The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts
Inspiring faith, hope and love in each generation.
Join us at St Mary’s on Sunday (19th) at 4 for our annual carol service by candlelight.
Please bring a face mask, social distancing is in place which limits the number of people we can accommodate so some early to be assured of a seat.
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!
Watch this film to see the inspiration for our stable! Share The Light | CPO Christmas 2021 | #TogetherThisChristmas – YouTube
* 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A quiet service with no music, it lasts about 40 minutes
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.
As above without a choir.
A quiet service with no music, it lasts about 40 minutes
The service will last about an hour.https://www.youtube.com/embed/rhk1GK2CTlc?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
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.
The Christmas Tree Festival is in full swing. The church is open every day until Tuesday afternoon for you to see the trees. Last night we had more than 100 people for our political event with Quentin Letts and Jason Beattie.
This evening is our Come & Sing concert with Ross Town Band. Details at https://rossparishes.uk/christmas-tree-festival.
We look forward to seeing you.
There’s just a week to go now before the big event of the Christmas Tree Festival: The Come & Sing Concert with Ross Town Band. We’ve sold seven tickets so far and we’re getting worried (two years ago the church was packed). Please cheer us up!
If you fancy coming along and joining the choir, you need to sign up and come along at 5pm. If you just want to come along for the concert then tickets are just £6. Both can be found at https://rossparishes.uk/christmas-tree-festival. Either way, it’s the best way to enjoy the trees.
We look forward to seeing you.
On Sunday we gather at 10.45am by the War Memorial in the Prospect for the annual Armistice Day commemorations which will be followed by a service of Remembrance in St Mary’s Church.
Don’t miss this excellent exhibition in St Mary’s – for one week only!
Join us for an online Advent retreat with Esther de Waal, Gregory Cameron, Peter Graystone, Richard Carter, and Rachel Mann. In association with Canterbury Press. Book tickets below.
10.00 Opening worship
Richard Carter and singers from the St Martin’s Voices. Director of Music: Andrew Earis
10.30 ‘Earth grown old, yet still so green’: Poetry for Advent
Rachel Mann
11.00 The Winter of Your Soul: How William Shakespeare can ease it
Peter Graystone
11.30 Break
11.45 Putting Christmas Together
Gregory Cameron
12.15 Watching and Waiting: A reflection on Advent
Esther de Waal
12.45 Closing Worship
Richard Carter, Andrew Earis and the St Martin’s Voices
Richard Carter is a priest at St Martin in the Fields in London’s Trafalgar Square, and founder of its contemplative Nazareth Community. He is the author of The City is My Monastery and In Search of the Lost.
Rachel Mann is a poet, priest, theologian and writer based in Manchester. Her numerous publications include In The Bleak Midwinter: Advent and Christmas with Christina Rossetti and a volume of poetry, A Kingdom of Love.
Peter Graystone is a writer who has worked for Scripture Union, Christian Aid and the Church Army. He is the author of All’s Well That Ends Well: From Dust to Resurrection – 40 days with Shakespeare. He regularly contributes to the Church Times and to Reflections for Daily Prayer.
Gregory Cameron is the Bishop of St Asaph in the Church in Wales and is author of An Advent Book of Days, the Canterbury Press 2021 Advent book.
Esther de Waal is one of the most outstanding spiritual writers of our day, renowned for opening up the treasures of Benedictine and Celtic spirituality for countless readers. Her most recent book is The White Stone: The art of letting go.
Tickets are £10, or £5 for Church Times and magnet subscribers.
Details of how to watch the event will be sent to ticket holders by email the day before.
Questions? Contact events@hymnsam.co.uk.
This evening at 6pm in St Mary’s, our annual All Souls Service takes place, when we remember those who have died recently. During the service the names of those we remember will be read out.
Do let us know when you arrive if you would like us to read out the name of your loved one.
Light refreshments will be provided after the service when there will be an opportunity to talk to one of our ministers if you would like to.
We need your help to fill St Mary’s with Halloween light. If you’ve carved a pumpkin bring it along at 3pm this afternoon.
Families are invited to dress up and join us for some light themed Halloween crafts, activities, and treats. We are also having
a pumpkin carving contest- bring your pumpkin by 3pm on the day for judging and decorating!
Don’t miss Halloween at St Mary’s this weekend.
Families are invited to dress up and join us for some light themed Halloween crafts, activities, and treats. We are also having
a pumpkin carving contest- bring your pumpkin by 3pm on the day for judging and decorating!
ALSO: Pumpkin carving demo – St Mary’s 11am, Saturday 30th October – Join us over a cuppa for a pumpkin carving demo by Alex with hints and tips to inspire us all! Come along to watch and chat (or bring your own pumpkin and equipment to carve your own. Children must be supervised by parent/guardian) More info from Caroline 07564 365200
Our family service at Walford this Sunday will be continuing with our green theme – in the world and in the church! Do hope you can come!
We’ll be celebrating God’s wonderful world and our part in working with God to care for all people and creation. We’ll have in our prayers the Earthshot prize winners and contestants, and COP26 as well as people needing our prayers / support and those affected by COVID.
I’ll have a Prayer Bag for our prayers – do bring any items you would like to add
We’ll also be caring for each other by being mindful of social distancing with the number of Covid cases rising again. We’ll spread out well – but perhaps we’re at the time when it would be a good idea to bring/wear masks?
See you soon! Caroline
Join us at St Mary’s on Sunday 31st October at 6pm for our annual All Souls Service when we remember those who have died recently. During the service the names of those we remember will be read out.
Do let us know if you are coming and would like us to read out the name of your loved one.
Light refreshments will be provided after the service when there will be an opportunity to talk to one of our ministers if you would like to.
The Ross Benefice offers its congratulations to Derek Glover and Mark Sanderson who were awarded the Order of St Ethelbert by Bishop Richard in Hereford Cathedral on Sunday afternoon. The award is given for long and distinguished service to the church and community and both Derek and Mark are shining examples of such dedication.
The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts 