Weekly News

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

1st June 2025
 
Seventh Sunday of Easter

Welcome
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The Collect
O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion
Eternal God, giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom: confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lectionary Readings for Easter Sunday:

New Testament Reading: Acts 16: 16 - 34
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a female slave who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order
you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men, these Jews, are disturbing our city and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us, being Romans, to adopt or observe.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

New Testament Reading: Revelation 22: 12 - 14, 16 – 17, 20 – end
12 “See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.
16“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let everyone who hears say, “Come.” And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. 20 The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.

Gospel: John 17: 20 – end
I ask not only on behalf of these but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me
where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them and I in them.”

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

Sick
Tim Lewis                      
Nai Piper
Phyllis Wright
Joan Brennan
Sally Watts
Caroline Hunt

Rest In Peace
Derek Higham

Benefice Notices

Bible Study Group of Mark’s Gospel led by Revd Nigel Clent will start on Tuesday, 27th May, 7:30 pm start and finishing at 9 pm, which is the week following the end of John Booth's Hebrew's study group. Join us as we journey into the Gospel of Mark, not just reading the words but exploring the world behind them. In this engaging 90-minute class, we’ll uncover the context of Mark’s Gospel: who wrote it, why it was written, what was happening politically and spiritually at the time, and how that shapes our understanding today. With clear teaching, short video clips, and even a bit of freeze-frame acting to bring the story to life, we’ll look at how this fast-paced, powerful Gospel speaks into both the struggles of the first century and the challenges of our own. All are welcome—no prior knowledge needed, just curiosity and a willingness to explore!

Greens Norton Fete – Sunday 8th June 1-4pm at Bengal Manor Gardens. This is an important fundraiser for the parish and school, please support us with your attendance and buy raffle tickets.

Founder’s Day Service – Towcester Grammar School will take place on 1st July at 7pm at Lawrence Church, followed by refreshments at Sponne School.

St Lawrence Grand Draw Tickets are now available to collect from the Chantry House Office, and from the back of Church.
Priced at £1 each, with a 1st Prize of £100 and over a dozen other great prizes.
Please return stubs and monies to the Vicarage or Chantry House Office.
The draw will take place at the Fete on Sunday 29th June.

Tombola donations and helpers needed for St Lawrence Church Fete & Craft Fair which will be held on Sunday 29th June.
Please drop items to the Chantry House or Vicarage or contact Steve Challen on 07593700754 with offers to help this very busy event.
Thank you.

The coach has been cancelled to Peterborough Cathedral for Nigel’s priesting and lifts have been arranged.
Everyone should now have a place in a car if required. The people who are giving lifts will be in touch with you.

Revd Nigel's First Communion 
Join us as we celebrate following his Priesting! Sunday 6th July at 3:00 pm, St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton (there will be no morning service at St Bartholomew's that day).
The service will be a special occasion and we’d love you to come along to support Revd Nigel, Jayne & their family.
Refreshments will be served afterwards at the Greens Norton Community Centre – please sign up if you're coming, so we can cater accordingly.
Call the Benefice Office on 01327 350459. Offers of sweet or savoury baking are very welcome! Let your Churchwarden know if you can help, or use the sign-up sheet at the back of church.

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