The church is OPEN for private prayer during daylight hours.

Every Thursday evening at 5.30 there is a short Service of Evening Prayer in St Mary’s Linton

For more information please

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Pew Sheets

22^nd February

1^st Sunday of Lent

Collect

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without Sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; 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 Genesis 2. ^15-17.3. ^1-7.

New Testament Romans 5. ^12-19.

Gospel Matthew 4. ^1-11.

EXPECTATIONS

This is an interesting time of year. We have left behind Christmas, and all that that entails, for the time being. We are about to embark on Lent and Easter, a much more sober subject. We are in a season of expectation, notably in the realm of rugby union and especially the season of the Six Nations contest. This year we also have the Winter Olympics and many of us will have expectations in that area. Expectation is difficult to handle. First of all, we need to know the basis of what we expect. In the case of a rugby team, we can have our expectations of the composition of the team we favour and the grounds for our feelings. Who will be chosen for the team. Will there be a new hooker, or out-half, or team captain? Our expectation can be based on our reading of the team’s record in the candidates so far. It is a similar story with the Winter Olympics and who we expect to make a good showing in this or that event. Of course, it is possible that our expectations, no matter how well worked out, can be dashed and come to nought. How do we handle that? Do we make some excuse or other? The weather? The lack of training? The form on the day? How do we cope? With a glass of something? Funny how that remedy is the same whether our expectations are vindicated or dashed.

Moving away from our expectations in the field of sport, how about our expectations in the spiritual realm? As we move into Lent (Ash Wednesday was on 18th February) what expectations do we have for this rather stern and demanding season? Well, once again it depends on our training and commitment, our intention and our resolve. Forty days might seem a long time, but it is a tough test to see if you can last out until Easter Day. There will be temptation and other sources of possible erosion of resolve, but we remember what it is we are doing it for, leading to the empty tomb. We would have little admiration for a winger who failed to follow his training schedule and ended up failing to guard against his defensive line being penetrated.

What can be expected of you? Robin Noble

Services next Sunday 01^st March – 2^nd Sunday of Lent

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

BENEFICE LENT COURSE: Bread of Life Lent Course, is a 6 week course about the Eucharist, it starts on Tuesday 17^th Feb @ 7pm LEA Church.

UPTON BISHOP Upton Bishop virtual camino see email for more details,

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 an enjoyable Lent discussion group last year there will be meetings on Friday evenings in February and March, starting on 20^th February. This year we will use the book A Beautiful Friendship: A Lent course based on the film Casablanca. We’ll be looking at themes of sacrifice, repentance, suffering, loss and hope using clips from the film as a basis for the discussion. All welcome, contact Charlotte for info.

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, Gerry Lowth (WuP), Amanda Simpson (UB), Malcolm Ives (UB), David Bailey (AI), Steph 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

15^th February

Sunday next before Lent

Collect

Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Readings

Old Testament Exodus 24. ^12-.end

New Testament 2 Peter 1. ^16-end.

Gospel Matthew 17. ^1-9.

We are all given numerous opportunities to have a trip round some remains of the past by serious individuals gazing soulfully down the barrel of a camera. The basic trouble with any sort of historic research lies there. How much of the picture can be discovered from a small selection of samples? In today’s acidic world, the Dictator class regard too much awareness of the historic past can be a danger. So the present Chinese Government attempts to interfere with the teaching of the History of the Far East in British Universities. In Britain, leaders of political parties often display forms of amnesia when invited to recall their past opinions. So, what can we expect from the accounts of History we find in the Bible? Events are not to be regarded as what you and I think of as History when it comes supported by genuine impartial evidence. We have to accept that Shakespeare’s Richard III was not, after all, the hunchback, crippled figure, which suited his Tudor bosses, now that his remains have been discovered in a car park in Leicester. And that is the issue. How much of Old Testament History would meet even a minimal standard were it not coming to us with such a burden of other meanings? Take, for instance, the Northern King Omri. (B.C. 876–869) In I. Kings 16 verse 25 he is guilty of “More evil than any that went before him”. Yet the Assyrian writers of the day have a high regard for a man who inherited a Northern kingdom in chaos and brought it to one of prosperity and order. So we see that a historian writing from a Southern prospective some time before the second century B.C. in Judea is obliged to mention Omri, but perpetuates the ancient history of hatred which typified any mention of the Northern Kingdom in the Biblical volumes of History. However, before we leave the issue of shaping History to suit the politics, we might consider how much Christian History is equally as unreliable. For instance the celebrations marking the Nicene Creed tactfully overlooked the issue of how it came about. Not being a theologian, the Emperor Constantine seems to have had a political motive when he set it up as a means of ending a socially de-stabling hostility between Christian factions in the Empire rather than any theological reason

Services next Sunday 22^nd February – Sunday next before Lent

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.
Weston (18^th February)	Ash Wednesday	7.00 p.m.

Forthcoming Services & Events

BENEFICE LENT COURSE: Bread of Life Lent Course, is a 6 week course about the Eucharist, it starts on Tuesday 17^th Feb @ 7pm LEA Church.

LEA Pancake Feast. 3.30 – 5pm Tuesday 17^th Feb @ Lea Village Hall. Come for a flipping good time, admission £4 per person/child. Includes One free filled Pancake & beverage, Free outdoor racing (weather permitting) Gift for all competitors, Medals for Winners. Races start 3.40 pm

UPTON BISHOP Upton Bishop virtual camino see email for 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, Gerry Lowth (WuP), Amanda Simpson (UB), Malcolm Ives (UB), David Bailey (AI), Steph 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

08^th February

2^nd Sunday before Lent

Collect

Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever.

Readings

Old Testament Genesis 1. ^1-thru2. ^3.

New Testament Romans 8. ^18-25.

Gospel Matthew 6. ^25-end.

It is a particular sort of person who has ambitions to be a politician and I suspect that the majority of us wouldn’t touch the job with a bargepole. We may well moan about our leaders, but they have an impossible task in trying to run the country on a limited (and already grossly overdrawn) budget. Limited funds have to be prioritised for getting the best value for the benefit of the greatest majority.

In today’s Gospel reading, which is part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it plain what the Christian priority should be – ‘Strive first for the Kingdom of God’.

How many times over our own lives have we prayed for the coming of the Kingdom using the words of the Lord’s Prayer? Prayers are often answered, but not always in the way that we may want or expect. Do we really want the Kingdom of God to come?

Think of the implications – no more wars; no more worldly leaders; no more poverty, disease, homelessness, crime; no more lots of other things! So far, so good – all very positive. So what’s the problem? Well, there is to be Judgement when the secrets of all hearts will be disclosed.

Everyone of us will be called to account for those things that we have done wrong. Yes, God is merciful – he is also patient and long-suffering. We pray for the coming of the Kingdom and also for forgiveness – but that is given to us in the way that we offer it to others.

Unlike the politicians, our priority must be the Kingdom but Jesus tells us not to worry and take each day as it comes – each day has enough problems of its own. We must however, be careful what we pray for – even unthinking repetition may well be answered. We need to take each day and at the beginning, place it into God’s hands and walk through it with him. We are told to ‘strive first for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness’ – then all the rest falls into place. It is not just a good idea or an option – but a priority from the mouth of Jesus. Martin.

Services next Sunday 15^th February – Sunday next before Lent

Weston-under-Penyard	Family Communion	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

BENEFICE LENT COURSE: Bread of Life Lent Course, is a 6 week course about the Eucharist, it starts on Tuesday 17^thFeb @ 7pm LEA Church.

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, Gerry Lowth (WuP), Amanda Simpson (UB), Malcolm Ives (UB), David Bailey (AI), Steph 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

01^st February

Candlemass

Collect

Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty , whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ 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 Malachi 3. ^1-5.

New Testament Hebrews 2. ^14-end.

Gospel Luke 2. ^22-40.

“My eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; to be a light to lighten the Gentiles; and to be the glory of Thy people Israel.” So runs the Nunc Dimittis, the song that Simeon sings to God as he holds the infant Christ in his arms in the temple. Simeon knew that the child he held in his hands was the one who would bring salvation to the world, just as John, in his gospel, knew that Jesus was the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

The liturgy of the church is a wonderful gift to us, and a rich vein that we can tap in to in order to support and develop our prayer lives, and help us to grow in relationship with God. At the Communion service, the priest – just like Simeon – holds Christ (in the form of the bread and wine which we offer) in his hands; like John, he proclaims Him to be the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. There are countless other parallels and comparisons which can be drawn out.

This Lent, beginning on Tuesday 17th February at 7pm in Lea Church, we are running a course called “Bread of Life”, which focuses on the Eucharist and the Communion Service: what the Church teaches about it; what Scripture says concerning it; how it has been understood in history; how we are to understand it today; and how it changes us and our lives. There are 6 sessions over 6 weeks, each lasting for around an hour. The Eucharist is the source and the summit of our faith – it is the point at which we, as a congregation, collectively reach up towards God, and He in turn reaches down to us; the point where Heaven and Earth meet. It is a seismic thing – and, as a result, it can be difficult to understand, and to wrap our heads around. I hope that this course, with its teaching and resources, will be a blessing to us as we seek to understand God and the gifts that He has entrusted to us more clearly. If you would like any more information about the course, or have any questions, then feel free to contact me, and I will be happy to chat through them with you. God bless, Ewan.

Services next Sunday 08^th February – 2^nd Sunday before Lent

Weston-under-Penyard	Communion Service	11.00 a.m.
The Lea	Mattins	8.00 a.m.
Hope Mansell
Aston Ingham	Parish Communion	10.30 a.m.
Linton	Bible Book Club	10.30 a.m.
Upton Bishop	Communion Service	10.30 a.m.

Forthcoming Services & Events

BENEFICE LENT COURSE: Bread of Life Lent Course, is a 6 week course about the Eucharist, it starts on Tuesday 17^thFeb @ 7pm LEA Church.

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, Gerry Lowth (WuP), Amanda Simpson (UB), Malcolm Ives (UB), David Bailey (AI), Steph 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

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

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

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

Linton Village

St Mary’s Services

The church is OPEN for private prayer during daylight hours.

For more information please

Like us on Facebook: St Mary’s Church, Linton

Follow us on Instagram: stmaryslinton

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Pew Sheets