Thank you! A big thank you to everyone who has helped with our services during Advent and Christmas by singing, playing, reading, stewarding, in preparing the church and in lots of other ways. All your efforts are hugely appreciated.
Crèche at St Martin’s. For the 0-4 age group, with trained childcare leaders, takes place in the Austen Williams Room every Sunday. Please ask a steward to show you where to go.
Children’s C-Club Programme/11.30am, DSC. C-Club will be celebrating Christmas this Sunday and will be taking a break next week, Sunday 30 December.
Christmas Appeal. If you’d like to make a donation to the 2018 BBC Radio 4 Christmas Appeal, please visit: www.smitfc.org/donate. Throughout December, we would also welcome help opening post, processing donations and sending thank you cards. If you can spare a few hours to help us this year please sign up: www.smitfc.org/volunteer2018.
Advent and Christmas Services. There will be no ticketing for capacity Christmas services: Crib Service, Parish Carols and Midnight Mass. Doors open 45 mins before the services start and as the church is often full we encourage you to arrive in plenty of time to be certain of a seat. We look forward to welcoming all of our visitors over this Christmas season.
Follow the Star. St Martin’s Voices were excited to record a new arrangement of the carol ‘O
little town of Bethlehem’ by Will Todd as the soundtrack to this year’s Church of England Christmas film. An extended version of the carol receives its radio premiere on Classic FM this Sunday at just after 8am. Tune in to Good Morning Christmas with Rev Kate Bottley on BBC Radio 2 on Christmas morning at 7.00am to hear it again, or watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQSEskQ_OPM&feature=youtu.be
BBC Radio 4 Christmas Day Worship from Lambeth Palace. Tune into BBC Radio 4 at 9.00am on Christmas morning to listen to a special service from Lambeth Palace recorded earlier this month with the Archbishop of Canterbury and St Martin’s Voices, alongside members of the St Anselm Community. The service will be available for a further 30 days on BBC Radio iPlayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001qtx
Come and Sing: World’s Greatest Christmas Choruses, Saturday 29 December, 10.00am–1.00pm. Join Andrew Earis and members of St Martin’s Voices for a morning workshop on the World’s Greatest Christmas Choruses. Doors open at 10.00am. Short performance at 12.30pm, free for audience members. Tickets £12 available online at www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/whatson-event/come-and-sing-the-worlds-greatest-christmas-choruses/, on the phone 020 7766 1100 or at the Box Office.
Club Wednesday. There will be no Club Wednesday on 2 January, but it will be back on 6 February.
Epiphany Carols, Sunday 6 January, 5.00pm. Join us for our evening celebrations featuring readings and music for this wonderful season of light, discovery, miracle and revelation. With reflections by Revd Dr Sam Wells and music by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Bread for the World resumes on Wednesday 9 January at 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome at our informal Eucharist, a service with prayer, music, word and reflection, followed by food and fellowship.
Coming Up/Joint Event with our Chinese Community/Thursday 17 January, 6.30pm, St Martin’s Hall. The talk (in English) will be followed by a drinks reception. Rosemary Scott will speak on the meaning of decoration on Chinese Ceramics. Free tickets from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-meaning-of-decoration-on-chinese-ceramics-tickets-51544286348 or phone Jonathan Evens on 020 7766 1127 and leave your name and phone number.
Coming Up/Theology Away Day/ Saturday 9 February, 9.30am-4.00pm. Led by Revd Dr Sam Wells. The theme is ‘How Does Jesus Save Us?’ No theological training necessary. The Away Day will be held at the Royal Foundation of St Katherine’s, London E14 8DS, at the subsidised price of £25 with lunch and all refreshments included. Flyers will be available shortly, but to register your place, email georgina.illingworth@smitf.org.
On Christmas Night. St Martin’s Voices have released a new CD for Christmas. Available for £9.99 from the Shop at St Martin’s, the CD features carols including ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ as well as lesser well known carols including ‘Glory, glory, glory to the Newborn King’ and ‘Follow that Star’ and a new setting of ‘Love came down at Christmas’ by Nils Greenhow.
Coming Up/Silent Retreat: Seeds of Contemplation/ Friday 22-Sunday 24 February, St Columba’s House, Woking. A retreat led by Brother Sam SSF and Revd Richard Carter, with thoughts and reflections drawing on the writing of Thomas Merton, St Francis of Assisi and St Martin’s Nazareth Community. Cost of the weekend £150. Open to members of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Nazareth Community. Flyers available at the back of the church or online from francesco.aresco@smitf.org (tel 020 7766 1143). A limited number of places available so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend.
