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.
 

1st March 2026

The Second 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, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ, 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, you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Genesis 12: 1 – 4a
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

NewTestament Reading:  Romans 4: 1 – 5, 13 - 17
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Gospel:  John 3: 1 – 17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through 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
Sophie Laffey
Rachel Batchelor

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

Rest In Peace
Peter Curtis
Stanley Judd

Baptism               
Jude Shiers at St Lawrence, Towcester

Banns                           
Benjamin Preece and Lucy Hoey at St Lawrence, Towcester

Benefice Notices

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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