This year saw a ‘first’ in Holy Week. We welcomed Saint Edmund’s Catholic School for their end of term Stations of the Cross on Maundy Thursday. The school has grown so much in recent years that it is a squeeze to fit into Saint John’s Cathedral and so Canon Dominic, the Dean, suggested they should consider using Saint Mary’s. We were delighted to respond positively and to continue to strengthen our partnership with Saint John’s in serving the heart of the city. Their moving reflection of the Stations followed Newbridge School’s Easter Celebration at the start of Holy Week, This (along with other assemblies etc in the Parish) means that we have been involved in telling and celebrating the Easter story with over 1500 young people in our area.
It has also been good in Holy Week to welcome our two preachers – Revd Belinda Davies (the Diocesan Director of Ordinands) and Canon Peter Leonard. They have helped all of us as we reflect on the call of the cross and our response in our daily lives.
Holy Week started with the Parish Palm Procession – this year from Saint Faith’s – and we were blessed with dry weather, The Brass Band and the singing helped us to make our presence felt – and there was a good turnout, despite it coinciding with the clocks going forward.
The music has been an important part of our celebrations – and we are again reminded of how fortunate to have such a gifted group of musicians to help us in our worship. The Choir are looking forward to the opportunity to sing Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral, and in the meantime they led a very good mediation for Passiontide. It was again sad that there were so few people there to appreciate it (but it was another snow day!).
Mothering Sunday weekend this year included the event on the Saturday which encouraged us to think about Climate Change and its impact on our world, on communities and on individual lives. We were encouraged to think about small steps that we could each take to help both raise awareness and to address this issue. We were joined by a number of other groups and the various resources helped to focus our thinking on Mothering Sunday. How do we reflect the care of a Mother? How do we reflect the care of God for us? By taking responsibility for our lives and caring for those around us. The Saturday also saw a busy production line preparing the flowers to be distributed to all who care on the Sunday. Thank you to those who provided various resources and to the Mothers’ Union who donated the daffodils.
The Royal Marines School of Music has had its last concert of the season. Those who were able to go to, or follow on-line, the Mountbatten Festival of Music will have heard (and seen) one of our newer congregation members performing. Kat (who is a vocalist with the Royal Marines) sang the solo for Rule Britannia, among other pieces, in the Finale at the Royal Albert Hall. Well done to Kat – and we look forward to hearing her perform soon at Saint Mary’s.
This year saw a ‘first’ in Holy Week. We welcomed Saint Edmund’s Catholic School for their end of term Stations of the Cross on Maundy Thursday. The school has grown so much in recent years that it is a squeeze to fit into Saint John’s Cathedral and so Canon Dominic, the Dean, suggested they should consider using Saint Mary’s. We were delighted to respond positively and to continue to strengthen our partnership with Saint John’s in serving the heart of the city. Their moving reflection of the Stations followed Newbridge School’s Easter Celebration at the start of Holy Week, This (along with other assemblies etc in the Parish) means that we have been involved in telling and celebrating the Easter story with over 1500 young people in our area.
It has also been good in Holy Week to welcome our two preachers – Revd Belinda Davies (the Diocesan Director of Ordinands) and Canon Peter Leonard. They have helped all of us as we reflect on the call of the cross and our response in our daily lives.
Holy Week started with the Parish Palm Procession – this year from Saint Faith’s – and we were blessed with dry weather, The Brass Band and the singing helped us to make our presence felt – and there was a good turnout, despite it coinciding with the clocks going forward.
The music has been an important part of our celebrations – and we are again reminded of how fortunate to have such a gifted group of musicians to help us in our worship. The Choir are looking forward to the opportunity to sing Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral, and in the meantime they led a very good mediation for Passiontide. It was again sad that there were so few people there to appreciate it (but it was another snow day!).
Mothering Sunday weekend this year included the event on the Saturday which encouraged us to think about Climate Change and its impact on our world, on communities and on individual lives. We were encouraged to think about small steps that we could each take to help both raise awareness and to address this issue. We were joined by a number of other groups and the various resources helped to focus our thinking on Mothering Sunday. How do we reflect the care of a Mother? How do we reflect the care of God for us? By taking responsibility for our lives and caring for those around us. The Saturday also saw a busy production line preparing the flowers to be distributed to all who care on the Sunday. Thank you to those who provided various resources and to the Mothers’ Union who donated the daffodils.
The Royal Marines School of Music has had its last concert of the season. Those who were able to go to, or follow on-line, the Mountbatten Festival of Music will have heard (and seen) one of our newer congregation members performing. Kat (who is a vocalist with the Royal Marines) sang the solo for Rule Britannia, among other pieces, in the Finale at the Royal Albert Hall. Well done to Kat – and we look forward to hearing her perform soon at Saint Mary’s.