The holy communion service held on Sunday, third Sunday of Epiphany, was celebrated by the Rev Andrew Stevenson, priest-in-charge, who in his sermon said that a drowning man does not need smart words or advice, what he needs is a lifeline.

Just like a man who has fallen overboard we as humanity are in danger of drowning in the sea of life. We might not always recognise it, but we are. The story of God’s action in the world is that of Jesus – God made flesh. The readings for today have shown us how Jesus begins to weave the life-line into a net, a net which can be far more effective than a single line; ask any fisherman. This net is still there, it is a network more commonly called the church and just as Andrew, Simon Peter, James and John began the task of building up this network, our job as Christians is to continue the work, because the real truth that the Epiphany reveals is that Christ came and died for all; those of us who know we are drowning and those who have not noticed yet, but all the same, the lifeline and the network is there waiting to pull us out of our peril.

The Old Testament lesson taken from Isaiah chapter 9 v 1-4, was read by George Ellison and The New Testament lesson taken from 1 Corinthians chapter 1 v 10-18, was read by Denise Stannard. The gospel reading was Matthew chapter 4 v 12-23 read by Mr Stevenson. Intercessions were written and read by Leslie and Roger Hygate and the organist was Joan Treloar.