Dear friends,
Please note that there will be no public Evening Prayer, Confessions or Vigil Mass this coming Saturday, 29 November – to allow us to attend the Patronal Festival celebrations at St Andrew, Kingsbury at 4.30pm.
On Sunday begins the season of Advent – and our guest preacher at the 10.30am Parish Mass will be the Rev’d Canon Dr Johannes Arens, parish priest of St Andrew, Jarrom Street in Leicester. Fr Arens grew up in Germany, and has been living in the UK since 2004: he was previously Canon Precentor at Leicester Cathedral, and is also a chaplain to Leicester De Montfort University. Our guest preacher last weekend for Christ the King, Fr Alex Honey, was deeply impressed by the warmth of your welcome: do please show the same to Fr Johannes Arens this Sunday!
Advent is a season of preparation and prayerful watchfulness: amidst the busyness of the weeks ahead, let us not neglect to prepare our hearts once more to welcome Christ’s coming – and let us, in the words of our responsorial psalm this Sunday, ‘go rejoicing to the house of the Lord‘ – taking care to prioritise the spiritualpreparations for Christmas which are afforded us by the daily round of prayer here at St Mary’s. ‘Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
As we begin the countdown to Christmas, please take home from church a bundle of Christmas cards, for delivery around the parish: there is a list of roads, which you are invited to tick off. Also in church this weekend will be a basket for your kind donations towards the cost of this year’s Christmas flowers – and payment can also be made using the contactless terminal. We launched our Christmas countdown with a wonderful Christmas Market last weekend: hearty thanks to all who helped and supported the Christmas Market, which raised the impressive sum of £956.14 for parish funds!
This weekend is the final opportunity to contribute to this month’s collection for the charity Bereavement Care. Thank you also for your contributions to the “care boxes” for St Luke’s Hospice, which will be made up and distributed to patients and their families during Advent.
This weekend is likewise the final opportunity for our young people (in school year 6 and above) to sign up in church to attend “Source and Summit” – an Anglo-Catholic Youth Event at St Alban, Holborn on Saturday, 6 December.
Please note that next Tuesday, 2 December, Morning Prayer will start at the slightly earlier time of 9.15am. On Wednesday next week, 3 December, we would be grateful for the assistance of any volunteers who can help us to prepare the craft materials for three school visits the week after next: there is a list in church to sign up to help on the day with these visits. And on Friday next week, 5 December, we will mark the 89th anniversary of the dedication of St Mary’s Church – with fizz and pastries after the 9.30am Mass: all welcome!
The funeral Mass of the late Alan Anyon will be celebrated in church on Friday, 12 December at 2pm: please speak to me if you have any special memories of Alan for inclusion in the tribute – and may he, and all the faithful departed, rest in peace.
There are now just two spaces remaining on the parish Christmas outing to the pantomime, on Sunday, 14 December – to enjoy “Dick Whittington” at the Harrow Arts Centre, in Hatch End, at 3pm: tickets are £20 for adults, and subsidised to just £5 for 18yos and younger. Please could those who have reserved a place please now also make payment for it.
Do speak to me if you are available and willing to come carol-singing at St Luke’s Hospice on Tuesday, 16 December (at 5pm): we have space for five more singers.
Confirmation classes (for the Confirmation with Bishop Jonathan on Sunday, 8 February 2026) will take place at the Vicarage on the following dates:
Wednesday, 17 December (5.30pm); Thursday, 8 January (6.45pm); Saturday, 10 January (10.15am); Wednesday, 21 January (5pm); Saturday, 24 January (10.15am), and Saturday, 31 January (at 10.15am)
– and are also open to those who would simply like to refresh their understanding of the Faith: we will gather (for one hour on each occasion) to explore topics such as prayer; the sacraments; true happiness, and the person of Jesus Christ. Speak to me if you would like to join us.
Every year, Fr Mike and I are deeply touched by your kind and thoughtful generosity at Christmas: the most versatile Christmas gifts to give to your clergy are simply cash and gift vouchers – as we are blessed with most of what we need in life already!
On New Year’s Day (Thursday, 1 January 2026) there will be a Sung Mass at 12 noon (in honour of Mary, the Mother of God) – followed by a bring-and-share parish lunch in the Hall (alcoholic and soft drinks provided.) Please confirm your contribution to Pat – who would also like to draw up a list of those kindly prepared to help set up, and to clear away afterwards. (Please note also that there will be no public services on Friday, 26 December.)
And on Sunday, 4 January our friends the Willan Singers will be visiting our neighbours at St George, Headstone for an Epiphany Carol Service at 6pm: please speak to me if you would like to read a lesson.
This Sunday’s incense will be Sarov.
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory,
Fr Richard