Weekly Readings and Prayers
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Sunday 18th January 2026 Second Sunday of Epiphany
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Collect
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.
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First Reading Isaiah 49.1-7
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.’ And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says, ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’ Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, ‘Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’
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Psalm 40 1-12
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; : he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me out of the roaring pit, out of the mire and clay; : he set my feet upon a rock and made my footing sure.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; : many shall see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, : who does not turn to the proud that follow a lie.
5 Great are the wonders you have done, O Lord my God. How great your designs for us! : There is none that can be compared with you.
6 If I were to proclaim them and tell of them : they would be more than I am able to express.
7 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire : but my ears you have opened;
8 Burnt offering and sacrifice for sin you have not required; : then said I: ‘Lo, I come.
9 ‘In the scroll of the book it is written of me that I should do your will, O my God; : I delight to do it: your law is within my heart.’
10 I have declared your righteousness in the great congregation; : behold, I did not restrain my lips, and that, O Lord, you know.
11 Your righteousness I have not hidden in my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; :
I have not concealed your loving-kindness and truth from the great congregation.
12 Do not withhold your compassion from me, O Lord; : let your love and your faithfulness always preserve me,
Glory be to the Father and to the Son : and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning is now : and shall be for ever. Amen.
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Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1. 1-9
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Gospel John 1. 29-42
The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ 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 baptise with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’ The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).
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Post Communion Prayer
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.
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Prayers for the week
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This week we pray for those who live in Lodge Close, London Road, Magna Road
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Isaiah 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. "
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Sunday 18th January
Thank you, God, for the world you have given us, for its beauty, and for our senses that enable us to enjoy it.
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Monday 19th January
Thank you, God, for happy memories, present joys, future hopes, and the promise of life with Christ forever.
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Tuesday 20th January
Gracious God, you have cared for me, helped me, and renewed me. Stay close by me, I pray.
Wednesday 21st January
I pray for my friends, family and relationships. May they be blessed, peaceful, and held close by Jesus.
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Thursday 22nd January
God of power and majesty, I pray for those with worldly political and military power, whose decisions affect many lives. May they act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you and your vision of peace on earth.
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Friday 23rd January
I pray for the world, that its peoples may have what they need: freedom, justice, security, peace. Show me how I am called to reach out to them.
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Saturday 24th January
For our church family in Englefield Green, and for our brothers and sisters in Christ of all denominations, here and in Egham and Windsor, I pray that we may receive what we most need: faith, love, strength, and wisdom.
Heavenly Father, please accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
​​At all our services we pray for those who are sick, in need and for the bereaved by name. Please do let us know if you would like specific prayer for anyone, and they will be included on our prayer list.