Weekly News

Benefice Office Opening Hours
Monday to Friday -  9:30 am to 1.00 pm
Please note the office will close at 11:30 am on Friday 27th February.
 

22nd February 2026

The First Sunday of 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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or email tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com



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The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; 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 God, you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven; by it you nourish our faith, increase our hope, and strengthen our love: teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and enable us to live by every word that proceeds from out of your mouth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Genesis 2: 15 – 17, 3: 1 - 7
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

NewTestament Reading:  Romans 5: 12 – 19
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— for sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam, who is a pattern of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Gospel:  Matthew 4: 1 – 11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

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
Tilly
Connie Cowley
Barbara Townsend
Caroline Hunt
Brian Manning
John Smith
Roger Howe   

Rest In Peace
Peter Curtis

Benefice Notices

Men at The Mill – Our next meeting is on 25th February, please make strenuous efforts to join us. All men are welcome whether you have been before or not.

St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton - Wednesdays during Lent 
Holy Communion service at 12:00 noon, followed by a soup lunch. All are welcome.

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

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.

World Day of Prayer 2026 Nigeria
This year the service will be at Towcester Methodist church, Brackley road on Friday 6th March at 10:30 am. There will be singing, you will hear accounts from women from Nigeria. All welcome. Refreshments served.

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

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

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.

Benefice Office
Early Closure.
Please note the office will close at 11:30 am on Friday 27th February.

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