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8th February 2026

The Second Sunday before Lent

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.
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The Collect
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. Amen.

Post Communion
God our creator, by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church: may we who have been nourished at your table on earth be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross and enjoy the delights of eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Genesis 1: 1 – 2.3
When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all their multitude. On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

NewTestament Reading:  Romans 8: 18 – 25
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Gospel:  Matthew 6: 25 – 34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

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
Ann Taylorr

Sick
Tilly
Revd Arthur Hughes
Brian Manning
Connie Cowley
Barbara Townsend
Caroline Hunt
Shannon Moore
John Smith

Rest In Peace
Jock Hillyer
Derek Walsh
Les Lefever
Pamela Gardner
Peter Curtis

Confirmation St Lawrence, Towcester
Adam
Daniel
James
Louise 
Mike

Benefice Notices

Tuesday Bible Study attendees please read Acts 2 in preparation.

Ash Wednesday Services with Imposition of Ashes will take place on Wednesday 18th February, 10:15 am at St Lawrence, 7:30 pm at St Bartholomew’s.

Experience Easter
This March, we’re excited to be welcoming local Key Stage 2 children from primary schools in Greens Norton and Towcester into church for Experience Easter. Through interactive prayer spaces, the children will explore the Easter story. There are up to three sessions each day (two in the morning and one in the afternoon), each just over an hour long, running on 2nd and 3rd March in Greens Norton, 9th to 13th March in Towcester, and 16th to 19th March in Towcester. If you can offer any help please get in touch with Sarah Barnett: tovefamilies@gmail.com 

Men at The Mill
Our next meetings will be on 25th February, 25th March and 22nd April. Please put these dates in your diary and make strenuous efforts to join us. All men are welcome whether you have been before or not.

Do you have a spare room and would benefit from some extra company/ income?
Liudmyla came to the UK from Ukraine almost 4 years ago, and due to a change in her hosts circumstances is looking for a new temporary host. Liudmyla, 67, is well known to us, being related to our Ukrainian friends and aid volunteers here in Towcester, Oleh and Uliana. During her time here, Liudmyla has gained good basic English and is very active volunteering at the Renew cafe and with our Little Sprouts group. Under the current UK Govt scheme a host is paid £350pm. Please let me know if you are interested in meeting Liudmyla and potentially offering her a temporary home. Steve Challen 07593 700754

Confirmation Course
Bishop Ed Condry will be confirming candidates who recently completed the course at 3:00 pm on 8th February at St Lawrence Church, Towcester.
Please pray for those awaiting their confirmation.
The service will include full immersion baptism. Please can we hold in our prayers: Adam, Daniel, James, Louise and Mike. All are most welcome to attend the service and support the candidates, they would appreciate your presence in this significant step of faith. If anyone can help by making a cake for the service we would be very grateful. Please drop off at St Lawrence.

Ash Wednesday Services with Imposition of Ashes will take place on Wednesday 18th February.
10:15 am at St Lawrence, 7:30 pm at St Bartholomew’s.

The next Ladies Night Out will be on Thursday 26th February 7:00 pm at the Rice Bowl in Towcester, menu details will be supplied shortly. There are a firm 24 places available (3 tables of 8 people). Please RSVP by 10th February to Stephanie at stephaniejwatts@gmail.com Please include in your email all allergies and dietary requirements. It should be another fantastic night out!

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