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Pew Sheets

 

 

 

25^th January

3^rd Sunday of Epiphany

Collect

Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; 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.

Readings

Old Testament                        Isaiah 9. ^1-4.

New Testament                      1 Corinthians 1. ^10-18.

Gospel                                      Matthew 4. ^12-23.

 

WISE MEN

Although Christmas, with its twelve days, is over we still have Epiphany and the visit of the “wise men”.  We do not know how many of them there were in their visitation, but here in the west we have settled for three because three gifts are mentioned in Matthew’s account.  Who were they and why are they sometimes referred to as kings?  Well, we do best to stick with “wise men” for that is what they were.  In the Persia of the time there flourished a group of scholars who studied astronomy, languages, geography and just about any discipline of learning that existed at the time.  They were scholars and researchers, and their great learning earned them respect from everybody, including the king.  In fact, they were thought of as the king’s equal.  We know little about them other than that they were acknowledged by the kings of that region as their equal and magus was the term by which they are known.  It is an ancient Persian word and is the basis of our word “magic”.  They were not actual kings, but they were considered to be of royal rank, kingly chaps.  The “star” was most likely a comet which can make more than one appearance before it peters out.  They appear only in Matthew who knows nothing of the shepherds who only appear in Luke who knows nothing of the magi or the flight into Egypt. So we have the shepherds, again we do not know how many, in Luke and the wise men (magi) in Matthew.  In each case we have settled for three of each, based on those three gifts.  

The thing that I find encouraging in these stories is this:  the magi were of royal rank while the shepherds, farm hands, were the lowest of the low.  Thus we have a Saviour in Jesus who applies equally to humans of all ranks and importance, a Saviour of the world.

Would that the modern Persians, the Iranians, could listen to their wisdom once again and act on it.  That would be real magic.  

 

Services next Sunday 01^st February – Candlemas

Weston-under-Penyard	Morning Worship	11.15 a.m.
The Lea	Family Communion	9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Evensong	4.30 p.m.
Linton	Communion Service	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	Mattins	10.30 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

LINTON. Bible Book Club Bible Book club is an informal monthly book club reading through the Bible one book at a time.  The next Bible Book Club will be on Sunday 8^th February at Wrens Nest.   In February we will be discussing the three letters of John.  Each session is stand alone and starts with refreshments at 10.30am, everyone welcome. Contact Charlotte for more information.

LINTON. Lent Discussion Group Following a very enjoyable Lent discussion group last year based on Hamilton there will be meetings on Friday evenings in February and March, starting on 20^th February.  This year we will be using the book A Beautiful Friendship: A Lent course based on the film Casablanca.  We will be looking at themes of sacrifice, repentance, suffering, loss and hope using clips from the film as a basis for the discussion.  Everyone welcome, contact Charlotte if you want more details.

WESTON: The new season of Bible Studies will recommence at Penyard Rise, HR9-7PH on 22nd January 2026 at 2.30 pm. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

Please pray for all who are sick, Mary Salmon (WuP)

Please pray for all who have died, Stephanie Watts (HM), Joy Kinsman (WuP)

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church

18^th January

2^nd Sunday of Epiphany

Collect

Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; 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.

Readings

Old Testament                        Isaiah 49. ^1-7.

New Testament                      1 Corinthians 1. ^1-9.

Gospel                                      John 1. ^29-42.

In the Jewish society bathing was a social and a religious requirement. Indeed, it was said that “It is forbidden to live in a city in which there is no public bath-house”. The Prophet Jeremiah described God as “The well of living waters” (Jeremiah ch.2 v13) and thus water becomes the symbolic means whereby mankind is drawn to him as to the essential sustainer of human life. Water also had a further spiritual significance because the washing of hands and the drinking vessels before and after a meal, were regarded as the outward demonstration of inward purity. Even when seeking a divorce, the papers had to be obtained from a town located near a water feature and Synagogue buildings were constructed as near as possible to water. While celebrating the Jewish New Year, a special festival on the first or second day was the occasion when the symbolic casting of sins into water took place. Its origins lie in the words of the prophet Micah at Chapter 7v.19, “Thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”. Perhaps the Gospel accounts of what happened at the Jordan borrowed from this feature of New Year celebrations. References to the Jordan, frequent in the Old Testament, in the New Testament come only from the location where John baptised, though John’s Gospel refers to the area known as Transjordan, nowadays part of the country of Jordan. The Gospel authors find John a challenge. In much the same way as the history Editors of the Old Testament, who felt obliged to include some documents originating from the long-gone Northern kingdom, in the Histories, Mark and therefore the others, feel obliged to include the Baptiser. Who might be the followers of John? Mark offers only somewhat muted suggestions. He records that people came from Jerusalem as well as the country around it. Note, he does not mention if they were men only or any more information, but Matthew and Luke elaborate extensively on his account. Such a wide cross-section (both men and women therefore?) underlines John’s missionary success. John the Baptizer was a man of courage unafraid to challenge powerful despots. Yet the way John’s reputation is so belittled by John’s Gospel, is a clear indication that residual memories of the Baptist’s spiritual impact were still a significant challenge to Christians some sixty years after his execution.                                     Brian

 

Services next Sunday 25^th January – 3^rd Sunday of Epiphany

Weston-under-Penyard	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
The Lea	Children’s Church	10.00 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Mattins	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Parish Communion	10.30 a.m.
Linton	Communion Service	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	All Age Communion	10.30 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

LINTON. Bible Book Club Bible Book club is an informal monthly book club reading through the Bible one book at a time.  The next Bible Book Club will be on Sunday 8^th February at Wrens Nest.   In February we will be discussing the three letters of John.  Each session is stand alone and starts with refreshments at 10.30am, everyone welcome. Contact Charlotte for more information.

LINTON. Lent Discussion Group Following a very enjoyable Lent discussion group last year based on Hamilton there will be meetings on Friday evenings in February and March, starting on 20^th February.  This year we will be using the book A Beautiful Friendship: A Lent course based on the film Casablanca.  We will be looking at themes of sacrifice, repentance, suffering, loss and hope using clips from the film as a basis for the discussion.  Everyone welcome, contact Charlotte if you want more details.

WESTON: The new season of Bible Studies will recommence at Penyard Rise, HR9-7PH on 22nd January 2026 at 2.30 pm. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

 

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

Please pray for all who are sick, Mary Salmon (WuP)

Please pray for all who have died, Stephanie Watts (HM), Joy Kinsman (WuP)

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church

11^th January

Baptism of Christ

 

Collect

Eternal Father, who at the Baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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.

 

Readings

Old Testament                        Isaiah 42. ^1-9.

New Testament                      Acts 10. ^34-43.

Gospel                                      Matthew 3. ^13-end.

Three of the six churches in our benefice are dedicated to St. John the Baptist – the outspoken and somewhat eccentric cousin of Jesus.

It was his task to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, preaching a message of repentance and baptising to wash away sins.  It is implied that his message and ministry cut right across social divisions and status in society – many responded to his call.

When Jesus came to John requesting baptism, he was told that it should be the other way round, but Jesus was not wanting to do anything less than would be asked of future generations of his own disciples.  The outcome is what Christians have believed to be a manifestation of the Holy Trinity – the voice of the Father from the cloud; the Son emerging from the water with the Holy Spirit hovering above in the form of a dove.

Different traditions of the Christian Church have different ideas with regards to their response to the command of Jesus to make new disciples and baptise.  Many baptise infants whereas others say that it can only apply to adults. In both extremes, the rites may involve a sprinkling or pouring of water or else, total immersion.  Whatever happens, it is regarded as a permanent sign – the quantity of water involved bears little resemblance to the immensity of the Father’s love.                                       

The Spirit gives light – often represented by the giving of a candle.  We become sons and daughters and are given a name which is entered in the Book of Life.

As sons and daughters, we can say ,’Abba, Father’ – but need to grow in the likeness of the Son, not by ourselves, but through the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Through his Baptism, Jesus has shown us the way.

                                                                                                           Martin

 

Services next Sunday 18^th January – 2^nd Sunday of Epiphany

Weston-under-Penyard	Family Communion Service	11.00 a.m.
The Lea	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Village Praise	10.30 a.m.
Linton	Morning Worship	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	Parish Communion	10.30 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

 

WESTON: The new season of Bible Studies will recommence at Penyard Rise, HR9-7PH in January 2026, date to be confirmed. Tony & Mary Pitt 07534510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

 

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

 

Please pray for all who are sick,

Please pray for all who have died,

 

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

 

Website: www.ariconium.church

 

28^th December

1^st Sunday of Christmas

 

Collect

Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us through your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as he came to share in our humanity, so we may share the life of his divinity; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

Readings

Old Testament                        Isaiah 63. ^7-9.

New Testament                      Hebrews 2. ^10-end.

Gospel                                      Matthew 2. ^13-end.

CHRISTMAS – WHEN ?

 

The Bible (Matthew and Luke) gives details about the date of Jesus’ birth in terms of King Herod who died in 4 BC, so we surmise that the Nativity took place in 

6-5 BC.  Over the years some error has crept into the calendar but that is what we work with.  What the Bible does not hint at is what time of year was it?  There are no hints or clues about this.  What happened was that a meeting of the early bishops of the church decided that a time of year had to be established so that the Nativity could be celebrated.  We do not know when that was but we assume it was when paganism was dwindling and Christianity was growing.  The bishops wanted a date that gave the characteristics we eventually used to describe Christmas ( the festival of Christ), and they decided that the best candidate was the Saturnalia, the celebration of the god Saturn.  Why?  Because it embodied the characteristics they were looking for – merriment, joy, general celebration.  The Saturnalia was celebrated when it was in order too brighten up the dreary and cold days of midwinter.  So 25 December was decided on and nobody has quibbled about it since.  Indeed the festive merriment and feasting and general jollification of Christmas filled the bill.  One characteristic of the old Saturnalia was that masters and slaves swapped positions for the day.  It is an amazing fact that in all the time of the Roman Empire this was never abused.  You can have your Spartacus, but not even he took advantage of this feature of the Saturnalia.  The feast was too valued as a source of fun for it to risk it being jeopardised. Anyway military campaigning was not engaged in during the depths of winter.  

So I hope that as the spirit of the Christmas season fills you at this time of year you can make the most of it, and enjoy yourselves and be prepared for the New Year with a soul refreshed by happiness, aware of others especially those for whom this time of year is a time of sorrow.  Have a resolve to put flesh on the idea that following Christ should lead to joy.  Happy New Year everybody!

 

Services next Sunday 04^th January – Epiphany

Weston-under-Penyard	Morning Worship	11.15 a.m.
The Lea	Family Communion	9.30 a.m.
Hope Mansell	Parish Communion	9.30 a.m.
Aston Ingham	Evensong	4.30 p.m.
Linton	Communion Service	11.00 a.m.
Upton Bishop	Interactive Epiphany Service @ Millennium Hall	10.30 a.m.

 

Forthcoming Services & Events

WESTON: The new season of Bible Studies will recommence at Penyard Rise, HR9 7PH in January 2026, date to be confirmed. Tony Mary Pitt 07534510614.

UPTON BISHOP have a BCP communion Service at 9.30 am on the first Wednesday of each month. A quiet midweek service. All welcome”                

Please be aware that if you have any events you would like to advertise here, do please contact Debs directly (details below) and she will be pleased to include them.

Please pray for all who are sick, Margaret Minnet (AI)

Please pray for all who have died, Richard Green (WuP), Philip Margrett (HM),

Rev David Howell:  07903 790049   email:   revdavidhowell@icloud.com

               Rev Ewan Gillings: 07568 515628   email:   revgillings@gmail.com

If you would like to receive this pew sheet via email¸ please email Debs debsparishsecretary@outlook.com

Website: www.ariconium.church