The season of Lent continues, with weekly Compline, Study Groups, Making Group added to our usual mix of services and activities. See below for further details.
On Wednesday 14th February there were said services with ashing at 10am at St John’s and 11am at St Mary’s Kidlington. At 8pm in St Mary’s Kidlington we had a sung service with ashing, when the adult choir sang, including the Byrd 4-part Mass and Byrd “Miserere Mei”
Ash Wednesday Reflection from Joel Kelling in Jordan
“The Crown of Thorns – Jesus’s Trials”
The theme for our Lent groups will be reflections on the trials of Jesus in Holy Week – (Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, …)
Groups will be meeting for five weeks on Monday afternoons and Thursday evenings:
- Monday afternoons from 1:30pm to 2:45pm in St Mary’s Refectory, starting February 19th (contact Susy)
- Thursday evenings from 8pm in a private house, starting February 22nd (contact Felicity)
You can view the theme booklet here or download using the button below.
The Making Group will also be meeting on Friday afternoons from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in St Mary’s Refectory, starting on 23rd February.
“The Crown of Thorns – Jesus’s Trials”
This year we shall be exploring the trials of Jesus in the week leading up to his death, and creating hangings based on our reflections.
We shall be meeting in St Mary’s Refectory on Friday afternoons from 2:30pm to 4:30pm: 23rd February, 1st, 8th and 15th March.
You can view the theme booklet here or download by using the button below.
Anyone is welcome to join the group, but please let Rosemary Meara know: rosemary.meara@gmail.com
Compline Services and Talks – St Mary’s Kidlington 8.45-9.15pm
Theme: The Events of Holy Week
On each Sunday evening during Lent and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week, starting at 8.45pm, there will be a short talk exploring the events of Holy Week followed by the service of Compline (starting at 9pm).
The ancient office of Compline is a service of quietness and reflection at the end of the day.
St Mary’s Choir and Choristers will be leading our Music and Readings for Passiontide at 5.30pm on Sunday 17th March.
Below are the details of all our services in all our churches from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. You can also download a simple list here.
These services on Palm Sunday, 24th March, will lead us into Holy Week:
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 8am and 10am, Holy Communion
- St John’s Kidlington, 10am, Holy Communion
- St Mary’s Hampton Poyle, 10am, Holy Communion
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 8.45pm, Talk followed by Compline at 9pm
Please do join us for any service of preparation during this Holy Week:
Monday 25th March
- St John’s, 7.30pm, BCP Evening Prayer & Litany
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 8.45pm, Talk followed by Compline at 9pm
Tuesday 26th March
- St John’s, 7.30pm, Holy Communion using an Iona-style liturgy
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 8.45pm, Talk followed by Compline at 9pm
Wednesday 27th March
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 11am, Holy Communion
- St John’s, 7.30pm, Stations of the Cross
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 8.45pm, Talk followed by Compline at 9pm
Maundy Thursday 28th March
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 7pm, Agape service with Washing of Feet and simple Agape meal leading into Vigil until midnight.
- St John’s, 8pm, Holy Communion with Washing of Feet, followed by Stripping of the Altar and Vigil until midnight
Good Friday 29th March
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 12noon to 3pm, Reflections at the Cross
- St John’s, 2pm, Reflections at the Cross
- St John’s, 4pm, Family Service
Churches Together in Kidlington will be holding their usual Good Friday Walk of Witness, starting from St John’s at 9.45am.
Our Online Pause for Prayer will be held at 10am, Monday and Wednesday (but not Good Friday or Easter Monday).
Please do join us for any of our celebration services on this day, 31st March:
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 6am, Dawn Mass
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 10am, Celebration Eucharist
- St Johns, 10am, Lighting of the Fire and Celebration Eucharist
- St Mary’s Hampton Poyle, 10am, Celebration Eucharist
- St Mary’s Kidlington, 5.30pm, Choral Evensong
The Diocese is offering a new series under the name Come and See. It’s a big, warm open invitation to everyone, for everyone for an adventure in faith and trust. It’s something for the local church and the whole community… including children and young people, families and schools. It’s completely free and all are welcome. This year Come and See starts on Ash Wednesday, 14th February 2024.
In three of the four gospels, Jesus is asked which commandment is the most important. He answers not with one commandment but with two: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself. Come and See shows how these two commandments can give a rhythm and a shape to our lives.
To find out more and to sign up go to the Diocesan website “Come and See” page