Sunday 26 April: 4th Sunday of Easter Our Service will be led by Revd Sue Irwin This Sunday we continue our Sermon Series looking at the way Jesus rising from the dead transformed how we live as “Resurrection People”. In our Reading and Gospel, we learn how God’s call to join him in His Kingdom is open to everyone irrespective of ethnicity, geography, social status or physical condition. As Resurrection People, we can all be active in reaching out to those who are often overlooked or marginalised in our communities and welcoming them into our Church. Reading and Gospel Our reading from Isaiah 56: 3- 8, is on page 713 of the Old Testament in our pew bibles. The Lord extends his Covenant to everyone who loves his name, joins themselves to him and keeps the sabbath: “I will gather others to them besides those already gathered” The reading from Acts 8: 26-40 starts on page 135 of the New Testament in our pew bibles. Philip is called by the Spirit to a remote road where he meets an important Ethiopian court official. Starting with the passage from Isaiah which the man is already reading, Philip proclaims to him the good news about Jesus and baptizes him when he confirms his personal faith in Jesus Christ. There is also an alternative Gospel reading for this week from Luke 14:15-24 which you will find on page 82 of the Old Testament in our pew bibles. The Parable of the Great Dinner illustrates how God’s invitation to join him is extended to everyone regardless of their position in life. We must respond with a humble heart and a readiness to prioritise His Kingdom over earthly concerns. Notices 1. Running a Marathon for Project Shine Revd Graham Watts will be running 26 miles from Marlow Bottom to Henley via Little Marlow passing the All Saints' churches of Marlow and Bisham. He is doing this on the morning of Saturday 2nd May. A video of how he feels about this (!) and details of how you can sponsor him, should you wish to, can be found here: Running a Marathon for Project Shine! by Graham Watts This will be followed by a Family Fun Day from 2pm – 5pm at Lantern Church.Charlie Bear's Treasure Hunt. Marathon Art Challenge Exhibition and Craft Connection. Tea, coffee, cake, bar and bar snacks. Tombola and Bouncy Castle 2. Music at All Saints’ Marlow If you would like to unwind on a Sunday afternoon to the delights of classical music, then why not pop along to All Saints’ Marlow. Sunday afternoon recitals are usually at 3.30pm and are followed by tea and cake. 26th April Tom Brockington – organist Services and Events Sunday 26 April 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service Thursday 30 April 10.00am – 12.00pm Bisham Church Friends Coffee Morning and History Talk – The Vansittarts buy the Bisham Estate Sunday 3 May 8.00am at All Saints’ Bisham Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion Service Sunday 3 May 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service Sunday 10 May 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service followed by Annual General Meeting (AGM) in church Thursday 14 May Ascension Day Sunday 17 May 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Sunday after Ascension Day / Morning Communion Service Sunday 24 May 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Pentecost / Morning Communion Service Friday 29 May 10.00am – 12.00pm Bisham Church Friends Coffee Morning and History Talk – “The Shape of the Village” Sunday 31 May 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service Thank you for reading this week’s, Pew News. With love. Mark and Carol
Sunday 19 April: 3rd Sunday of Easter Our Service will be led by Revd Graham Watts As we enter the third Sunday of Easter, we continue to celebrate the gloriously risen Christ. The fifty days of Eastertide form a single festival period in which the tone of joy created at the Easter Vigil is sustained throughout the following seven weeks. We continue our new Sermon Series on being “Resurrection People.” His Resurrection brings us all hope and is a reminder that the story of Jesus did not end with His death on the cross. We follow his disciples on their journey, reflect on the Resurrection and meditate on it’s meaning for our own lives and faith. Reading and Gospel Our reading this week, from Isaiah 35: 3-6, is on page 690 of the Old Testament in our pew bibles. These verses emphasise God’s promise to strengthen, restore and bring joy to his people. Isaiah vividly portrays both miraculous healing and the renewal of life. “then the lame shall leap like a deer …. And waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.” The reading from Acts 3: 1-10 is on page 128 of the New Testament in our pew bibles. On his way to the temple with John, Peter miraculously heals a crippled beggar “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” The apostles are continuing Jesus’ ministry and reinforcing the belief that faith in Christ brings about transformation and healing. There is also an alternative Gospel reading for this week from Luke 7: 18-23 which you will find on page 70 of the Old Testament in our pew bibles. When asked if He is the one who is to come, Jesus responds by pointing to His ministry as evidence of His Messiahship: “ .. the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me” We are all reminded to remain steadfast in our faith and trust in Jesus whatever the circumstances that may arise. Notices 1. New Altar Frontal for All Saints’ Bisham Carol and Claire are currently developing designs for our new purple Altar Frontal. The budget is £5,000 … so if anyone does wish to contribute it would be much appreciated. Please speak to Carol or email our Treasurer Tim Linacre and he will help advise on the best way to help. tim.linacreasb@gmail.com Services and Events Saturday 18 April 1.00pm – 4.00pm at All Saints’ BishamChurchyard Tidy Up. Apologies but I am going to postpone this as I cannot be at church due to family commitments. Sunday 19 April 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham ... Morning Communion Service Sunday 26 April 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham ... Morning Communion Service Thursday 30 April 10.00am – 12.00pm ... Bisham Church Friends Coffee Morning and History Talk – The Vansittarts buy the Bisham Estate Sunday 3 May 8.00am at All Saints’ Bisham ...Book of Common Prayer - Early Communion ServiceSunday 3 May 9.30am at All Saints' Bisham ... Morning Communion Service Sunday 10 May 09.30am at All Saints’ Bisham ...Morning Communion Service followed by Annual General Meeting (AGM) in church Friday 29 May 10.00am – 12.00pm ... Bisham Church Friends Coffee Morning and History Talk – “The Shape of the Village” Thank you for reading this week’s, Pew News. Please note that Marlow Bridge is again due to be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians on 18 and 19 April. With love. Mark and Carol
Sunday 12 April: 2nd Sunday of Easter Our Service will be led by Revd Carol Cooper Following Easter Sunday, we now enter Eastertide. This is a festive period lasting 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost - including Ascension Day – during which we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Eastertide (or Paschal tide), our “First Reading” in our Resurrection People Sermon Series will be taken from the Acts of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke, provides a continuous narrative linking the ministry of Jesus to the development of the early church. Reading and Gospel Our reading this week from Acts 1:1-5 is on page 126 of the New Testament in our pew bibles. Following his Resurrection, Jesus appears before his Apostles many times over the course of the next 40 days, providing proof that he is still alive. His promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit foreshadows what will happen at Pentecost. The Gospel reading from Luke 24:44-49 is on page 97 of the New Testament in our pew bibles. As we approach the end of Luke’s Gospel, following the Resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples and reminds them that everything written about him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled as the continuation of God’s plan. “Being clothed with power from on high” again points to the Apostles’ future empowerment with the Holy Spirit. There is also an alternative Old Testament reading for this week from Isaiah 43:18-21. You will find it on page 699 of the Old Testament in our pew bibles. “Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing;” At a time of despair and when everything seems lost, The Lord offers words of hope and encouragement to his chosen people. Notices 1. All Saints’ Bisham Electoral Roll During the period 15th March to 12th April the annual review of the church electoral roll will take place. A copy of the current roll is on display in the church porch. If your name is already on the roll, you do not need to do anything - unless your contact details have changed in the last year. If you wish to be added to the roll an application form can be found at the back of the church. All completed forms can be left in the box found at the back of the church. Any completed forms received after the 12th April 2026 will not be added to the roll until after the AGM on 10th May 2026. 2. Project Shine …. Take on the Challenging 26! Congratulations to Graham Cooper. His Marathon Challenge Bikeathon has already raised a massive £990.21 versus a target of £500! Not taking part? You can still make a difference by sponsoring a participant, cheering them on, sharing their efforts, or praying for them. Details of the events to sponsor are here: https://bit.ly/Lan-26 3. New Altar Frontal for All Saints’ Bisham Carol and Claire are currently developing designs for our new purple Altar Frontal (replacing the one pictured below). The budget is £5,000 … so if anyone does wish to contribute it would be much appreciated. Please speak to Carol or email our Treasurer Tim Linacre and he will advise on the best way to help. tim.linacreasb@gmail.com Services and Events Sunday 12 April 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service Saturday 18 April 1.00pm – 4.00pm at All Saints’ Bisham Churchyard Tidy Up – all helpers welcome for no matter how long … please bring your own gardening tools Sunday 19 April 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service Sunday 26 April 9.30am at All Saints’ Bisham Morning Communion Service Thursday 30 April 10.00am – 12.00pm Bisham Church Friends Coffee Morning and History Talk – The Vansittarts buy the Bisham Estate Thank you for reading this week’s, Pew News. Please note that Marlow Bridge is due to be closed to all vehicles and pedestrians from 11 to 12 April. With love. Mark and Carol
