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Sunday, 3 December 2017

Advent & Christmas services & events


Advent begins today. The artists and craftspeoples group at St Martin-in-the-Fields is organising an Advent Oasis today from 2-4 pm in the George Richards & Austen Williams Rooms. This will be another ‘Oasis’ time of quiet scripture reflection, prayer and practical art. Art materials will be available for you to explore, play with colour and be creative through collage, painting, drawing or writing. All are very welcome.

The Light the Well installation set in the Light Well can be viewed until 14 December and has been made by the hands of people at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Individuals from across our shared life – Church congregation, Chinese community, clergy, staff, clients from the Connection and members of our International Group – have, over some time, gathered together over tables of clay and carefully formed the pieces which fill the Light Well. Each porcelain ‘lantern’ is filled with light from a simple string of lamps.

The Advent Carol Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields at 5.00pm explores in words and music our theme for Advent Let Every Heart Prepare. With the Choir of St Martin-in the-Fields. Our preacher is the Revd Dr Sam Wells and doors open at 4.15pm. During Advent there will be no Evening Prayer, Monday Choral Evensong or Bread for the World. There will be no ticketing for capacity Christmas services: Nine Lessons and Carols, Gospel Carols, Community Carols and Parish Carols. 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 Advent and Christmas season. The full list of services at St Martin-in-the-Fields for Advent and Christmas is here.

We are also pleased to announce that our Sacred Moments series will become daily throughout Advent. Each day there will be a short reflection from the Revd Dr Sam Wells and guests, followed by a carol sung by one of our choirs. The series, in partnership with Premier Christian Radio, runs from Advent Sunday to Christmas Eve, will be broadcast on the Premier breakfast and lunchtime shows, as well as being released through the usual St Martin’s Soundcloud and iTunes channels. In addition, this year’s Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be recorded for broadcast on Premier Christian Radio at 9pm on Christmas Eve.

At St Stephen Walbrook, we are part of the Bank Churches group whose Advent Service will this year be held at St Vedast-alias-Foster on Tuesday 5 December at 1.00pm. All are most welcome at this service which includes Advent Carols and Readings.

During Advent the Walbrook Art Society organise lectures at St Stephen. The Advent lectures for 2017 will be given by Dharshan Thenuwara and are as follows:
  • Wednesday 29 November – St Luke in art (Bible in art series: Lecture 2).
  • Wednesday 6 December - Arthur Liberty Centenary Lecture Part 2: Arts & Crafts and Japanese influence.
  • Wednesday 13 December - Richard Dadd Anniversary Lecture.
  • Wednesday 20th December - Edgar Degas Centenary Lecture.
All Advent lectures are at St Stephen Walbrook between 1.00pm and 2.00pm. Refreshments are available before and after. All are welcome. Cost - £5.00 each. No pre-booking required for these lectures.

This year we are hosting Carol Services or concerts for: Arthur J. Gallagher, BlackRock, Cancer Research UK, Christ's Hospital Old Blues, CMS, Columbia Threadneedle, Fight for Sight, Michael Varah Memorial Fund, Worshipful Company of Gardeners, and Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. Click on the following links to purchase tickets the Fight for Sight Christmas Carol Concert or MVMF Carols by Candlelight.

Our 'Carols for All and Blessing of the Crib’ by Candlelight will be held on Wednesday 13 December at 6.00pm. This is a traditional candlelit Carol Service that is a great occasion when neighbouring businesses and friends of St Stephen Walbrook come together to celebrate Christmas. Music will be led by the St Stephen's Voices and there will be much-loved carols to sing. Mince pies and mulled wine follow this service.

Then on Christmas Eve at Midnight Mass there is the opportunity to Join us for the first Communion of Christmas where St Stephen’s Voices will again lead us. The service will be followed by mince pies and hot drinks.

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Lichfield Cathedral Choir - Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending.

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