GORDON CHAPEL
Scottish Episcopal Church
Fochabers
Rev Frances Forshaw
Retired Clergy
Rev Roy Vincent
Eucharistic Ministers Janet Philpott
Daphne Stevens
Jean Grimshaw
Priest’s Warden
Margaret Forsyth
People’s Warden
Moira Middleton
tel: 01343 829094
tel: 01542 834705
tel: 01343 820196
tel: 01343 821731
tel: 01340 831808
tel: 01343 821808
tel: 01343 842985
All are invited to receive communion, we have an open altar here. If
you prefer you may come forward for a blessing from the Priest. We
welcome all visitors and invite you to sign the visitor’s book and then
join us for coffee in the Parish Room after the service.
Sunday 1st February Epiphany 4 Candlemas
10.00am
Eucharist
Sunday 8th February Epiphany 5
10.00am
Eucharist
Today’s readings
Malachi 3 v 1-4
Hebrews 2 v 14-18
Today’s Gospel
Luke 2 v 22-40
Today’s Readers
Joan Marsden
Audrey Abelsmith
Rev Frances Forshaw
Readings for Epiphany 5
Isaiah 40 v 21-31
1 Corinthians 9 v 16-23
Mark 1 v 29-39
For your diary
To be advised
Diocesan cycle of Prayer
We pray for David our Primus, for Mark our Bishop and for Frances our Priest
and their families. We pray also for the congregation of St Andrew’s
Cathedral, Inverness: Peter Simpson, Iain Macritchie.
Our Diocese is now a Fair Trade Diocese and all the churches in it
have signed up to be Fair Trade. Can we make sure that the tea and
coffee for Sunday are Fair Trade please. If you know of any coffee you
may prefer that is also Fair Trade please let us know.
Presentation of The Lord in the Temple
First Reading Malachi 3 v 1–5
A reading from the book of the prophet Malachi.
Thus says the LORD God: See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the
way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his
temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight – indeed, he is
coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he
appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and
refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in
righteousness.
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in
the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for
judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the
adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the
hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who
thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Psalm 84
How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! My soul has a desire and
longing for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living
God.
The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she
may lay her young; by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King
and my God.
Happy are they who dwell in your house! they will always be praising you.
Happy are the people whose strength is in you! whose hearts are set on
the pilgrims’ way.
Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, for
the early rains have covered it with pools of water.
They will climb from height to height, and the God of gods will reveal
himself in Zion.
Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O God of Jacob.
Behold our defender, O God; and look upon the face of your anointed.
For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, and to
stand at the threshold of the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the
wicked.
For the Lord God is both sun and shield; he will give grace and glory;
No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity.
O Lord of hosts, happy are they who put their trust in you!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Second Reading
Hebrews 2 v 14–18
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.
Since the children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the
same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the
power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held
in slavery by the fear of death.
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of
Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every
respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service
of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those
who are being tested.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Please notify Brenda Shepherd 01343 842179 or email
brenda02@tiscali.co.uk by Thursday of any items you would like
included in the Sunday notice sheet.