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Sunday 1 February 2026 - Epiphany 4
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
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 28 January | 9.45am | Earls Colne | Holy Communion |
| Sunday,1 February | 10am | Earls Colne | 3 Colnes Holy Communion |
| Wednesday 4 February | 9.45am | Earls Colne | Holy Communion |
| 3.30pm | Colne Engaine | 3.30 Express | |
| Sunday, 8 February | 10am | Earls Colne | Space for Grace |
| 10am | Colne Engaine | Morning Worship | |
| Wednesday 11 February | 9.30am | Colne Engaine | BCP Holy Communion |
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 Epiphany 4 - Sunday 1 February 2026
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Old Testament Reading
From Malachi Chapter 3 Verses 1-5
The Coming Messenger
3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.
4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
5 Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
New Testament Reading
From Hebrews Chapter 2 Verses 14-end
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.
16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.
17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.
18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
All readings shared from the Lectionary app. Material subject to copyright.
Gospel Reading
Matthew Chapter 2 Verses 22-40
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’),
24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed
35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,
37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.