From New Year to Candlemas, we hope activities at St Michael’s will help you to continue to celebrate the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, Joy to the World.
The group of mainly students, led by Br Michael, who prayed and sang Matins most mornings from ~8.15-9am last Autumn are planning to resume this regular practice from mid-January on Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fridays; we are grateful to them for this strengthening of our prayer life and mission.
Click “Events” for more details of some of the following:-
Sunday 3rd January 2016, Christmas II, 10.45am. Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd. Motet: Lullay my Liking, by Gustav Holst. N.B. No Evensong today, but please come to…
Wednesday 6th January, Epiphany, 7.30pm. Mass in C & F by Stanford. Motet: Three Kings from Persian lands afar, by Cornelius. Please make this Event a priority in your diary. We shall be formally thanking Fr David Hastings for the gifts of his ministry among us at St Michael’s over several years, as he retires from his position as Honorary Assistant Priest.
Sunday 10th January, Baptism of Christ, 10.45am. Mass in F by William Harris. Motet: O for a Closer Walk with God, by C V Stanford. Thereafter we go a cappella for 3 Sundays.
Sunday 17th January, Epiphany II, 10.45am Sung Mass. Missa L’Hora Passa by Viadana and O Sacrum Convivium by Croce.
Sunday 24th January, Epiphany III, 10.45am. Mass for Five Voices and Sing Joyfully, by William Byrd.
Monday 25th January is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul and end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It is also the Year’s Mind, anniversary of death, of Canon John Thurmer.
Sunday 31st January, Epiphany IV, 10.45am. Missa “Lauda Sion” by Palestrina. Motet: If Ye Love Me, by Tallis.
We complete the Nativity narrative with the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas, on Tuesday 2nd February at 7.30pm. Singing the Missa Brevis “Laetatus Sum” by Dr Nigel Browne, based on themes from Parry’s “I was Glad”, and a contemporary Motet, “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre.
The story of the old man Simeon & prophetess Anna recognising the light of the world in the Infant Jesus when Mary & Joseph brought him to the Temple contrasts with the scene in Holy Week. There Pilate’s wife is concerned, but the High Priest and the Roman Governor are trapped by the system; and the most just Man is condemned and deprived of dignity.
Candlemas is also perhaps the time when our thoughts move on to the spiritual meanings of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. And there through it all is Mary, Mother of God, pondering these things in her heart and representing our humanity, in its joys and sorrows.
Wishing you all the love, joy and peace that we so need this New Year.
Richard Barnes.
stmichaelsmountdinham 