5/3/23
Your weekly update from the Benwell & Scotswood Team
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Dates for your diary
Sun 2 April
Holy Week begins
Services this week
Sun 5 March
9.30am - St John's holy communion
9.45pm - St Margaret's holy communion
11am - Ven Bede hub service (Parish eucharist)
News
Edith Hutchinson
Many of you will already have heard about the sad news of Edith's passing on Friday. She died peacefully in hospital surrounded by loved ones.
There are few people like Edith and she will leave a huge hole in our community. But Edith was confident of where she was going, she is with Jesus and we know we will see her again. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Details of her funeral will follow once they are confirmed.
Lent group
Wednesdays 6.30pm
We will meet every Wednesday at Kathy Germain's house throughout Lent (please get in contact or ask Kathy or the clergy for details) at 6.30pm.
If you are interested in joining the group let us know!
As a small group we will meet and discuss the Archbishop's 2023 Lent book Failure: What Jesus Said About Sin, Mistakes and Messing Stuff Up. It helps us look at what we do when we do get things wrong and what Jesus says about it.
We will have some free copies, but if you would like to buy your own copy you can order it here.
Holy Week 2023
2nd - 9th April
As we journey through Holy Week we recall the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. You are invited to participate in the most special time of the church's year.
More details here >
Palm Sunday 2nd April at Ven bede
Maundy Thursday, 6th April at St James.
Good Friday, 7th April at St John's.
Easter vigil, Saturday evening, 8th April at St Margaret's.
Worship texts
The Collect
Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error the light of your truth,
that they may return to the way of righteousness:
grant to all those who are admitted
into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,
that they may reject those things
that are contrary to their profession,
and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading
Romans 4.1–5,13–17 4What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Gospel
John 3.1–17 3Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.”8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Sermon
Intercessions
If you would like to add someone to the prayer list please email church@benwellscotswood.com
The name will stay on the list for 1 month unless requested to be long-term.
Prayers for others:
Michelle Madison
Lorraine Atkinson
Esther Kolie
Edith Hutchinson
Lyndsey Richardson
Christine, David, Philip, Neil and Steven
Elizabeth Taylor
Honar
Moe and Mary
Alison Campbell
John Taylor
Irene Foskett
John Nicholson
Alan Robson
Michelle Wilson
Joan Finley
George Snowden
Claire Mozaffari
Herbert Agbeko
Rest in Peace
Edith Hutchinson
Baptisms
Cody Morris
Post Communion prayer
Almighty God,
you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies,
and inwardly in our souls;
that we may be defended from all adversities
which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.