Update on Sunday Worship

Sunday 13th September

The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

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Sunday
  9:15 am  Holy Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester
  9:15 am  Holy Communion at St Michael's, Bradden
11:15 am  Family Worship at Greens Norton Primary School Greens Norton
  4:00 pm  Evensong at St Mary's, Easton Neston 


Subscribe to our weekly Newsletter here.

Our weekly news contains details of services for this and next weekend, as well as daily bible readings, prayer requests and notices for forthcoming events. 

Looking ahead to events and services that are happening please do look at the monthly calendar for September

Copies are available in churches for collecting especially for those who do not have emails. 



Dear freinds,

Last week I wrote about new beginnings and Back to Church Sunday, and about the opportunities we have to invite others to come and discover something of the life and faith we share. This week, I want to celebrate another way in which that faith is being shared, through something that began right here in the life of our benefice.

Many of you will know Jane Jakes, one of our Lay Readers, and many more will have read the reflections she has written over the years for our Benefice Magazine. Those reflections have now become a book, My Grandad’s Bench: Reflections of Life and Faith.

What began when Jane was tentatively encouraged to contribute an article to the magazine has grown into a collection of reflections drawn from childhood memories, family life, everyday encounters and the people and experiences that have shaped her. Running gently through them all is Jane’s Christian faith and her ability to notice God in the ordinary things of life.

One of the things that has particularly encouraged Jane has been discovering that her writing speaks not only to those who are already part of the church, but also to people beyond our church community. In that sense, this book is more than simply a collection of magazine articles. It is another expression of Jane’s ministry and of her desire to help others discover something of God for themselves.

I have had the privilege of watching Jane grow into her calling to lay ministry over the past ten years, and it was a real joy to be asked to write the foreword to the book. I hope many of you will enjoy reading it and perhaps think about buying a copy for someone else too. With Christmas on the horizon, it might even make the perfect Christmas gift!

There is another lovely part to the story. Jane has generously pledged 50% of the income she receives from sales of the book to St Bartholomew’s Church, Greens Norton, as a thank you for the encouragement and support she has received within the Tove Benefice.

My Grandad’s Bench is available from Amazon UK £1.99 for Kindle or £7.99 for paperback. 

A couple of reminders…

Choral Evensong is this Sunday at 4.00 pm at St Mary’s, Easton Neston. Do come and join us for this beautiful service of evening prayer. The music will include the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in E flat by Watson.

And looking ahead to the following weekend, we have our Family Communion with Thanksgiving at St Lawrence Church, Towcester, at 9.15 am on Sunday 20th September, as we celebrate and give thanks for the completion of our heating, lighting and projection project. If you are planning to join us, please remember to RSVP by this Sunday, 13th September.

With my prayers 

Revd Paula Challen 
Rector

Could you spare a little time?

I’m on the lookout for a few lovely people with a little time and energy to spare.

There are two areas where some extra hands would make a huge difference:

Sponne Wellbeing Club 
Tuesday and/or Thursday lunchtimes, 1.30 pm to 2.10 pm. This is all about getting to know our secondary school pupils, building and sustaining relationships, and helping us provide a calm, welcoming place where young people can eat lunch, chat, make friends and simply be.

Open the Book
Join our friendly team taking Bible stories into our local primary schools. It involves simple drama and storytelling (no acting experience required!), helping children encounter Bible stories in a lively and memorable way. It’s great fun and only involves occasional sessions.

Both roles require a DBS check and safeguarding training, but Bev or I will help you through all of that, and there’s no cost involved – other than a little of your time.

If either of these makes you think, “Actually, I could do that…”, please do get in touch with me. Even occasional help would be very gratefully received!

This is the new name for the Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust sponsored event taking place on Saturday 12^th September with churches in Northamptonshire taking part along with many more all over the country.  Participants plan a route to walk, cycle, horse ride or drive a car, on their own or in a group, visiting churches, many of which are open with people to welcome them and nearly all with basic free refreshments.  It was agreed at the recent AGM that participants should be allowed to drive between churches.  It is hoped that more older and less mobile supporters can take part and that many churches, especially those on busy roads or rather out of the way, will receive more visitors and more people will take delight in Northamptonshire’s beautiful churches.

St Lawrence Towcester is planning to be open between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on the 12^th September and we are looking to set up a rota of people willing to spend an hour or two in the church to welcome any visitors.  Welcomers can be sponsored but it is not essential.  We are also hoping to have participants raising sponsorship by cycling, walking or driving (50% of the basic amount excluding Gift Aid is returned to the church of your choice).
I am planning to do four separate walks between some of the local and not so local churches and I already have someone who is going to walk with me.  We are happy if anyone else would like to join us for all or part of the day. I would also welcome sponsorship and will be putting a sponsor form in the Chantry Office.
Anyone interested in finding out more, please contact Val Hartley on 07511 636883 or val.e.hartley@btinternet.com
 
Other churches in the benefice are also taking part:-
St Michael, Bradden will be open, unmanned from10:00 am to 6:00 pm
St Mary, Easton Neston will be open with welcomers from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
St Bartholomew, Greens Norton will be open with welcomers from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with refreshments.
 
There is information about NHCT and Ride, Stride and Drive on the NHCT website www.nhct.org.uk also showing photos of 2025 participants and their stories.

Worship for this coming week