The Quiver Epiphany 2 January 19, 2025
A wedding is never just a wedding. It is also a party. A time to reflect. An opportunity to display generosity and express what matters most. The same is true of Christian worship. In both cases, love is at the centre. In both cases, love is much more than passion and devotion: it is also commitment, forgiveness and unselfishness. Whether it is bride and groom or God and us, we must learn how to manage our feelings for one another: to take pride, instead of feeling jealous; and to delight in one another for all that we are and can be.
SERVICES TODAY
We welcome Rev’d Robert Prance to Gussage St Michael this morning
9.30am Benefice Communion at Gussage St Michael 277 333 451 464
11.00am Elevenses at Woodlands
Give praise and thanks to God and pray for his help and healing:
The housebound: Gerry & Pat Cope Geoff Phillips
Those in need : Hayley Loader Katherine Woodland Zachary Jackson Sylvia Gray Frank Russell Gill Lee Andrew Sawyer Michael Goold Hilary & Guy Cherry Thick Jax Sharp Jim Bolton Clifford House Tereasa Harrison Sheila & Jerry Laker Gary Snelling Becky Gates Martin Instone Diana & Ian Mashford Ken Wise Tim Bastable Alice Dolan Donovan Docherty Fiona Armstrong Pearl Dickinson Jean & Alan Elliott Stuart Harding Rocco MacAndrew
For those who have died Sue Day
THIS WEEK
Monday 7.30pm Bell Ringing at Cranborne
Pray for our Bell Ringers
Tuesday Pray for Safeguarding Officers
Wednesday 10.00am Holy Communion at Woodlands
Pray for the Church in Spain
Thursday 7.30pm Choir Practice at Cranborne
Pray for Woodlands Methodist Church
Friday Pray for a spirit of love within the Church
Saturday The Conversion of St Paul [Acts 9.1-22]
Pray for Bishop Andrew on the 6th anniversary of his Consecration as Bishop of Ramsbury
SERVICES NEXT SUNDAY – EPIPHANY 3
9.00am Breakfast Church at Cranborne First School Hall
9.30am Benefice Communion at Edmondsham
6.00pm United Service at Woodlands
Nehemiah 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10 1 Corinthians 12.12-31a Luke 4.14-21
There is a basket available at the back of church for the Charity of the Month. During November, December & January this will be for The Salisbury – Sudan Medical Link who fund the training of clinical officers, nurses, midwives and other staff as well as purchasing and distributing primary health care kits. It is now possible to donate online; www.bit.ly/DQchofm. Choose the amount and add Gift Aid. Donations by 31.1.25, - Thank you.
Woodlands Church will be open on Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
during the winter months.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began yesterday and runs until next Saturday. This year as we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed, the scripture readings focus on belief.
We are invited to reflect on the story of Martha’s confession of faith in Jesus as narrated in John 11:17-27. Each is called to sit with Jesus’ provocative question to Martha: “Do you believe this?”
www.ctbi.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2025/
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.
FIRST READING Isaiah 62.1-5
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the LORD delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 12.1-11
Concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and
to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
GOSPEL John 2.1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
POST COMMUNION
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.
Copyright © Knowlton Circle Benefice 2022
