| Rector: | Revd Paula Challen |
| 01327 350459 | rector.tovebenefice@gmail.com |
| Associate Priest: | Revd Greg Roberts |
| 01156 461770 | TheRevdGregRoberts@outlook.com |
| Assistant Curate: | The Revd Nigel Clent |
| tovecurate@gmail.com | |
| Children & Families: | Sarah Barnett |
| 07813 404061 | tovefamilies@gmail.com |
| Benefice Safeguarding: | Bev James |
| 07553 157175 | safeguarding.tovebenefice@ |
| Benefice Office: | Michelle and Amanda |
| 01327 350459 | tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com |
Benefice Office Opening Hours
Monday to Friday - 9:30 am to 1.00 pm
17th May 2026
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
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.
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or email tovebeneficeoffice@gmail.com
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Please contact us using the Your Comments page, by email to 360musafa@gmail.com, or by contacting the Tove Benefice Office.

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The Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we in heart and mind may also ascend and with him continually dwell; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Post Communion
God our Father, you have raised our humanity in Christ and have fed us with the bread of heaven: mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings, we may set our hearts in the heavenly places; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lectionary Readings for Sunday:
| New Testament Reading: | Acts 1:6-14 |
| Gospel: | John 17: 1-11 |
New Testament Reading: Acts 1:6-14
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Gospel: John 17: 1-11
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

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
William Ironmonger
Sick
Connie Cowley
Caroline Hunt
Richard Watts
Arthur Hughes
David Shield
Rest In Peace
Caroline Eyre
Jean Duck
Tim Knights
Peter Cox
Mabel Stock
Banns
Nathan Harris and Sophie Hughes at St Lawrence, Towcester
Funeral
Peter John Cox at St Lawrence, Towcester on Thursday 21st May
Benefice Notices
Raffle Tickets
Tickets for the St Lawrence Church Grand Draw are on sale in St Lawrence. Please place your completed ticket stubs in the envelope provided and post through the Vicarage postbox or bring to the Fete.
Pentecost Sunday
Both Towcester and Greens Norton will have special services. The Greens Norton service will be changed from a BCP Communion to a Pentecost Communion with Hymns.
God & Chips
Wednesday 20th May, 7:00 pm at St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton. Please purchase your tickets (£7:50) in advance from Revd Nigel or The Chantry House Office.
St Lawrence Fete
Sunday 28th June. Helpers needed for stalls and games. Tombola items also needed – bottles, boxes of biscuits and chocolates, smellies, new small gifts. Please drop into the Chantry House Office or contact Steve Challen 07593700754
APCMS
Please note dates for the APCMS are as follows:
Saturday 2nd May APCM following Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Easton Neston at 6:00 pm.
Sunday 10th May APCM following Holy Communion at St Lawrence, Towcester at 9:15 am.
Sunday 10th May APCM following Holy Communion at St Michael’s, Bradden at 9:15am.
Sunday 17th May APCM following Holy Communion at St Bartholomew’s, Greens Norton 11:15 am.
Benefice Service
Sunday 31st May. We are looking for Volunteers to make cakes. Please let the office know if you are able to make one.
Greens Norton Village Fete
Sunday 14th June. Helpers needed. Please speak to Revd Greg or Roberta if you can help.
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

