Covid safety

The aim is to keep the most vulnerable and most anxious feeling as safe as we can. Great care has been taken to prepare for this Eucharist. On your arrival at St Paul’s (wearing a face covering) Chris Seaman will greet you outside; then please sanitise your hands in the porch. Someone will take your temperature and a welcomer will show you to your seat, where your order of service will be.

Please once seated, stay in your seat DO NOT move around church; this puts others at risk, which is not fair follow instructions given during the service do not sing (the service would have to be stopped) sanitise your hands with your own sanitiser before receiving communion at the end, leave promptly, through the door to your right, maintaining social

distancing once outside, feel free to leave immediately, or to socialise at a safe distance

(making sure there are six or fewer in any distanced groups that form) do not re-enter church; if you’d like to see round St Paul’s at another time, please

contact Peter Seal or Bill Lucas

Thank you for your cooperation

Welcome

A warm welcome to everyone, whether you are worshipping in church or taking part in the service at home

4 October 2020

St Francis of Assisi; the 17th Sunday after Trinity

Please feel free to send prayer requests to ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org or contact Peter Seal on 854849

Prayer

with the Anglican Communion we pray for the Church of Tanzania; for Archbishop Justin; within our diocese, for Bishops Tim, David and Debbie; for the Parish Support Team in all it does to support good management, in order to create a strong foundation on which mission and ministry can be built

our mission giving: £450 for Winchester Churches Nightshelter, open 365 days a year to offer accommodation, food and vital support services to homeless people

peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, where fighting has re-ignited between Armenia and Azerbaijan

concerted international action on climate change as 65 heads of state sign a global pledge to reverse losses in the natural world by 2030; Winchester City Council’s follow-through after declaring a climate emergency; for good to come of the Green Week activities in the city last week

the physical and mental health of students at the University of Winchester and throughout the country

all who have been abused by others in any way, especially children those in deep distress whose children have gone missing, or who have lost loved

ones in terrible circumstances the unwell: Emily (age 1), Toby (age 7), Jean Gardner, Bob Harland, Phillippa

Lerclercq and Patricia Watts the long-term unwell: Caroline Behan, William Buncombe, Vera Edwards, Julia

Jones, Kate Morgan, Pat Mounsey, Jane Seal, Brett Tribe, Vera Willnecker and David Wilson

those who have died recently, including Sarah Henderson; all living with the pain of untimely death; God’s comfort for their families and friends and all who remember loved ones

Services for 4 October

9.30 am St Paul’s/ live-streamed

Organ music from 9.15

The Gathering

Sunday Eucharist; today Revd Liz Stuart, ordained priest in our cathedral yesterday, presides at the Eucharist for the first time. Together we celebrate this Great Thanksgiving (Eucharist) with her.

Andante Religioso from Organ Sonata no. 4 in Bb by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Three Variations on ‘Amazing Grace’ (Moderato; Più poco mosso; Adagio) by Denis Bédard Saraband and Interlude by Herbert Sumsion Organist: Ian Rees

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Greeting

Prayer of preparation

Prayers of penitence

Gloria

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The saints were faithful unto death and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever. As we celebrate their joy, let us bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses, and ask for his mercy.

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weaknesses and unbelief. We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

May God our Father forgive you your sins, and bring you to the fellowship of his table with his saints for ever. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Collect

Liturgy of the word

Vocal solo

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

O God, you ever delight to reveal yourself to the childlike and lowly of heart: grant that, following the example of the blessèd Francis, we may count the wisdom of this world as foolishness and know only Jesus Christ and him crucified. Amen.

Reader: Norma Goodwin

Micah 6: 6–8 ‘With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

For God’s holy word, thanks be to God.

‘Make me a channel of your peace’ by Sebastian Temple, based on a prayer attributed to St Francis, sung by Mollie Stannard, accompanied by David Blunt

Reader: Christopher Seaman

Galatians 6: 14–18 May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything;

Organ

Gospel reading

Sermon

but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule – peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

For God’s holy word, thanks be to God.

Air by Henry Purcell

Alleluia, alleluia. I have called you friends, says the Lord, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. Alleluia.

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

Luke 12: 22–34 He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you – you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This is the gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Canon Peter Seal

Prayers

Nicene Creed

Intercessor: Liz Stannard

Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for God’s goodness.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Liturgy of the sacrament

Eucharistic Prayer

We are fellow citizens with the saints and the whole household of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near.

The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy, at all times and in all places to give you thanks and praise, holy Father, heavenly King, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. And now we give you thanks because you raised up our holy father Francis to burn as a shining light in your Church; that, inflamed with love for you and all creation and bearing in his body the marks of your Son’s passion, he might bring to glory many sons and daughters. In communion with angels and archangels and all who have served you on earth and worship you now in heaven we raise our voices to proclaim your glory, for ever praising you, and saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Fulfilling God, in Jesus’ dying and rising you show us the extent of mission and the cost of ministry. Send your Holy Spirit, that your people may be filled with love, joy and peace, and that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me’.

After supper he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

Great is the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Revealing God, as you take bread and wine and make them the bearers of your Son’s risen life, take our flesh and blood and make them the channels of your peace. Transform your Church that it may resemble the generosity, joy and abundance of your Trinity. Raise up those whose gifts have been suppressed, neglected, ignored or rejected. Renew your people through humble service and prophetic witness, that your name may be known in the face of injustice, poverty and tyranny.

The Lord’s Prayer

Breaking of the Bread

Agnus Dei

Giving of Communion

Music during Communion

Show your glory through agents of healing and learning, and shower your people with your love, until the day comes when every eye beholds you, full of grace and truth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people. Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us your peace.

Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

‘On eagles’ wings’ by Michael Joncas, based on Psalm 91 ‘O for the wings of a dove’ from Hear my Prayer by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, played by Ursula Payne and Ian Rees

Post-Communion prayers

Blessing

Organ voluntary

11.15 St Matthew’s

Lord God, you made your Church rich through the poverty of blessèd Francis: help us, like him, not to trust in earthly things but to seek your heavenly gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God give you grace to follow his saints in faith and hope and love; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Chorale Prelude on ‘Now thank we all our God’ by Sigfrid Karg-Elert

In line with current guidelines, we request that after the service everyone exits promptly, through the door to the car park, maintaining social distancing. Thank you.

[BCP] Mattins

Services next Sunday, 11 October

The 18th Sunday after Trinity

BCP

9.30 am

9.30 am

11.15 am

p. 185

Sunday Eucharist (St Paul’s/live-streamed) Readings: Isaiah 25: 1–9; Philippians 4: 1–9; Matthew 22: 1–14 [p. 330]

Children’s service (online)

[BCP] Holy Communion (St Matthew’s)

Prayer in Praise of God You are holy, Lord, the only God, and Your deeds are wonderful. You are strong. You are great. You are the Most High. You are Almighty. You, Holy Father, are King of heaven and earth. You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good. You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true. You are love. You are wisdom. You are humility. You are endurance. You are rest. You are peace. You are joy and gladness. You are justice and moderation. You are all our riches, and you suffice for us. You are beauty. You are gentleness. You are our protector. You are our guardian and defender. You are our courage. You are our haven and our hope. You are our faith, our great consolation. You are our eternal life, great and wonderful Lord, God Almighty, merciful Saviour. Amen.

St Francis of Assisi, given to Br. Leo, one of the early friars; sourced from www.knightsoftheholyeucharist.com

Francis of Assisi

Francis was born in Assisi in central Italy either in 1181 or the following year. He was baptised Giovanni but given the name Francesco by his father, a cloth merchant who traded in France and had married a French wife. There was an expectation that he would eventually take over his father’s business but Francis had a rebellious youth and a difficult relationship with his father.

After suffering the ignominy of imprisonment following capture whilst at war with the local city of Perugia, he returned a changed man. He took to caring for disused churches and for the poor, particularly those suffering from leprosy.

Whilst praying in the semi-derelict church of St Damian, he distinctly heard the words: Go and repair my house, which you see is falling down. Others joined him and he prepared a simple, gospel-based Rule for them all to live by. As the Order grew, it witnessed to Christ through proclaiming the gospel of repentance and emphasising the poverty of Christ as an example for his followers.

Two years before his death, his life being so closely linked with that of his crucified Saviour, he received the stigmata, the marks of the wounds of Christ, on his body. By his death, on the evening of 3 October 1226, his Order had spread throughout western Christendom.

From Franciscan Eucharistic Supplement (Society of St Francis, 2016)

Notices

Contributions for November magazine We would welcome articles, reflections, prayers, book reviews, etc. for the next parish magazine. (Final editorial choice rests with Peter Seal, and we reserve the right to edit material.) Please send to ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org by Thurs 8 October.

9.30 Sunday worship at St Paul’s If you would like to attend, please contact Peter Seal, peter@stmatthewstpaul.org, 854849. Over time, the plan is to include everyone who wants to be there. It is live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQSDoObROtCJrF0WNnqUpyQ.

11.15 services at St Matthew’s with organ music If you would like to attend, please contact Linda Russell-Smith, 853584.

Clerihew for Liz Stuart Geoffrey Burnaby writes, ‘I thought that on the occasion of the ordination of Liz I should compose a clerihew for her. I had great difficulty in finding a rhyme for Stuart – here is the best I could manage:

Our dear curate, the Revd Liz Stuart Is inordinately fond of yoghurt. She really wishes That it could be added to all dishes.

Eco Church

Green Week flags Thank you to all who made flags for Winchester Green Week. The bunting has been up all week – the majority in the Brooks Shopping Centre window display, plus three in the Tourist Information Centre and one at Montezuma’s. Jo Crocker of WinACC writes, ‘The St Paul’s contribution was a substantial portion of the whole bunting. Great to have that community effort.’

WinACC’s AGM will be held on Sat 17 October, 11–12.30, as a virtual event for members. If you’d like to attend but aren’t yet a member, it’s not too late to join – and it’s free. Did you know that out of 189 districts in England for which data is available, 150 have a lower carbon footprint per person than Winchester District? Working together, we can do better!

Make your own leafmould Autumn’s the ideal time to gather up leaves to make leafmould – a great soil-improver and one of the best growing mediums there is.

Beech leaves, so common locally, are ideal; it’s best to shred thicker or evergreen leaves. Just put them in a dustbin bag, moisten the leaves, pierce a few holes in the bag, tie the top loosely and then store it for a couple of years. Or you can make a chicken-wire frame for an open leaf heap, just dampening it from time to time.

Click here for a Monty Don video showing you what to do.

Please send suggestions to promote our caring for God’s creation to alexa.heady@gmail.com.

Building for Life update

This week’s progress:

the storage cupboards (and radiator covers) in the side aisles are being fitted, and will be really useful

appliances have been installed and commissioned in the kitchen and look great John Schulz and Michael Joseph have been busy preparing to fit further speakers

for the gallery there are all sorts of jobs to be finished and, of course, a long snagging list, but

we hope to have the church open every day before long please pray for strength for all those working hard, both to complete the project

and to make the church fully operational, especially in these challenging Covid times.

Brockwood Joinery fitting together the structures they’ve built in their workshop

The new porch signboard is up For the full photo story to date, click here

It will be so useful to have a 4-minute dishwasher program to clean the coffee mugs! Below: hot water boilers and cooker

Contact us

Canon Peter Seal, Rector 854849 (h) 844878 (office) M, Tu, W, Th, peter@stmatthewstpaul.org

Revd Mary Copping, Children/Youth Co-ordinator & Assistant Priest 07921 886016 M, Tu, W, F, youth@stmatthewstpaul.org

Revd Liz Stuart, Curate liz@stmatthewstpaul.org

Katy Palacio, Parish Administrator 844878 M, W, F, admin@stmatthewstpaul.org

Ursula Payne, Rector’s Assistant & Building for Life Administrator 844878 M, Tu, Th, ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org (please send me any notices)

Parish Office (currently closed to visitors), St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Hill, Winchester SO22 5AB, 844878, www.stmatthewstpaul.org

Staff are working from home whenever possible, and can be reliably contacted by email; parish meetings are cancelled until further notice

Please make cheques payable to St Matthew’s PCC – all gifts gratefully received

Bible readings: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing. Collects and Proper Preface from Franciscan Eucharistic Supplement copyright © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 2016. Eucharistic prayer from Joining the Angels’ Song: Eucharistic Prayers for Sundays and Holy Days, Years A, B, and C, copyright © Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher 2016 and published by Canterbury Press, an imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern