The holy communion service held on Sunday, Fourth Sunday of Epiphany, was celebrated by the Rev Andrew Stevenson, priest-in-charge.

In his sermon he said that this week has been the week of prayer for Christian unity and so it is particularly appropriate that the epistle reading should be from 1 Corinthians chapter 12, a passage which equates the church’s role as the body of Christ with that of the human body. St Paul is at pains to point out that each part has its role to play and that we, all of us, exist only in relation to one another. But all of this can only really happen if our relationships are founded on love. If it is not, we are just clanging gongs or crashing cymbals – noises without merit! The church and our role as members of that body is to show the love of God in the world, in what we say and what we do, something which to our detriment we appear to be able to lose sight of on a regular basis. Jesus came to bring good news, bind up the broken hearted, release people in captivity and lift oppression. We can only follow in His footsteps if we do what God would have us do – love as He has loved us.

The Old Testament reading taken from Nehemiah chapter 8 v 1–10 and the New Testament reading taken from 1 Corinthians chapter 12 v 12–31a were read by Roger and Leslie Hygate. Organist was Sid Bryant and intercessions were composed and read by Irene Gardiner.