Weekly News

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

22nd June 2025

 First Sunday after Trinity

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.
If you would like to go onto our regular mailing list please call 01327 350459
or email tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com



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The Collect
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; 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.

Post Communion
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts: may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lectionary Readings for Easter Sunday:

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65: 1 – 9
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name. I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; who sit inside tombs and spend the night in secret places; who eat the flesh of pigs, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; who say, “Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together, says the Lord; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions. Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, “Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,” so I will do for my servants’ sake and not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.

New Testament Reading: Galatians 3: 23 – end
Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Gospel: Luke 8: 26 – 39
Then they arrived at the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on shore, a man from the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had not worn any clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, shouting, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me,” for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding, and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd stampeded down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they became frightened. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then the whole throng of people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for 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
Tim Lewis                      
Nai Piper
Phyllis Wright
Joan Brennan
Sally Watts
Caroline Hunt
Lily Watkins
Jackie Parson

Rest In Peace
Derek Higham
Wayne Langford
Sylvia Taylor
Ashley Moore

Benefice Notices

Men at The Mill 
After being a little nomadic we seem to have settled on The Mill as being the most appropriate venue for our meetings. After discussions within the ministry team it appears that the best date for the benefice's calendar is the fourth Wednesday in the month. So the next times for gathering will be as follows:
25th June, 23rd July, 27th August, 24th September.
Please make a note in your diary. I do hope that by putting these dates out before everyone that a good number of us may be able to gather together and put right many of the world's ills. I look forward to seeing you in about two weeks time. John Booth (07887423195)

To all volunteers for Sidesperson, Reader, Intercessor and Chalice Assistant for St Lawrence -
Please let Mary know the dates you are unavailable (Sundays only) for August/September. email to - volunteer.tovebenefice@gmail.com

Heart Music are offering a brilliant matinee performance of show tunes and much more in St Lawrence Church at 3pm on Saturday 21st June as part of Towcester Midsummer music. Please take this easily accessible opportunity for an enjoyable afternoon of entertainment. Tickets £5 on the door.

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.

Cakes, Traybakes, scones needed - for St Lawrence Church Fete & Craft Fair on Sunday 29th June.
Please deliver to the Chantry House on Friday 27th June or the Vicarage on Saturday 28th June.

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