TowerPod: St Mary's Marston Moreteyne and Lidlington

St Marys Marston Moreteyne

Weekly Message: a gospel reading and a thoughtful sermon to feed your soul and wake you to life beyond 'the matrix'. From St Mary's Church Marston Moreteyne and Lidlington. stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com

  1. FEB 14

    Why do you worry?

    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

    14 min
  2. FEB 13

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

    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

    12 min
  3. JAN 31

    How to be truly wise...

    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

    11 min
  4. 12/22/2025

    The man who left home for the sake of the girl he loved...

    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

    12 min
  5. 12/16/2025

    How to approach the News

    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

    13 min

About

Weekly Message: a gospel reading and a thoughtful sermon to feed your soul and wake you to life beyond 'the matrix'. From St Mary's Church Marston Moreteyne and Lidlington. stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com