After the 9:30 am Christmas Eucharist at St Mary & St Giles Church.
St Mary & St Giles
The Parish Nativity Play took place in All Saints Church, Calverton on Sunday 21st December at 4pm by candlelight. The church was packed with people. SMSG church band conducted by Lesley and the small Willis pipe organ played by John provided the accompanying music. Staging to make the children a bit more visible from the box pews was provided by SMSG church school.
Carol Singing around Stony Stratford and Galley Hill was on 18th and 22nd December this year. These photos are of the carol singers just before they got mulled wine and snacks after 90 minutes of singing outdoors in Stony Stratford on Monday night. Over £120 was raised for ‘Let the Children Live’ on these two evenings.
Bishop Jonathan confirmed 11 people (and baptised three of them first) at St Mary & St Giles Church on 8 May 2014. This lovely service was followed by a bring and share supper.
See more photos of the confirmation at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78058413@N06/sets/72157644583842085/
Easter eggs for the children and the Easter garden
A stained glass window in St Mary & St Giles Church, photographed 18 April 2014
Altar of Repose in St Mary & St Giles at the start of the Watch of the Passion
Every year on Palm Sunday we process up the High Street in Stony Stratford singing ‘All Glory Laud and Honour’ after the Palms are blessed, marking the start of Holy Week. It was a bright sunny day today and some photos of the parish gathering for the blessing can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78058413@N06/sets/72157643913502695/
Bishop Jonathan visited the Parish of Stony Stratford with Calverton for the first time on 12 January 2014. Some photos of his visit can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78058413@N06/sets/72157644676273411/
Holy week in this parish started with Palm Sunday service all indoors without the procession along Stony Stratford High Street because of the weather, followed by the Parish Singers giving their annual Lent Cantata, which this year was ‘The Last Week’ by John W Petersen. The Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services were solemn, sad and beautiful as we recalled the terrible but saving events of Holy week. The Easter Vigil last night was hopeful as we lit the Pascal Candle and caught our first glimpse of the empty tomb and this morning’s service was joyous as we celebrated the risen Lord.
Below are some photos of the Easter Garden in St Mary & St Giles Church this year.
Happy Easter!
This year the Young Christians coffee morning was in the Parish Hall which was lovely and warm in the snowy weather. The duck race, which is traditionally held on the river Ouse near the weir at the Mill field was indoors because of the dangerous condition of the river, so the three winning ducks were drawn at the end of the coffee morning, during the Lent lunch.
The line of pennies raised £33.19, the duck race raised £124, bric a brac stall £61.87. These funds will go to the Parish Lent appeal which is the Additional Curates Society. The residents of Fegans court knitted about 100 chicks containing creme eggs, and £122 was raised for MK Foodbank. £71 was raised on the refreshments for the church restoration fund.
