Popular Posts
-
We were blessed with a dry day for our Palm Sunday procession from the Church Hall up to Church. Those who were able to walk met in the Chur...
-
-
‘THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK’ FROM THE REVEREND STEPHEN GUISE, PRIEST IN CHARGE – SUNDAY, 28 MARCH, PALM SUNDAY Greek Orthodox Icon: ‘The Entry of ...
-
Dr Lesley was away today, so no photo's I'm afraid. Father Stephen's sermon was as follows: At this time of the year it is u...
-
Dr Martin Clive Warner On 3 May we learned that the priest who is to take over from Bishop John Hind as 79th Bishop of Chichester will b...
-
The annual Church Fete was held this year in a different location, and in very wet weather! We were unable to use the Vicarage Field this ye...
-
A joyful and busy Easter at ST Mary's with Services on Maundy Thursday and the Gethsemane Watch, the solomn liturgy for Good Friday, The...
-
This morning we met at 10:45 for our annual Act of Remembrance. The service started in Church with hymns, prayers and readings and incorpora...
-
Today is the 4th Sunday in Lent and thus Mothering Sunday. Our Family service is normally the first Sunday in the month, but we swapped ...
-
This morning at 10 am we had a Parish Eucharist. The Celebrant was Father Chris and in his Sermon he told us of the background to the period...
24 November 2015
This Sunday at our 10 am Eucharist, we celebrated the two feasts of Christ the King and St Cecilia. The reading from the Book of Revelation about the new Jerusalem, reflected the theme of the coming of Christ as King of all.
St Cecilia, is the patron saint of music and musicians. Father Stephen told us what is known about her life: a roman matron who married and was martyred, with her husband, for her faith. It has never been clear why Cecilia is associated with music, but in art she is traditionally shown either with a small portative organ or with a stringed instrument like a violin.
There is a saying, sometimes attributed to St Augustine of Hippo, that “those who sing pray twice”: certainly from earliest times music has been used to enhance worship and to emphasise parts of the service – this is true not only of Christianity but of almost all religions, from the sonorous voices of cantors in synagogues to the call of the muezzin from a minaret to the low chants of eastern religion. Father Stephen reminded us that our worship at St Mary Our Lady is enhanced by the work of our choir, and in the intercessions we prayed for our choristers and the work that they do.
Our Director of Music then came forward and told us that there were four members of the choir who between them have been singing in church choirs for over 250 years: she then sprang a huge surprise by asking Marjorie Lytton, Barbara and Martin Halfacree, and Beryl Rodd to come forward. Joanna and Father Stephen then presented each of them with a special Medal of the Royal School of Church Music to recognise their dedication and service and the congregation gave them a well-earned round of applause. Of course, after that the only suitable hymn at the offertory was Angel voices, ever-singing round thy throne of light.
The anthem after communion was Above all praise and all majesty by Mendelssohn and the voluntary, again reflecting the theme of Christ the King, was Crown Imperial, composed by William Walton for the coronation in 1937.
Next Sunday is Advent Sunday, the beginning of the Church's Year, and the Season of expectation of the coming of Christ. On Sunday afternoon there will be the annual making and blessing of Advent Rings followed by Tea.
The following Saturday 5th of December at 2pm in the Church Hall we have the Christmas Fair don't forget to come along and enjoy refreshments, and buy your christmas pressies!
The anthem after communion was Above all praise and all majesty by Mendelssohn and the voluntary, again reflecting the theme of Christ the King, was Crown Imperial, composed by William Walton for the coronation in 1937.
Next Sunday is Advent Sunday, the beginning of the Church's Year, and the Season of expectation of the coming of Christ. On Sunday afternoon there will be the annual making and blessing of Advent Rings followed by Tea.
The following Saturday 5th of December at 2pm in the Church Hall we have the Christmas Fair don't forget to come along and enjoy refreshments, and buy your christmas pressies!
Photos of the presentations and the lovely autumnal flowers kindly provided by Hilary Platts.
Service Times
First Sunday in the Month:
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Family Service
Second Sunday in the Month
Third Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Family Service
Second Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist
10:00am Parish Eucharist
Third Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Sung Matins in the Church or Crafty Communion in Church Hall
Fourth Sunday in the Month
08:00am Holy Communion
08:00am Holy Communion
10:00am Parish Eucharist
Variations can be found in the Parish Magazine or the Calendar at the bottom of this page.
Useful links
Here are some links to resources you may find helpful:
- Chichester Cathedral will be live streaming services. For the Eucharist and order of service Click here before 10:00am Sunday and follow the instructions.
- The BBC Daily Service is available here.
- Prayer for today.
- The C of E youtube channel.
- Hearing You is a new phone help line launched by the Diocese of Chichester in partnership with Together in Sussex in response to the impact that Covid 19 has had on Just about the whole community. It aims to provide pastoral support and a listening ear to the recently bereaved and people directly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
- COVID-19 advice from the Diocese of Chichester here.
Blog Archive
Archived posts by year: