Weekly Readings and Prayers

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Sunday 11th January 2026 The Baptism of Christ

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Collect 
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.

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First Reading Isaiah 42.1-9
Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them. 

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Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the Lord you powers of heaven, • ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; • worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; • the Lord is up on the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation; • the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; • the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf • and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord splits the flash of lightning, the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; • the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the forests bare; • in his temple all cry 'Glory!'
9 The Lord sits enthroned above the water flood; • the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
10 The Lord shall give strength to his people; • the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
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 Acts 10.34-43
Peter began to speak to those assembled in the house of Cornelius. ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ 

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Gospel Matthew 3.13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptised by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptised, 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.’ 

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Post Communion Prayer
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.

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Prayers for the week

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This week we pray for those who live in Larksfield, Laurel Avenue, Linden Court.

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Isaiah 42:3  "a bruised reed he will not break,  and a dimly burning wick he will not quench "

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Sunday 11th January
Almighty God, you are over heaven and earth. You are Lord of all time and space. You made everything and are the beginning and the end of all things. I worship you.

 

Monday 12th January
Creator God, thank you for colour and sound. Thank you for touch and taste and scent, and quiet moments. Thank you for the beauty in living things. 

 

Tuesday 13th January
I pray for the students and staff at Royal Holloway as a new term begins. Show me how to share with them your love. Give them the direction, peace, and the hope that only you can give.

 

Wednesday 14th January
I pray for those searching for meaning. For lives that feel empty and unsure. For hearts longing for something, or someone, to trust. May they find in you the Way, the Truth and the Life.

 

Thursday 15th January
I pray for those who have gone astray, betraying their principles, or their loved ones, or you, Lord  Jesus. May your light shine upon them: a beacon of hope and a lamp to their path.

 

Friday 16th January
I pray for this church and our village. For the University and all who live here. Keep us safe from harm. Show us how to live together with kindness,  patience and understanding.

 

Saturday 17th January
Let compassion and mercy blossom in me, Lord, as I live out my thankfulness for your loving-kindness and all your goodness to me.

 

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.