The Epiphany
Sung Eucharist for The Epiphany
Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service
Other services
Festal Evensong for The Epiphany
Today at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service
Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 7 January at 10.00 am
Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 7 January at 8.30 pm
Sanctuary
This Thursday 8 January at 6.30 pm
Sung Eucharist for the Baptism of Christ
Next Sunday 11 January at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service
Messy Church
Next Sunday 11 January at 4.00 pm
Dates for your diary in 2026
The fun doesn’t stop once Christmas is over. Please keep these dates free in your diaries…
- 25 January, 4.00 pm: Assembly Bangers – come and sing all your primary school favourites.
- 31 January, 3.00 pm: Lantern-making for Candlemas – come and make a lantern in the Community Centre. Refreshments available. Followed by a lantern parade into the church. Primarily aimed at primary-aged children.
- 17 February, 5.30 pm: Pancake Party, in the Community Centre.
Terry Foster RIP
Please note the arrangements for the funeral of Terry Foster. Terry will be received into church at 4.30 pm on Friday 9 January. His Requiem Mass will be at 11.00 am on Saturday 10 January, followed by a reception in the Community Centre. All who knew Terry are very welcome to attend any part of this commemoration of his life.
Chalking the door
Chalking the Door is a very old Epiphany tradition for asking God to bless our churches and homes and all who live, work, or visit there throughout the coming year, marking them with chalk symbols as a sign that we are inviting God’s presence into the places, relationships, and situations that we call home. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this short liturgy we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God’s presence and blessing into our homes. In Deuteronomy 6:9 God tells the people of Israel: “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house… You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Chalking the door is a tangible way to honour God in our lives.
The door is marked with the following symbols (updating the last two digits for each new year):
20 + C + M + B + 26
The first and last numbers comprise the four digits of the current year (2026). The letters “C,” “M,” and “B” come from the three traditional names for the Wise Men in Matthew 2: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also suggest the phrase: “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” (“May Christ bless this house”). A cross is placed between each set of numbers and letters. For more information, see wkrk.uk/ctd.
At the end of our service this morning, we will chalk the lintel of the church door. Blessed chalk will be available for you to take away so that, if you would like to, you can chalk the door of your own house too. You might want to use the following prayers as you do so.
Peace be to this house, and to all who enter here. Amen.
God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.
All may take turns chalking the door: 20 + C + M + B + 26 as the following words are said:
The three Wise Men, Caspar [C] , Melchior [M], and Balthazar [B] followed the star to Bethlehem and the child Jesus two thousand [20], and twenty-six [26] years ago. May Christ bless our home [+ +] and remain with us throughout this year [+ +]. Amen.
The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in January
The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.
If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.
Continue reading “Parish notices: 4 January 2026”