Weekly News

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

12th July 2026

The Sixth Sunday After Trinity

Welcome
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The Collect
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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. Amen.

Post Communion
God of our pilgrimage, you have led us to the living water: refresh and sustain us as we go forward on our journey, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Isaiah 55: 10 – 13
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle, and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

New Testament Reading:  Romans 8: 1 – 11
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed, it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Gospel:  Matthew 13: 1 – 9, 18 – 23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!” Hear, then, the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

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
Ann Atkin
Daniel Lawrence
Carol McCormick
Caroline Hunt
Mary Minnie

Rest In Peace
Canon Lesley McCormack
Jean Buckland
Michael Williams
William Salmons
Kathy Giddings
Brenda Roberts

Baptism  
Felicity Thompson

Wedding   
Sophie Hughes and Nathan Harris

Benefice Notices

Servers and Acolytes
We are looking for volunteers to train as Servers and Acolytes. These roles involve assisting during the service by carrying the cross, lighting candles, and helping at the altar. If you could spare one Sunday a month and are interested in helping, please speak to Chris Williams or contact her on 07718763900.

Pet Service
Join us for our first Pet Service at St Bartholomew’s on Sunday 12th July at 11:15 am. This relaxed service is a wonderful opportunity to come together and thank God for His creation and the companionship of our animals, and everyone is welcome – whether you own a pet or not. Please bring dogs on leads and other animals in secure carriers; if your pet would be happier at home or is no longer with us, you are most welcome to bring a photo instead. Please do invite friends and neighbours to join us for worship, and stay for a cup of tea in the churchyard afterwards.

Bible Study
One of the things we've heard over the past year is that Tuesday evenings don't work well for many people. In response, our weekly Bible Study will move to Wednesday evenings from September, beginning on Wednesday 2nd September. This year we'll be exploring the Book of Acts alongside the life and ministry of St Paul, discovering what the early Church can teach us about following Jesus, sharing the Gospel, and living as his disciples today. We'd love you to join us, whether you've been coming for years or are thinking about giving Bible Study a try for the first time.

Fellowship Groups
As we continue to develop our discipleship across the benefice, we are looking to start up Fellowship Groups in each of the parishes. These informal gatherings will meet in people's homes to share friendship, prayer, and conversation, using the previous Sunday's readings and sermon as a starting point. We're still exploring interest, so if you would like to host a group or simply be part of one, please speak to Revd Nigel, Revd Paula, or Revd Greg. We'd love to hear from you.

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