A virtual welcome to St. Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill.

05 July, 2020 4th

. Sunday after Trinity

WEEKLY SERVICES AND OTHER GATHERINGS ARE CURRENTLY

SUSPENDED.

There will be a shortened recorded service for the third Sunday after Trinity available on the web from Sunday at https://soundcloud.com/alan-jarvis-810124904. A reminder that the link will be sent once the file has been uploaded. A printed order of service for those who prefer it, or wish to use it to follow the ‘podcast’, can be found on the church website, https://www.stmichaelsamersham.org.uk/worship/church-at-home/ from Saturday.

A copy of Revd. Debbie’s reflection and of the intercessions have been provided with this notice sheet as well as being on the website.

Collect Alternative Collect

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christs’ sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Gracious Father, by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world: draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Zechariah 9.9–12

Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle-bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. For the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Romans 7.15-25a

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. For the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Matthew 11.16–19, 25–28

At that time Jesus said, ‘To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds. I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent

and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Notices

CHURCH RE-OPENING FOR PRIVATE PRAYER We are proposing to reopen the church for private prayer in the week beginning 6th. July. There will be two sessions each week - Tuesday mornings 10.00am. – 1.00pm. and Friday afternoons 1.00pm. - 4 00pm. The number of chairs in church has been reduced, so that they are now set out at an appropriate ‘social distance’. Some are in twos for people from the same household and others are set out singly. Those attending are asked to go in by the main door, and use the hand sanitiser in the Narthex. The way out will be by the fire door at the back of the church, near the Roderick Quiet Garden. There will be no access to the Lady Chapel or the toilets.

RIP RALPH BAER – Ralph's funeral will take place on Tuesday, July 7th. at 12:30pm. Because of current restrictions, only family will attend (and no flowers are requested), but if you wish to attend online, a live webcast will be available. We will send a link, password and instructions to all members of St. Michael’s congregation a day or two before the funeral. Barbara and family thank members of St. Michael's for the many kind words of support received.

ST. MICHAEL’S CENTENARY A series of events had been planned for this year to mark the centenary of the establishment of St. Michael’s Church in Sycamore Road, albeit in what was always intended to be a temporary building, now the Church Hall. The highlight would have been a Family Fun Day this Saturday, July 4th, centred on the Vicarage Garden.

Although that cannot go ahead as planned, we can still have a look around the garden, thanks to a series of photos taken by Rob Oades, which can be seen on the church website,

OFFICE Although the physical office is closed until further notice, the Church Administrator can still be contacted by phone (726680) and e-mail, office@stmichaelsamersham.org.uk

COTHA CHURCHES ONLINE WORSHIP RESOURCES We know that a large number of people are listening to St. Michael’s weekly audio services, including a number from outside our regular congregation, and following the various series of reflections produced by Rev. Debbie and Peter Binns, and finding them helpful. Our partner churches in COTHA are also producing aids for prayer and worship:- St. John’s – Weekly Thoughts and Prayers by the minister, Rev. Nigel Wright - http://www.amershammethodist.org.uk/Thoughts%20and%20Prayer.pdf Amersham Free Church – Something different for every day of the week, see http://www.amershamfreechurch.org.uk/ for more details.

TRAIDCRAFT - UPDATE ON THE FOOD BANK APPEAL Margaret Dykes reports on the situation 12 weeks into lockdown as follows: Each week we have been delivering goods for the Chesham Food Bank, and to date have provided Traidcraft goods to the value of £7,970.00 from generous donations received from St. Michael's, and other local churches, which are currently unable to hold stalls. We shall continue to provide basic essentials, together with 'treats' for children, for as long as donations are coming in and we should like to thank you all for your tremendous support over the past few weeks. The need for the Food Bank is greater than ever in these challenging times, so do please encourage others to join us in providing some relief for those most in need, both locally and in the wider world of Traidcraft suppliers.

'HARVEST SHARE' Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, Restore Hope Latimer have been working to deliver food packs to needy and vulnerable families within our local community. Although we are gradually coming out of lockdown, many of our families are still struggling to put food on the table, and so they are planning to continue the food delivery scheme for as long as possible. To help in this initiative, they have just launched 'Harvest Share', and are asking for donations of any surplus homegrown fruit, salad or veg that anyone may have. All donated homegrown produce will then go into the Fresh Food boxes and be delivered to the families being supported. Donations can be dropped off at Restore Hope between 10am. and 5.00pm. every Monday and Tuesday.

YOUTH WORKER VACANCY Broadway Baptist Church in Chesham is seeking to appoint a dedicated and enthusiastic person to the vital role of Youth and Families Worker, to help us further develop God’s plan for our Church and town. The closing date for applications is 17th July, 2020. Further details can be found at www.broadwaybaptist.org.uk/jobs, where you will find an application form and a person specification. If you would like a chat about the post, please contact our minister Lou Webber. (lou.webber@broadwaybaptist.org.uk) or, Sarah, the deacon responsible for youth and children’s work on 07707620017. Please pass on this information to anyone you know who might be interested in this post.

PRAYER CHAIN A number of people pray at home for St. Michael’s and for specific needs or thanksgivings that people may have. If you would like to be part of this network or have a prayer request, please contact Joy Johns on 729061.

AND ‘NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT’-

I’m sure that this will not be St. Michael’s experience as we prepare to re-open the church