Weekly News

Benefice Office Opening Hours
Monday to Friday -  9:30 am to 1.00 pm

15th March 2026

Mothering Sunday

Welcome
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The Collect
God of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful: watch over us and hold us all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post Communion
Loving God, as a mother feeds her children at the breast you feed us in this sacrament with the food and drink of eternal life: help us who have tasted your goodness to grow in grace within the household of faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Exodus 2: 1 – 10
Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

New Testament Reading:  2 Corinthians 1: 3 - 7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.

Gospel:  Luke 2: 33 – 35
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

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 Taylor

Sick
Tilly
Connie Cowley
Barbara Townsend
Caroline Hunt
Richard Watts
John Smith 

Rest In Peace
Stanley Judd
Brian Manning
Jean Coleman
Roger Howe
Dave Riecken

Banns  
Giorgos Markitanis and Anna Oreszczyn at St Lawrence, Towcester
Benjamin Preece and Lucy Hoey at St Lawrence, Towcester

Benefice Notices

St Lawrence Easter Lilies 
If you would like to donate money for Easter lilies in memory of a loved one, please leave your donation at the Benefice Office in an envelope, written clearly with the names of those you wish to be remembered.


Palm Sunday Benefice Service in Bradden 
Due to circumstances beyond our control we have not been able to find a pony to lead our procession. But we will still walk and sing gathering at the Village Hall and walking to the church. Meet just after 10:00 am.

Clocks Change
Reminder that clocks go forward on Sunday, 29th March 2026 (Palm Sunday)


Changes to times of services
Please note from March the zoom Morning Prayer will move from 9:00 am Monday to Thursday to 8:15 am, (the Saturday Morning Prayer will remain at 9:00 am) and Holy Communion on the first Tuesday of the month will move from 9:00 am to 8:15 am.

Vergers for Baptisms
We are always looking for vergers for baptisms. If you or anyone you know would like to become a verger please contact the office on 01327 350459.

Soup, Sandwich and a Social Chat 
The last one before the summer break will take place on Tuesday 24th March. Please come to join us for lunch in the Chantry House from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm. A small donation would be appreciated. Please speak to Gail or Eileen for more details.

Bradden 
There will be a tea and cake afternoon in aid of Parkinsons UK on Wednesday 25th March 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Bradden Village Hall. Soft drinks and cake will be served along with a raffle and a showing of Margaret and Emma’s TV adventure as they step into The Yorkshire Auction House.
In aid of Parkinsons UK. We do hope you will be able to join us.

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

Renew169 are looking to run a Wellbeing group in collaboration with Sponne School on Friday afternoons. They are arranging a volunteer information evening at Renew169 on Thursday 19th March from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm where there will be drinks and nibbles to find out more about this proposed project and volunteering for Renew169 in general.

Sara
Sara from the Benefice Office is leaving at the end of March. I am sure you will all join me in wishing her well and thanking her. We will therefore be advertising for a new Admin Assistant, 12 hours per week, Monday to Wednesday, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. We are particularly looking for someone with knowledge of how the Church of England works and with some finance experience. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact the Benefice Office for details.

Palm Sunday 
Revd Greg is looking for readers for the Passion Reading & anyone who would like to take part please speak with him.

Good Friday 
Calling all actors! Churches Together are planning a Good Friday retelling of the Easter story in the Market Square, and everyone is welcome (there will be Crème Eggs!). We’re looking for people willing to take part - there are a few speaking roles and plenty of non-speaking parts to help bring the story to life. If you can help, please speak to Revd Paula or Revd Nigel.

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