The collect and readiongs are omitted from this electronic edition for copyright reasons. To view the readings, click the links
First Reading Ezekiel 36.24-28
Second Reading Acts 16.16-34
Gospel John 17.20-26
We remember in our prayers
Sunday 20th May
The Anglican Communion
Church of North India: Durgapur – Bishop Probal Kanto Dutta
Monday 21st May
Northern Uganda - (Uganda) Bishop  Nelson Onono-Onweng
Hazelwood, Milford, Holbrook
Tuesday 22nd May
Northern Zambia - (Central Africa) Bishop Albert Chama
Clergy: Robert Harris. Readers: James Hinnells. Wardens: (Hazelwood) David Bentley, Brian Cantrill; (Holbrook) David Mellors, John Maxwell-Jones; (Milford) Bernard Owens, Cynthia Varney; Assistant Wardens (Shottle) James Hinnells, Roy Hicklin.
Wednesday 23rd May
Northwest Texas - (USA) Bishop C Wallis Ohl
MMA 44 - Allestree St Edmund, Darley Abbey
Thursday 24th May
Northwestern Pennsylvania - (USA) Bishop Robert Deane Rowley
Clergy: Chris Dyer, Jill Caldwell. Lay Curate: Peter Mallinson. Readers: Gladys Adlington, Bryan Cogley, Primrose Wolstenholme, Ruth Wragg, Deborah Simpson, Clive Lemmon, Melanie Hambly. Wardens: (St Edmund) David Halliwell, Joanne Fraser, (Darley Abbey) Clive Lemmon, Denise Sansom
Friday 25th May
Norwich - (Canterbury) Bishop Graham James
Norwich - Lynn - (Canterbury) Bishop James Henry Langstaff
Norwich - Thetford - (Canterbury) Bishop David John Atkinson
Allestree St Nicholas, Quarndon
Saturday 26th May
PRAY for the Archbishop of Canterbury and Churches in Communion with the See of Canterbury
Clergy: William Bates, Jill Needle. Readers: Hilary Smith, Bryan Jones. Wardens: (St Nicholas) Anna Hopewell-Ryan, Joan Sinclair, (Quarndon) John Rosser, John Waldron

Sunday Groaner:
Letter from the Rectory of St James the Least of All –  On church towers, rock cakes, scaffolding and the merits of confirming bats
My dear Nephew Darren
We are finally about to start repairing our medieval church tower. Would that we still paid medieval prices for having it done; there would be a degree of satisfaction in giving the builders a hogshead of ale and 10 sheep once the work was completed. I would even be prepared to throw in an Indulgence, sparing them 100 days in purgatory (the architect probably claiming 15% of them for himself).
After several endless jumble sales, coffee mornings – where we were obliged to eat Mrs Jarvis’s rock cakes
(many of us would have been happier to make a substantial donation to the fund provided we didn’t have to eat them) – sponsored events (Mr Peat has yet to return, five years late, from his sponsored cycle ride across the Sahara – but fortunately, we had his sponsor money collected before he departed) and a substantial loan from the bank that makes the National Debt seem trivial (and has the same probability of being repaid), we are now able to begin. The only sponsored event I regretted not having was paying to have Lady Trotter remain silent for a month. Even sponsoring her to keep quiet for half an hour would have been pleasant.
We received a substantial donation from a local manufacturer. It was suggested that as a sign of appreciation we advertise their products from the top of the tower – until it was gently pointed out that they produce nuclear warheads. I would have had no objection; knowing that council members possessed tactical nuclear weapons would make discussion at meetings rather brisker.
Scaffolding has now been erected around the tower, with the first 20 feet covered in sheet metal in order to stop the Young Farmers, after refreshing themselves at their Tuesday meetings in the pub, from trying to see who could be the first to reach the top. Personally, I suspect it is to stop the more athletic members of the Ladies’ Guild from attempting the same feat. Eighty year-olds these days can have fearsome energy and determination.
Fulfilling current safety regulations, there is now a security cordon around the tower of approximately 10 square miles. “Lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone”? These days, a dashed foot would involve court proceedings and damages of several million pounds.
Inside the church, the organ has had to be covered in polythene sheeting in order to protect it. Parish relations were somewhat strained last week when our deputy organist, Mrs Ffrench, while playing for Evensong, overheard me refer to the large bag on the organ and got quite the wrong impression.
The greatest inconvenience will be caused to our population of bats, but if it dissuades them from flying into church so much the better. The only other possibility is to get them all confirmed; we will then never see them inside church again.
Your loving uncle,
Eustace

NOTICES FOR THE WEEK
Sunday 20th May  - 7th Sunday of Easter
8.00a.m. Holy Communion - Sutton
9.30a.m. Mattins - Boylestone
9.30a.m. Holy Communion - Church Broughton
10.00a.m. Family Service - Longford
11.00a.m. Holy Communion - Dalbury
12noon Holy Communion - Trusley
1.30p.m. Holy Baptism - Boylestone
7.00p.m. Evensong - Long Lane
Wednesday 23rd May
2.30p.m. Funeral of Charles Michael Walker - Church Broughton
Friday 25th May
6.00p.m. Sutton Fete - Cricket Field
Next Sunday 27th May - PENTECOST
9.00a.m. (NB TIME) Holy Communion - Longford *
9.30a.m. Holy Communion - Boylestone *
9.30a.m. Mattins - Church Broughton
11.00a.m. Holy Communion - Long Lane
11.00a.m. Family Service - Sutton *
6.30p.m. Evensong - Radbourne
6.45p.m. Evensong - Trusley
* Please note that because of difficulty finding officiants the service of Holy Communion at Longford will be at the earlier time of 9.00a.m.. Services at Boylestone and Sutton may be late starting

ADVANCE NOTICE
Monday 28 May 4pm Duck Race - Boylestone

The Parish Pump and the Benefice entry to the South Derbyshire Churchman can now be found on the internet at: http://churchbroughtonchurch.blog.co.uk/