Sunday 21st December
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Saturday 20th December
4:00 pm Lessons and Carols at St Lawrence, Towcester
Sunday 21st December
9:15 am Family Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester
10:15 am Benefice Sunday Worship via Zoom
4:00 pm Carols by Candlelight at St Bartholomew's, Greens Norton
6:00 pm Lessons and Carols at St Augustine's, Caldecote
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.
Details of all our Christmas Services can be found here.
Looking ahead to events and services that are happening please do look at the monthly calendar for December
Copies are available in churches for collecting especially for those who do not have emails.
Dear Friends,
If you have ever been on a journey with children, the question “Are we nearly there yet?” will be very familiar, often followed by the reply, “Just a few more miles, x minutes, nearly.”
A few years ago, Christopher used to ask this just as we pulled off the drive to go anywhere, often followed by a groan from Steve or me.
The final days of Advent, as we head towards Christmas, feel a little like that. We find ourselves caught between a secular world already celebrating with parties and concerts, and the Church, which is still waiting and reflecting.
The good news is, said in a whisper, we are nearly there.
The first three weeks of Advent have been wonderful. We have shared Advent Carols; Soup, Sandwich and Social; Bible studies; services in residential homes; school, nursery and tots group services; coffee mornings and Christmas meals; and, of course, events like Hog, Hits and Hallelujah and Phoenix Singers (thanks to all who attended on Monday evening £1,000 was raised for St Mary's Church). Our young people have led three Christingle services, and this week Christingle was even taken into Brook House by Dawn and the Parker / Watkins family, where residents made Christingles, marshmallows rather than jellies as older teeth and jellies are not a good mix, and the children sang Sing Christingle.
This weekend, across the benefice, after our morning services, we begin to sing Christmas carols. There are many opportunities over the coming week to join in, so please do look at the posters below and come along to one or more of these events.
Just a note that there is no Zoom service on Christmas Day, and all Christmas Day services will be at 10:00 am.
Christmas Day meals are being prepared and delivered by a wonderful group of volunteers from across our community, working in partnership with the Rotary. A huge thank you to all involved.
For those who are on their own, or simply looking for something to do between Christmas and New Year, do not forget the St Lawrence Christmas Tree Festival. With over 30 trees decorated by the community, it will be open every day, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Thank you to everyone who has offered to open and close the church.
This week's mailing is the last one of the year and includes information and weekly news for everything up to the end of December. The office is closed from 1:00 pm Christmas Eve until Friday 2nd January when the first mailing of 2026 will be sent.
Revd Lulu has asked me to share with you the time of Thanksgiving Service for Lynne Linney will take place at St Lawrence on Saturday 10th January at 3.00 pm.
Finally, all that remains for me to do, on behalf of all the clergy, is to wish you and those you love a very blessed, peaceful Christmas and a healthy New Year.
With my prayers
Revd Paula Challen
Rector,
Forthcoming Events
Worship for this coming week
Lectionary Readings : (these links will take you to Bible Gateway from the NRSV):
Sunday 21st December
Isaiah 7: 10 – 16 Romans 1: 1 - 7 Matthew 1: 18 – end
Christmas Day
Isaiah 62: 6 - end Titus 3: 4 – 7 Luke 2: 8 – 20
Sunday 28th December
Isaiah 63: 7 - 9 Hebrews 2: 10 – end Matthew 2: 13 - end
In Church Worship: details for this weekend and next weekend services are in the weekly news - which is at the top of this mailing or can be picked up in church.
This weeks reflection by Revd Nigel Clent is entitled Fourth Sunday of Advent
Christmas Eve reflection by Revd Paula Challen is entitled If We Had Known…
Christmas Day reflection by Revd Paula Challen is entitled We’ve Made It, and This Is Only the Beginning
Zoom Services:
The meeting rooms are opened approx. 15mins before the service is due to start. All the liturgy for the service will be displayed on the screen.
- Sunday 10:15 am Benefice Sunday Worship
- Monday to Saturday 9:00 am Morning Prayer (except on the first Tuesday of each month)
Benefice Office Hours
Monday to Friday
9:30 am to 1:00 pm
The office is closed from 1:00 pm Christmas Eve until Friday 2nd January
01327 350459
tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com
Key Ministry Team Contacts
The Rev'd Paula Challen (Rector) rector.tovebenefice@gmail.com
The Rev'd Greg Roberts (Associate Priest) TheRevdGregRoberts@
The Rev'd Nigel Clent (Assistant Curate) tovecurate@gmail.com
Sarah Barnett (Children and Families Leader) tovefamilies@gmail.com
