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.

10th August 2025

 Eighth 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
Almighty Lord and everlasting God, we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments; that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion
Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands that have taken holy things; may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute; may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit; may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope; and may the bodies which have been fed with your body be refreshed with the fullness of your life; glory to you for ever.

Lectionary Readings for Easter Sunday:

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 15: 1 – 6
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

New Testament Reading:  Hebrews 11: 1 – 3, 8 - 16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Gospel: Luke 12: 32 – 40 
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

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
Linda Wibley
Nai Piper

Sick
Caroline Hunt
Jackie Parson
Bob Upton
Babs Stuchbury
Rob Jones

Rest In Peace
Michael Perry
Mildred Judd
Ian Sander
Alan Ratledge
Keith Oakley

Banns
Alistair Freer and Mollie Marshall at St Lawrence, Towcester
Sebastian Leveridge and Danielle Ross at St Lawrence, Towcester 

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.

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.

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