PARISH OF ESHER CHRIST CHURCH, ESHER with ST GEORGE’S, WEST END SHARING THE POWER OF GOD’S LOVE IN ESHER Reconciling - Sustaining - Guiding - Healing THIRD SUNDAY BEFORE LENT 12 FEBRUARY 2017

WELCOME TO OUR SERVICES THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY If you are new to the parish or Eternal God, worshipping with us for the first time whose Son went among the crowds please introduce yourselves to a and brought healing with his touch: member of the clergy or one of our help us to show his love, churchwardens or sidespeople. This in your Church as we gather together, sheet gives some words that will be and by our lives as they are needed in the services and notices about transformed into the image of Christ the life of the church communities. our Lord. Please do take it home. Amen TODAY’S SERVICES 8.00am Holy Communion at READING Deuteronomy 30.15-end Christ Church led by Nate See, I have set before you today life and 9.00am Sung Communion at St George’s prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey led by David and Nate Reading Peter Bedford the commandments of the Lord your God & Prayers that I am commanding you today, by loving Chalice Stephen Lee the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and 10.30am Parish Communion at Christ Church led by David with Nate observing his commandments, decrees, and Churchwarden Sandra Argent ordinances, then you shall live and become Sides Peggy Howell-Jones, numerous, and the Lord your God will bless Jane or Alex Sladen, you in the land that you are entering to Wendy Tanqueray Reading Stewart Henderson possess. But if your heart turns away and you Prayers Alex Sladen do not hear, but are led astray to bow down Chalice Pam Stark to other gods and serve them, I declare to MUSIC you today that you shall perish; you shall not Anthem O for a closer walk with God live long in the land that you are crossing the (Stanford) 9.00am Sung Communion Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven Hymns 296, 425, 270 and earth to witness against you today that I 10.30am All Age Service have set before you life and death, blessings Hymns 175, 296, 425, 270 and curses. Choose life so that you and your Keith Howell-Jones, Stuart Organists descendants may live, loving the Lord your Whatton God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. PSALM 119.1-8 and you will be thrown into prison. Truly 1 Happy are those whose way is I tell you, you will never get out until you blameless, who walk in the law of the have paid the last penny. ‘You have Lord. heard that it was said, “You shall not 2 Happy are those who keep his commit adultery.” But I say to you that decrees, who seek him with their whole everyone who looks at a woman with heart, lust has already committed adultery with 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his her in his heart. If your right eye causes ways. you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; 4 You have commanded your precepts it is better for you to lose one of your to be kept diligently. members than for your whole body to 5 O that my ways may be steadfast in be thrown into hell. And if your right keeping your statutes! hand causes you to sin, cut it off and 6 Then I shall not be put to shame, throw it away; it is better for you to lose having my eyes fixed on all your one of your members than for your commandments. whole body to go into hell. ‘It was also 7 I will praise you with an upright heart, said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him when I learn your righteous ordinances. give her a certificate of divorce.” But I 8 I will observe your statutes; do not say to you that anyone who divorces his utterly forsake me. wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and GOSPEL Matthew 5.21-37 whoever marries a divorced woman ‘You have heard that it was said to those commits adultery. ‘Again, you have of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; heard that it was said to those of ancient and “whoever murders shall be liable to times, “You shall not swear falsely, but judgement.” But I say to you that if you carry out the vows you have made to the are angry with a brother or sister, you Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at will be liable to judgement; and if you all, either by heaven, for it is the throne insult a brother or sister, you will be of God, or by the earth, for it is his liable to the council; and if you say, “You footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. city of the great King. And do not swear So when you are offering your gift at the by your head, for you cannot make one altar, if you remember that your brother hair white or black. Let your word be or sister has something against you, “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more leave your gift there before the altar and than this comes from the evil one. go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard,

PARISH NOTICES Lent course - Lent is a time when Christians are encouraged to devote time to learning. We invite you to join our Lent course on Wednesday 8, 15, 22 March, Tuesday 28 March and Wednesday 5 April at 10.30am - 12 noon. If there is sufficient interest we may also run an evening and/or Saturday morning course. The course will either be on exploring science and religion or questions of faith (e.g., why does God allow suffering, and hence be around the area of Christian apologetics). Please sign up if interested or contact Stefan. Many thanks. Request for Prayer & Notification of Breakfast Meeting - About a third of our PCC will be stepping down this year after six faithful years of service - which we hope to recognise in due course. More information to follow, but I would like to begin by asking the community to join me in prayer for our preparations to renew our PCC and for God to be preparing the hearts and minds of people to join us to share in the leadership of this community please. To this end, may I invite you to join us for a prayer breakfast 8.30 - 9.30 am on Saturday 25 February at Cafe Menta in Esher High Street. Many thanks. Lent Prayer Course - We are putting together a Lent Prayer course, similar to our popular Advent Prayer course. Once again it will be email based and suitable for all ages (including families) with an email sent each week based on a particular Lent theme with prayer starters and activities. We can provide a paper version for those without email. If you’d like to take part, please sign up at the back of the church, or email [email protected] Cross-making for Lent - To compliment the Lent prayer course, we are holding a cross- making morning on Saturday 25 February, 10am-12 noon at Christ Church. Throughout the Lent Prayer course your cross will work with the course activities and as a prayer aid. To ensure we have enough materials please sign up at the back of the Church or email [email protected]. We will be asking for a small £3 donation to cover costs. If you are unable to come on the day please let us know so someone can make your cross for you. Ladies Night - Please join the ladies of Esher Parish for a Ladies Night Out on Thursday 23 February from 8pm at The Bear. We hope to see you there. Ladies Day, Saturday 25 March - For all ladies, the Diocesan Health & Wellbeing Adviser, Suzette Jones, will be running an introduction to 'Mindfulness: a Christian Perspective' with techniques to reduce stress and be more aware and present in our lives. Join us for an afternoon of peaceful relaxation, fun, chocolate, cake and bubbles too! Whether mum or not, what better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than a few hours of YOU time! The session takes place at Christ Church, 2.30-5.30pm, Saturday 25 March. Tickets £5. For more details please contact Becky Warner at [email protected]. First Communion Course - We will be running a First Communion Course for children Yr 4 upwards. It is a four session course, every Wednesday, 1 - 22 March, at 3.30pm at Esher Church School. Children will be invited to receive communion on Sunday 26 March at the 10.30am service. For information or to sign-up contact Nate at [email protected]. Parish Office closed - The office will be closed Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 February inclusive. Please stay for coffee or tea after the service. PLEASE PRAY FOR Those who are ill: Dr Margaret Williams, Keith Pask, Lady Sheila Frame, David Gerrard RIP Anniversaries: Sheila Hayne, Eric Williams BIBLE READINGS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD Taken from the Church of England Lectionary - readings for Morning Prayer (MP) are said at the times below. All are welcome to join Nate and Stefan in daily prayer at Christ Church. February Time Reading Monday 13 Ecclesiastes 1; Ps 44; John 17.1-5 Tuesday 14 Ecclesiastes 2; Ps 48; John 17.6-19 Wednesday 15 Ecclesiastes 3.1-15; Ps 119.57-80; John 17.20-end Thursday 16 Ecclesiastes 3.16-4; Ps 57, John 18.1-11 Friday 17 Ecclesiastes 5; Ps 51; John 18.12-27 LOOKING AHEAD February Time Event Sunday 12 6.00pm Youth Group, All Saints Weston Green Tuesday 14 All day Parish Office closed (14-16 Feb) Wednesday 15 12.30pm Music on the Green Concert: Duo Folclore Thursday 16 All day Stefan at meeting, Salisbury Friday 17 All day Stefan away on course, London Tuesday 21 10.30am Toddlers’ Praise Wednesday 22 8.00pm Breathe Thursday 23 10.00am Fellowship Group 8.00pm Ladies Night Out, The Bear, Esher Saturday 25 8.30am Prayer Breakfast Meeting, Cafe Menta 10am Cross-making for Lent Sunday 26 6.00pm Youth Group, Esher Church School Tuesday 28 10.30am Toddlers’ Praise March Time Event Wednesday 1 3.30pm First Communion Course, Esher Church School 8.00pm Communion Service with ashing Saturday 4 2.00pm Wedding: Hannah Hebden & Edward Campbell

CONTACTS RECTOR Revd Dr Stefan Collier PARISH OF ESHER Tel 01372 462611 Website www.esherparish.org.uk Email [email protected] Twitter www.twitter.com/esherparish Rector’s day off is Thursday Christ Church Open Every day, 9am to 3pm CURATE Revd Nate Kurz PARISH OFFICE Christ Church, Church Street, Esher, Surrey KT10 8QS Tel 020 8398 6746 Tel 01372 462282 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Curate’s day off is Friday Office Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am to 12am All main events at Christ Church unless stated otherwise.