This morning our 10 o'clock Eucharist was celebrated by Father Stephen. The readings this morning included St Paul's description of the Church as the sum of its many parts, and the Gospel, from St Luke, the story of Jesus reading from Isaiah in his 'home' synagogue, which it was his habit to attend, and then being filled with the spirit he taught the congregation that he was the fulfilment of these scriptures. In his sermon, Father Stephen explored further the role of the Spirit, showing us how sometimes the spirit works through unlikely people to achieve God's will.The Choir sang 'The Litany to the Holy Spirit' by Peter Hurford as the anthem.  There was coffee after the service.

Next week we have our Italian Evenings, on Thursday the Art of Venice with wine and canapes by Father Stephen, and on Saturday our Italian Supper. Tickets for the supper are all sold, but the Art of Venice is open to all with a retiring collection for the New Rooms project.





Ash Wednesday is fast approaching (February 10th) and this year our Lent Study Group will be looking at the Psalms, please sign up for the Lent Group at the back of the Church. These meetings will take place in the Vicarage at 7:30 on Thursdays in Lent.

This Sunday, on a cold and raw day we assembled at 10 am for Matins. The new testament reading set for today was the story of the miracle at the Wedding at Cana. This story has many interpretations and layers of meaning, and Father Stephen discussed some of this in his sermon. Of the many meanings of this first miracle, it occurs at a wedding, in the midst of ordinary life, where our christian faith belongs permeating every part of our lives.
The Choir sang the Introit 'Oh Taste and See'  by Ralph Vaughan Williams as the anthem. There was coffee after the service.

There are still tickets available for the Italian Supper on January 30th please see the Church wardens. Don't forget  Father Stephen's illustrated talk on the art of Venice on Thursday 28th of January!

This morning our 10 am service was a Parish Eucharist. Father Stephen was the celebrant, and also preached the sermon. In this service we thought about the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan by St John the Baptist. Father Stephen told us that while thinking about his sermon he had been struck by a beautiful sunrise yesterday morning which lead him to tell us about the  revelation of the Holy Spirit at the Bapstism of Jesus making it a demonstration of the Holy Trinity, we too are baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to bless us as we set out on our christian journey, to take the good news to others, but in St Frances of Assis's words, we should evangelise, but only use words when absolutely necessary.

The choir sang the Ave Verum setting by Gounod as the anthem. There was coffee after the service.

Our next events are a pair of Italian experiences! On the 28th January at 7:30 Father Stephen will give an illustrated talk about the art of Venice, using slides and a DVD. This will be accompanied by a glass of wine and nibbles, retiring collection for the New  rooms project. On Saturday 30th of January there will be an Italian Supper, both of these events will be in the Church Hall. Tickets for the supper £10 each are available from the Church Wardens, there is a choice of main courses.

The first Sunday of the New Year, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany at our Family Service. The Eucharist was celebrated by Father Stephen, and the Sunday School with Mrs Field read us a piece about the arrival of the Wise Men, but transferred to modern America. Read by members of the Sunday School, this treatment of the Magi, suggested the gifts bought by the Wise were not always easy to receive and foretold the Passion to come. During the offertory, whilst the congregation sang 'We Three Kings' other Sunday School members in costume, presented gifts at the crib.

We were most grateful for Alan Thurlow playing for us this morning, as Joanna is taking a short break. The Choir is also not is session, Choir Practice resumes next Friday. There was coffee after the service.

Events in January include an Evening of Venetian Art with Father Stephen, in the Church Hall on the 28th January, including nibbles and a glass of wine, a retiring collection will be taken up. On the 30th there will be an Italian Supper also in the Church Hall. Tickets for the supper are £10 available from the Church Wardens, Proceeds from both these events towards the new Church Rooms.

With Christmas Eve falling on a Thursday, we have had a very busy weekend celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord. The Midnight Service on Thursday  at 11 pm, was the traditional Eucharist of Christmas, The church was full of people, despite the heavy rain, and looked lovely with the 4 Advent Candles joined by the white candle of Christmas, the Crib set up at the front of the Church, and the candles all lit. We started our service in candle light, bringing up the main lights during the first hymn. The sermon was given by Father Roger, who con-celebrated with Father Stephen. The Choir sang 'Oh Little One Sweet, and 'Ding Dong Verily On High ' We sang Hark the Herald Angels Sing as our final Hymn. We left Church wishing each other a Merry Christmas.












On Christmas morning we had two services, first a Children's Service with nativity tableau, and blessing of gifts, followed by a Eucharist with Carols, at which the choir sang 'Away in a Manger'

On the 26th of December the Feast of St Stephen, there was a said Eucharist, and on the 27th the first Sunday of Christmas there was a 10 am Eucharist, all joyful celebrations of this happy festival of the Nativity.

This Sunday morning our 10 am Service was Mattins. The readings were from the Prophet Micah and St Luke's Gospel.  In his sermon Father Stephen pointed out that during Advent we have had readings from the Prophets at each of our services. This is to emphasis that the story of the coming of Our Lord was not a surprise, but had been foretold over many hundreds of years in the Old Testament, indeed the Jews were expecting their Messiah to come as a King and political leader to lead them to freedom. They had not listened closely enough to realise that the kingdom of the Messiah was not a temporal state but a spiritual state. The reading from Micah foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, and our Lady Mary was to deliver Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, the  anniversary of which is now only days away.

The Choir sang 'the Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came' an old basque carol (Birjina gaztetto bat zegoen) arranged by Edgar Pettman.


At 6 pm we held our Service of 9 Lessons and Carols. We follow the traditional set of readings, from the King James version of the Bible, each reading by a member of the community, after the bidding prayer, our first lesson, the story of Adam and Eve, was read by two of the Junior Choristers, to be followed by a sidesman, PCC member, Parish Councillors,a minibus driver, a Church warden and Father Stephen. The Choir sang 'The Truth From Above' an English carol collected from Herefordshire, music arranged by Raph Vaughn Williams, Up good Christen Folk, and Listen, from Piaes Cantiones harmony by G.R. Woodward. I sing of a maiden a Middle English lyric poem set to music by Patrick Hadley. Resonemus Laudibus, a 14th century English Carol arranged by Sir David Willcocks. Rocking, a traditional Czech carol translated by Percy Dearmer, arranged by Sir David Willcocks,  was sung by the Junior Choristers with an underlying harmony from a demi choir of adults. Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day a traditional English Carol arranged by Sir David Willcocks and finally 'I saw Three Ships' a 17th century carol also arranged by Sir David Willcocks..

 In addition the Choir and Congregation sang a selection of hymns and carols including an unaccompanied rendition of Away in a Manger, a lively version of the First Nowel, and finishing with God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen. It was a splendid start to our Christmas celebrations, many thanks to all who prepared the church, lit the candles, prepared and performed the music and read the lessons, and acted as sidespersons!

Our next Christmas Service is on Christmas eve at 11:00 pm (please note the time).