02 February 2025
10:30 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
The first weekend in February and our services were an all age Eucharist at 10 am. To make the story of the presentation of Our Lord in the Temple also known as Candlemas the children held lighted candles and stood to gather with Father Chris as he read the Gospel story. The choir sang the Nunc Dimitis as the Anthem in the setting by CV Stanford in C ( see music page for more information.
After the service there was a workshop for young people to learn more about reading in public, and we look forward to sering put these skills into action in future serviced.
In the Afternoon at 3:30 we has Choral Evensong where we sang the Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis (Stanford in C) and an anthem. After this lovely service of prayer and praise we had tea and cake in the rooms.
Our next event will be a St David's day supper on 1st of March. Once again Dr Platts will cook a meal this time with a Welsh theme for us to meet and eat in the Parish rooms. Tickets from the Church Wardens £15 for 3 courses!
A reading from the book of the prophet Malachi.
Thus says the Lord God:
See, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek
will suddenly come to his temple.
The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—
indeed, he is coming,
says the Lord of hosts.
But who can endure the day of his coming,
and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
and he will purify the descendants of Levi
and refine them like gold and silver,
until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
will be pleasing to the Lord
as in the days of old and as in former years.
Then I will draw near to you for judgement;
I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers,
against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely,
against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages,
the widow, and the orphan,
against those who thrust aside the alien,
and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Hebrews 2:14-18
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.
Since the children share flesh and blood,
he himself likewise shared the same things,
so that through death
he might destroy the one who has the power of death,
that is, the devil,
and free those who all their lives were held in slavery
by the fear of death.
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels,
but the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every respect,
so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest
in the service of God, t
o make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested by what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.
Luke 2:22-40
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
When the time came for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
they brought him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in the law of the Lord,
‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’),
and they offered a sacrifice
according to what is stated in the law of the Lord,
‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;
this man was righteous and devout,
looking forward to the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus,
to do for him what was customary under the law,
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’
And the child’s father and mother
were amazed at what was being said about him.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary,
‘This child is destined
for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be opposed
so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—
and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was of a great age,
having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,
then as a widow to the age of eighty-four.
She never left the temple
but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day.
At that moment she came, and began to praise God
and to speak about the child
to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything
required by the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favour of God was upon him.
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We reach the last Sunday in January and our 10 am service was a Eucharist celebrated by Father Chris. We continue to look at the early life of Jesus and his ministry.
The Choir sang a setting of the Ave Verum Corpus by a contemporary composer, David Terry. (See music page for more details)
There was coffee after the service.
Next week is Candlemas and we have Choral Evensong at 3:30 in the afternoon!
A reading from the book Nehemiah.
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate.
They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses,
which the Lord had given to Israel.
Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly,
both men and women and all who could hear with understanding.
This was on the first day of the seventh month.
He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate
from early morning until midday,
in the presence of the men and the women
and those who could understand;
and the ears of all the people were attentive
to the book of the law.
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people,
for he was standing above all the people;
and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God,
and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands.
Then they bowed their heads
and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
So they read from the book,
from the law of God, with interpretation.
They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe,
and the Levites who taught the people
said to all the people,
‘This day is holy to the Lord your God;
do not mourn or weep.’
For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.
Then he said to them,
‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine
and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared,
for this day is holy to our Lord;
and do not be grieved,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
For just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body, though many, are one body,
so it is with Christ.
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—
Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—
and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot were to say,
‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’,
that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear were to say,
‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’,
that would not make it any less a part of the body.
If the whole body were an eye,
where would the hearing be?
If the whole body were hearing,
where would the sense of smell be?
But as it is,
God arranged the members in the body,
each one of them, as he chose.
If all were a single member, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many members, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’,
nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’
On the contrary,
the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and those members of the body that we think less honourable
we clothe with greater honour,
and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;
whereas our more respectable members do not need this.
But God has so arranged the body,
giving the greater honour to the inferior member,
that there may be no dissension within the body,
but the members may have the same care for one another.
If one member suffers, all suffer together with it;
if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ
and individually members of it.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles,
second prophets, third teachers;
then deeds of power, then gifts of healing,
forms of assistance, forms of leadership,
various kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
Do all possess gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
But strive for the greater gifts.
Luke 4:14-21
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke/
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit,
returned to Galilee,
and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.
He began to teach in their synagogues
and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth,
where he had been brought up,
he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day,
as was his custom.
He stood up to read,
and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him.
He unrolled the scroll
and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll,
gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.
The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to say to them,
‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
19 January 2025
the third Sunday in January and a choice of services at 10 am. In the Church Matins and in the Hall, crafty communion.
The choir sand the Benedictus in C by CV Stanford and the anthem was 'The Lamb' words by William Blake setting by John Tavaner. We missed Father Roger, who was at Oving this morning, but we had our Church Warden to lead the service, and Joanna our Music director to lead the singing of the sentences.
The Sunday School held their family lunch after the Crafty Communion. Meanwhile the Matins congregation had coffee and biscuits in the rooms.
Despite the cold weather we had a good number attending.
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Lord says this:
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians.
Concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters,
I do not want you to be uninformed.
You know that when you were pagans,
you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.
Therefore I want you to understand
that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’
and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities,
but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit
for the common good.
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom,
and to another the utterance of knowledge
according to the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
to another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy,
to another the discernment of spirits,
to another various kinds of tongues,
to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit,
who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
John 2:1-11
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him,
‘They have no wine.’
And Jesus said to her,
‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?
My hour has not yet come.’
His mother said to the servants,
‘Do whatever he tells you.’
Now standing there were six stone water-jars
for the Jewish rites of purification,
each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’
And they filled them up to the brim.
He said to them, ‘Now draw some out,
and take it to the chief steward.’
So they took it.
When the steward tasted the water that had become wine,
and did not know where it came from
(though the servants who had drawn the water knew),
the steward called the bridegroom and said to him,
‘Everyone serves the good wine first,
and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk.
But you have kept the good wine until now.’
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee,
and revealed his glory;
and his disciples believed in him.
12 January 2025
Isaiah 43:1-7
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight, and honoured, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.’
Acts 8:14-17
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard
that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent Peter and John to them.
The two went down and prayed for them
that they might receive the Holy Spirit
(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them;
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus).
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them,
and they received the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:15-17, 21, 22
Hear the gospel of out Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
In the wilderness John proclaimed the baptism of repentance.
As the people were filled with expectation,
and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John,
whether he might be the Messiah,
John answered all of them by saying,
‘I baptize you with water;
but one who is more powerful than I is coming;
I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing-fork is in his hand,
to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary;
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
Now when all the people were baptized,
and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
the heaven was opened,
and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
‘You are my Son, the Beloved;
with you I am well pleased.’
05 January 2025
The Feast of the Epiphany was celebrated by two services. first in the morning at 10 am we had an all
age Eucharist which included the placing of the Magi at the crib by the children. Father Chris was the celebrant and he had an interactive session with the congregation looking at the story of the Three Kings and the symbolism of their gifts.
The choir sang 'In the Bleak Midwinter' words by Christina Rossetti and setting by Harold Darke, as the anthem at both services.
In the Afternoon we had evensong at 3:30pm where the setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis was that by Thomas Morley and the set psalm was Psalm 73.
After the morning Service Father Chris told us about the of making a chalk mark above the front door of our houses. This is a tradition in some countries to write 20+C+M+B +25 on the feast of the Epiphany. The numbers are the year and the letters C,M,B have 2 derivations. Firstly they represent the Latin for Christ Bless this House, but also by some it is thought they represent Caspar, Mechior, and Balthazar, the traditional names of the Magi! We were given chalk to take home if we wished to do this.
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
Ephesians 3:1-12
A reading from t letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus
for the sake of you Gentiles—
for surely you have already heard
of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
as I wrote above in a few words,
a reading of which will enable you
to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.
In former generations
this mystery was not made known to humankind,
as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets
by the Spirit:
that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs,
members of the same body,
and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I have become a servant
according to the gift of God’s grace
that was given to me by the working of his power.
Although I am the very least of all the saints,
this grace was given to me
to bring to the Gentiles
the news of the boundless riches of Christ,
and to make everyone see
what is the plan of the mystery
hidden for ages in God who created all things;
so that through the church
the wisdom of God in its rich variety
might now be made known
to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose
that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have access to God
in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
Matthew 2:1-12
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
In the time of King Herod,
after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?
For we observed his star at its rising,
and have come to pay him homage.’
When King Herod heard this, he was frightened,
and all Jerusalem with him;
and calling together
all the chief priests and scribes of the people,
he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea;
for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men
and learned from them the exact time
when the star had appeared.
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
‘Go and search diligently for the child;
and when you have found him,
bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’
When they had heard the king, they set out;
and there, ahead of them,
went the star that they had seen at its rising,
until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped,
they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house,
they saw the child with Mary his mother;
and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure-chests,
they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they left for their own country by another road.
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