BOOKING ESSENTIAL FOR LIVE WORSHIP: Rufford, Roy (01704)821464: Tarleton, Neil (01772)816390
Churches open for private prayer
Monday: Tarleton, 10am-3pm
Tuesday: Rufford, 10am-3pm
Wednesday: Tarleton, 10.30am-3pm
Thursday: Rufford, 10am-3pm
Friday: Tarleton, 10am-3pm
Saturday: Rufford, 10am-3pm
Sunday 25 April – 4th Sunday of Easter
8am Eucharist, St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
10.30am: Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton
(also virtual on our Facebook page.)
The 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.
First Reading – Acts 4.5-12
4. 5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9 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, 10 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. 11 This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’
From Psalm 118
Refrain: The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men; it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Refrain I will thank you for you have answered and you are my saviour. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes. Refrain Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We bless you from the house of the Lord; I will thank you for you have answered and you are my saviour. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. Refrain
New Testament – 1 John 3.16-end
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 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? 18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 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. 24 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.
Gospel – John 10.11-18
10. 11 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 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. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 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.’
Prayer intentions
🙏🏼 We pray for the Cathedral, Dean and canons; for the vaccination centre based there and its staff
🙏🏼 For those preparing to be confirmed on May 7th: Marie, Harry, Neve, Leah, Amy, Isabella, James, Emily & Shaunah.
🙏🏼 For the sick and those in need: Zena Ashcroft, Margaret Baxter, Colin Brown, Bill Duggan, Wayne Jackett, Jimmy Johnstone, Paddy MacDonagh, Lillian Magrath, Ruth Middlesborough, Roland Orr, Donald Sephton, Mary Sephton & Amanda Soady
🙏🏼 Year’s mind: Katherine Barron, Phyllis Corless, Elizabeth Ellen Rogerson, Elsie Harrison, Annie Wareing & Roger John Wyatt Wynne. May they Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer, we pray for those living in Gorse Lane.
Monday 26th April – MARK the Evangelist
Today’s readings – Acts 15.35-end, Psalm 119.9-16, Ephesians 4.7-16 & Mark 15.5-13
🙏🏼 We pray for prisoners, prison officers, prison chaplains, governors, and support staff.
Tuesday 27th April – Christina Rossetti, Poet, 1894
Today’s readings – Acts 11.19-26, Ps.87 & John 10.22-30
🙏🏼 We pray for all working in the food chain.
Wednesday 28th April – Peter Chanel, Missionary, Martyr
10am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton
Today’s readings – Acts 12.24-13.5, Ps. 67 & John 12.44-end.
🙏🏼 We pray for hospital and community pharmacies.
Thursday 29th April – Catherine of Sienna, teacher of the faith, 1380
7.00pm Eucharist, St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Today’s readings – Acts 13.13-25, Ps. 89.16-20 & John 13.16-20
🙏🏼 We give thanks for those working in local communities to support their neighbours.
Friday 30th April – Pandita Mary Ramabai, translator, 1922
Today’s readings – Acts 13.26-33, Ps. 2 & John 14.1-6
🙏🏼 We pray for all keeping communications going.
Saturday 1st May – PHILIP and JAMES, Apostles
Today’s readings – Isaiah 30.15-21, Psalm119.1-8 & John 14.1-14
🙏🏼 We give thanks for the example of Philip and James.
Next Sunday – Sunday 2nd May – 5th Sunday of Easter
8am Eucharist – Holy Trinity, Tarleton
10.30am Eucharist – St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Today’s readings – Acts 10.44-end, Psalm 98, 1 John 5.1-6 & John 15.9-17
🙏🏼 We pray for all leading and enabling worship today, especially Fr Mark and our wardens.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in Haig Avenue and Hazel Grove.
Fr Mark: Phone: 01772 814431
Mobile: 07968 753978
