Weekly News

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

14th September 2025

 Holy Cross Day

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
Almighty God, who in the passion of your blessed Son made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace: grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer for his sake; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Post Communion
Faithful God, whose Son bore our sins in his body on the tree and gave us this sacrament to show forth his death until he comes: give us grace to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he is our salvation, our life and our hope, who reigns as Lord, now and for ever. Amen.

Lectionary Readings for Easter Sunday:

Old Testament Reading:  Numbers 21: 4 - 9
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, but the people became discouraged on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it upon a pole, and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

New Testament Reading:  Philippians 2: 6 - 11
who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel:  John 3: 13 - 17
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through 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
Linda Wibley
Nai Piper

Sick
Caroline Hunt
Jackie Parson
Bob Upton
William Ironmonger
Jane Small
Arthur Hughes
Margaret Brown
Emily
Alan

Rest In Peace
Bridget Hunt
Sheila MacLeod

Wedding
Thomas Harrison and Gemma Emerton at St Lawrence, Towcester

Benefice Notices

Changes to Service pattern in September at St Bartholomew’s
Holy Communion will be taking place at St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton on Sunday 14th September and on Sunday 21st September Family Worship at Greens Norton Primary School, followed by a Fun Day.

Ukraine
On 5th October Alex and Steve will likely be making their last drive to Ukraine, donating an ambulance full of aid in memory of a volunteer paramedic friend of our aid team, who was sadly killed in August. If you would like to support this last trip, then please pop into the Chantry Office or speak with Steve direct 07593700754 🙏

New Project 
Every first Tuesday of the month starting on the 7th October we invite you to join us for Soup, Sandwich and a Social Chat in the Chantry House from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm
A small donation would be appreciated. Please speak to Gail or Eileen.

St Lawrence Welcome Lunches – Year Two
We’re delighted to be running another year of Welcome Lunches! This time, up to 30 places will be offered by draw. If you’d like to take part, please put your name in the box at the back of church by Sunday 21st.
By entering, you commit to attending all four lunches (5th Oct, 25th Jan, 26th Apr, 19th July) and helping with set-up and catering as needed. If you aren’t invited this year, you’ll be on the list for next year. If you’ve attended before, please consider giving others the chance to join.

Bridget Hunt’s Funeral will take place at 12:00 noon on 22nd September at St Michael’s Church, Silverstone.

Our next Confirmation Course began in September.
We meet on Thursday evenings in the Chantry house starting on September 11th at 7.30 pm, for eight weeks. Please do let a member of the clergy know if you would like to be part of the group or whether a family member or friends may be interested to proceed to confirmation or join us as a refresher in the faith. These groups are great opportunities to ask any questions about faith, life, the Bible.

Renew169 is a Wellbeing Café in Towcester and is a place where it is OK not to be OK. We are open to everyone in the community with a view to helping people to feel less isolated and supporting them with their mental health. We are now in need of some new trustees, up to a maximum of three. In particular, we urgently need someone who could be our treasurer – if that could be you, please contact Dr Lynn Suter, Chair of Trustees at lis@suter.uk.com. Other people who feel called to be a trustee may also contact Lynn at the same email – thank you.

Ride and Stride - 13th September 2025
The Northamptonshire Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride will be taking place on Saturday 13th September with churches in Northamptonshire taking part along with many more all over the country. Participants plan a route to walk, cycle, horse ride etc, 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. Some participants drive round the churches which is ok as long as their sponsors don’t mind!
St Lawrence Towcester is planning to be open between 10am and 6pm on the 13th 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. It is very unlikely you be inundated and you may not be able to welcome anyone at all during your hour. Welcomers can be sponsored but it is not essential. We are also hoping to have participants raising sponsorship by cycling or walking (50% of the basic amount excluding Gift Aid is returned to the church of your choice) I am planning on either cycling or walking between some of the local, or maybe not so local, churches and would be happy to have anyone else with me. 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 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
St Mary, Easton Neston will be open and manned from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
St Bartholomew, Greens Norton will be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, manned from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with refreshments.
Please see the NHCT website for more information. www.nhct.org.uk

Clothing and Rags 
Recycling fundraising at St Lawrence accepted until Sunday 19th October. Clothes, belts, bags and shoes. No Bedding items. Donations in church or to the Vicarage garage. Thank you.

RIP Diary 
This is now in church 24th October 2025 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