Weekly News Sheet

St Nicholas Parish Church, Fleetwood

Week beginning 15th August 2021

Please continue to take great care in church. Face coverings are still required.

Sunday 15th August

8.30 am Holy Communion in Church

9.30 am Worship via Zoom

10.45 am Holy Communion in Church

Sidespersons – Susan & Christine: Reader - Sandra

12.30 pm Baptism of Ralphi Danson

Tuesday 17th August

10.30 am Funeral of Mavis Squires at Carleton

2.00 pm Holy Communion in Church

Sunday 22nd August

8.30 am Holy Communion in Church

9.30 am Worship via Zoom

10.45 am Holy Communion in Church

Sidespersons –

12.30 pm Baptism of Evelyn Sperrin

John Chapter 6 – This is Year B of the Sunday Lectionary, the year that emphasizes the Gospel of Mark; but for a series of five weeks, of which this is week 4 the Sunday Gospels have been taken from the Gospel of John — all excerpts from chapter six, the “Bread of Life discourse.” The author of the fourth Gospel approaches the Eucharist from a unique vantage point. There is no “institution narrative” at the Last Supper in which Jesus blesses bread and wine as in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Instead, there is foot washing. From John’s perspective the real presence of Christ is also found in service, and the Eucharist leads to service. The Eucharist is such a pillar of the Christian faith that John’s Gospel dedicates an entire chapter to it.

Over the years I have read and preached from this chapter numerous times, but more than ever this time round I feel God is saying “The time is now!” It may be connected to the restrictions we have endured over the last eighteen months or it may be more to do with our future here as the Parish of St Nicholas.

Week 1 – The feeding of the 5k – God provides something out of nothing. Whatever we have, whatever God has already given us is enough if we look at it in the right way.

Week 2 - “I am the bread of life” – We who have found the bread of life are commissioned to share what we have found.

Week 3 – “I am the living bread that came down from Heaven.” “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” - . As we celebrate what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are physically taking him into our very being. We are nourished and strengthened by the bread of life, to make it through this life and to serve as the people Jesus died to save.

Father God, as we hear again these timeless words from John’s gospel, would you

speak into our hearts and open our eyes that we may see clearly your will for our lives

and for this parish of St Nicholas? And would you place on our hearts how it is that we are

each to respond, if the time is now? For we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

100 Club

Winners last week were:

Please add to your prayers; - Elsie and Gerald, Nigel, Jane, Margaret, Elliott, Janet, Alison, Nick and Elizabeth, whose needs are known to God. And also, for the families of Mavis Squires, Brian Beavers and Rita Todkill who funerals are due to take place in the coming days.