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 25th January 2026 +
The Third Sunday of Epiphany
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
Parish Plan
The PCC (Parochial Church Council) is developing a parish and church plan for the next 5 years and invite every member of St Mark’s to contribute to the development process. Please complete one of the Parish Plan Development leaflets and put in the basket at the back of church or post 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 re-doing 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 this Wednesday 28 January we will have a Eucharist at 10.30am followed with a cuppa and a chance to catch up. Thank you to everyone who responded about this.
Church Open with Crafty Coffee
The church will be open on Friday from 10.30am to 12noon. Come and enjoy a cuppa and a chat with others and bring your handicrafts. All welcome.
Parish Breakfast next Sunday 1 February 8.45am
All welcome to a delicious cooked breakfast next Sunday in the Church Hall. Adults £6, children £3. Please sign the sheet at the back of church if you are planning to come.
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. There will also be a Lent Group on five Wednesday evenings beginning on 25 February. Many thanks to Marie and Paul for offering their home. Please sign the sheet at the back of the church so that we know how many to expect.
Readings for next Sunday 1 February The Presentation of Christ
Malachi 3.1-5; Hebrews 2.14-end; Luke 2.22-40
Today’s Collects and Readings
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. Amen
Old Testament Isaiah 9.1-4
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
New Testament 1 Corinthians 1.10-18
Now l appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
What I mean is that each of you says, 'I belong to Paul, or 'I belong to Apollos, or 'I belong to Cephas, or 'I belong to Christ! Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptised none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptised in my name. l did baptise also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptised anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptise but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Gospel Matthew 4.12-23
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 'Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned! From that time Jesus began to proclaim, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!'
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake-for they were fishermen. And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people' Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Post Communion Collect
Almighty Father,
whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is
the light of the world:
may your people,
illumined by your word and sacraments,
shine with the radiance of his glory,
that he may be known, worshipped, and
obeyed to the ends of the earth;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Amen
Sunday 18th January 2026 +
The Second Sunday of Epiphany
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 invite every member of St Mark’s to contribute to the development process. Please complete one of the Parish Plan Development leaflets and put in the basket at the back of church or post 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 re-doing 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 with 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 25 January The Third Sunday of Epiphany
Isaiah 9.1-4; 1 Corinthians 1.10-18; Matthew 4.12-23
Today's Collects and Readings
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. Amen
Old Testament Isaiah 49.1-7
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb
he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he
hid me;
he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he
said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’
But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing
and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with
my God.’
And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my
strength - he says, ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I
will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the
end of the earth.’ Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his
Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of
rulers, ‘Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate
themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel,
who has chosen you.’
New Testament 1 Corinthians 1.1-9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel John 1.29-42
The next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon, son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).
Post Communion Collect
God of glory,
you nourish us with your Word
who is the bread of life:
fill us with your Holy Spirit
that through us the light of your glory
may shine in all the world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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 baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised 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 baptised, 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
