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, 11th January 2026 - Epiphany Season: The Baptism of Christ

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

(Matthew 3:16-end, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

Readings:
Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-end

The Collect of the Day:

Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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.

The Post Communion:

Lord of all time and eternity, you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son: by the power of your Spirit complete the heavenly work of our rebirth through the waters of the new creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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

Bishops -
Bishops: Sarah; Assistant Bishops: John, David, Stephen, Rob and Frank

Anglican Communion -
Iglesia Region Central de America: The Most Reverend David Alvarado Melgar

Deanery Prayer Intention for January 2026 -
Easington Deanery

When Jesus came to Jordan
to be baptized by John,
he did not come for pardon,
but as his Father's Son.
He came to share repentance
with all who mourn their sins,
to speak the vital sentence
with which good news begins.

(When Jesus Came to Jordan, F. Pratt Green 1903–2000, Text © 1980 Stainer & Bell Ltd. Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, #93, Verse 1)

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Further musical information for January 2026 to be announced.***

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, 11th January 2026 - Epiphanytide: The First Sunday after the Epiphany

And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

(Joshua 3:7-8, King James Version)

The Collect of the Day:

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

***Please see the Parish Eucharist page for today's prayer intentions from the Diocesan Monthly Prayer Cycle.***

Baptize us with your Spirit, Lord,
your cross on us be signed,
that likewise in God’s service, we
may perfect freedom find.

(Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized, F. Bland Tucker 1895–1984, Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, #92, Verse 4)

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Further musical information for January 2026 to be announced.***

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Pop in for tea, coffee and a chat. 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, 7th January 2026 - Epiphanytide

Holy Communion

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

(Matthew 2:1-2, King James Version)

The Collect for the Epiphany:

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Post Communion for the Epiphany:

O Lord our God, the bright splendour whom the nations seek: grant that we, who with the wise men have been drawn by thy light, may discern the glory of thy presence in thy Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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

Adviser in Pastoral Care, Counselling and Clergy Wellbeing: Simon Rose

An Increase in vocations to ministry in each Deanery in the Diocese

Your member of Parliament

Anglican Communion -
Diocese of Shyogwe (Eglise Anglicane du Rwanda), Right Reverend Jered Kalimba

Deanery Prayer Intention for January 2026 -
Easington Deanery

Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesu, Lord, to thee we raise,
manifested by the star
to the sages from afar;
branch of royal David's stem
in thy birth at Bethlehem:
anthems be to thee addrest,
God in man made manifest.

(Songs of Thankfulness and Praise, Christopher Wordsworth 1807–1885, Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, #90, Verse 1)

We are 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 on the Second Sunday of Epiphany, followed by refreshments in the Institute across the road.

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 day is John 1:29-42.***

All are very welcome.

Today also marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 2026. The theme for this year is 'There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling', from Ephesians 4:4.

In addition, today marks the Commemoration of Amy Carmichael, Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship and Spiritual Writer, who died in 1951.

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)

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 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)

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)

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

Today's Bible Verse for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; 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)

Today's Prayer for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; 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.

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

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

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

All are very welcome.