Dear all
First of all, we look forward to having you worshipping with us online once more this Sunday, either by Zoom at 9.30 am for the under-5s or at our celebration of Advent Sunday Eucharist at 10.30 am. I am very pleased to welcome Canon Jonathan Sedgwick, Rector of St George the Martyr, Borough High Street, who was supposed to be visiting us to preach in person, but who has kindly recorded his sermon for us, so we can still enjoy his preaching! We were, of course, delighted to hear the good news from the Government that churches can indeed re-open from December 2nd. We shall be resuming public worship on Thursday 3rd December with the same service pattern as we were offering between the first and second lockdowns, with some additional seasonal services. This means that on Thursday 3rd December, there will be Midday Prayer, followed by Holy Eucharist at 12.15 pm, and we shall then return to a pattern of daily Midday Prayer, Monday to Saturdays, followed on Tuesdays and Thursdays by a celebration of the Eucharist. Morning Prayer will continue to be said on Zoom - please do ask if you would like to be sent the link. On Sunday 6 December, there will be an 8 am BCP Eucharist, a Family Eucharist at 9.30 and Matins at 11.15 am, with the Advent Service of Light with our professional choir at 6.30 pm. There will be limited numbers for this service, so please do sign up on Eventbrite, or leave a message at the Parish Office to reserve a place. We are delighted to announce that we shall also be able to offer two performances of Handel's Messiah Part 1 at 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm on Sunday 13th December. A limited number of tickets for these concerts are on sale via Eventbrite at £20. On Sunday 13th December, we shall also have a new, socially-distanced version of our Nativity play, with costumed readings from all the familiar characters. We are very keen to hear from any children who would like to take part. Please contact Martina on children@stmaryabbots.org.uk if you will be in church that Sunday and your child would like to have a part written for them. It would be helpful to hear from you as soon as possible, and certainly by the start of next week (Monday 30th November). For further services and events, please see our newsletter on the website. While Christmas this year may be celebrated in new and different ways, we remember that for us as Christians, it is the remembrance of Christ's Incarnation among us which brings the greatest joy, hope and comfort and this is a timeless and unchanging story. At St Mary Abbots we shall seek to mark the birth of Jesus Christ with all the awe, love and honour which this great gift deserves, even whilst observing all the precautions needed to keep one another safe. We hold in our prayers those who may be unable to join with us this year but look ahead with confidence and faith to renewed celebrations next year. As we shall pray at the lighting of our first Advent Wreath Candle this Sunday: Lord Jesus, light of the world, born in David’s city of Bethlehem, born like him to be a king: be born in our hearts at Christmas, be King of our lives today. With my love and prayers Mother Emma |
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