Our 2026 Memory Verse
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 NIV
The memory verse for 2026 reminds us that the Lord wants people to believe in him that they may truly become his children. For that to happen, everyone must play their part.
Thank you to all who helped in any way over the Christmas period.
Lots of people thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas Tree Festival and Pop-Up Nativity in December. I know that the main purpose of the events was to invite people from the community into church to share Christ’s love and the good news of Jesus’ birth, and this was certainly achieved. But I thought you’d like to know that the Christmas Tree Festival received £363.63 in donations and the Pop-Up Nativity £150.65; we were really blessed by people’s generosity.
Thank you so much to Cheryl, Gail, Diana and all others involved for all their hard work and creativity.
Annabel
St Barnabas Update
The Diocese is now going to support us by obtaining grants which will fund the new Pioneer Minister post to be based at St Barnabas Church. Benefact Trust which provided £2,300 for the new heaters is one of the organisations to be approached.
We are a Magnificat Parish (defined as one which is high on the Index of Multiple Deprivation). The diocesan prayer for New Year’s Eve is:
“Father, help everyone in our Magnificat Parishes look towards 2026 with the vision of you in their hearts and a renewed passion to share the love of Christ with all they meet. Renew hearts, minds, bodies and souls.”
Parish Christmas Appeal – 2025
The Mission Team are delighted to announce that we shall be sending a grand total of £2221.45 (including Gift Aid) to tearfund for their Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Very many thanks to everyone who donated so generously.
Prayer Meeting Sunday 4th January after the service
Our experiment in December did seem to attract a good number of people and so we will try it again on January 4th. The prayer time will start a few minutes after the end of the service, when we have our coffees – Mark will call people to order – and we will finish by 12 at the latest. If people need to leave earlier than that, please be assured that is fine.
Prayer for Peace in Ukraine and Israel Gaza/Palestine
St Nicholas’ Church will be open for prayer for peace between 9:30 and 10:00 on Mondays 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of January.
If in doubt because of the weather phone Joy (625545).
Standing Committee Monday 5th January, 9:30 a.m.
Please pray for the Standing Committee as they meet ahead of PCC.
Lunch Club – Monday 5th January at 12.45 in St Barnabas
New folks welcome. Please contact Pauline on 01934 415401.
Will regulars also please contact Pauline if they are unable to come this month.
Please pray for those who attend and those who cook and serve but most importantly, that the Lord will make himself known.
Epiphany Buffet - Saturday 10th January
This will be at 1pm in St Nicholas Church. £10 per person. For tickets, please speak to Lynn or Caroline.
Messy Church
Messy Church will be starting again on Wednesday 4th February, and the planning team have already met to think and pray about how we move forward.
They have identified the following needs:
- More people to join the team in general. We need more than the number required each month to cover holidays etc.
- More folks who are able to do food preparation. We have simplified our end of session meal to be something like baked potatoes or hot dogs in the winter or sandwiches in the summer, so it shouldn’t be too onerous.
- Anybody prepared to come to help to move chairs before and after the sessions?
- Please can everybody pray for the new start, that families will return and new families will join us, to learn about Jesus.
Please do let us know if you can help out in any of these areas; it would be greatly appreciated.
Also, please keep praying for the relaunch, and in particular for the whole team meeting on Thursday 8th January at 2.00. The Bible story is the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
Parochial Church Council Monday 19th January, 9:30 a.m.
Please pray for our PCC members as they meet.
January Coffee and Cake - Thursday 22nd at 7.30pm in St Nicholas Church
Guest Speaker: Fiona Mayne from Hayward Village Church.
She is a Vicar who is establishing a church on Hayward Village and is also an Army Chaplain in Bristol.
Come and hear her interesting story, and invite friends and neighbours.
Gail.
Services
Sunday 4th January 2026
10:00 a.m. - Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Celebration of The Epiphany
Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12
Prayer Meeting after the service
Wednesday 7th January 2026
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Epiphany
Matthew 2:1-12
Sunday 11th January 2026
10:00 a.m. Morning Worship live and by zoom from St Nicholas
The Baptism of The Messiah
Isaiah 42:1-9 Matthew 3:13-17
Wednesday 14th January 2026
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Epiphany 2 Hebrews 1:1-12
Sunday 18th January 2026
10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Second Sunday of Epiphany
Isaiah 49:1-7 John 1:29-42
Wednesday 21st January 2026
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Epiphany 3 John 1:43-51
Sunday 25th January 2026
10:00 a.m. – All Together Service live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Theme to be announced
The next Parish Update will be produced on Friday 23rd January.
Please pray:
Joan Glover – pray for Joan and family as they mourn for Peter.
Joan Bailey - Joan continues to find it very difficult and boring being in a Nursing Home but has a friendly and encouraging manner towards the other residents. She'd found Psalm 25 very helpful and asked me, Joy, to read it to her. Joan picked out verses which we used in prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness, trustworthiness, love and hope in His saving power, and asking God to turn to her in her loneliness and troubles, and thanking God she can take refuge in Him.
Ann Butt
Rene Eaton - Rene keeps well and sends her love to the church family.
Malcolm and Edna Hunter
Angela James
Ada Keeley
Louise Howarth
Audrey Howell
Paul and Barbara Lewis
The Madeleys
Stella Middleton
Lynn Pack
Gwen Purnell
Mac Reid
Jo Scott
Peter and Val Tullett
Joy White
Gill and David Willis
Please pray for the Diocesan Finance Group meeting on Wednesday 14th January. Jim is a member of this group.
Post Christmas Prayers
Please pray for all those who attended Uphill Village Academy’s Nativity, Broadoak’s Christmas Service, and our Church special services - Carol Service, Pop Up Nativity, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. May they come to know the Lord they heard about and give their lives to him.
Prayers for Mission
Pedro Santos as he seeks the Lord regarding his future ministry.
The Clarkes
Heather Johnstone - Please pray for Heather to be having an enjoyable and restful holiday with her brother and family in South Africa and for an uneventful journey back to Rehema. She flies on 14th January. Pray also for Rehema to be functioning well in her absence.
CMS mission partners Alison Giblett, Anya and Pastor Valery in Kiev – Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit to keep filling them afresh, helping them emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally; giving them the resources they need and wisdom as to how to use them.
Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and the ceasefire between Israel/Gaza, for changed hearts where needed, and thank God for those negotiating for peace.