Sunday 1st February 2026 – Services at Shaugh Prior, Bickleigh, and Glenholt – All are welcome

St Edwards, St Mary’s & St Anne’s welcomes you.<!–

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Life in our churches and communities

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NOTICES:

Funerals

Michael Pike, Wednesday 11th February 2026 @ 11:30am, St Mary The Virgin, Bickleigh

Ashes Interment

Ken Fryer (Dawn’s father), Thursday 12th February 2026 @ 11am, St Mary The Virgin, Bickleigh
Brian West, Tuesday 24th February 2026 @ 11am, St Mary The Virgin, Bickleigh

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IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US, EVEN IF YOU COULDN’T MAKE IT TO THE FIRST SESSIONS.

THIS WEEK’S SUBJECT IS WHY DID JESUS DIE?

This is a 10 week course to look at our faith, ask questions and help us think about what we believe. It’s great for those new to thinking about faith – but also a great refresher for those of us who have been round the block a few times too! We will start with a simple lunch then watch a video and split into groups for discussion. If you might help us with hospitality – making/serving lunch/ washing up, or would just like to come along then please sign up!
If you can bring a friend with you to find out more, think what a difference that could make for them! Who might you bring along?

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QUIET SPACES

At Quiet Spaces last Friday we looked at the story of Martha and Mary, along with Brother Lawrence a 17c French Carmelite lay brother. Why is Mary doing the right thing by not helping? Luke is emphasising a radical change from self-sufficiency to the obedience to Christ. Martha wanted to be in control. With God we must defer control to God Himself. Martha perhaps needed to realise that her value is not in what she does but who she is – that is, a child of God.

In her book ‘The Deepest Belonging’, Kara Root says:
“My grandfather was famous in our family for being able to “fit 10 lbs in a 5 lb box.” I inherited and honed this trait, and for much of my teenage and adult life I was a proud multitasker. I knew how to pack more things into less time, to wow people with my ability to accomplish. But I slowly began to discover that while I could competently fit 10 lbs in a 5 lb box, I didn’t know how to fit 5 lbs. in a 5 lb. box. And 4 lbs. would have been impossible.

Brother Lawrence was known for his ability to maintain constant awareness of God in everyday tasks. He transformed work into prayer. He taught that there’s no division between secular work and prayer; all tasks, like peeling potatoes or mending shoes, can become acts of worship. He found profound peace and wisdom in simplicity and humility, becoming a beloved spiritual guide within his monastery.

How do you rest in God?

Karen Griffiths

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Weekly Activities

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New Online Prayer Group – Change of Time

Each Wednesday Rev Jo and Frank will be holding a weekly prayer meeting via Google Meet (video call via your computer’s browser, a bit like Zoom), at 9:30 to 10:00am to pray for one another, our churches, ministers and volunteers. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please get in touch for the link details.

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Advance notice that there will be no Games Club on Friday 7th Febuary, as the Friends of Bickleigh Parish will be holding a Community Talk at St Anne’s.

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Thanks to all who donated to Ukraine at St Anne’s church. Lawrence took all the donations to PUMA on 27th January.
The next collection/delivery is scheduled to take place on 10th March, so if you are planning on donating, please do so close to this date.

Thank you.

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Ecclesiastical Insurance

If someone takes out a policy with Ecclesiastical Insurance, then the policy holder is able to recommend an Anglican church (or cathedral), including our own churches to receive £130.00.

In addition, they offer a 10% discount for volunteers of registered charities (minimum premiums apply).

See below for details.

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Regular giving

Thank you to all of you who are donating to our churches! Have you considered setting up a regular donation to support the life and maintenance of our church communities? Please consider a single or monthly donation.

Donate now for Bickleigh Parish / Donate now for Shaugh Prior Parish.

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Prayer lists

Those in need of our prayers
Julie, Sophie, Karen, Richard, Judy, Mo, Valerie, Avril, Eileen, Pam, Steve, Jill, Cathy, Caroline, Dawn, Anne, Brooke, Martin, Emma, baby Saffy.

Pray for the Souls of the Recently Departed
Mike Pike, Ken Fryer, John Hockey

Those whose year’s mind occur around this time
Fran Bettey, Vera Folley, Frederick May, Maureen Morris

Those whom we love and see no longer and those who have no-one else to pray for them

+Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord
and let light perpetual shine upon them

May they rest in peace
and rise in glory

(please email admin@bspchurches.co.uk with updates to the prayer list)

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Sunday, 1st February 2026

Epiphany 4 / Presentation

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The Collect

Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

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Readings

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Malachi 3. 1-5

³See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ²But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; ³he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. ⁴Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
⁵Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

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Hebrews 2. 14-end

¹⁴Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. ¹⁶For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

This is the word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

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Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Luke 2. 22-40

²²When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), ²⁴and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,²⁹ ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
³³And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
³⁶There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, ³⁷then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
³⁹When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.

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Post Communion

Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus
when he comes to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

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Sunday 1st February 2026 – Services at Shaugh Prior, Bickleigh, and Glenholt – All are welcome

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