Churches open for private prayer
Monday: Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Tuesday: Rufford, 10am-2pm
Wednesday: Tarleton, 11am-2pm
Thursday: Rufford, 10am-2pm
Friday: Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Saturday: Rufford, 10am-2pm
The week in Bible reading and prayer:
Sunday 10 January – BAPTISM OF CHRIST (Epiphany 2)
10.30am Eucharist, streamed from Holy Trinity, Tarleton on Facebook (no parishioners allowed in Church)
Today’s readings – Genesis 1.1-5, Psalm 29, Acts 19.1-7 & Mark 1.4-11
The 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.
Old Testament – Genesis 1.1-5
1 1 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2 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.
3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Psalm 29
Refrain: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; [the God of glory thunders].
New Testament – Acts 19.1-7
19 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2 He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3 Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’
4 Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — 7 altogether there were about twelve of them.
8 He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
Gospel – Mark 1.4-11
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
11 And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
Prayer intentions
🙏🏼We pray that every anxious soul may hear the Father’s words of reassurance: “You are my child and I love you”;
🙏🏼 For the sick and those in need: Zena Ashcroft, Margaret Baxter, Margaret Bolton, Colin Brown, Jack Dalton, Bill Duggan, Wayne Jackett, Jimmy Johnstone, Paddy MacDonagh, Tony Morgan, Ruth Middlesborough & Donald Sephton.
🙏🏼 Year’s mind: (Including last weeks) William Golding, John George Gordon, George Radcliffe, Robert Heaton Rimmer, Mary Sephton, James Ashcroft; Alan Barrett, Thomas Henry Caunce, Ellen Ann Chadwick, Annie Cross, Graham Stephen Jarvis, William Norris, Harold Sephton, Edith Spencer, George Sutton, Margaret Alice Taylor & Joan Wareing.
🙏🏼 Recently departed: Anthony John Wagner.
🙏🏼 We pray for those who live in Bannister Court and Bannister Mews.
Monday 11th – Mary Slessor, Missionary, 1915
Today’s readings – Hebrews 1.1-6, Ps. 97.1-2,6-10 & Mark 1.14-20.
🙏🏼We pray for Christians in West Africa and for public health professionals.
Tuesday 12th – Aelred, Abbot
Today’s readings – Hebrews 2.5-12, Ps. 8 & Mark 1.21-28.
🙏🏼 We pray for all in monastic communities and in tertiary orders; for those who work in food production, processing, and distribution;
Wednesday 13th – Hilary, Bishop, Teacher of the faith, 367.
Today’s readings – Hebrews 2.14-end, Ps. 105.1-9 & Mark 1.29-39.
🙏🏼We give thanks to those who with their talents inspire our worship.
Thursday 14th
Today’s readings – Hebrews 3.7-14, Ps. 95.1,40-end & Mark 1.40-end.
🙏🏼We pray for those responsible for rolling out the vaccination programme.
Friday 15th
Today’s readings – Hebrews 4.1-5, 11, Ps. 78.3-8 & Mark 2.1-12.
🙏🏼 We pray for those who stand up for justice in our community.
Saturday 16th
Today’s readings – Hebrews 4.12-end, Ps. 19.7-end & Mark 2.13-17.
🙏🏼We pray for families who are struggling to make ends meet.
Next Sunday – Epiphany 2
Today’s readings – 1 Samuel 3.1-10; Psalm 139.1-9; Revelation 19.6-10; John 2.1-11
🙏🏼We pray for those who live in Barronwood Court and Beech Close;
