Christian Meditation: A Six Week Introductory Course from WCCM
A six-week online course for Lent 2022 introducing Meditation in the Christian Tradition with Tina Jefferies and Chris Blanchard.
Wednesdays 2nd, 9th. 23rd, 30th March and 6th, 13th April
7.00 – 8.30 pm – ONLINE ONLY £25 for the course. Please contact us for support with the cost if needed
This course teaches you how to meditate and helps you to establish it as a regular practice. It also tells the story of how meditation was rediscovered within the Christian tradition as a form of contemplative prayer and how it is practiced by many Christians around the world. The course is perfect to nurture your journey through Lent and a wonderful opportunity to learn with others from around the world. It is for those who are just beginning and those who would like to refresh their practice. The sessions are a mix of teaching, meditation and small group discussion. Please join us!
Evensong happens on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Come and end your weekend in the peace and serenity of this age old service. No need to join in, if you don’t want to, just let it all happen. Perfect meditation! The service starts at 6 pm.
1. G.F. Handel (1685 -1759), transcribed by W.T.Best (1826 – 1897) – Coronation Anthem, “Zadok the Priest”
2. J.S.Bach (1685 – 1750) Prelude and Fugue in a minor BWV 543
3. J.S. Bach Trio “Allein Gott in der Höhe sei Ehr”
4. H. Sumsion (1899-1995) Hymn Prelude on “Down Ampney”
5. E. Lemare (1865-1934) – arrangement of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
6. H. Howells (1892-1983) Psalm Prelude “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”
————Interval ———–
C.M. Widor (1844-1937) Symphonie № 5
– allegro vivace
– allegro cantabile
– andantino quasi allegretto
– adagio
– toccata
Suzy took up the organ at the age of 10 as a church organist, she has an ARCM diploma in organ performance from the Royal College of Music. Suzy has spent most of her life outside the UK and, until recently, was organist at a church in Ukraine
Coffee @ St Mary’s is back tomorrow (Saturday) – in church from 10 -noon. Best coffee venue in town, especially given the seriously good home made cakes.
A reminder that our 2022 Vision Day, for all the Ross Parishes, takes place tomorrow in St Mary’s from 10.15. There’s still time to upload a picture of your church, with a comment, that captures how you feel about it. There’s plenty of inspiration there now, thanks to all those who have already done that https://padlet.com/soulfulvision/ross22
Join us to celebrate the arrival of the wise men at our amazing messy Church Stable. Guess what we’ll be making! If you want to book a place: caroline@rossparishes.uk
Please help us with our next Vision Day (22nd January) by uploading a picture of your church that captures how you feel about it. https://padlet.com/soulfulvision/ross22
Our Crib Service takes place at 4.00 pm. A service for young children and their families. Come along and see the amazing crib the Messy Church team have built!
After that, stay (or come back) for Carols on the Green at 5.30 pm. It was a great success on Thursday evening, help us make this one even better!
Finally, Midnight Mass takes place in St Mary’s at 11.30 pm.
Drop in to St Mary’s Church from 10.30am onwards to help us build and decorate our Big Messy Stable. At 12 don’t miss our Christmas story, carols and light switch on round the stable.
Come and make stars, angels, sheep, help build the stable, hang the lights, share the wonder! Be part of bringing St Mary’s alive for Christmas 2021! Share the light!
* Refreshments all morning for all ages. * There is no charge for this event. * To help us all stay safe all adults please wear masks and follow all current guidelines on gathering * If you have a battery screwdriver with a cross thread screwdriver bit, please bring it along to help screw the stable together!!
Come and join us this Christmas at one of our churches for any part of our vibrant and varied programme. Happy Christmas and a warm welcome awaits you.
Wednesday 15th December
Saturday 18th December
Sunday 19th December
8.00 am – Holy Communion – Ross
9.30 am – Sung Eucharist- Ross
3.30 pm – Carol Service – Walford
4.00 pm – A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by candlelight – Ross
This is the first of St Mary’s Christmas services. The structure of the service is the traditional service, 101 years old, from King’s College Cambridge. The choir features prominently in this service and there are plenty of well know carols to join in with.
The service takes place by candlelight and there is mulled wine and mince pies after the service. It’s usually standing room only by the time the service starts so come early. The service usually last for just over an hour.
Tuesday 21st December
2.30 – Blue Christmas? (Just B bereavement) – St Mary’s
Thursday 23rd December
5.30 pm – Carols on the Green
We’re organising refreshments for this family focussed Christmas based sing-song in the church yard, outside the main door. Wrap up warm and come and enjoy the fun.
Christmas Eve
4.00 pm – Crib Service – Ross
This service is for young children and their families and is another “standing room only” event. As the service progresses the nativity scene is built at the front of the church as the travelling crib figures, which have been out around the parish in people’s homes during Advent, are brought to the manger by the children. This service lasts about 45 minutes.
4.00 pm – Nativity Service – Walford
Another very popular service. A major feature of this is the scratch band that rehearses during the afternoon and leads the music. A very user friendly service for all, especially those with young children. The service will finish about 5.00 pm.
5.30 pm – Carols on the Green
We’re organising refreshments for this family focussed Christmas based sing-song in the church yard, outside the main door. Wrap up warm and come and enjoy the fun.
9.00 pm – Christmas Service – Brampton Abbotts Church
One of the very small number of services in the “closed” church at Brampton Abbotts each year. This is an early celebration of the service more commonly called “Midnight Mass.” The service will last about an hour.
11.30 pm – “Midnight Mass” – Ross
The first service at St Mary’s of the Christmas Season proper. Midnight usually strikes just about as we sing “Ye Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning” and there is a great atmosphere. As its name suggests this is a Communion service during which “full” members of the Church of England receive bread and wine at the altar.
The service is a great celebration with plenty of well known carols. The choir sings the sung parts of the service so there is no need to feel uncomfortable by being expected to sing tunes you might not know. This is a busy service which will last about an hour and a quarter.
Christmas Day
8.00 am – Holy Communion – Ross
A quiet service with no music, it lasts about 40 minutes
9.30 am – Live streamed Sung Eucharist – Ross
Another service with Communion. Music also features and is led by the choir. A strong feeling of celebration. The service will last about an hour.
9.30 am – Parish Communion- Walford
As above without a choir.
Sunday 26th December
8.00 am – Holy Communion – Ross
A quiet service with no music, it lasts about 40 minutes
Messy Church at St Mary’s this week has a Christingle theme. Please join us.
It would be helpful if you could book a place in advance: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/210668333657 but don’t that put you off demo coming to join us if you don’t get around to it.
