Dear Reader,

Here’s the podcast from my last Sunday Service with you at St Mary’s church. I was delighted and very moved that this was the day of Danny’s Renewal of Baptism… It was wonderful and significant to me that this should take place at the ending of my ministry among you - the renewal of faith of a new believer (in a rite formally known as Affirmation of Baptismal Faith). Thank you to everyone who has welcomed, prayed, and supported Danny on his journey of faith.

May I thank you too, for your kind words, cards and farewell gifts - and your support in my journey; these final four years of my stipendiary ministry. For my failures and weaknesses - thank you for your patience - and I ask of you forgiveness.

Today is Easter -Resurrection Day, and my official Retirement date is tomorrow…

Pray for me, as I will for thee, that we may merrily meet in heaven"

Sir Thomas More, Letter to his daughter Margaret Roper 5 July 1535

I wish you blessed and happy Easter! Christ is Risen!

Andrew+

PS look out for my final message - the story of the Tower, coming shortly.

Listen to Danny’s Testimony above, or read the Transcript from the side menu.

Watch Danny’s Testimony

Watch his Renewal of Baptism

John 3.1–17 NRSVNow there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He 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.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’4Nicodemus 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?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.”8The 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.’ 9Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 ‘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. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 ‘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.

17 ‘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.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

Church of the Transfiguration at the Community of Jesus, Massachusetts

Dear Reader,

May I wish you a blessed Shrove Tuesday - enjoy your pancakes as we prepare to journey with Jesus in spirit during Lent towards Easter.

May I invite you to begin your Lenten journey tomorrow 7pm Ash Wednesday?

Blessing of Lent to you.

Andrew+

Exodus 24:12–18 NRSV

The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.”

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoy listening to the sermon podcast above…

Now Lent is almost upon us. Let’s make it a special ‘worry free’ time of turning away from the many distractions of life to the one true Source of peace, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

May I invite you to begin a holy Lent - come to our Ash Wednesday Service with the Imposition of Ashes on 18th February at 7pm.

* This Lent our Devotional is Draw Near: life giving habits for Lent 40 daily reflections. Download the Everyday Faith app to take part. You can also order a booklet if you prefer.

* Alternatively why not try Wisdom in the Desert beginning on 16 February where you will meet the desert Mothers and Fathers of the church? They were early Christian pioneers, seeking God in the solitude of the Egyptian wilderness. Download Lectio 365 app There is also a Family version - download Lectio for Families.

Blessing of Lent to you.

Andrew+

News

We’ve started our weekly Energize group for children at our new Service time of 10.00am (no more services at 9.30am). We have a ‘family corner’ with a sofa as well at the back of church and a rug for little ones to play on.

Once a month we’ll have a ‘Together’ service where children and families will take part in the service together.

15th March – Mother’s Day

5th April – Easter

24th May – Pentecost

21st June – Father’s Day

6th September – Back to school

11th October – Harvest

29th November – Advent

6th December – Christingle

Social Events

Saturday 7th March

Family Silent Disco 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Soft drinks & snacks. Glitter galore & glow sticks

Adults-Only Silent Disco (18+) 7.30pm – 11.00pm

Bar fully stocked, cocktails, beers and wine Proper street-food from outside caterers: burgers, hotdogs, sausage rolls, and grazing boxes to keep you fuelled!

Advance tickets only: book bit.ly/stmarystickets

Matthew 6:25–34 NIV

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

St Andrew and St. Peter, by Fernando Gallego, 1480-1488

John 1:29–42 NIV

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

Matthew 3:13–17 NIV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, 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, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

Matthew 2:1–12 NIV

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

“Saint Joseph and the Infant Christ” by Giovanni Battista Gaulli

Matthew 2:13–18 NIV

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.”

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

Dear Reader,

I hope the sermon inspires you… And may I invite you to come and celebrate the #realmeaningofchristmas at St Mary’s - Jesus’ birthday?

* Christmas Eve 4pm Crib Service. All Shepherds and Angels in their outfits welcome!

* Midnight Mass 11.15pm

* Jesus’ Birthday Party Service 9.30am - adults and children bring a present to show and tell

Wishing you a happy and blessed Christmas!

Andrew+

Christmas Cards

If you wish to give a Christmas Card to the church family, then pin one on the Children’s Noticeboard at the back of church. You also have the opportunity to donate to Sonia’s Hurricane Melissa Appeal in aid of Lucea Parish in Jamaice.

Roni and I have donated £50 for St Mary’s to Amigos Worldwide

Amigos Worldwide works alongside people and communities in rural Uganda, through vocational training of 50 young people at Kira Farm, conservation farming, and supporting the most vulnerable…. Their aim: Supporting disadvantaged people to work their way out of poverty and thrive.

To find out more or join us in donating, please go to amigos.org.uk

Note from Christine Greenway

I wonder if you could make sure that members of the congregation at Marston and Lidlington (if that’s possible) know that there is a link on the undertaker’s website for messages, donations and funeral service details for Dad, Revd John Greenway (Vicar 1976):

revjohngreenway.muchloved.com

Matthew 1:18–25 NIV

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

The George Orwell Statue outside BBC Broadcasting House: the text reads; “If Liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”

Dear Reader,

I enjoyed writing this sermon - I hope you enjoy listening/reading. Did you know - you can read a transcript of the audio by clicking the transcript button above?

Here’s an our Christmas poster for you below. I’m delighted to invite you to our Christmas services - enjoy the #realmeaningofchristmas - I hope to see you soon.

Blessing of Advent to you.

Andrew+

Matthew 11:2–11 NIV

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.’

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

Listen and enjoy! Andrew+

Matthew 3:1–12 NIV

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Thanks for reading St Marys Marston Moreteyne & Lidlington! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com