Weekly News

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

Weekly News

12th January 2025
 
Baptism of Christ

Welcome
If you are new to this church, it is lovely that you can join us today. We produce this sheet on a weekly basis which you can also 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

The Collect
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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
Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit
complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

OT Reading: Isaiah 43: 1 – 7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight and honored and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

NT Reading: Acts 8: 14 – 17
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16 (for as yet the Spirit had not come[a] upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John[b] laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Luke 3: 15 - 17, 21, 22
As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[a] 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

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
Lynne Linney
Ursula Beary

Benefice Notices

Last call for candles for Ukraine
We have had an amazing response to this recycling appeal. Last donations please by Sunday 12th January to all Benefice churches. All candles to St Lawrence by midday Monday for dispatch Monday pm.

Towcester Christmas Tree Festival
Thank you to all who contributed to or visited this year’s Christmas Tree Festival in St Lawrence Church. We had over 25 trees decorated from across the community, which were mostly themed to Narnia. £257 was raised for church funds, and £125 was raised for Ukraine Children’s Aid, for which Barbara Booker and Mel are personally grateful for.

Sponne Wellbeing 
There is a joint wellbeing project starting with Year 7 & 8 at Sponne in January courtesy of Churches Together. We need short, simple games for this session. These are games such as Jenga, Dominoes, Dobble, Pictionary, Connect 4, Guess Who or even packs of cards - anything that is quick and easy to play. These would be gratefully received as we bring this project to life.

Week of prayers for Christian Unity
7:00 pm on 21st January at St Thomas More Church. Led by the Methodist Church, please do consider joining us.

The next Men at the Bull
Meeting will be Wednesday 22nd January.

All You Need Is Love Concert
On Saturday 15th February at 7:30 pm in St Lawrence Church, there will be a joint concert performed by Towcester Studio Band and the Songbirds. The concert coincides with the 3rd Anniversary of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, and half of ticket sales plus all other funds raised (raffle, refreshments, gifts) will go to our Ukraine Aid efforts. Tickets £10 on the door.

Christianity Explored
This is an informal and relaxed 8 week course. It is for anyone who wants to think more about the meaning of life. It is run by ordinary Christian people local to you and is completely free. You don’t need to know anything about the Bible, and you won’t be asked to pray or sing! You can ask any question you like or just sit and listen… oh, we also provide a 2-course meal for you before the discussion! The course is facilitated by Churches Together in Towcester and will run from Thursday 30th January and every Thursday, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Tove Valley Centre. For more information call the Benefice office on 01327 350459, email info@tvbf.co.uk or scan the QR code





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