Future Events and Services

Churchyard Workparties
On the second Saturday of each month from 9-11am (continuing throughout the winter) Churchyard workparties are held – to do essential jobs around the churchyard and to help keep it looking tidy and well-kept.
Please come along on Saturday 10th December &/or 14th January to help; it’s not too arduous!  Many hands make lighter work.

All-Age Worship in the Church Hall
Starting on the first Sunday in February (5th) 2012 10.30am services will look a bit different …
On the first Sunday of every month there will be a 10.30am “All-Age” service taking place in the HALL and at the same time a service of Matins (Morning Prayer) held at the Church.
This will enable a more informal All-Age family-friendly service to happen on a monthly basis in the centre of the village at the hall
and for a much-loved more formal service of Matins to be revived for those who would appreciate it. 
Come along to whichever one you prefer!

Confirmation Classes
This year’s Confirmation service will be held on Sunday 17th June, 10.30am. Preparation will start in February and is open to anyone. If you would like to explore confirmation please talk to Martin or let the Parish Office know.

 Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 22 February
10am Communion Service with the imposition of ashes in the Hall Chapel

7.30pm Communion Service at Church with the imposition of ashes

Begin Lent and start to prepare for Easter in fellowship with others.

  Sing-A-Long Film Night
 “Dirty Dancing”
Friday 16 March, 7.30pm
St Mary’s Church Hall
Tickets: £10 including supper      
Bring your own drink and glass
Ring: Brenda 01895 822058

Come along and sing to well known songs from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Dress up in the fashion of that period if you wish – prize for best costume.

A fun filled evening is promised!

 

Diary Dates from the Social And Fundraising Committee

Saturday 28 April    Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir at the Church

Saturday 12 May   Songs from the Shows in the Church Hall
Nick Hardey and Friends with St Mary’s All Age Band and Choir

Saturday 2 June    A Royal Dinner  and Dance 7.30pm in the Church Hall
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. Please let a member of the Committee know if you would be interested in this event as soon as possible.

Saturday 16 June The Harefield Village Fete on the Green

Bird Watch 17/18 March
We are planning a weekend bird watch in March throughout Harefield.  We hope you can join in taking a note of the birds you see in your garden and also see the signs of spring. More information next month.

 The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI on 6th February 1952.  She ascended the thrones of UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth.  

(The Coronation happened over a year later, on 2nd June 1953, following the tradition that such a festival was inappropriate during the period of mourning following the death of the preceding sovereign).

  So 2012 is the year to mark her Diamond Jubilee.  So far the only other monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria (in 1897). 

Although the event will be remembered this month on the actual anniversary (6th February), the focus will be in the first weekend of June when four days of celebration are planned – Monday 4th becomes a Bank Holiday (moved from the end of May) and Tuesday 5th is an additional Bank Holiday specifically for the Jubilee. 

Watch out for Street Parties, etc … and for a Royal Dinner and Dance on Saturday 2nd June in the Church Hall.

The Crucifixion: John Stainer
Good Friday at St. Mary’s will be a bit different this year … the choir will be singing Stainer’s “Crucifixion” as the last part of the three-hour service in church.   This is an oratorio composed by John Stainer (when he was organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral) in 1887 for choir, organ and solos for bass and tenor. 

Stainer wrote it for the choir of Marylebone Church, where it is sung every year on the evening of Good Friday.  The words, however, were written by Revd. William Sparrow Simpson, who was the Succentor and Librarian of St. Paul’s Cathedral. 

It contains five hymns for congregational participation which makes it an act of worship rather than a performance.  One of these, “Cross of Jesus”, is amongst the finest of all hymn tunes.

The Parish Office 

c/o The Vicarage 

28 Countess Close 

Harefield 

UB9 6DL