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/
Every year, the day before Palm Sunday, the young Christians in the parish hold a coffee morning to raise funds for the nominated Lent appeal (this year for the work of the Church Army).
At the beginning of Lent the children are given smarties in tubes – once they’ve eaten the smarties they fill the tubes with pennies and bring them to the coffee morning for the line of pennies. They had a bric a brac stall and a second hand toy stall outside the church, while in the parish hall tea/coffee and cakes were available all morning. At noon Lent Lunch was provided by the Fellowship group.
This is followed in the afternoon by the Duck Race which always takes place on the river Ouze, at the Millfield by Stony Stratford (unless the weather is so unpleasant that it makes the river completely unsafe). Last year the Duck race winners were declared by drawing ducks (of the plastic variety) from the bag because the weather was awful, this year however we were able to hold the race as usual. The ducks (over 100) are thrown into the river at the weir and the first three ducks past the finish mark win the prizes. The currents are always unpredictable and only a few ducks broke free of the swirling return to the weir. 48, 49 and 25 came in first, second and third respectively. Fishing them out of the river with long handled fishing nets is all part of the fun and it is quite a gathering of parish family.
Photos of the Young Christians Coffee morning and the Duck Race are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/78058413@N06/sets/72157643854651444/
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/
Carol singing around the Parish this year has been washed out on 3 of the 5 nights by the awful weather – very disappointing. However at 4pm on Sunday 22nd December All Saints Calverton was filled to the brim with people anticipating Christmas as they came for a carol service and the annual Nativity play by the Parish Children. St Mary & St Giles Church Band accompanied the Nativity play and our collection of costumes was put to good use dressing the children up as Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, Angels, Wise Mmen and even sheep. All Saints Church was beautifully decorated with lots of candles in lanterns.
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.
