Update on Sunday Worship

Sunday 31st August 

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 31st August
10:15 am Benefice Service at St Lawrence, Towcester


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 August

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 14^th September and on Sunday 21^st September there will be Family Worship at Greens Norton Primary School, followed by a Fun Day.

Dear friends,

Last week Revd Greg reflected on communication, with a particular focus on the many ways we try to share what is happening across our Benefice and the wider community. As you will have read, we communicate in a variety of ways to meet the needs of as many people as possible, yet there are still those we don’t reach, and some who perhaps feel overloaded with so much information that they have no space for yet another email.

Sometimes I get quite frustrated, because I often seem to be the one who has to remind people about things that are happening or coming up. Other people’s style is much more: “This is in the plan for today, and I’ll worry about tomorrow or next week when it comes.” I have always had a “big picture view,” with a questioning mind that says: If A happens there, then it will affect B or C — will that be okay? Whereas those who only “worry about today” might say: Why bother? Things are bound to change by the time you get there. Both of our styles undoubtedly rub each other up the wrong way.

As humans, we are quite good at doing that — seeing the wrong in the other and not in ourselves. Then, when others speak to us in the same way we speak to them, we become offended. Do we really think through how what we say is received? If we received communication in that manner, how would we respond? Do we stop and think, or do we shoot from the hip and not worry about how it will land?

As a ministry team, this past week we have been studying the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation. These letters to the seven churches ask us what Christ might be saying to us today. In one of our conversations we reflected on how Jesus is both loving and compassionate, yet also bold and truthful. We shouldn’t shy away from saying difficult things, but we should always do so with love and compassion for our fellow human beings.

In last Sunday’s reflection and sermon at Greens Norton, Jane Jakes spoke about the greatest and the least, and in this week’s gospel we find Jesus teaching about the guests at a banquet. None of us are right all the time. None of us are above the pay grade. Together we are called to humility, compassion, and to share in the banquet of God’s kingdom.

And one way we live that out is by joining in the life of our churches and communities, so let me share a few of the things coming up.

• This Sunday: Benefice Service at 10:15am at St Lawrence Towcester, followed by the Greens Norton Village Show from 1:30pm–4pm. Do come along to support both of these opportunities.

• Wednesday next week: God and Chips at the Butchers Arms — please speak to Revd Nigel.

• Next Sunday: Family Worship restarts with a 9:15am service in Towcester. (Greens Norton will not restart until 21st September, just for this month, and will be held at Greens Norton School as part of Family Fun Fest.)

• Heritage Weekend, 13–14 September:

  • Saturday 13th: Ride and Stride across the churches (see below for how you can support this) and at 7pm the South Northants Detectorists Event at St Michael’s Bradden (see poster below for details and ticket information).

  • Sunday 14th: Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Easton Neston. If you would like to join the scratch choir for this service, please speak to Judith about rehearsal times.

Being the planner that I am, I have just finished the next service rota, which takes us to the end of January, and before the summer holidays I also met with the music team to plan for Advent and Christmas Carol Services. I can hear the groans already (smiling face).

With my prayers 

Revd Paula Challen 
Rector

Our next Confirmation Course will begin in September. 
We will meet on Thursday evenings in the Chantry house starting on September 11^th at 7.30 pm, for eight weeks. Please do let a member of the clergy know if you would like to be part of the group or whether a family member or friends may be interested to proceed to confirmation or join us as a refresher in the faith. These groups are great opportunities to ask any questions about faith, life, the Bible.

Renew169 is a wellbeing café in Towcester and is a place where it is OK not to be OK. The café is part of the national Renew network which began in Nottingham. We are open to everyone in the community with a view to helping people to feel less isolated and also supporting them with their mental health. The charity was started in 2018 as a Churches Together initiative. We have had quite a few changes at trustee level and are now in need of some new trustees, up to a maximum of three. In particular, we urgently need someone who could be our treasurer – if that could be you, please contact Dr Lynn Suter, Chair of Trustees at lis@suter.uk.com. Other people who feel called to be a trustee may also contact Lynn at the same email – thank you.

The Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride
This will be taking place on Saturday 13^th September with churches in Northamptonshire taking part along with many more all over the country.  Participants plan a route to walk, cycle, horse ride etc, on their own or in a group, visiting churches, many of which are open with people to welcome them and nearly all with basic free refreshments.  Some participants drive round the churches which is ok as long as their sponsors don’t mind! 
St Lawrence Towcester is planning to be open between 10am and 6pm on the 13^th September and we are looking to set up a rota of people willing to spend an hour or two in the church to welcome any visitors. It is very unlikely you be inundated and you may not be able to welcome anyone at all during your hour.  Welcomers can be sponsored but it is not essential.  We are also hoping to have participants raising sponsorship by cycling or walking (50% of the basic amount excluding Gift Aid is returned to the church of your choice)
I am planning on either cycling or walking between some of the local, or maybe not so local, churches and would be happy to have anyone else with me. I would also welcome sponsorship and will be putting a sponsor form in the Chantry Office.
Anyone interested in finding out more, please contact Val Hartley on 07511 636883 or val.e.hartley@btinternet.com
Other churches in the benefice are also taking part:-
St Michael, Bradden will be open, unmanned from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
St Mary, Easton Neston will be open and manned from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
St Bartholomew, Greens Norton will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, manned from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with refreshments.
There is information about NHCT and Ride and Stride on the NHCT website www.nhct.org.uk also showing photos of 2024 participants and their stories.
 

Worship for this coming week