Sunday 21st September
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Sunday 21st September
9:15 am Family Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester
10:15 am Benefice Sunday Worship via Zoom
11:15 am Family Worship at Greens Norton Primary School followed by a Blessing of the new play equipment and family activities
6:00 pm Harvest Service with Bishop John at St Augustine's, Caldecote
Subscribe to our weekly Newsletter here.
Our weekly news contains details of services for this and next weekend, as well as daily bible readings, prayer requests and notices for forthcoming events.
Looking ahead to events and services that are happening please do look at the Monthly Calendar for September
Copies are available in churches for collecting especially for those who do not have emails.
Changes to Service pattern in September at St Bartholomew’s
Holy Communion will be taking place at St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton on Sunday 14th September and on Sunday 21st September there will be Family Worship at Greens Norton Primary School, followed by a Fun Day.
Dear all
The BBC has recently been broadcasting some of the Promenade Concerts from the Royal Albert Hall on television. Watching and listening to familiar well-loved pieces and hearing new work for the first time has been a treat. We have had first class performances from orchestras, choirs and world class soloists. At the end of each piece there is well deserved applause and the conductor summons the members of the orchestra to their feet. Then the conductor singles out individual players or small groups of players for added applause for their contribution to the music.
They are drawn usually from the woodwind or brass sections. Their contribution deserves applause. I cannot remember the second violins being asked to stand for special recognition. Nor the violas. And yet how thin, incomplete and lacking in depth and harmony the music would be if those players were not there. They are highly trained musicians. They too will have been through the Academy. They love their work and the music they help to create. They love giving pleasure to those who come to listen.
Playing in an orchestra or singing in a choir involves not just personal commitment and skill it needs everyone to listen to everyone else. It needs everyone to fit into the whole; being neither too loud nor too soft; keeping the same tempo. The second violins and the violas will be there but they will not stand out. During a broadcast the camera will not often focus on them for they are in the undistinguished centre and the camera hastens on to the more flamboyant players.
Similarly in the Christian church we are not called to shine ostentatiously but to play our part to enable the whole to flourish. What did Ananias do after he had ministered to Paul who had lost his sight after his conversion Acts 9. 10) ? Who was the angel who opened to door of the prison in Jerusalem to let Peter escape (Acts 12.7) ? Who were the disciples who enabled Paul to escape from Damascus by lowering from the wall in a basket (Acts 9.25) ?
May we likewise be eager to play our part, looking for no reward or recognition but rejoicing that our faith helps us to make sense of life and to live according to the values or the Kingdom.
With all good wishes
Greg
And finally, there are a good number of flyers in this email, though several things I've been asked to underline:
The Confirmation course has changed time by 30 minutes, so is now running from 8:00 pm to 9.30 pm on Thursdays.
MacMillan Coffee Mornings:
26th September at Greens Norton School time tbc
And on the 1st of October at Bradden Village Hall - 10:00 am to 12.30 pm
Harvest Supper
At Greens Norton Community Centre of Friday 3rd October at 6.30 pm
Ticket information in the flyer below.
Harvest Services:
Caldecote 6:00 pm on Sunday 21st September
Easton Neston 6:00 pm on Saturday 4th October
Greens Norton 11.15 am on Sunday 5th October
Towcester 9.15 am on Sunday 12th October
Bradden 9.15 am on Sunday 12th October
This is a change from Harvest being celebrated as part of Family Worship
St Lawrence Church Welcome Lunches
We are delighted to be running a second year of Welcome Lunches! Thank you to everyone who gave feedback after last year – based on this, we are making a few changes to how people are invited.
This year, if you would like to take part, we are asking you to put your name into a draw. From this, up to 30 places will be offered.
By putting your name forward, you are committing to:
- Attending all four lunches (dates below)
- Helping with setting up and catering as needed
Lunch dates:
- Saturday 5th October
- Saturday 25th January
- Saturday 26th April
- Saturday 19th July
At the back of church you will find a box and slips of paper. Please complete a slip by Sunday 21st to enter the draw.
If you are not invited this year, your name will automatically go onto the list for next year. If you have already attended previously, we encourage you to consider stepping back this year so that others can have the opportunity to join.
We look forward to sharing food, fellowship, and friendship together!
Coffee morning at St Bartholomew’s
£120 was raised from the coffee morning at St Bartholomew’s last Saturday which will go to the Children and Families Fund. £109 on the day and additional money since.
Towcester Primary School
Towcester Primary School are seeking regular weekly volunteers to listen to readers.
Please contact Elizabeth Sandham on 01327 350332 or office@towcester.pdet.org.uk for more information.
Ukraine
On 5th October Alex and Steve will likely be making their last drive to Ukraine. Alongside Northampton Becket Rotary, they will deliver and donate 2 ambulances full of aid - medical, rehabilitation, and humanitarian. Our ambulance will be particularly poignant, as it is being donated in memory of a volunteer paramedic friend of our aid team, who was sadly killed in August whilst helping others. Thank you to all those who have donated items and supported previously. It will cost £5500 to buy, drive, and donate this ambulance. It is always hard to fund these ambulances, but we know they help save lots of lives. If you would like to support this last trip, then please use the link below, pop into the Chantry Office or speak with Steve direct 07593700754 
https://www.justgiving.com/
Worship for this coming week
Lectionary Readings:
Please see the Weekly News for Lectionary Readings (Bible Gateway is currently not in use due to technical issues)
Amos 8: 4 - 7 1 Timothy 2: 1 - 7 Luke 16: 1 - 13
This week's Reflection by Revd Greg Roberts entitled God and Wealth
In Church Worship: details for this weekend and next weekend services are in the weekly news - which can be picked up in church.
Zoom Services:
The meeting rooms are opened approx. 15mins before the service is due to start. All the liturgy for the service will be displayed on the screen.
- Sunday 10:15 am Benefice Sunday Worship
- Monday to Saturday 9:00 am Morning Prayer (except on the first Tuesday of each month)
Benefice Office Hours
Monday to Friday
9:30 am to 1:00 pm
01327 350459
tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com
Key Ministry Team Contacts
The Rev'd Paula Challen (Rector) rector.tovebenefice@gmail.com
The Rev'd Greg Roberts (Associate Priest) TheRevdGregRoberts@
The Rev'd Nigel Clent (Assistant Curate) tovecurate@gmail.com
Sarah Barnett (Children and Families Leader) tovefamilies@gmail.com