th July we will welcome the choir from Gwyr School, Swansea, South Wales who will sing at the morning service. They sang for us in 2005 and were much appreciated by everyone.

 

Paella Party. Friday 3rd September.

Please note the new date for  Margery’s paella party that had to be cancelled in June because of the storms

 

Summer Concert Sunday 22nd August 18.00

Joan Leroy accompanied by Evabritt Grate on the violin, and Lucien Meynard on the clarinet will be giving another of their superb concerts here at St John’s. Please do plan to come.

 

Planned Giving. St John’s is totally self supporting because we receive no financial assistance from outside sources and are very grateful for your offering on a Sunday.

We would like you to consider joining the planned giving scheme so that the church can count on a regular income and budget more effectively This has considerable tax advantages. If you are a UK tax payer we are able to claim back 28p for every pound you give from the inland  revenue. If you are a French taxpayer you can claim back more than 50% of your giving on your tax declaration.

Peter Rowson will be happy to explain how all this works. Please do ask him.

 

 

St. John’s Church                      The Reverend Canon Ben Eaton

             Avenue Paul Doumer                 04 94  95 45 78

              www.sjevar.com                         beneaton@orange.fr