On the Second Sunday of Epiphany, we will be joined at St Oswald's by our friends from Durham City Methodists (Elvet Methodist Church and North Road Methodist Church) for a special United Covenant Service & Holy Communion, marking the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) 2026, followed by refreshments in the Institute across the road. All are very welcome to come and join us.

Preacher:
The Reverend John Squares, Methodist Superintendent Minister for Durham and Deerness Valley Circuit

Special readings will be used at this service. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday is John 1:29-42.

Hymns:
508 (t. 507)
SP* 152
581 (t.i)
538 (t. Day of Rest)

Psalms:
40:1-12

And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

(John 1:32-34, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

(Common Worship, the Church of England)

The Post Communion:

God of glory, you nourish us with your Word who is the bread of life: fill us with your Holy Spirit that through us the light of your glory may shine in all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(Common Worship, the Church of England)

The Covenant Prayer:

I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing;
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

(The Covenant Service, the Methodist Worship Book 2022, The Methodist Church in Great Britain)

Prayer Intentions for the Day from the Durham Diocesan (Church of England) Monthly Prayer Cycle:

Our Archdeacons -
Rick Simpson (Auckland), Katherine Bagnall (Sunderland), and Libby Wilkinson (Durham)

Anglican Communion -
Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo: The Most Reverend Georges Titre Ande

Durham Diocese (Church of England) Deanery Prayer Intention for January 2026 -
Easington Deanery

The theme for this year's WPCU is 'There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling', from Ephesians 4:4.

The Bible Verse for WPCU Day 1 - Our Calling:

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called

(Ephesians 4:1, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

The Prayer for WPCU Day 1 - Our Calling:

God of light,
you have called us out of darkness into your light.
May our response to your call lead us to actively seek reconciliation
and share your light in the world.

Amen.

Preserve me from my calling's snare,
and hide my simple heart above,
above the thorns of choking care,
the gilded baits of worldly love.

(Forth in Thy Name O Lord I Go, Charles Wesley * 1707–1788, Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, #430, Verse 3)

Today also marks the Commemoration of Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern; *SP = Sing Praise - Hymns and Songs for Refreshing Worship (the supplement to Common Praise). Further musical information for January 2026 can be found by clicking on the attachment below.***

***Please click on 'MORE INFO' below for further details of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.***

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A prayerful and reflective service from the Book of Common Prayer. Roughly every other Sunday in term time, a full choral evensong is held.

All are very welcome.

Sunday, 18th January 2026 - Epiphanytide: The Second Sunday after the Epiphany; St Prisca, Virgin, Martyr at Rome, c.265

Evening Prayer with Hymns

Hymns:
13
622

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

(Ezekiel 2:8, King James Version)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

***Please see the United Covenant Service & Holy Communion page for the prayer intentions for the day from the Durham Diocesan Monthly Prayer Cycle.***

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Further musical information for January 2026 can be found by clicking on the attachment below.***

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A soup lunch organised by Durham Churches Together to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) 2026.

Speaker:
The Reverend John Squares, Methodist Superintendent Minister for Durham and Deerness Valley Circuit

All are very welcome.

A short time of reflection, designed to be a benefit for parents dropping off children at the school, with a concluding prayer and coffee. All are very welcome.

A prayerful, reflective service from the Book of Common Prayer, held in the chancel.

Tea, coffee and chat afterwards in the vestry.

All are very welcome.

Wednesday, 21st January 2026 - Epiphanytide: St Agnes, Virgin, Martyr at Rome, 304

Midweek Holy Communion

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 24:45-51, King James Version)

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Post Communion:

Almighty and ever-living God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people, and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son. And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, world without end.

Amen.

Prayer Intentions for the Day from the Diocesan Monthly Prayer Cycle:

The Diocese of Durham -
The Benefice of Seaham and Dawdon: Seaham St Mary the Virgin and Dawdon; Seaham Harbour St John;
Deneside All Saints; Vicar - The Reverend Canon Paul Kennedy; Reader in Training - Joseph Hobson

Ali Bianchi - Growing Church Strategic Lead

Anglican Communion -
The Diocese of Springfield (The Episcopal Church); Vacant

Deanery Prayer Intention for January 2026 -
Easington Deanery

The worshipping heart of parish life; a service from Common Worship including Holy Communion with refreshments afterwards in the Institute across the road.

All are very welcome.

Sunday, 18th January 2026 - Epiphany Season: The Second Sunday of Epiphany; The Commemoration of Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, Spiritual Writer, 1951; The First Day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU)

United Covenant Service & Holy Communion with Durham City Methodists

Please see the United Covenant Service & Holy Communion page for further details of the service taking place on this morning.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Further musical information for January 2026 can be found by clicking on the attachment below.***

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Pop in for tea, coffee and a chat. All are very welcome.