TowerPod: St Mary's Marston Moreteyne and Lidlington

<p> “Saint Joseph and the Infant Christ” by Giovanni Battista Gaulli</p><p></p><p><strong>Matthew 2:13–18 NIV</strong></p><p>When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”</p><p>So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”</p><p>When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:</p><p>“A voice is heard in Ramah,</p><p>weeping and great mourning,</p><p>Rachel weeping for her children</p><p>and refusing to be comforted,</p><p>because they are no more.”</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>Dear Reader,</p><p>I hope the sermon inspires you… And may I invite you to come and celebrate the #realmeaningofchristmas at St Mary’s - Jesus’ birthday?</p><p>* Christmas Eve 4pm Crib Service. All Shepherds and Angels in their outfits welcome!</p><p>* Midnight Mass 11.15pm</p><p>* Jesus’ Birthday Party Service 9.30am - adults and children bring a present to show and tell</p><p>Wishing you a happy and blessed Christmas!</p><p>Andrew+</p><p><strong><em>Christmas Cards</em></strong></p><p>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.</p><p>Roni and I have donated £50 for St Mary’s to Amigos Worldwide</p><p>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.</p><p>To find out more or join us in donating, please go to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amigos.org.uk/appeal/2025-christmas-appeal/">amigos.org.uk</a></p><p><strong><em>Note from Christine Greenway</em></strong></p><p>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):</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://revjohngreenway.muchloved.com/">revjohngreenway.muchloved.com</a></p><p><strong>Matthew 1:18–25 NIV</strong></p><p>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.</p><p>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.”</p><p>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”).</p><p>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.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>The George Orwell Statue outside BBC Broadcasting House: the text reads;<em> “If Liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear”</em></p><p>Dear Reader,</p><p>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?</p><p>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.</p><p>Blessing of Advent to you.</p><p>Andrew+</p><p></p><p><strong>Matthew 11:2–11 NIV</strong></p><p>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?”</p><p>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.”</p><p>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:</p><p><em>“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,</em></p><p><em>who will prepare your way before you.’</em></p><p>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.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>Listen and enjoy! Andrew+</p><p><strong>Matthew 3:1–12 NIV</strong></p><p>In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, <em>“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:</em></p><p><em>“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,</em></p><p><em>‘Prepare the way for the Lord,</em></p><p><em>make straight paths for him.’ ”</em></p><p>John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.</p><p>“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”</p><p><p>Thanks for reading St Marys Marston Moreteyne & Lidlington! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>

<p>Dear Reader,</p><p>Our Mission should we accept it:</p><p><em>To be a Tower of living stones; chosen, mended and built by Jesus our Cornerstone - to make followers for Him, to be a sanctuary of prayer and a community of love.</em></p><p>I was therefore very struck when Sonia shared on our Community Bible Study Whatsapp a sermon by Captain Rev. Astor Carlyle to the Garrison church family Jamaica. His words resonated strongly. And resonated too with the poignant line drawing by artist Jenny Cooper of a Tower above. After all, we do have our own dramatic Tower!</p><p>Enjoy! Andrew+</p><p>1 Peter 2:1–10 NIV</p><p>Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.</p><p>As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:</p><p>“See, I lay a stone in Zion,</p><p>a chosen and precious cornerstone,</p><p>and the one who trusts in him</p><p>will never be put to shame.”</p><p>Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,</p><p>“The stone the builders rejected</p><p>has become the cornerstone,”</p><p>and,</p><p>“A stone that causes people to stumble</p><p>and a rock that makes them fall.”</p><p>They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.</p><p>But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.</p><p><p>Thanks for reading St Marys Marston Moreteyne & Lidlington! This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_1">stmarysmarstonmoreteyne.substack.com</a>