Services in the Benefice at the weekend:
Sunday 22nd December
9:15 am Family Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester
10:1 5am Benefice Sunday Worship via zoom
11:15 am Holy Communion at St Bartholomew's, Greens Norton
6:00 pm Lessons and Carols at St Lawrence, Towcester
6:00 pm Lessons and Carols at St Augustine's, Caldecote
Services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:
Christmas Eve - Tuesday 24th December
4:00 pm Crib Service at St Lawrence, Towcester
6:00 pm Crib and Carols at St Michael's, Bradden
6:00 pm Holy Communion at St Mary's, Easton Neston
11:00 pm Holy Communion at St Bartholomew's, Greens Norton
11:00 pm Holy Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester
Christmas Day - Wednesday 25th December
10:00 am Holy Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester
10:00 am Holy Communion at St Michael's, Bradden
10:00 am Crib Service at St Bartholomew's, Greens Norton
11:15:00 am Holy Communion at St Augustine's Caldecote
First Sunday of Christmas (29th December)
9:15am Benefice Service at St Mary's, Easton Neston
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.
Dear all
This is the last mailing of the year so as you will see above there are details of services not only for the coming weekend, but also for next weekend as well. The next mailing will be sent on Friday 3rd January. The Benefice Office will be closed over from today, until Thursday 2nd January. During this time if you need to speak to a member of clergy please call Revd Greg on 01156 461770 or email TheRevdGregRoberts@outlook.com
As the John Lennon song goes “So this is Christmas…” Well not quite, this is the 4th Sunday in Advent as we light the final purple candle and then in just a few days we do celebrate Christmas.
The John Lennon song goes on to say “and what have you done?” I wonder what you have done this Advent in terms of watching and waiting for the return of Christ? I hope that you have found the reflections during Advent, with its links to Narnia readings, helpful. I hope that you have had the opportunity to engage with more than just the Sunday morning services. I hope that God has spoken to you afresh in this season.
In addition to our normal monthly pattern of leading services both inside and outside of the church buildings, this past week we have welcomed and visited our local school communities for their Christmas Services. Over the past month we have welcomed people from across the community to Christingles and various types of carol services. Some people we will see just once, others we will see several times during the month, but what about the rest of the year?
We live in a society where there are ever increasing pressures from work, home and family life and little space to be. We are 'expected' to cram in more and more that we get to breaking point... In the midst of all this, regularly 'going to church' can be just another added pressure that is all too much!!! And yet, when we do make the 'extra effort' to go to church lots of people say how helpful it is to their overall wellbeing. I am not saying this to pile on more pressure to attend yet another thing, but actually for each of us to consider, as we move into a New Year, our overall health - body, mind and soul. What does John 10 mean for us? Reflecting v10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." What things we do are like a thief who 'comes only to steals, kills and destroys' us and our ability to be part of a church community more than just occasionally? What does 'life abundantly' mean and look like for us?
To finish this week (& this year), I came across this video this week which was released 11 years ago called the Christmas Scale. May you find space to watch it (under 3mins) and may it be 'the best news in the world' for you this Christmas time and into 2025.
With my prayers
Revd Paula Challen
Rector Tove Benefice
Candles for Ukraine
We are working alongside other churches in the deanery this Christmas period to collect the remnants of candles for reuse. These will be collated and taken to a factory in Swindon where they are melted down to make trench candles and provide light for the displaced who don’t have electricity. Please donate all unwanted candles used or new into collection boxes which will be at each of our churches.
From the Belfry
Recent weeks have been busy for the ringers at St. Lawrence. On 23rd November we had an outing to Nottingham. We had an enjoyable day travelling around by tram and ringing at six churches, three in the city centre and three out of the centre.
We started at two churches in Clifton, both of which have very light bells so making a different experience from Towcester. Corpus Christi is a Catholic church with a very unusual tower.
The tram then took us into the city where we rang at All Saints; home of the Nottingham University Society of Ringers. After lunch we visited St. Mary’s and St. Peter’s, both, like St. Lawrence, with rings of 12 bells.In contrast, our last tower of the day was at Wilford which has just five bells.
After Wilford it was on the tram again back to our cars at the Park & Ride. After a short drive to Kegworth we arrived at the Anchor Inn which provided us with an excellent supper. Despite the efforts of storm Bert, we had a very enjoyable day out.
Last Friday, 13th December, you may have noticed that there was no ringing practice! This was because it was the St. Lawrence Society’s annual dinner. Once again we were at the Butcher’s Arms in Greens Norton where members and friends enjoyed an excellent meal and good company. There were no speeches this year but toasts were made to the Church and the visitors.
If you like the sound of this sort of social activity, ringing may be for you! Do get in touch as we welcome people who would like to learn to ring.
In the run up to Christmas, we are looking forward to extra ringing for the special services and we would like to wish all of the Church community a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
Worship for this coming week
22nd December 2024
The FourthSunday of Advent
Worship for this coming week
Lectionary Readings:
these links will take you to Bible Gateway from the NIV:
Hebrews 10: 5 - 10 Luke 1: 39 - 45 (45 - 55)
This week's Reflection by Jane Jakes entitled "Love came down at Christmas"
In Church Worship:
Details for services are in the Services for This Month.
This can be picked up in church.
Zoom Services:
The meetings rooms are opened about 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 Opening Times
9.30 am to 1:00 pm Monday to Friday
01327 350459
The benefice office will be closed over from today, until Thursday 2nd January.
During this time if you need to speak to a member of clergy please call Revd Greg on 01156 461770 or email TheRevdGregRoberts@outlook.com
For details of how to make a donation to your local parish church, please click here.