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Music and Merriment concert

The Music and Merriment concert took place on 2 December, and gave us an evening of wonderful music, including the handbells, two outstanding teenage soloists,great singing from the Junior and Senior choirs, jolly 'Sleighride' on the organ by Henry,and so much more.

Sunday December 3, Advent

The glorious sound of the Tower Bells welcomed all to church on the First Sunday in Advent, Advent Sunday. Before starting the Family Communion service The Revd Patrick Mukholi lit the first Advent candle which represents Hope, and specifically the Israelites’ hope, that the promised Messiah would come. The choir’s communion hymn was 'People look East', and Henry ended the service with a wonderful performance of 'Noël' by Théodore Dubois.

Sunday November 26, Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 26 November was The Sunday Next Before Advent. The day began with a service of Holy Communion led by Patrick Mukholi. Then followed Crafty Church with the story of Stir-up Sunday, which is also celebrated on this Sunday. After the story of the 'pudding', the four candles of Advent were explained. The children read the Bible passages and prayers. The activity was making Christmas decorations for the Crafty Church Christmas Tree to be set up on 8 December. The tower bell ringers rang before the 11am Choral Matins service. Several of our extra singers joined us, and Henry Smith ended the service with a wonderful performance of 'Concerto in A minor', first movement, by Vivaldi/Bach.

'Stir-up Sunday' is the traditional time to make Christmas puddings, ready to mature for Christmas Day. The Collect for the 25th Sunday after Trinity starts: 'Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works …'. Now, which came first, the tradition or the prayer? Probably the former, particularly with the 'fruit of good work' reinforcing the 'stir-up' metaphor.

Sunday November 19, Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Sunday 19 November, the Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity began at St Mary’s Church with a Family Praise service telling the story of the Parable of the Talents. Nine children read the bible passages and prayers, and one youngster played the piano. Holy Communion followed and several of our extra singers also joined us. The choir sang the Kyrie, from St Anne’s Mass, by James MacMillan and later Ave Verum – Mozart during communion. Henry Smith was once again our excellent organist and he ended the service with Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary.

Sunday November 12, Remembrance Sunday

Holy Communion began the services at St Mary’s on Remembrance Sunday, the 22nd Sunday after Trinity. The service of Remembrance then followed at 10:45am. Members of the congregation were joined by members of The Royal British Legion, local Councillors and the Girl Guides. The choir led the congregation to the War Memorial at 10:50am. The Last Post was played before the two minutes silence and then The Reveille. Wreaths were laid by members of the Royal British Legion, the local Councillors, the Girl Guides, a member of the St Mary's Women's Guild and a representative of our young congregations.

Prayers were said before the choir led everybody back into the church. The Standards were presented during the first hymn. Five adult readers and five children read the prayers. The hand bell ringers rang 'Oh Valiant Hearts', and the choir sang the anthem 'For the Fallen' - Douglas Guest's setting of Laurence Binyon's famous words. We were once again joined by many of our extra singers. Henry Smith ended the service with a beautiful performance of Elgar's 'Nimrod'.