The Christian Community of St Giles-on-the-Hill
welcomes you to worship with them on
Sunday 21st April 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Today we remember that Jesus is our Good Shepherd and that his love for us is so great that he was prepared to lay down his life for us.
So let us come together and celebrate this astonishing love.
The Easter candle is lit from now until Pentecost Sunday, marking the fifty days of the Easter season which cover the resurrection appearances. The candle has a prominent place, reminding us that Christ is the light of the world and that, in that light, Jesus is alive today.
10.30am Sung Mass Our President and Preacher today is Revd Kate Belcher. The service is set out in the service booklet. Hymns are from the Celebration Hymnal. There is a Fairtrade Stall after Mass
Introit Hymn: 475 Loving shepherd of thy sheep
Collect:
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
1st Reading: Acts 4.5-12
The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is
“the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.”
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd;
therefore can I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul
and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me
in the presence of those who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil
and my cup shall be full.
Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
2nd Reading: 1 John 3.16-end
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
I am the first and the last, says the lord, and the living one;
I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Gospel: John 10.11-18
‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away – and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’
Offertory Hymn: 399 Love is his word, love is his way
Communion Hymn: 16 All for Jesus, All for Jesus
Post Communion Prayer:
Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Recessional Hymn: 690 The day of resurrection
Organ Voluntary: Boëllman – Sortie
ASSISTANTS AT THE EUCHARIST
1st Reading Chris Stokes 2nd Reading Jill Hall Intercessions John Baldry Chalice Jonny Green Servers Lindsey and Jonny Green Organist Ian Graydon
DIARY FOR THE WEEK
Tuesday 23 April 12 noon Said Mass
Tuesday 23 April 6.00pm St George’s Day service at Tombland – details below
Friday 26 April 10.00am Said Mass
Sunday 28 April 10.30am Sung Parish Mass – Revd Annie Blyth (Easter 5)
Next Sunday’s readings: Acts 8.26-end; Psalm 22.25-end; 1 John 4.7-end; John 15.1-8
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sunday 5 May 12.00 noon Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) after Mass
Tuesday 7 May 6.30pm Eco Church Forum from 6.30pm at St Stephen’s Church
Saturday 11 May 2.30pm Wisteria Quiz for Christian Aid, to include afternoon tea
Saturday 6 July afternoon Quiz in aid of church funds
NOTICES
We welcome any newcomers to St Giles today. Please make yourself known to the priest or the churchwardens and join us for a cup of coffee or tea after the service. Do take a look at our website, explore A Church Near You or follow us on Twitter to find out more.
Tuesday 23rd April is St George’s Day Everyone is warmly invited to join Fr Alaric and the Dean at St George Tombland at 6pm, for the annual St George’s Day service, to be followed by a procession with Snap, the Norwich Dragon, to St George Colegate where refreshments will be served. Always a cheerful occasion, and great fun!
Knitting wool Elsie is knitting woollies for Ukrainian children, so if you have any double knitting wool to spare she would love to make use of it, please!
There are 3 vacancies this year on the PCC. If you have never considered standing, it is a very good way to have a say in how your church is run and also to learn how parish business is conducted. We very much welcome new ideas and opinions. Nomination forms for the PCC elections on 5th May are now available at the back of the church.
Electoral Roll In the weeks leading up to the APCM we are required to ensure that the Electoral Roll is up to date. If you attend St Giles, and would like to be added to the Roll, do see Jen, our ER administrator, or the churchwardens, who will be happy to have a chat. Application forms can be found at the back of the church.
The New Testament Greek group will meet on Sat 4 May for lunch and reading. This is a good occasion for discussion and fellowship, as well as study. Absolute beginners are welcome, and individual help is available. For more information please contact Stephen Dunn from St George Tombland on 01603 622146 or by email.
Eco Church Forum Tuesday 7th May 6.30 – 8.30pm at St Stephen’s Church. A panel of experts will lead a discussion on ‘Understanding & Demystifying Food Choices’ in relation to protecting and saving the global environment. A free event starting with refreshments – please do join us!
Upcoming quizzes The Wisteria quiz on Sat 11 May will be in aid of Christian Aid. Doors open at 2.00pm for a 2.30 start. This will include an afternoon tea. Donations of cakes for the afternoon would be much appreciated. There will also be a Quiz in aid of church funds on Sat 6 July in the afternoon (time tbc). Please bring your friends to both these events!
Our April charity at St Giles is Shelter Box who provide shelter, essential items and technical assistance to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes after disaster. They listen and adapt their support to the needs of each community, working together with those affected by disaster, alongside their supporters and partners. You can read more about Shelter Box on our charities notice board at the back of church or go to their website.
Priest-in-Charge Father Alaric Mark Lewis, also Rector of the Benefice of Colegate and Tombland 01603 663757 click to email – day off Monday
Churchwardens Rowena Atkinson 01603 455729 Bob Emsell 01603 439632
Pastoral Care Liaison Lesley Warne 07792 971662 click to email
Newsletter and Fairtrade Kate Baldry 01362 695503 click to email
Church website https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com
A Church Near You
Twitter @stgilesnorwich
St Giles Church, Norwich 