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18th January 2026

The Second Sunday of Epiphany

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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The Collect
Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post Communion
God of glory, you nourish us with your Word who is the bread of life: fill us with your Holy Spirit that through us the light of your glory may shine in all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Isaiah 49: 1 – 9
Listen to me, O coastlands; pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born; while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I have answered you; on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, “Come out,” to those who are in darkness, “Show yourselves.” They shall feed along the ways; on all the bare heights shall be their pasture.

NewTestament Reading:  1 Corinthians 1: 1 – 9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel:  John 1: 29 – 42
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas”(which is translated Peter).
 

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

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

Benefice Notices

Bible Study Group 
Recommences on Tuesday 27th January at the Chantry House, 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm. This is an 8 week course on the Holy Spirit recommended by John Booth, (with a break for half term on Tuesday 17th February. There will be Ash Wednesday services on Wednesday 18th February.) The contents of the course include topics such as ‘The Spirit and the Bible’, ‘The gift of the Spirit’, ‘The Spirit and You’.

Men at The Mill will next meet on 28th January at 7:30 pm at The Mill in Towcester.

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 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
In the New year the Snowdrops in St Bartholomew's churchyard are beautiful. To see them the Churchyard is always open but you can chance to buy your own snowdrops gathered from the churchyard last year. On one Saturday in January/February 2026 they will be available in church, together with hot refreshments. As is often the way, Nature will always have the last say and, as such, no date can yet be fixed. Adverts will be place around the village when the flowers are approaching their best for everyone to come and see the spectacle. Come and buy your own snowdrop or several other species of snowdrop as well as violets and primroses from the churchyard. Look out for further information in the New Year.

Last opportunity to purchase your copy of “10 Minute Tales” by Towcester Writer’s Group, all profits in aid of our Ukraine Charity work. Books available from the Chantry House or Steve Challen - £10 each.

Used / unwanted candles are once again being collected after Christmas for remelting in aid of Ukraine.
Please collect along with friends and drop into St Lawrence by 18th January.
No tea lights please.

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