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 11th January 2026 ‑
The Baptism of Christ
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
Thank you from the Children’s Society
Thanks to the generosity of those who filled and returned the collecting boxes, we raised just over £268 for the Children’s Society and their vital work. Thanks to Jacqui for organising the collection.
Parish Plan
The PCC (Parochial Church Council) is developing a parish and church plan for the next 5 years and invites every member of St Mark’s to contribute to the development process. Please complete one of the Parish Plan Development leaflets and put it in the basket at the back of the church or post it through the church letterbox in Reading Road. Any questions, please to Dianna, the churchwardens or members of the PCC.
Red knitting wool needed
Carole is leading a small group who are redoing hundreds of our knitted poppies. She would be grateful for donations of red knitting wool. Whole or part skeins welcome. Thank you for your help.
Weekday Holy Communion Wednesdays 10.30am
From Wednesday 28 January, we will have a Eucharist at 10.30am, followed by a cuppa and a chance to catch up. Thank you to everyone who responded about this.
Lent is on the horizon
Dianna will be leading a Lent Group on five Tuesdays beginning on Tuesday, 24 February. Thanks to Daryl’s hospitality, the group will meet at her home and be followed by a simple soup and bread lunch. Dianna would also like to hear from anyone who would like to participate in an evening group on Wednesdays beginning on 25 February. Time and venue to be confirmed
Church Open
The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come and enjoy a cuppa and a chat with others. All welcome.
Readings for next Sunday 11 January The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Isaiah 49.1-7; 1 Corinthians 1.1-9; John 1.29-42
Today's Collects and Readings
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. Amen
Old Testament Isaiah 42.1-9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the Lord, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.
New Testament Acts 10.34-43
Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ - he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’
Gospel Matthew 3.13-end
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented.
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
Post Communion Collect
Lord God,
the bright splendour whom the nations seek:
may we who with the wise men have been drawn by your light
discern the glory of your presence in your Son,
the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
