The first Sunday of the new church year and we opened our 10am Eucharist with the Palestrina Matin Responsory sung by the Choir. Our service continued with the lighting of the first candle on our

Advent wreath, and then we continued with the form of the Eucharist for Advent, omitting the Gloria. Father Stephen spoke in his sermon of our need to wait and be prepared for the second coming, which will come when no one expects it, as well as looking forward to the approaching festival of Christmas.
During Communion the Choir sang 'This is the truth sent from above' setting by R Vaughn-Williams.

There was coffee after the service.

In the afternoon we had our traditional afternoon of making Advent Wreaths and tea in the church hall. the wreathes were gathered together at the end of the afternoon and blessed by Father Stephen. then we had a splendid tea before setting off home with our wreathes. This was a splendid occasion many thanks to Anwyl, Janet, Chris, Anne and Marilyn for the organisation and the tea.

Next Saturday afternoon is the Christmas Fair, come along and buy your christmas present or enjoy some refreshments! On the 11th of December in the afternoon the Sunday School is holding a charity sale, a display of Christmas cribs from all over the world, and a wonderful story teller will finish off the afternoon, do come along to the Church for this event

We arrived for the 10 o'clock Mattins service as the overnight storm 'Angus' began to abate. This is the last Sunday of the Church's year and we reflect on Our Lord in his glory. This was taken up in the Anthem sung by the choir ,O thou central orb.
There was coffee after the service.

Next Sunday is Advent Sunday, the first day of the new liturgical year, in the afternoon we shall be making Advent Wreaths in the Church Hall, do sign up for this lovley occasion at the back of the church, or contact the Church Wardens.


Also put a note in your diary that the christmas fair is on Saturday 3rd of December in the Church Hall!

For our Family Service this month we celebrated All Saints Sunday. We sang some traditional All Saints hymns, and Father Stephen told us how the Saints are in Heaven rooting for us when we need support! The Sunday School Children looked at the Beatitudes, as described by St Luke in the Gospel reading, and bought them up to date for us! The Junior Choristers sang together 'Mathew,  Mark, Luke and John' by Lindley as a special item. Father Stephen invested Seth and Emily with their dark blue ribbons in a special ceremony before the offertory hymn.
During communion the Choir sang 'Give us the wings of Faith' by  Bullock as the anthem. there was coffee after the service.

This morning our service was a Eucharist, celebrated by Father Stephen. October is a month with 5 Sundays, so the choir sang the Sanctus, Benedictus and the Agnus Dei from the setting by Darke in F. The Gospel reading was from St Luke and was the story of Zacchaeus, who was too short to see Our Lord over the crowds and climbed a Sycamore tree. Our Lord called him down and went to his house, where he gave up his life to follow the teachings of Jesus, 'for the Son of Man has come to seek out the lost'. Father Stephen enlarged on this theme in his sermon, of how lives can be changed in an instant.

The Choir sang Ave Verum corpus in the setting by Byrd as the Anthem. There was coffee after the service.



At 6:00pm we held our now traditional Eucharist of Remembrance for the Souls of the Departed. The names of those to be remembered were placed on the altar by Father Stephen, and the Choir, supplemented by guest singers sang the setting of the Requiem by Faure, in its liturgical context. The congregation were also given an opportunity to light candles of remembrance during  the distribution of communion. The Baritone Soloist was Peter Webster, who also conducted the Choir. The Soprano Soloist was Sarah Amos, and the Director of Music and Organist was Joanna Chivers-Gibbs. It was a wonderful solemn and beautiful occasion for this season of All Souls.Many thanks to Peter and Sarah for their wonderful singing, and to Joanna for all the organisation, rehearsal and playing.






Coming into view on the horizon is Advent, and we shall have our Advent Ring making afternoon in the Church Hall  on Advent Sunday the 27th of November. To be followed the next weekend by the Christmas Fair on Saturday 3rd of December, Dates for your Diary!