St Hilda’s Ashford

CANDLEMASTHE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE

SERVICEOF THE WORD

Preparation

Let us worship God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AmenThe Lord be with you

All and also with you.This is the day that the Lord has made.

All We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Words of welcome and introduction

Opening Prayer

All Come, let us pray and sing hymns to the Lord. Let us seek his blessing on those to whom we witness, to both friends and strangers, those in the community around us, and those far across the world. May we be as one household in Christ.

Song

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;Let earth receive her King.Let every heart prepare him room,And heaven and nature sing,And heaven and nature sing,And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns;Let us our songs employ,While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joy,Repeat the sounding joy,Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,And makes the nations proveThe glories of his righteousness

And wonders of his love,And wonders of his love,And wonders, and wonders of this love.

Isaac Watts 1604-1748. 100 Carols for Choirs – Willcocks & Rutter.

Prayers of Penitence

Hear the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ:‘I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me shall never walk in darknessbut shall have the light of life.’Let us therefore bring our sins into his lightand confess them in penitence and faith.Lord of grace and truth,we confess our unworthinessto stand in your presence as your children.We have sinned:

All forgive and heal us.The Virgin Mary accepted your callto be the mother of Jesus.Forgive our disobedience to your will.We have sinned:

All forgive and heal us.Your Son our Saviourwas born in poverty in a manger.Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.We have sinned:

All forgive and heal us.The shepherds left their flocksto go to Bethlehem.Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.We have sinned:

All forgive and heal us.

The wise men followed the starto find Jesus the King.Forgive our reluctance to seek you.We have sinned:

All forgive and heal us.May God who loved the world so muchthat he sent his Son to be our Saviourforgive us our sinsand make us holy to serve him in the world,through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

Collect

Lord Jesus Christ,light of the nations and glory of Israel:make your home among us,and present us pure and holyto your heavenly Father,your God, and our God.

All Amen.

HEARING GOD’S WORD

Reading from Luke 2:22-4022 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking

forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,    according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,31     which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles    and for glory to your people Israel.”33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong,

filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

Talk

Simon Shutt, Director of Children’s Ministry at FACT (Faith Awareness in Children’s Trust, Staines).

Profession of Faith 

Let us declare our belief in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father,source of all being and life,the one for whom we exist?

All I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Son,who took our human nature,died for us and rose again?

All I believe and trust in him. Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,who gives life to the people of Godand makes Christ known in the world?

All I believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church.All This is our faith.

We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

PrayersI light a candle to say thank you for the sun, which brightens our days and shows us all the beauty of your worldWe thank God and say:

All Thank you for the light.

I light a candle to say thank you for the moon and stars which light up the night sky and show travellers the way.We thank God and say:

All Thank you for the light.

I light a candle to say thank you for Jesus, the Light of the World, who came to show us the way to God our Father.We thank God and say:

All Thank you for the light

Some people in our world today don’t have a lot of light in their lives. Perhaps they experience the darkness of bullying, of hunger, of loneliness, or of violence.

We bring to mind any part of our own lives that feel dark or lonely.

We think of people who have dark and sad times in their lives.

We remember how our world sometimes judges people, discriminates or ignores people, leaving them alone and in the dark. Without the love of God, we can too easily live in darkness

Help us to share friendship with children who live in countries where there is war. May all children live in peace.

Hear me Jesus

Help us to share friendship with children who are starving. May all children have enough to eat.

Hear me Jesus

Help us to share friendship with children who are homeless. May all children have safe and loving homes.

Hear me Jesus

Help us to share friendship with children who are sick without medicine. May all children receive medical help when they are sick.

Hear me Jesus

Help us to share friendship with children who live in poverty and are not able to go to school. May all children receive education.

Hear me Jesus

Let us join with all the children of the world and pray to God the Father as Jesus taught us –

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come; thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Offertory Song

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness, Opened my eyes, Let me see Beauty that made this heart adore you Hope of a life spent with you.

Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that you're my God; You're altogether lovely, Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days, So highly exalted, Glorious in heaven above; Humbly you came to the earth you created, All for love's sake became poor.

Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that you're my God; You're altogether lovely, Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me.

I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross.

                                                                                Tim Hughes 2000                                                                Songs of Fellowship 1419.

 NoticesSending out prayer

The people accompany the first three responses with a sweep of the arm towards the tryptic, and final response with a sweep towards heaven.

All our problemsAll We send to the cross of Christ

All our difficulties

All We send to the cross of ChristAll the devil's works

All We send to the cross of ChristAll our hopes

All We set on the risen Christ

The PeaceIn the tender mercy of our Godthe dayspring from on high has broken upon us,to give light to those who dwell in darknessand in the shadow of death,and to guide our feet into the way of peace

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

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

Song

Now thank we all our God,With hearts and hands and voices,Who wondrous things hath done,In whom his world rejoices;Who from our mother’s armshath blessed us on our waywith countless gifts of love,and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous Godthrough all our life be near us,with ever joyful heartsand blessèd peace to cheer us;and keep us in his grace,and guide us when perplexed,and free us from all ills

in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to Godthe Father now is given,the Son and him who reignswith them in highest heaven,the one eternal God,whom earth and heav’n adore;for thus it was, is now,and shall be evermore.

Geoffrey Beaumont. 1903 - 1970.Hymns Old and New (HO&N) 474a.

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

SERVICE TIMES THIS WEEK

Tues 4th Feb 9.45am Eucharist (MU Corporate Communion)Sun 9th Feb 8.00am BCP Eucharist

9.30am Parish Eucharist

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:

THE SICK:

James Bedford Penny Howell Elsie StonePamela Claridge Margaret Kerr Roy StoneRobb Clarke Raymond Nation Sandra SwainAnn Considine Elizabeth Savill-Burgess Rev. Peter TaylorMichael Dixon Delphine Scrivener Chick WilsonDennis Goff Riley Shaw Peter WilsonJim Hennessey Anne Shenton Jo Wood

THE RECENTLY DEPARTED:

David Knapp

THOSE IN OUR MEMORIAL BOOK THIS WEEK

John David Smith Jane Mitchell Warren F Darling M Dorothy C Pritchard Lawrence Alford

NOTICES

2nd February – 5.30pm – Deanery Evensong, St Peter’s Staines

St Hilda’s choir will be joining with St Peter’s at the Deanery Evensong, all welcome.

2nd February – 3pm & 4th February 7.30 – Staines Passion Play

Supporting cast are urgently needed for the play, acting experience not required. Meet at the Staines Baptist Church, 16 Hale Street.

6th February – 2.30-4pm - Feed My Sheep

This month’s topic is Rivers and Mountains.

7th February – 7.30pm – Peoples Prom at St Peter’s, Staines

Their annual People’s prom concert tickets are £12, please call 01784 456701 for tickets.

8th February – 7.30pm - CTAS Quiz Night

To be held at St Mary the Virgin Stanwell. £8 each (includes fish and chip supper). Teams of 6, sign-up sheet at the back of the church.

11th February – 12.45pm – Mothers Union Lunch

In the small hall. Talk by Sally Goulden – Sally’s Swans.

19th February – 7.30-9pm – Book Launch Evening

Simeon Sturney, the ‘through the gate’ Bronzefield chaplain will be holding a book launch for ‘One Mile to Make a Difference’ at the Salvation Army details on the noticeboard at the rear of the church.

22nd February – 2.00pm – Mothers Union AGM

In the large hall. 23rd February 2020 – 6pm – Confirmation Bishop Graham will be visiting St Hilda’s where we will be holding a service of Confirmation.

25th February 2020 – 7pm - Pancake PartySpelthorne Deanery Pancake Party to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.

23rd – 25th May - Whitby Weekend

We are planning a weekend to Whitby for the late May Bank Holiday, to visit the home of St Hilda.

St Paul’s Cathedral – Learning Evenings

Please see posters at the rear of the church about talks on 24th March, 28th April and 28th May.

Crossroads

Please email Rosemary at crossroads_ashford@hotmail.com if you have anything you would like to include in the parish magazine.

Regular Gatherings

Wednesday 8pm – Bible Study at 6 Seaton Drive (weekly)

Wednesday 7.30pm – Ladies Homegroup (fortnightly) next meeting February 12th

Thursday 2.30-4pm – Feed My Sheep (1st Thursday of the month)

Friday 7pm – Choir Practice. Everybody welcome.

Friday 8.15pm – Community Sing in church (fortnightly) next meeting February 7th & 21st

Saturday 9.30am – 12pm – Knitting Group in Church

Good News for SpelthorneThe Bishop of Kensington, the Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, will be holding his first Kensington Deanery Missions in Spelthorne. The events in the Deanery for this month are;

Sun 9th February 6.30pm – All Saints, LalehamChallenging Questions – Suffering

Sun 16th February 6.30pm – St Peter’s, StainesChallenging Questions – Evidence

Sun 23rd February 6.00pm – St Hilda’sConfirmation.

Tues 25th February 7.00pm – St Hilda’sPancake Party

Wed 26th February 7.30 - 8.30am Ashford Railway Station Ashing at Ashford

Contact InformationVicar   Fr Joseph Fernandes vicar@sthilda.org Parish Office 01784 253525 Vicarage 01784 254237 Mobile 07999 053433 

Licenced Lay MinistersCarolyn Clark carolyn@sthilda.orgRosalyn Young rosalyn@sthilda.orgChurchwardensBobbie BedfordStuart YoungPCC Secretary  PCC TreasurerDenise Buttigieg Darran ButtigiegInterim Parish AdministratorDenise ButtigiegChurch Hall Booking SecretaryMrs Chris Davenport 01784 252170 

The Parish Office:   St Hilda's Church, Stanwell Road, Ashford, Middlesex

TW15 3QL Telephone: 01784 253525 Email: office@sthilda.org

Website: www.sthilda.orgCharity Number: 1134119 CCLI: 708985

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