St Andrew's Presteigne

06/09/2026

The Old Testament Reading for Sunday 6 September (Trinity 14) is taken from Psalm 119,
verses 33-40

At 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest of all the Psalms
but it contains some beautiful shorter passages –
such as this lovely but powerful prayer
which you might like to make your own today…

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
Fulfil your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.
How I long for your precepts!
In your righteousness preserve my life.

06/09/2026

The Collect for 6 September, the 14th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
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.

04/09/2026

Christenings are always very special occasions at St Andrews, as we welcome new members of our Christian family. Thank you very much to the Hodgetts family for allowing us to share their photos of the recent baptism of River Charlotte. whose grandparents Sandra and Tim are regular members of our congregation. River and her parents Stephen and Megan live in Los Angeles, California, so we won't be seeing her in Presteigne very often, but it was a pleasure to meet her and her extended family, and we hope they will feel welcome at St Andrew's when they do get a chance to visit. In the meantime, we wish God's blessing on River and her family, and thank them for choosing to have her baptised into the Christian faith by Rev Steve in our lovely church.

01/09/2026

What a weekend it’s been, as Presteigne Festival took over our church for a fantastic series of concerts, featuring the festival’s own wonderful orchestra, the HearandNow Collective from Amsterdam, and a wonderful array of soloists and composers, including in these photos pianists Jâms Coleman and Clare Hammond, tenor James Gilchrist, composers Adrian Williams, Michael Zev Gordon and Mathilde Wantenaar, and flugelhorn soloist Imogen Whitehead performing a new piece by Gabriel Jackson. All masterminded by George Vass, who is so good at planning interesting concert programmes and bringing musicians together creatively. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. It’s been a real treat for us at St Andrew’s.

01/09/2026

Services in the Presteigne Group of Parishes next Sunday 6 September (Trinity 14) are as follows:

9.30 Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer: traditional language) Lingen
11.00 Choral Holy Communion (Common Worship: contemporary language) Presteigne

Everyone is very welcome to attend either of these services. If you can't be with us in person, you can find the Collect and an extract from the Psalm for the day here: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/benefice/18-217CP/news/

30/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our wonderful Presteigne Festival Eucharist this morning, and to those who attended, both our regular congregation and the many visitors who joined us - you are all very welcome. Particular thanks to Dean Sarah Brown from Hereford Cathedral for bringing something new to the theme of the importance of music in all our lives, with an inspirational breadth of references; to the Choir of King’s College, London, conducted by Patrick Allies, and organist Theo Geileskey; to Cecilia McDowall whose beautiful Missa Mariae they performed; to our church warden Keith Hatfield for leading the prayers so thoughtfully; to the readers Tony and James from the festival community; to the stewards, bellringers and everyone who prepared the church for the service; and of course to our own priests, Rev Steve who presided and Rev Debbie for their ministry. It was a very special occasion.

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

A Reading for Sunday 30 August from St Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 16, verses 21-28

Jesus began to explain to his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things
at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law,
and that he must be killed
and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling-block to me;
you do not have in mind the things of God,
but the things of men.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world,
yet forfeits his soul?
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of Man
is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels,
and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

I tell you the truth,
some who are standing here will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

30/08/2026

The Collect appointed for 30 August, the 13th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

29/08/2026

A date for next weekend’s diary

Next Saturday (5th September) at St Andrew’s church hall in Presteigne. Please make a note in your calendars 🙏