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25th January 2026

The Conversion of Paul

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The Collect
Almighty God, who caused the light of the gospel to shine throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul: grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion may follow him in bearing witness to your truth; 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
Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: by the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to witness to your truth and to draw everyone to the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Jeremiah 1: 4 – 10
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

NewTestament Reading:  Acts 9: 1 - 22
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

Gospel:  Matthew 19: 27 – end
Then Peter said in reply, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

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
Sophie Laffey
Rachel Batchelor

Sick
Bob Upton
Tilly
Revd Arthur Hughes
Connie Cowley
Caroline Hunt
Brian Manning

Rest In Peace
Nai Piper
Jock Hillyer
Derek Walsh
Pamela Gardner
Les Lefever

Benefice Notices

Bible Study Group 
We are looking forward to seeing all those who have indicated that they intend to be with us, however any who have not let us know of their intentions are also most welcome.
First meeting 27th January at 7:30 pm.
We will be following a booklet published by The Good Book Company which are available from the Chantry House (at £4 per copy). If you don't get one we can still accommodate you. Can we please ask you all to read 1 Corinthians chapters 1 & 2 in advance of our meeting so that we are all well prepared for an exciting time together. John Booth and Rev’d Nigel

Men at The Mill
Apologies for the confusion over recent meetings. The January meeting scheduled for 28th needs to be cancelled as there are benefice-wide PCC meetings on that evening. 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.

Soup, Sandwich and a Social Chat
Tuesday 3rd February.
We invite you 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.

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!

Snowdrop Saturday 31st January 2026
Come and view the snowdrops and cyclamen in St Bartholomew's churchyard. Plants for sale including snowdrops gathered from the churchyard. Hot drinks and homemade cakes or tea cakes available in the church with a quiz and children’s activity. Teas available 10:00 am to 12:00 noon and  2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

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 — its meaning, symbolism, and importantly how they can relate to the story in their own lives. To make this possible, we’d really love some help. 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 Monday and Tuesday 2nd and 3rd March in Greens Norton, Monday 9th to Friday 13th March in Towcester, and Monday 16th to Thursday 19th March in Towcester. If you might be interested, or would like to know more, please get in touch with Sarah Barnett at tovefamilies@gmail.com

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