Pew News - Weekly Notices

Each week, we publish Pew News - a short bulletin with service information, notices, and updates. You can view or download the latest editions below:

Sunday 24th May 2026 +

Pentecost

Welcome

Please stay for refreshments after the 10.30am service. At this service there are activities and learning for primary school aged children in the Den. The President will call them forward when it is time to join the group

Notices

The Reverend Mark Rudall

Many thanks to Reverend Mark for presiding and preaching at the Parish Eucharist this morning – at especially short notice after Dianna broke her arm.

Wednesday Eucharist

Please note that there will not be a Eucharist this Wednesday 27 May.

Parish Breakfast Sunday 7 June 8.45am

Please sign the sheet at the back of the church if you are planning to come to the parish breakfast on Sunday 7 June. Adults £6.50 Children £3.50

Bishop Paul’s Gathering Monday 15 June 7pm

Bishop Paul has organised Gatherings in each deanery so that he can meet as many people as possible for an evening of prayer, worship, celebration of what God is doing in each parish and reflection on next steps. The Gathering for Aldershot Deanery will be at Christ Church, Cove. Refreshments available from 7pm for a 7.30pm start concluding by 9pm. All welcome.

Open Church this Friday 29 May

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Readings for next Sunday 31 May Trinity Sunday

Isaiah 40.12-17, 27-end; 2 Corinthians 13.11-end; Matthew 28.16-end

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

God, who as at this time
taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Old Testament reading Numbers 11.24-30

Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.

Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them!’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!’ And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

New Testament reading Acts 2.1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Gospel John 20.19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

Post Communion Collect

Faithful God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit
and opening to every race and nation
the way of life eternal:
open our lips by your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sunday 17th May 2026 +

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

APCM Today

Please stay for a short meeting, with coffee, after the 10.30am service. The Annual Report 2025 and the Financial Statements 2025 are available at the back of church. All are welcome.

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Readings for next Sunday 24 May Pentecost

Numbers 11.24-30; Acts 2.1-21 ; John 20.19-23

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Old Testament reading Ezekiel 36.24-28;

I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

New Testament reading Acts 1.6-14

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 towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.

They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards 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 days 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 had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Post Communion Collect

Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sunday 10th May 2026 +

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

APCM Sunday 17 May at 11.45

Please stay for a short meeting, with coffee, after the 10.30am service. The Annual Report 2025 and the Financial Statements 2025 are available at the back of church. Among other things the members of the Electoral Roll will be electing the following:

PCC

Are you energised by strategic and creative thinking? Are you prayerful and courageous in seeking God? Are you baptised and a communicant over the age of 16? Why not consider standing for election to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). The PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the Incumbent, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. There are three vacancies. For more information please speak to Dianna.

Churchwardens Deanery Synod representatives

Churchwardens are elected each year just before (but at the same meeting) the APCM. Churchwardens serve for one year. There are two vacancies. Deanery Synod representatives are lay people elected every three years and 2026 is a year of elections. Speak with Dianna for more information.

Ascension Day Thursday 14 May 7pm

A celebration of the Ascension with seasonal music and readings. All welcome.

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Readings for next Sunday 17 May - Seventh Sunday of Easter

Ezekiel 36.24-28;; Acts 1.6-14; John 17.1-11

Today's Collect and Readings

Collect

God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
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.

First reading 1 Peter 3.13-end

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God.

He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Second reading Acts 17..22-31

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, To an unknown god. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.

From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For In him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your own poets have said, For we too are his offspring.

Since we are Gods offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead

Gospel John 14.15-21

Jesus said, ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who
love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’

Post Communion Collect

God our Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life:
may we thirst for you,
the spring of life and source of goodness,
through him who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Sunday 3rd May 2026 +

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

APCM Sunday 17 May at 11.45

Please stay for a short meeting, with coffee, after the 10.30am service. Among other things the members of the Electoral Roll will be electing the following:

PCC
Are you energised by strategic and creative thinking? Are you prayerful and courageous in seeking God? Are you baptised and a communicant over the age of 16? Why not consider standing for election to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). The PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the Incumbent, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. There are five vacancies. For more information please speak to Dianna or the Churchwardens.
Churchwardens
Churchwardens are elected each year just before (but at the same meeting) the APCM. Churchwardens serve for one year. There are two vacancies. Speak with Dianna for more information.
Deanery Synod representatives
These are lay people elected every three years and 2026 is a year of elections. More information from Dianna, Daryl or Natasha. We have two vacancies.

Ascension Day Thursday 14 May 7pm

A celebration of the Ascension with seasonal music and readings. All welcome.

NO Open Church this Friday

Due to team members on holiday. The next Open Church is Friday 15 May.

Readings for next Sunday 10 May Sixth Sunday of Easter

Genesis 8.20-9.17; Acts 17.22-31; John 14.15-21

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Risen Christ,
your wounds declare your love for the world
and the wonder of your risen life:
give us compassion and courage
to risk ourselves for those we serve,
to the glory of God the Father.

Old Testament Genesis 8.1-19

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters gradually receded from the earth. At the end of one hundred and fifty days the waters had abated; and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground; but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.

Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any more. In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and saw that the face of the ground was drying. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God said to Noah, ‘Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh—birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth—so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.’ So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. And every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the ark by families.

New Testament Acts 7.55-60

Filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

Gospel John 14.1-14

Jesus said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Post Communion Collect (10.30 service only)

Eternal God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life:
grant us to walk in his way,
to rejoice in his truth,
and to share his risen life;
who is alive and reigns, now and forever.

Sunday 26th April 2026 +

Mark the Evangelist

Welcome

Notices

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Electoral Roll revision

The Electoral Roll will be closed for revision on 1 st May in preparation for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. If you are a member of St Marks please check the current Roll and make sure you are there. If you have not yet joined and are eligible please complete a form and leave it with Judith or one of the Churchwardens. Forms should be returned by Tuesday 21 st April. Applicants for the Roll must be baptised, over the age of 16 (or turning 16 within the year), resident in the geographical parish, or if resident outside the parish, to have worshipped here for 6 months. Any questions please to Judith or Dianna.

Parish Breakfast Sunday 3 May

Please sign the sheet at the back of church if you are planning on joining in to enjoy a delicious continental breakfast next Sunday from 8.45am to 10am. Adults £6 and children £3.

Readings for next Sunday 3 May Fifth Sunday of Easter

Genesis 8.1-19; Acts 7.55-60; John 14.1-14

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Almighty God,
who enlightened your holy Church
through the inspired witness of your evangelist Saint Mark:
grant that we, being firmly grounded
in the truth of the gospel,
may be faithful to its teaching both in word and deed;
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.

Old Testament Proverbs 15.28-33

The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the body.
The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
will lodge among the wise.
Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
but those who heed admonition gain understanding.
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes before honour.

New Testament Acts 15.35-41

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Come, let us return and visit the believers[o] in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Gospel Mark 13.5-13

Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!”[a] and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news[b] must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Post Communion Collect

Lord God, the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sunday 12th April 2026 +

Second Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

THANK YOU from the Vicar

To everyone who worked so hard during Holy Week in order to make our church and our services beautiful and meaningful. Many people commented on the flowers, displays and Easter Garden, the music, how well the children led the 10.30am Good Friday Service, the wonderful hospitality for our Lent Groups, Parish Breakfast and Good Friday and the list goes on. Behind the scenes of our worship the ‘logistics’ team of parish administrator, sacristan and servers ensured that every detail was just as it should be. Behind the scenes of our hospitality the catering and ‘front of house’ teams (often the same people!) did us extremely proud as always. What a blessing it is for me to serve such a gifted and self-giving congregation.

Electoral Roll revision

Readings for next Sunday 19 April Third Sunday of Easter

Zephaniah 3.14-end; Acts 2.14a, 36-41; Luke 24.13-35

Today's Collects & Readings

Collect

God of compassion,
whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
shared the life of a home in Nazareth,
and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:
strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow
we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal;
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.

First Reading 1 Peter 1.3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith —being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Second Reading Acts 2.14a, 22-32

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know- this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.

For David says concerning him, “I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience orruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.” ‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, “He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.” This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

Gospel John 20.19-31

So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Post Communion Collect

Lord God our Father,
through our Saviour Jesus Christ
you have assured your children of eternal life
and in baptism have made us one with him:
deliver us from the death of sin
and raise us to new life in your love,
in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday 29th March 2026 +

Palm Sunday

Welcome

Services in Holy Week

Wednesday 1 April

10.30am Holy Communion

Maundy Thursday 2 April

7pm Commemoration of the Last Supper

Good Friday 3 April

9.45am Preparation and Craft for Family Service
10.30am A participatory service for everyone of all ages from 0 upwards. This will be followed by fellowship and refreshments.
2pm The Good Friday Liturgy – The Final Hour
All are welcome but very young children may become restless during the times of silence. Thank you for your understanding.

Easter Day 5 April

6.15am Easter Vigil and Service of Light
10.30am Festival Eucharist with Holy Baptism
Both services are suitable for people of all ages.

Festival Parish Breakfast on Easter Day from 7.30am

Coffee and tea available from 7.30am while the food is being prepared. Activities are provided for people of all ages such as egg decorating, Easter Egg Hunt and various craft ideas. Breakfast will be served until 9am and consist of fruit juice, cereals, full English breakfast, toast and hot cross buns. Cost is £7.50 adult, £20 for a family of four and £3 for children. Please sign the sheet at the back of church to help with the catering. See you there.

Readings for next Sunday 5 April Easter Day

Jeremiah 31.1-6; Acts 10.34-43; Matthew 28.1-10

Today's Collects and Readings

Palm Gospel Matthew 21.1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Hymn (CP 128)

Refrain:
All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
thou David's royal Son,
who in the Lord's Name comest,
the King and blessed One:

The company of angels
are praising thee on high,
and mortal men and all things
created make reply:

The people of the Hebrews
with palms before thee went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before thee we present:

Old Testament Isaiah 50.4-9a

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens - wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

New Testament Philippians 2.5-11

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Post Communion Collect

Lord Jesus Christ,
you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant,
and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation:
give us the mind to follow you
and to proclaim you as Lord and King,
to the glory of God the Father.

Sunday 22nd March 2026 +

Fifth Sunday of Lent/Passion Sunday

Welcome

Notices

Palm Sunday 29 March next week

The 10.30am Parish Eucharist next week will begin in the Church Hall and then process to church. If you would prefer not to walk from the Hall to Church please do take your seat in church as you normally would.

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Readings for next Sunday 29 March Palm Sunday

Matthew 21.1-11; Isaiah 50.4-9a; Philippians 2.5-11; Matthew 26.14-end of 27

Today's Readings

Old Testament Ezekiel 37.1-14

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all round them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know’. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.’

So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.” Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’

New Testament Romans 8.6-11

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to Gods law indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Gospel John 11.1-45

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for Gods glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’

The disciples said to him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.’ After saying this, he told them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right’. Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’

Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow-disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’ When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him’. Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world’. When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’

Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, See how he loved him! But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’ Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me’. When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go’. Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Sunday 15th March 2026 +

Mothering Sunday

Welcome

Notices

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a warm cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Mothering Sunday Cards

Many thanks to Carole for making the beautiful Mothering Sunday cards. We hope there will be enough for you to take one to post to a loved one or to drop into a neighbour or friend.

Holy Week Holiday Club

There will be three days of activity and preparation for children on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, from 11am to 1pm. Each session will begin with a snack and discussion of the theme and finish at 1pm. No cost to attend but please do sign up on the sheet so we know how many to prepare for.

Maundy Thursday 2 April 7pm

All are welcome to the Liturgy of Maundy Thursday. The service is suitable for older children as well as adults.

Good Friday Services 3 April

10.30am A participatory service for everyone of all ages from 0 upwards. This will be followed by fellowship and refreshments.
2pm The Good Friday Liturgy – The Final Hour

All are welcome but very young children may become restless during the times of silence. Thank you for your understanding.

Easter Day 5 April

6.15am Easter Vigil and Service of Light
10.30am Festival Eucharist with Holy Baptism

Both services are suitable for people of all ages.

Festival Parish Breakfast on Easter Day from 7.30am

Readings for next Sunday 22 March 5th Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday)

Ezekiel 37.1-14; Romans 8.6-11; John 11.1-45

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Old Testament 1 Samuel 1.20-28

In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’ The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and remain there for ever; I will offer him as a Nazirite for all time.’ Her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only-may the Lord establish his word.’

So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore, I have lent him to the Lord ; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord .’ She left him there for the Lord .

New Testament Colossians 3.12-17

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Gospel John 19.25b-27

And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Post Communion Collect

Loving God,
as a mother feeds her children at the breast
you feed us in this sacrament with the food and drink of eternal life:
help us who have tasted your goodness
to grow in grace within the household of faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sunday 8th March 2026 +

The Third Sunday of Lent

Welcome

Notices

First Holy Communion

For many years the Church of England has permitted children who have been baptised to receive Holy Communion before confirmation, following a time of preparation. Our PCC took the decision to begin this practice here. There is a brief meeting for children in Year 2 and above and their parents after the service today to find out more.

Open Church this Friday with Crafty Coffee

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a cuppa and a chat, bring your handicrafts and work alongside others.

Readings for next Sunday 15 March 4th Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday)

1 Samuel 1.20-end; Colossians 3.12-17; John 19.25b-27

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; 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.

Old Testament Exodus 17.1-17

From the wilderness of Sin, the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’

But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’

So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?

New Testament Romans 5.1-11

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel John 4.5-42

Jesus came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacobs well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water’. The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?’ Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’

Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’

The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.

Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’ Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’

Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true,

“One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’ Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony. ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’

Sunday 1st March 2026 +

The Second Sunday of Lent

Welcome

Notices

Lent Groups

The topic of our Lent study this year is ‘How to read the Bible’. ‘What’s the difference between the Old and the New Testaments?’, ‘why does there appear to be so many contradictions in the Bible?’, ‘what has the angry God of the Old Testament got to do with the loving God of the New Testament?’ These and other questions will be explored during Lent. Both groups cover the same material so come to whichever is most convenient. Tuesdays at 11am at 126 Reading Road, followed by a soup and bread lunch and on Wednesdays at 7pm for 7.30pm at 24 Winchester Street, finishing by 8.30pm.

The Children’s Society

There are some ‘thank you’ letters from the Children’s Society on the Notice Board in the porch. Please note that the Box Secretary role for the Children’s Society has been passed from Jacqui Nicol to Sherona Hood with immediate effect. Many thanks to Sherona for taking over this responsibility. Jacqui will continue to take an active part in all other aspects of fundraising for the Society. Sherona and Jacqui would like to thank the congregation for their ongoing support.

Soup Run

We would like to repeat the run as last year. As we all like soup, old and young alike warming winter tummies is such a nice thing to do for those less fortunate than ourselves! Hilary took 100 tins to the food bank last year and says that our congregation did St Marks proud!

Open Church this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Services next Sunday 8 March

10.30am Parish Eucharist with activities for children

Readings for next Sunday 8 March The Third Sunday of Lent

Exodus 17.1-17; Romans 5.1-11; John 4.5-42

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error the
light of your truth,
that they may return to the way of
righteousness: grant to all those
who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,
that they may reject those things
that are contrary to their profession,
and follow all such things
as are agreeable to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Old Testament Genesis 12.1-4a

Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

New Testament Romans 4.1-5, 13-17

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations)-in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Gospel John 3.1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God. Jesus answered him, Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. Nicodemus said to him, How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be astonished that I said to you, You must be born from above.

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered him, Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Post Communion Collect (10.30am service only)

Almighty God,
you see that we have no power of ourselves
to help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies,
and inwardly in our souls;
that we may be defended from all
adversities which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault
and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sunday 22nd February 2026 +

The First Sunday of Lent

Welcome

Notices

Lent Groups begin this week 24 and 25 February

The topic of our Lent study this year is ‘How to read the Bible’. ‘What’s the difference between the Old and the New Testaments?’, ‘why does there appear to be so many contradictions in the Bible?’, ‘what has the angry God of the Old Testament got to do with the loving God of the New Testament?’ These and other questions will be explored over the course of five weeks. The groups will meet on Tuesdays at 11am at 126 Reading Road, followed by a soup and bread lunch and on Wednesdays at 7pm for 7.30pm at 24 Winchester Street, finishing by 8.30pm. Please sign the sheets at the back of church so that we know how many to cater for. All those participating in either group should bring their Bible. If you haven’t got one and would like to borrow one please speak to Dianna.

Day of Prayer for Bishop Andrew

Bishop Andew’s Senior Leadership Team has organised a day of prayer for Bishop Andrew and Beverly at the Cathedral on Monday 23 February from 12noon to 10pm. Come whenever and stay as long as you like. Full details at www.cofeguildford.org.uk

Parish Breakfast next Sunday 1 March

Please sign the sheet if you are planning to come to the parish breakfast next Sunday. Adults £6.50 Children £3.50

Open Church Crafty Coffee this Friday

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a cuppa and a chat. Do bring your handicrafts and work alongside others. All are welcome.

The Children’s Society

Please note that the Box Secretary role for the Children’s Society has been passed from Jacqui Nicol to Sherona Hood with immediate effect. Many thanks to Sherona for taking over this responsibility. Jacqui will continue to take an active part in all other aspects of fundraising for the Society. Sherona and Jacqui would like to thank the congregation for their ongoing support.

Services next Sunday 1 March

8am Holy Communion (traditional rite) with homily
10.30am Parish Eucharist with activities for children

Readings for next Sunday 1 March The Second Sunday of Lent

Genesis 12.1-4a; Romans 4.1-5, 13-17; John 3.1-17

Today’s Collects and Readings

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. Amen

Old Testament Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” ’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

New Testament Romans 5.12-19

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Gospel Matthew 4.1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’

Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Post Communion Collect

Lord God,
you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven;
by it you nourish our faith,
increase our hope,
and strengthen our love:

teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread,
and enable us to live by every word
that proceeds from out of your mouth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sunday 15th February 2026 +

The Second next before Lent

Welcome

Notices

Shrove Tuesday 17 February from 4pm

All are invited to a Pancake Party on Shrove Tuesday. Many thanks to Judith for her hospitality. She says, ‘come at 4pm and it will be over when the pancakes are finished’. The party will be at 38 Ambleside Close, GU14 0LA.

Ash Wednesday 18 February 10.30am and 7pm

Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes will take place at 10.30am and at 7pm. Both services will last less than an hour. These services are suitable for people of all ages and all are welcome.

Lent Groups begin next week 24 and 25 February

We will be having two Lent Groups. One will meet each Tuesday beginning on 24 February at 11.00 at 126 Reading Road. This will be followed by a soup and bread lunch. The other will meet each Wednesday beginning on 25 February 7pm for 7.30pm at 24 Winchester Street. We’ll finish by 8.30pm. Please sign the sheets at the back of church so that we know how many to cater for. The topic of our Lent study this year is ‘How to read the Bible’. ‘What’s the difference between the Old and the New Testaments?’, ‘why does there appear to be so many contradictions in the Bible?’, ‘what has the angry God of the Old Testament got to do with the loving God of the New Testament?’ These and other questions will be explored over the course of five weeks. All those participating in either group should bring their Bible. If you haven’t got one and would like to borrow one please speak to Dianna.

The Children’s Society

Please note that the Box Secretary role for the Children’s Society has been passed from Jacqui Nicol to Sherona Hood with immediate effect. Many thanks to Sherona for taking over this responsibility. Jacqui will continue to take an active part in all other aspects of fundraising for the Society and take the opportunity of thanking the congregation for their ongoing Sherona and Jacqui would like to thank the congregation for their ongoing support.

Andrew, Bishop of Guildford

Bishop Andrew has shared with all in the diocese that he has been diagnosed with incurable and inoperable cancer. The diocesan statement, along with a link to Bishop Andrew’s letter, can be found on the diocesan website https://www.cofeguildford.org.uk . Please pray for him, his wife Beverly and their family at this difficult time.

Open Church

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come along for a cuppa and a chat. All are welcome.

Readings for next Sunday 22 February The First Sunday of Lent

Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7; Romans 5.12-19; Matthew 4.1-11

Today’s Collects and Readings

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. Amen

New Testament 2 Peter1.16-21;

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Gospel Matthew 17.1-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’

Post Communion Collect

Holy God,
we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:
may we who are partakers at his table
reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power to change and save.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Sunday 8th February 2026 +

The Second Sunday before Lent

Welcome

Notices

Holy Communion this Wednesday

There will be Holy Communion Wednesday at 10.30am. All welcome.

Lent is upon us

Lent is traditionally a time when Christians focus particularly on self-examination, penitence, self-denial, study, almsgiving. To aid study and exploration of faith we will be having two Lent Groups. One will meet on Tuesdays at 11.00 at 126 Reading Road. This will be followed by a soup and bread lunch. The other will meet on Wednesdays at 7pm for 7.30pm at 24 Winchester Street. We’ll finish by 8.30pm. Please sign the sheets at the back of church so that we know how many to cater for.

Shrove Tuesday 17 February from 4pm

Ash Wednesday 18 February 10.30am and 7pm

Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes will take place at 10.30am and at 7pm. Both services will last less than an hour. These are suitable for people of all ages and all are welcome

Open Church with Crafty Coffee

The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Bring your handicrafts or just enjoy a a cuppa and a chat with others. All are welcome.

Readings for next Sunday 15 February Sunday next before Lent

2 Peter1.16-21; Matthew 17.1-9

Today's Collects and Readings

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. Amen

Old Testament Genesis 1.1-2.3

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

And God said, ‘Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.’ And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it.

And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.

And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

New Testament Romans 8.18-25

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Gospel Matthew 6.25-34

Jesus said, ‘Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you -you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

24th May 2026

St Mark’s Church South Farnborough

Pew News - Weekly Notices

Pentecost

Welcome

Notices

The Reverend Mark Rudall

Wednesday Eucharist

Parish Breakfast Sunday 7 June 8.45am

Bishop Paul’s Gathering Monday 15 June 7pm

Open Church this Friday 29 May

Readings for next Sunday 31 May Trinity Sunday

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Old Testament reading Numbers 11.24-30

New Testament reading Acts 2.1-21

Gospel John 20.19-23

Post Communion Collect

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

APCM Today

Open Church this Friday

Readings for next Sunday 24 May Pentecost

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Old Testament reading Ezekiel 36.24-28;

New Testament reading Acts 1.6-14

Gospel John 17.1-11

Post Communion Collect

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

APCM Sunday 17 May at 11.45

PCC

Churchwardens Deanery Synod representatives

Ascension Day Thursday 14 May 7pm

Open Church this Friday

Readings for next Sunday 17 May - Seventh Sunday of Easter

Today's Collect and Readings

Collect

First reading 1 Peter 3.13-end

Second reading Acts 17..22-31

Gospel John 14.15-21

Post Communion Collect

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

APCM Sunday 17 May at 11.45

Ascension Day Thursday 14 May 7pm

NO Open Church this Friday

Readings for next Sunday 10 May Sixth Sunday of Easter

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Old Testament Genesis 8.1-19

New Testament Acts 7.55-60

Gospel John 14.1-14

Post Communion Collect (10.30 service only)

Mark the Evangelist

Welcome

Notices

Open Church this Friday

Electoral Roll revision

Parish Breakfast Sunday 3 May

Readings for next Sunday 3 May Fifth Sunday of Easter

Today's Collects and Readings

Collect

Old Testament Proverbs 15.28-33

New Testament Acts 15.35-41

Gospel Mark 13.5-13

Post Communion Collect

Second Sunday of Easter

Welcome

Notices

Open Church this Friday

THANK YOU from the Vicar

Electoral Roll revision

Readings for next Sunday 19 April Third Sunday of Easter

Today's Collects & Readings

Collect

First Reading 1 Peter 1.3-9