Pew News
Sunday 14 December 2025 - Third Sunday of Advent
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Come Lord Jesus, dwell in me and send your Holy Spirit that I may be filled with your presence.
Jesus, as the hem of your garment, touched in faith, healed the woman who could not touch your body, so may the soul of your servant be healed, for though
I cannot receive you in the sacrament I can, through this offering of my prayer, receive you in my heart; grant this for Christ's sake. Amen
You are welcome this and every Sunday…
Our services are led by Clergy, Licensed Lay Ministers and Lay Worship Leaders, and we offer a variety of different styles of worship. We also live stream most of the services from Earls Colne Church through Facebook (The Three Colnes). Please see our Services page for our full schedule for this month and our Events page for details of social events.
Order of Service for Holy Communion Order of Service for Morning Worship
Services This Week and Next
| Day and Date | Time | Church | Service |
| Wednesday 10 December | 9.30am | Colne Engaine | BCP Holy Communion |
| Sunday, 14 December | 10am | Earls Colne | Space for Grace |
| 10am | Colne Engaine | Morning Worship | |
| 5pm | Colne Engaine | Traditional Carols and Readings | |
| Wednesday 17 December | 9.45am | Earls Colne | Holy Communion |
| For our Christmas services and events, visit Our Christmas Services page. | |||
Sunday Zoom Coffee:
You are also invited to Zoom Coffee at 11.30am-12.30pm on Sundays: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87477110637?pwd=UFpoazhiNTdCSUN6cG14US9CVnJRUT09
Password: coffee
Private Prayer
Our Earls Colne and Colne Engaine churches are also open most days for private prayer and White Colne is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the day. We are happy to open specially if you would like to spend some time there or light candles.
Churchwardens emails:
Earls Colne: ecchurchwardens@gmail.com
Colne Engaine: george.courtauld@btinternet.com
White Colne: wccw@hotmail.co.uk
Readings for Third Sunday of Advent - Sunday 14 December 2025
Old Testament Reading
From Isaiah Chapter 35 Verses 1-10
The Return of the Redeemed to Zion
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
New Testament Reading
From James Chapter 5 Verses 7-10
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
All readings shared from the Lectionary app. Material subject to copyright.
Gospel Reading
Matthew Chapter 3 Verses 1-12
Messengers from John the Baptist
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples
3 and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’
4 Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.
6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’
Jesus Praises John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
10 This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.