Update on Sunday Worship

Sunday 13th April 

Palm Sunday

Benefice Services for Sunday 
9:15 am Holy Communion with liturgy of the Palms and Passion Reading at St Lawrence, Towcester 
9:15 am Holy Communion with liturgy of the Palms and Passion Reading at St Michael's Bradden
10:15 am Benefice Sunday Worship for Palm Sunday via Zoom
11:15 am Palm Sunday Family Worship at St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton

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.  Copies are available in churches for collecting especially for those who do not have emails.

Looking ahead to events and services that are happening please do look at the Monthly Calendar April. Copies are available in churches for collecting especially for those who do not have emails.

Dear freinds,

This week's mailing is information heavy lots of details that I need to pass onto you, in case you have not heard me / Greg say them in church over the last few weeks. 

Starting with some news which was shared by the diocese on Wednesday morning that the Bishop of Brixworth, the Right Reverend John Holbrook has announced he will retire later this year. After 14 years of dedicated service to the Diocese, Bishop John will lay down his crozier on 30 September 2025. The full article is available to view on the Diocesan website. I am sure you will join us in praying for Bishop John & his wife Elizabeth, giving thanks for their ministry amongst us and for their future retirement. 

Secondly, there are a number of requests that have been in the mailing and weekly news recently which I ask you please to take a few moments to complete. 

• The first of these is a final reminder that you need complete Electoral Roll Forms before the deadlines of Monday 14th for Easton Neston and Greens Norton and Monday 21st for Towcester and Bradden.  Once these dates have passed we cannot add anyone until after the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). Please use the links further down this email or pick up a form from church. 
• The second of these is to make sure you have APCM dates in your diaries.  The Benefice Report has now been compiled and will be shared electronically in next weeks mailing with a few paper copies available from churches. Like last year these will be held as part of our worship service for that day.  There are a number of vacancies on PCCs and we currently have no Churchwarden offers for Greens Norton - please do consider standing for office, supporting your clergy and your church community.  If you are unable to make the APCM please can you let Churchwardens or PCC secretaries know. 
  • St Mary's Easton Neston Saturday 3rd May at 6pm 
  • St Bartholomew's Greens Norton Sunday 4th May at 11:15am 
  • St Michael's Bradden and St Lawrence Towcester with St Augustine Caldecote both Sunday 11th May at 9:15am 
• The third of these is the INQUE safeguarding survey the diocese sent out a communication this week to say that they would like to hear the voice of more parishioners and those who are under 18s.  We all know safeguarding is important, particularly with what we have seen in the news recently.  As a diocese and as parishes it is important that we understand what we are doing well, but also (and more importantly) where we need to make improvements. Please do complete the survey which can be found here - there are more than one survey so select the one that is right for you and should take no more than 10mins to complete. 

On Saturday in Towcester there is an event organised by the Town Centre Manager to promote the shopping in town.  The focus will mainly be around the Town Hall and the Sponne Arcade.  Sarah and other members of St Lawrence Church will have a stall in Sponne Arcade with some games and sharing details of service and groups as well as the information boards about Ukrainian Aid.  Pop along and say hello. 
 
As we enter continue to journey through Passiontide (which started last Sunday) we arrived this weekend at Palm Sunday as we travel with Jesus in the final week of his life on earth and his resurrection.  A week filled with intense emotions and one when we invite you to consider coming along to something that you haven't been to before in addition to your normal Holy Week discipline.  As Christians we are called to be changed and transformed, please consider how this year you are going to set aside time to immerse yourself in the opportunities this week holds. 

• Palm Sunday 9:15am  Holy Communion with liturgy of the Palms and the Passion reading at both Towcester and Bradden : 10:15am Morning Prayer on zoom : 11:15am Palm Sunday Family Worship at Greens Norton : 5pm Towcester Choral Society Concert including music from Rutter's Requiem and Vaughan William's Lark Ascending (tickets £15)
• Holy Monday 9am Morning Prayer on zoom 
• Holy Tuesday 9am Morning Prayer on zoom : 12 noon Healing and Wholeness Service at Greens Norton : 7:30pm Healing and Wholeness Service at Towcester 
• Holy Wednesday 9am Morning Prayer on zoom : 10:15am Holy Communion at Towcester : 12 noon Holy Communion followed by soup lunch at Greens Norton 
• Maundy Thursday clergy will be at Peterborough Cathedral for the 10:30am Chrism Service (renewing our ordination vows and collecting new blessed oils) : 7:30pm Last Supper with feet washing, stripping of the church and watch till midnight at Towcester 
• Good Friday 9am Morning Prayer on zoom : 10am Churches Together Walk of Witness starting outside the Town Hall with service for those with mobility issues running concurrently in St Lawrence Church : 12noon Hour at the Foot of the Cross at Greens Norton : 2pm-4pm Treasure Box Family Event exploring Prayer at Towcester : 6:30pm Stations of the Cross at Catholic Church containing reflections from Julian of Norwich
• Easter Eve 9am Morning Prayer on zoom : Treasure Box Family Event exploring Prayer 10am-12noon at Bradden and 2pm-4pm at Greens Norton : 6pm Easter Communion at Easton Neston 
• Easter Sunday 9:15am Easter Communion at Towcester and Bradden : 10:15am Easter Morning Prayer on zoom : 11:15 Easter Communion at Greens Norton and Caldecote : 3pm Family Event with Easter Egg Hunt at Easton Neston (suggested donation £5 per family).

Finally, an apology, last Sunday was John Booth's 80th birthday, which unfortunately I completely missed.  I am sure you will join me in wishing John a very happy belated Birthday. 

I hope that as you draw closer to the cross you will experience Christ afresh and that as he reveals himself to you more and more you will grow in your faith and the calling God places on each of our lives. 

With my prayers 

Revd Paula Challen 
Rector 

Forthcoming Events

Preparation of a New Electoral Roll

IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY COMPLETED YOUR FORM YET.
PLEASE NOTE THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE ELECTORAL ROLLS ARE EITHER 14th OR 21st APRIL. 
PLEASE ALSO MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON THE CORRECT LINK FOR YOUR PARISH CHURCH.
 
Under the direction of the Church of England the Electoral Roll has to be completely renewed every six years rather than revising the existing roll.  2025 is a year in which a new Roll is to be prepared.
 
The new roll, is now open for each of our churches and details of when they close are listed below please complete your form in good time.
 
If you are currently on the Electoral Roll, you MUST complete and return a new form by the deadline to be included on the new one.
 
We are trialling a new way of compiling the Electoral Roll this year using online forms. Forms will be available in both electronically and as paper copy.  Online form will be collated automatically we ask that any paper forms are returned to Churchwardens, Electoral Officer within the parish or the Benefice Office so that they can be added to the system and distributed to the Electoral Roll Office for each church in time for the APCM. The online form can be found by clicking on the link below.  If you would prefer a paper copy these can be collected from church.

• St Lawrence Towcester, please return these forms to the Benefice Office either electronically or as hard copy by MONDAY 21^st APRIL 2025 click here
• St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton please return these forms to the Benefice Office either electronically or as hard copy by MONDAY APRIL 14^th 2025 click here
• St Mary’s, Easton Neston please return these forms to the Benefice Office either electronically or as hard copy by MONDAY APRIL 14^th 2025 click here
• St Michael’s, Bradden please return these forms to the Benefice Office either electronically or as hard copy by MONDAY 21^st APRIL 2025 click here

This new Roll will stand until 2031 and whilst there will be periods of time during these six years when the Roll is closed (approaching the Annual Meeting’s), applications to join can be made anytime outside of these closures.
 
Thank you
The Electoral Roll Officers of the Benefice