Festivals and special services

 

 

PASSIONTIDE and EASTER

Palm Sunday

The Sunday before Easter Day is Palm Sunday.  10 a.m Parish Eucharist.

Music for Palm Sunday

We usually have a service of hymns, anthems and readings on the evening of Palm Sunday at 6pm.

The service is similar in format to the service of 9 Lessons and Carols, but with an Easter flavour.

There will be well known Passiontide and Easter hymns for the congregation, interspersed with anthems sung by the choir.  The Passion story from Palm Sunday to Good Friday will be told in three readings.

The choir anthems will range from the 16th to the 20th century and will include music by Farrant, Purcell, Handel, Wesley, Fauré and others.

We hope you will come. Composers seem to be inspired to write their most beautiful music for this time in the Church’s year.

Maundy Thursday

The Maundy Thursday Service begins at 8 p.m.  In it we remember the last supper Jesus had with his disciples before he was arrested. We also remember that Jesus washed his disciple’s feet and so the clergy wash the feet of anyone who would like it. At the end of the service Psalm 22 is read under the tower as all the lights are extinguished and all finery is stripped out of the church ready for Good Friday. The congregation leave in silence as if fleeing from Gesthemane, and a candlelit watch is observed by some until midnight before the bread and wine reserved from the Maundy Thursday service.

Good Friday

The Good Friday service begins at 1 p.m. It is a quiet service with the choir singing solemn music and with some hymns for everyone. At the end of the service you may stay quietly until 3 p.m. if you wish. This is traditionally the time Jesus died on the cross.

Easter Midnight

At 11.45 p.m. on Easter Saturday we have the First Mass of Easter. In this service we bring the ‘light of Christ’ into the church as the new Paschal Candle is lit out in the porch with prayers and then brought into the dark church. The light of the Paschal Candle flickers on the walls as the congregation light their own candles from it. This is a very joyful service!

EASTER DAY

Easter, the day of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated at  10 a.m.The children make an Easter garden for this service. We celebrate this joyful day in the Eucharist and with hymns and prayers.

 

SERVICES IN THE AUTUMN

Patronal Festival

St Mary is the Patron Saint of the church so we have a special celebration service each year on the second Sunday of September

Remembrance Sunday

The Service of Remembrance follows straight on from the 10 a.m. service.  People join us from the Act of Remembrance at the village War Memorial.  For more information see the separate page on the Service of Remembrance - click here.

Memorial Service

Each year we hold a Service of Memorial on the afternoon of All Souls Sunday, which falls either at the end of October or the beginning of November, at 3.30 p.m.

It is an opportunity for us to come together to remember those we love who have died, to give thanks for all they have meant to us, reflect on our memories and support one another. It is a peaceful service with music, prayers, readings and lighting of candles.

Please come for yourself and bring anyone you know who might find this service useful. 

 

CHRISTMAS

Children’s Christmas services

Christingle

We hold the Christingle Service each year at 11.30 a.m. on the second  Sunday of December. The Christingle Service supports the work of the Children’s Society and is very popular. You will need to bring a large orange with you! Although children love this service, adults can really connect with it too.

Nativity Service

This is held on an afternoon in the week before Christmas Day. The date each year varies to fit in with the school holidays. It is a very relaxed service run mainly by the Explorers Club but any children who want to join in on the day are most welcome; we are happy to have seven kings if necessary!  Children and adults are invited to dress up if they wish. You may come as a king, sheep, shepherd or angel.  We have some spare outfits if you have none of your own.

At the end of this service, the stable is prepared to receive the Holy Family on Christmas night. This involves a large amount of straw and putting in the manger, ox, ass and sheep. We seem to have some mice too.

 

 Carol Service

This is a wonderful service each year with readings from the Christmas story, well known carols for everyone to sing, interspersed with beautiful choir carols sung by the choir. The service begins in candlelight as a chorister sings the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City.’ It is very moving.  You really need to come early if you want a seat!

Christmas Eve

Midnight Mass begins at 11.45 p.m., timed so that the Gloria is sung at midnight. This service takes its traditional form and is supported by members of the choir.   It begins in candlelight as a chorister sings ‘Once in Royal David’s City.’ There is something very special about going to church in the middle of the night.

Christmas Day

We have one service on Christmas Day at 10.00 a.m. It is a Family Eucharist (communion) service with choir and carols for the hymns. It is a happy and joyful celebration of our Saviour’s birth.

 

 

 

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