Royston Parish Church (Herts)

This Sunday's readings

2026-02-22 Readings for Sunday 9 am BCP.docx Download

Readings for Sunday.docx Download

Note there are different readings for our two Sunday morning services this week!

SUNDAY READING SHEET 25th January 2026 3rd Sunday of Epiphany

9 am BCP ONLY

Collect

O Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights:

Give us grace to use such abstinence, that,

our flesh being subdued to the Spirit,

we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness

and true holiness, to thy honour and glory,

who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost,

one God, world without end. Amen.

The Lesson is written from Psalm 32 beginning at the 1st verse

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.

You are a hiding-place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Psalm 32

Here endeth the Lesson

GOSPEL

The Holy Gospel is written in the 4th chapter of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew beginning at the 1st verse

GOSPEL

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,

“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

“He will command his angels concerning you”,
and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’

Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.”’

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Matthew 4:1-11

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise be to thee, O Christ.

_____

SUNDAY READING SHEET 22nd February 2026 1st Sunday of Lent - 10:30 Service

Collect

Heavenly Father,

your Son battled with the powers of darkness,

and grew closer to you in the desert:

help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer

that we may witness to your saving love

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

A Reading from Psalm 32