Holy Communion for the Second Sunday after Epiphany: celebrant the Revd Tola Badejo. Junior Church takes place at the same time in the hall.

First reading: Isaiah 49: 1-7
Gospel: John 1: 29–42

'I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.' This quotation from Isaiah is the second we have heard this Epiphany that points forward to the words of Simeon at the Presentation, emphasising that no-one is excluded from the grace of God and the redemption offered by Jesus.

The language of Isaiah is as majestic as its theme, the Light of Christ illuminating the whole world. Yet the Gospel shows the intimate way in which the story begins: John points out Jesus to two disciples (his disciples, not Jesus's, at this point); one of them fetches his brother, and the brothers go to see Jesus. The whole of Jesus's ministry begins, quite simply, with one person talking to another.

The painting by Salvator Rosa depicts John pointing Jesus out to Andrew. Rosa's interest was in the wild, romantic landscape of the setting, but the picture nevertheless conveys a sense of excitement and transformative potential.

The Cub and Beaver sections of our G46 Scout Group meet on Tuesday evenings: for details, please see the attachment below. The Group's HQ is behind the Church Hall.

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The G46 Scouts meet on Friday evenings, in their HQ behind the Church Hall. For further details, please see the attachment below.

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