Easter 3

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Hymns: NEH 111, 296, 121, 124

FIRST READING Acts 3.12-19 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, ‘You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. ‘And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.’

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 4

Response: Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord.

1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause;
you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my
prayer.

2 ‘You mortals, how long will you dishonour my glory;
how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?R

3 Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful;
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

4 Tremble, then, and do not sin;
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.R

5 Offer the appointed sacrifices
and put your trust in the Lord.

6 Many are saying, ‘O that we might see better times!’
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LordR

7 You have put gladness in my heart,
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.

8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep;
for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety.R

SECOND READING 1 John 3.1-7 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

GOSPEL Luke 24.36b-48 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

NEWS FROM ST MICHAEL'S

Priest-in-Charge Fr John Ainslie (revjohnainslie@gmail.com; 01628 629827)

A very warm welcome to any new readers, and to visitors and newcomers to St Michael's. If you are new to St Michael's, do join us for refreshments in the Vestry Hall after the service, so that we can welcome you properly.

April 28th is the date of our Annual Meeting. This falls into two parts – the Annual Meeting for the Election of Churchwardens and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting – and will take place immediately after Mass. Elections at the Parochial Church Meeting include those of Deanery Synod members and PCC members. Are you willing to serve, or can you encourage someone else? Nomination forms will be found at the back of the church; please hand completed forms to Jonathan or Eleanor. This is a time to take stock of the past year (some of the reports will be circulated in advance) and to think about our visions and hopes for the future of St Michael's.

This year's Week of Accompanied Prayer in Maidstone Deanery (“A Retreat in Everyday Life”) will take place at St Martin's Church, Northumberland Road, from 2nd to 8th June. Information and Application Forms from Doreen Rendell – djrendell@gmail.com.

From our Tower:Kent County Association Maidstone, Kent: St Michael and All Angels

Sunday, 31 March 2024 in 42m (6–1–24 in C)

1344 Double Norwich Court Bob Major

  1. Mark Elvers
  2. Rupert Cheeseman
  3. Paul Barton
  4. Philip Jarvis
  5. Jacqueline Barlow
  6. Emma Jarvis
  7. Stephen Coaker
  8. Neil Jones (C) Jesus Christ is risen today. Alleluia!

Friday, 5 April 2024 in 41m (6–1–24 in C)

1271 Outwell Surprise Minor

Composed by Mark T Elvers

  1. Stephen Coaker
  2. Jacqueline Barlow
  3. Janice Byrne
  4. Mark Elvers
  5. Pam Thomas
  6. Neil Jones (C)

Rung on Easter Friday.

Sunday, 7 April 2024 in 39m (6–1–24 in C)

1280 Uxbridge Surprise Major

  1. Philip Jarvis
  2. Janice Byrne
  3. Paul Barton
  4. Mark Elvers
  5. Jacqueline Barlow
  6. Pam Thomas
  7. Mike Birkbeck
  8. Neil Jones (C)

A birthday compliment to Betsy Piercey (6th April).

Rung on Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter)

The Lambeth Call on “Safe Church” is the topic of a webinar taking place on 17th and 18th April, which will introduce the resources developed by the Safe Church Commission and consider how good safeguarding practices can be embedded in the life of a local church. Bookings can be made via https://www.lambethconference.org/safe-church-and-the-work-of-the-safe-church-commission-will-be-the-focus-of-next-lambeth-call-discussions/.

Among the sick, we remember particularly: Paul, Margaret, Ellie, Pauline, Rue, Fr Leon, Antony, Fran, Ellie, Tom, Joseph, Peter, Joan, Margaret, Lindsay, Glynis, Ethan, Sarah, Yvonne, Jessica, HM The King and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

And among the departed: Janet O'Sullivan, Peggy Piers-Jones, Jonathan Locke, Monica Boyles.

Could you pass this sheet on to someone else who might like to see it?

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