My newsletter from last week is not out of date – all the info in there about things going on in the list below is still accurate.
- The service times for Ash Wednesday (12.30pm and 7pm)
- The change of the Saturday Mass to 9am
- Cleaning on Saturday 4th March
- Bishop Peter joining us on Sunday 5th March at 10.30am
- Compline & Benediction on Sunday 5th March
- the little Lent sermon series
- Archbishop Rowan Williams giving his lecture on Friday, 31 March at 6pm. Booking is essential – please click here!
- The White Elephant Table (this is rather amazing!)
- The Easter Project Choir (talk to me if you are interested!)
- The Electoral Roll Review (still possible to join – grab a form in church)
However, there are quite a few new developments and updates, so please read the two newsletters together.
Further Dates for your Diary
Bishop Saju – 02/04, 7pm
At his visit to the Sunday Mass on 5th February Bishop Saju enjoyed St Andrew’s so much that he wants to come back. Who wouldn’t…. 😁
Hence I invited him to join us again on Sunday, 2nd April at 7pm for our service of Compline & Benediction and he will join us in the pub after the service as well. This is an opportunity to talk and meet with him properly as his story as an immigrant from Kerala has many similarities with many of our congregation – come along!
May Festival – Monday 15/05, 7pm
After the success of last year we are going to have the traditional May Festival in honour of Our Lady, Queen of the May (see pictures from last year below). Due to the coronation of King Charles III we have moved it by one week to the 15th of May to avoid the clash. Our preacher this year is going to be Fr Christopher Johnson from the Wigston Team Ministry. This event involves quite a lot of hospitality – help is needed on the day itself, both in the afternoon and the evening. Watch this space!
National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Monday 29th May
Special offer for St Andrew’s Regular Congregation (tickets from Fr Johannes):
- Ticket for Transport, Reserved Seat and Fish & Chips £10
- Children (under 18) go FREE
- FREE unreserved seats first come first served on the day
- Non-congregation tickets £25
Programme for the Day
- 0745 Arrive at St Andrew’s (free parking)
- 0800 Coach leaves St Andrew’s
- 1100 Coach arrives
- 1200 Mass in the Abbey Grounds (outdoor)
- 1300 Picnic in the Abbey Grounds
- 1430 Sermon
- 1500 Procession through Abbey Grounds and Village
- 1530 Benediction
- 1600 Finish and return to coach
- 1630 Coach stops for Fish & Chips
- 1900 Coach arrives at St Andrew’s
Bring with you
- Food and drink for yourself for the day
- Something to sit on (blanket or folding chair, ask Fr Johannes if you need to borrow something)
- Clothes for all weather (we are outdoors all day and the weather can be anything from hot and sunny to cold and wet)
- A small amount of pocket money if you want to buy something in the shop
What’s so special about Walsingham?
Little Walsingham is a small village in Norfolk in the east of England. It is located near the coast in an area which is both very beautiful and ancient. Walsingham has been England’s busiest place of Pilgrimage for hundreds of years, following an apparition of Our Lady in 1061. After the destruction of the Shrine during the Reformation it was re-established in 1931 and has again become a place of Pilgrimage for Christians of different denominations and backgrounds.
A lamp for our parish has been continuously burning at the Shrine for many years. Besides the official parish link people from St Andrew’s have been travelling there for decades and many here feel attached to the place. We have a Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham in the parish formed by those who regularly travel there (speak to Fr Johannes if you want to find out more). It’s a place which is soaked in prayer and unfailingly touches many of us in ways which are difficult to explain.
Baptisms, Confirmations and Receptions with Bishop Peter, Sunday 09/07, 1030am
I am delighted that Bishop Peter is going to join us again in July for baptisms, confirmations and receptions into the Church of England. Children are baptised with the permission of their parents and they often cannot make a personal statement of faith – particularly if they are babies. In contrast, adults speak for themselves and the sacraments of baptism and confirmation are usually given together. See pictures below from last year’s baptism & confirmation service with Bishop Christopher.
Please talk to me if you are interested in baptism, confirmation or reception into the church.
Finally – a cry for help!
The building work is progressing well but some problems can only be seen once you start opening up things – and last week it became apparent that the water damage over the past years went further than expected and more things need to be replaced than estimated. This results in additional costs of £14k – which comes as a big blow. Are you able to make a special gift towards the building project?
I am aware that many of us are far from being well off, but could you consider again giving regularly to St Andrew’s? Please talk to Elizabeth how to set this up – I will again attach the forms to the service orders for the next 3 weeks.