Weekly News

Benefice Office Opening Hours
Monday to Friday -  9:30 am to 1.00 pm
Please note: from 28^th July,
during the school summer holidays the Benefice Office will be closing at 12:30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.

31st August 2025

 Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

Welcome
If you are new to this church, it is lovely that you can join us today. We produce this information on a weekly basis which you can have emailed to you along with other information about the benefice.
If you would like to go onto our regular mailing list please call 01327 350459
or email tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com



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The Collect
O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Post Communion
Lord of all mercy, we your faithful people have celebrated that one true sacrifice which takes away our sins and brings pardon and peace: by our communion keep us firm on the foundation of the gospel and preserve us from all sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Lectionary Readings for Easter Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Proverbs 25: 6 - 7
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen.

New Testament Reading:  Hebrews 13: 1 – 8, 15 – 16
Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Gospel:  Luke 14: 1, 7 – 14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, they were watching him closely.
7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host, and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers and sisters or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Please click here (or on the image) for This Weeks Daily Readings
 

Benefice Prayers 

We pray for those who are sick at this time and remember those who have recently died and pray for their families:

Continuing Prayers for
Debbie Morris
Ellen Jones

Sick
Caroline Hunt
Jackie Parson
Bob Upton
Rob Jones
William Ironmonger
Jane Small
Arthur Hughes
Bridget Hunt
Emily
Alan

Rest In Peace
Keith Oakley

Wedding 
James Allibone and Sophie Everett at St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton

Benefice Notices

Change to Office Opening Times
Please note, from 28th July, during the school summer holidays the Benefice Office will be closing at 12:30pm on Monday and Tuesdays.

Greens Norton Village Show - Sunday 31st August 2025
The Greens Norton Village Show will be held in various locations around the village, including St Bartholomew’s Church; the event is open from 1:30 – 3:30pm. Once again, we will be offering cream teas for visitors to the church. Thank you to those who have offered support, but if anyone else would like to bake scones, make homemade jam, donate double cream or strawberries, please get in touch with me: janejakes266@gmail.com. Your help would be much appreciated. This has been popular in the past and it is an opportunity for the church to be part of a village event, and to offer hospitality to people spending time in church, as well as contributing towards our fundraising efforts.

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 Family Worship at Greens Norton Primary School, followed by a Fun Day.

Our next Confirmation Course began in September.
We meet on Thursday evenings in the Chantry house starting on September 11th 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. We are open to everyone in the community with a view to helping people to feel less isolated and supporting them with their mental health. We 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.

Towcester Town Crier are looking for volunteers to deliver the magazine. Please contact the Town Hall on 01327 350995 if you are able to help out.

Ladies Night 
7:00 pm Thursday 11th September 2025 at Italian Restaurant, Amarone, 100 Watling Street West, Towcester, NN12 6BT
Please let Stephanie know if you would like to come. RSVP: stephaniejwatts@gmail.com by Thursday 4th September.

Ride and Stride - 13th September 2025
The Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride will be taking place on Saturday 13th 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 13th 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.
Please see the NHCT website for more information. www.nhct.org.uk

RIP Diary 
This is now in church please indicate with a tick if you would like your loved one/relative to be remembered, or add new.

Communion
Please can we ask and remind people to refrain from dipping (intinction) their wafer into the wine when receiving communion. Those administering the chalice do not wish to cause upset at the communion rail. The reason for non-dipping policy is on the bishop’s advice and twofold: firstly one of hygiene and secondly because we have members who are gluten intolerant. If you feel unable to receive the wine from the chalice then receiving in one kind means you are making a valid communion. Thank you for your understanding.

Easton Neston Church and Churchyard visitors
If you have previously registered your number plate for access to visit St Mary's Easton Neston Church and Churchyard and it is not working the gate, please would you let Bev know on 01327 354385.

Please click here, or on the image, for This Months Services