All Church Buildings are now also CLOSED until further notice. Please DO NOT COME to St Michael’s, but continue to pray, and mark Holy Week & Easter at home.

Fr Nigel will pray the Daily Office at the Vaicarage, and some Prayers & Reflections will be put on Facebook & Twitter accounts, as time permits.

This is what would have happened, but all events from 17th March are CANCELLED.

Wed 26 Feb, 7.30pm. Lent starts with Sung Mass for Ash Wednesday with Imposition of Ashes. Hymns: 84: 70: 67. Missa Brevis, Lotti. Miserere Mei, Lassus.

Thurs 27 Feb, 7.30pm. St Michael’s Lecture. Oliver Nicholson on The First English Christians: Four ways of reading Bede - introducing the book for this year’s Lent reading group, which will meet 7-8pm on subsequent Thursdays in Lent (see Poster/Pewsheet).

Sat 29 Feb, 9.30am. Men’s Breakfast at the Farmers’ Union.

Sun 1 March, Lent I, also St David’s Day. 11am Sung Mass. Litany, Hymns 383: 406. Missa de Angelis, Plainsong. Motet: Nolo mortem tecatoris, by Morley. N.B. NO Bountiful Table today.
6pm Sun 1 Mar, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Responses: Byrd. Psalm 50:1-15 Hymn 377. Canticles: Walmisley in D minor. Anthem: If ye love me, by Wilby. O salutaris, Tantum Ergo.

Wed 4 Mar, 9.30am Matins/Low Mass. 6pm Stations of the Cross.

Thu 5 Mar, 7-8pm, Lent Reading Group in Church on Bede’s History of the Earliest English Christians, led by Oliver Nicholson.

Sun 8 Mar, Lent II, 11am Sung Mass. Hymns 238, 378, 64. Mass in Phrygian Mode, Wood. I will lift up mine eyes, Walker. Bountiful Table today – Bakes, Preserves & Produce for Church Funds.

Wed 11 Mar, 9.30am Matins/Low Mass. 6pm Stations of the Cross.

Thu 12 Mar, 7-8pm, Lent Reading Group on Bede’s History, led by Oliver Nicholson.

Sun 15 Mar, Lent III, 11am Sung Mass. Hymns 67, 65, 74. Mass in Dorian Mode, Cabina. Like as the hart, Howells.

Wed 18 Mar, 9.30am Matins/Low Mass. 7pm Stations of the Cross.

Thu 19 Mar, 7-8pm, Lent Reading Group on the Venerable Bede, led by Oliver Nicholson.

Sat 21 Mar 7.30pm at St David’s Church. Exeter Chamber Choir, St John’s Passion by J S Bach. Tickets £18 on the door, £15 in advance.

Sun 22 Mar Laetare/Mothering Sunday, 11am. Hymns 186, 451, 63. Missa super Dixit Maria, Hassler. Ave Maria, Parsons.

Wed 25 Mar, Feast of the Annunciation, 7.30pm Sung Mass. Hymns 188, 185, 161. Mass for 4 voices, Byrd. The Angel Gabriel, trad. Basque.

Thu 26 Mar, 7-8pm, Lent Reading Group on the Venerable Bede.

Sat 28 Mar, 9.30am. Men’s Breakfast at the Farmers’ Union.

Sun 29 Mar, Lent V, 11am. Hymns 79, 137, 83. Mass for 4 voices, Byrd. God so loved the world, Stainer.

Wed 1 Apr, 9.30am Matins/Low Mass. 7pm Stations of the Cross.

Thu 2 Apr, 7-8pm, Lent Reading Group on the Venerable Bede.

Sun 5 Apr, Palm Sunday, N.B. 10.30am start for Blessing & Procession of Palms, and Passion Gospel according to Matthew. Verily I say unto you, Tallis.6pm Palm Sunday Evensong & Benediction. Byrd Responses, Gibbons Short Service. Solus ad Victimam, by Leighton.

Holy Week
Wed 8 Apr, Spy Wednesday, 7pm. Stations of the Cross, sung “Stabat Mater”.

Thu 9 Apr, Maundy Thursday, 7.30pm Sung Mass with Foot-washing. Missa brevis, Lotti. Ubi caritas et amor, Mealor. Ave verum corpus, Byrd.

Fri 10 Apr, Good Friday, 10.30am Veneration of the Cross. The Reproaches. Crux Fidelis.
Good Friday, 8pm Tenebrae sung from the Gallery, Plainsong & Polyphony.

Sat 11 Apr, Holy Saturday, 8pm Easter Vigil Mass with New Fire & Paschal Candle. Stanford in C&F. Unicorni captivator, by Ola Gjeilo

Sun 12 Apr, Easter Day, 11am Festal Sung Mass. Mozart in D. Billings, Easter Anthem.

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Sat 5 October. Visit to Tyntesfield, National Trust property, former home of William Gibbs. We will sing Evensong in the splendid Chapel there at 3pm.

Sun 6 Oct, Harvest Festival 11am. Choral Mass Hymns:259: 262: 493. Mass in F, Sumsion. Motet:Thou visitest the earthm Greene. Bountiful Table of Baking, Preserves & Produce at 12noon.

6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction. Responses: Reading. Psalm 142. Hymn 205. Canticles: Tallis Short Service. Anthem: Locus Iste, Bruckner O salutaris: 269. Tantum Ergo: 268.

Tue 8 Oct, 5.30pm at Exeter Cathedral. Choral Evensong with Dedication of Memorial to St Wilfrid’s Community.

Sun 13 Oct, Trinity XVII. 11am Sung Mass. Hymns 324: 439: 445. Missa Lauda Sion, Palestrina. Motet: Ave verum corpus, Pearsall.

Wed 16 Oct, 7.30pm. St Michael’s Lecture. Prof James Clark. Re-thinking the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Author of several studies on late mediaeval religion and culture, Prof Clark was consultant for the BBC TV series, Tudor Abbey Farm.

Sun 20 Oct, Trinity XVIII. 11am Mass. Hymns 440: 310: 358. :4-part Mass, Byrd. Hear my prayer O Lord, Purcell.

Tue 22 Oct, 7pm for 7.30. Deanery Synod Meeting at St James’ Church, Mount Pleasant. Main Topic – Music & Psalms in Worship, led by Canon James Mustard, Cathedral Precentor. Open to all

Sun 27 Oct Saints Simon & Jude, Apostles. 11am Mass. Hymns:195: 214: 359. Mass in A minor, Casciolini. Give us the wings of faith, Bullock.

Sat 2 Nov, 7.30pm at St David’s Church. An Evening of Poetry & Music. Tickets £12, including canapés & drink.

Sun 3 November, All Saints. 11am Mass. Hymns 197: 226: 396. Missa ‘O quam gloriosum’, Luis de Victoria. Justorum animae, Stanford. 12noon Bountiful Table.

6pm All Souls’ Requiem Mass. Setting: Missa pro defunctis, Casciolini.
At St Michael’s, worship is traditional, music is excellent, people are friendly, and all are welcome. Please join us.

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In early April, our Peregrine Falcon pair laid 3 eggs – we hope for chicks to hatch around 8-11 May.

We are glad that the “Exeter Pride” Service will continue this year at the more central venue of St Petrock’s Church on the High Street, at 10.45am on Saturday 11th May – do support this if you can.

We are grateful to Stephanie Aplin for taking up the mantle of Chapel Warden, and to Fr Dominic Cyrus, Vice-Principal of South West Ministry Training Course, who will be helping our Clergy team with Services.

Sunday 5 May, Easter 3/II. 11Am Sung Mass. Hymns 345, 155, 486. Missa l’Hora passa, Viadana. Motet: Christ the Lord is Risen Again, Foster. We welcome Fr Dominic Cyrus as Celebrant and Preacher. At 12noon there will be our monthly Bountiful Table of baking, preserves & produce in support of Church funds.
6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction. Led by Fr Nigel Guthrie. Byrd Responses. Psalm 86. Hymn 294. Canticles: Dyson in F. Anthem: If ye be risen again with Christ, Gibbons. O salutaris 269, Tantum Ergo 268.

Sat 11 May, 10.45am at St Petrock’s Church, High Street. A Service of Blessing & Solidarity with Exeter Pride led by Fr Nigel Guthrie, Rev Hannah Alderson & Canon Chris Palmer – all welcome, of any faith, gender, sexuality or none.

Sun 12 May, Easter 4/III Good Shepherd. 11Am Mass. Hymns 362, 381, 457. Mass in F, Rheinberger. Psalm 23, Howard Goodall. Celebrant & Preacher,Fr Nigel.

Sat 18 May, 9-11am at St David’s Church. Big Breakfast in support of Christian Aid – very worth our support.

Sun 19 May, Easter 5/IV. 11am. Hymns 484, 420, 445. Missa Lauda Sion, Palestrina. The Call, Vaughan Williams. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

Sat 25 May, 9am. Parish Men’s Breakfast in the Orangery at The Imperial.

Sun 26 May, Easter 6/Rogation Sunday. 11am. Hymns Processional booklet, 364, 342 (t178). Mass in C&F, Stanford. O Lord, give thy Holy Spirit, Tallis. Celebrant & Preacher, Fr Dominic Cyrus.

Wed 29 May, 7.30pm at Parish Church of St Michael, Cheriton, near Winchester. The Institution of Rev Christopher Durrant as Rector of the Upper Itchen Benefice.

Thursday 30 May, Ascension Day. 7.30am, Sung Matins.
7.30pm Sung Mass of the Ascension. Hymns 130, 332, 134. Missa Brevissima, Casciolini. Motet: God is gone up, Hutchings. Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

Sun 2 June, Sunday after Ascension. 11Am. Hymns 352, 355, 388. Mass in E, Darke. Come Holy Ghost, Attwood. Fr Nigel. Bountiful Table.
6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction. Led by Rev Alison Whiting & Fr Nigel. Reading Responses. Psalm 68. Hymn 63. Brewer in D. Lift up your heads, O ye Gates – Mathias. O salutaris 269, Tantum Ergo 268.

St Michael’s worship is traditional, music is excellent, people are friendly, and all are welcome. Please join us. Pray for our continuing life & mission, and support your church with time, talents and giving.

A Joyful 50 days of Eastertide from all at St Michael’s.

Richard Barnes.

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Our new Vicar, Fr Nigel Guthrie, has requested that Sunday Mass start at 11am, so that he can lead worship at both St David’s & St Michael’s when necessary and get to know both congregations.

Fr Christopher Durrant will be on a placement at Silverton from Sun 18 Feb for 6 weeks gaining experience working in a different type of Parish – we wish him well. He will be back just in time for Holy Week with us.

This beautiful church of St Michael’s Mount Dinham was consecrated to the Glory of God on 29 September 1868, so this year sees its 150th Anniversary. Can we use this Sesquicentenary Year to encourage more people to visit, support and share with us in the activity and worship that takes place here? Come and See!

Thanks to all who have persevered with us through the past few months; visiting clergy & Fr Christopher, servers, our small but faithful congregation and those who visit occasionally, the rota of Organists and the choir that has kept singing and carried on, organised by Amy. We could do with a few more voices as we approach Lent & Holy Week. Come and Sing!

The Shepherds have returned to their flocks. The Geeks from the East have come with their Gifts and changed their understanding of power. The world thinks Christmas is all over. But it’s not all over until the old man sings Nunc Dimittis and the prophetess sees Jesus & Mary in the Temple at Candlemas. Come and Worship!

Fri 2 February at 7.30pm, 40 days after Christmas, the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas. Mass in C – John Ireland. When to the Temple Mary went – Johannes Eccard. Fr Christopher Durrant.

Sun 4 Feb, Sexagesima, 11am Sung Mass. Mass in F – Harris. Our Conversation is in Heaven – Exeter born Walter Gilbert (1829-1910).
Sun 4 Feb at 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Smith Responses: Ps 65, Hymn 243. Sumsion in G. Abendlied – Rheinberger.

Thu 8 Feb at 12noon – Parish Lunch Club at Exeter College’s @34 Restaurant; sign up lists in both our churches.

Sun 11 Feb, Quiquagesima/Lent-1. 11am. Mass in F – Sumsion. O Lord increase our faith – Loosemore. Fr Nigel Guthrie.

Tue 13 Feb. 6pm Vespers. 7pm Choir Practice. 8.15pm Pancakes!

Wed 14 Feb. Ash Wednesday. Services Morning & Evening with Imposition of Ashes.
9.30am Matins. 10am Low Mass.
7.30pm Sung Mass. Tallis Dorian Mode. Lord, let me know mine end – Greene.

Sun 18 Feb, Lent I. 11am Mass. Cranmer’s Litany of 1544. Byrd 4. O Lord Thou art my God – Exeter composer Kellow Pye (1812-1901). NG

Wed 21 Feb, 6pm and each Wednesday in Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed. Please join us for this seasonal devotion which lasts about 45mins. You may like to stay for…

Wed 21 Feb, 7.00-8.15pm. Lent Reading Group in church with Oliver Nicholson looking at the 4th century best-seller, the Life of St Antony. All welcome.

Sat 24 Feb, 9.30am. Men’s Breakfast at the Farmers’ Union by the Queen’s Street Clock Tower.

Sun 25 Feb, Lent II. 11am. Plainsong Missa de Angelis. Purge me, O Lord – Tallis. Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

Wed 28 Feb, 7pm. Lent Reading Group continues; also 3 Wednesdays in March.

Sun 4 Mar, Lent III. 11am. Missa brevis – Lotti. God so loved the world – Stainer. NG
Sun 4 Mar at 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. NG

Richard Barnes. 28 Jan 2018.

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Reading Group, in lieu of St Michael’s Lecture this month.
For 3 Wednesdays in October, 11, 18 & 25, Oliver Nicholson will lead a Reading Goup at St Michael’s at 7.30pm. We will discuss the Pilgrimage of Egeria to the Holy Land in the 4th century – one of the earliest descriptions of the holy places and practices of the Church. Please join us.

Diary
Sun 1st Oct, 10.45am, Dedication Sunday, Fr Christopher. Byrd 5, Bruckner. Bountiful Table.
Sun 1st Oct, 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Rev Alison & Fr C. Tallis, Stanford.
New – Fri 6th Oct, 7pm, Concert by GRICE and friends – electro-acoustic folk-rock-jazz. £10.
Sun 8th Oct, 10.45am, Trinity XVII, Fr Nigel Mason. Reformation Hymns, Hassler, Bach.
Tue 10th Oct, 6pm, CBS Plainsong Mass – St Paulinus, Bishop of York (644).
Wed 11th Oct, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Reading Group – Egeria, week 1.
Sun 15th Oct, 10.45am, Harvest, Fr Nigel Mason. Harris, Greene.
Mon 16th Oct, 7.30pm, Vocations 18-30 Event at The Imperial.
Tue 17th Oct, 7 for 7.30pm, at St Leonard’s Church, Topsham Road, Deanery Synod Meeting
Wed 18th Oct, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Reading Group – Egeria, week 2.
Thu 19th Oct, 7.30pm, Concert by Exeter Police & Community Male Voice Choir.
Sun 22nd Oct, 10.45am, Trinity XIX, Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Casciolini, Rachmaninov.
Wed 25th Oct, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Reading Group – Egeria, week 3.
Sun 29th Oct. 10.45am, All Saints’ Sunday, Fr C, Rev Alison. Victoria, O quam gloriosum.
Thu 2nd Nov, 7.30pm, Sung Requiem Mass. Fauré, Stanford.

Other Regular Events:-
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6pm Plainsong Vespers & Meditation.
Tuesdays, 7-8.30pm Choir Practice.
Wednesdays, 9.30am BCP Morning Prayer, 10am Low Mass.

Choir Music

Dr Nigel Browne

Any students from University or College wishing to gain experience singing music in its liturgical context are most welcome to join us. One or two scholarships may be available.

For Dedication Sunday (of our building and of ourselves) we have the Motet ‘Locus Iste’ by Bruckner (1824-96) – This place is made by God, a priceless mystery, without reproof – and strong hymn tunes by Purcell, Gibbons & SSWesley.

Please support our Choral Evensong & Benediction at 6pm on the 1st. Music altered to include accompanied pieces by Charles Villiers Stanford as we welcome Michael Graham as guest Organist.

On 8th October, anticipating the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s 95 Theses on 31st Oct 1517, we have hymn tunes of German origin and a motet by JSBach. The Missa ‘super Dixit Maria’ may seem a strange choice, but Protestant Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) from Nuremberg studied with Gabrieli in Venice and, as the foremost organist and German composer of his age, wrote Masses for the Catholic Church and Psalm tunes for the Lutheran Church, as well as much ‘secular’ vocal & instrumental music.

Harvest is celebrated on 15th Oct – if you can, please bring some non-perishable items to be added to our collection for the Exeter FoodBank. The motet is ‘Thou visitest the Earth’ by Maurice Greene (1696-1755).

Please support the Concert on Thu 18th Oct by Exeter Police & Community Male Voice Choir with an eclectic programme from Sacred to Songs from the Shows.

On 22nd October, we hope to have enough voices to sing ‘Bogoroditse Dyevo’ from Rachmaninov’s Russian Orthodox All-Night Vigil of 1915. The text is subtly different from the Latin ‘Ave Maria’.
Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God, Mary full of grace, The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.

October ends with All Saints’ Sunday on the 29th, singing Victoria’s ‘O quam gloriosum’. The motet written c.1572 was used as the model for his later Missa.

All Souls’ Day, Thursday 2nd November at 7.30pm, we sing Requiem by Gabriel Fauré liturgically, with the Reading of Names of the Departed.

Richard Barnes.

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Sung Vespers & Meditation on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 6pm.

Choir Practices continue on Tuesdays at 7pm.

Matins & Low Mass are said at 9.30/10am on Wednesdays.

Communion is also celebrated at St David’s Church at 10.30am on Thursdays.

All are welcome to services and events at St Michael’s.

Sat 2 Sept at 2pm at Exeter & Devon Crematorium – a Service of Remembrance (phone 01392 496333 to request a name to be remembered aloud).

Sunday 3 September, Trinity XII, 10.45am Sung Mass. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson, as our celebrant & preacher. Hymns: 390 (T493): 449: 366. Setting: Mass for Three Voices – Byrd. Motet: Ego sum panis vivus – Byrd.
Bountiful Table this morning – please continue to support our successful Bring&Buy produce stall.

Sun 3 Sept, 6pm, Evensong and Benediction. Led by Fr Christopher Durrant. Responses: Byrd. Psalm: 105 vv 1-15. Office Hymn: 248(ii). Canticles: Tallis Dorian Service. Anthem: Purge me, O Lord – Tallis. O salutaris: 269. Tantum Ergo: 268.

Saturday 9th September, Heritage Open Day 9am-6pm, and Devon Historic Churches Trust Ride & Stride. Guided Tour of Mount Dinham & Church at 2.30pm with Richard Parker.

Sunday 10 September, Trinity XIII, 10.45am Mass. With Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Hymns: 338 : 439(i) : 79. Setting: Missa Brevis, Lotti. Motet: O Sacrum Convivium, Croce.
Also Heritage Open Day 10am-5pm, with Cream Teas for fund-raising from 3-5pm.

Thu 14 Sept at 6pm. CBS Mass for Holy Cross Day with Fr David Hastings.

Thu 14 Sept from 6.30pm starting in Northernhay Gardens, Richard Parker leads a 2 hour architectural history walk around central Exeter. Cost £7.

Sat 16 Sept at 11am. Nuptial Mass and Wedding of Terence Beverton & Analyn Castro-Perez.

Sun 17 Sept, Trinity XIV, 10.45am Mass. Fr Christopher. Hymns: 477 : 295 : 431. Setting: Missa L’hora Passa, Viadana. Motet: Exsultate Justi, Viadana.

Tue 19 – Sat 23 Sep. Exhibition at St Stephen’s on the High Street, from 11-4, 6pm on Thurs. Stories of Exeter’s War Hospitals 1914-19. https://www.exeterlocalhistorysociety.co.uk/world-war-1-hospitals-exhibition/

Sun 24 Sept, Trinity XV, 10.45am Mass. Fr Christopher with Bill Pattinson preaching. Hymns: 335 : 74 : 443. Setting: Mass in Phrygian mode, Wood. Motet: Jesu Dulcis Memoria, Wood.

Wed 27 Sept, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lecture. We welcome Dr Felix Flicker, a Research Fellow in Physics at New College Oxford. His intriguing title is “Paradoxes: Jokes, Riddles, Zen Buddhist Kohns, and some Questions in Theoretical Physics.” Come & be enlightened!

Friday 29th September is Michaelmas and we have our Festival Sung Mass at 7.30pm. All are most welcome to this service, which is followed by a Bring & Share Party – please join us. Our guest preacher is Fr Peter March. Hymns: 191 (T238) : 190(ii) : 193. Setting: Missa Aeterna Christi Munera, Palestrina. Motet: Exsultate Justi, Viadana. Owing to the sad departure of our Director of Music and our Organist having a family commitment, the Music this year will be less flamboyant than usual. But we are hugely grateful that John Draisey has kindly agreed to play for the Service and conduct us.

Sun 1 October, Trinity XVI,10.45am Sung Mass & Bountiful Table. Fr Christopher.

Sun 1 Oct, 6pm, Choral Evensong and Benediction.

Advanced Notice. For 3 Wednesdays in October (11th, 18th & 25th) Oliver Nicholson will lead a Reading Group at St Michael’s Church exploring of the writings of Egeria, an Early Christian Pilgrim. Egeria was a religious lady who spent the years 381 to 384 AD in the Holy Land and visiting the Desert Fathers of Egypt. She wrote an extensive account of her travels to ‘her dear sisters’ back home in what is now the south of France; her pilgrimage has been described as ‘biblical commentary written with the feet’. The group will meet at 7.15pm on three Wednesday evenings in October (11th, 18th & 25th) to talk about her travels. Copies of the excellent translation by Canon John Wilkinson will be available for purchase on the first evening (October 11th), when Oliver will introduce the topic of Egeria and early Christian pilgrimage in general. Folk who are going on the Holy Land pilgrimage in April 2018 might find this of particular interest.
Feast Day or ordinary, you’re always welcome at St Michael’s.

Richard Barnes

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Wed 2nd Nov, 7.30pm, All Souls’ Day, Sung Requiem Mass. Victoria, Stanford.
Sun 6th Nov, 10.45am, Trinity XXIV, Advent-3. Viadana, Gibbons.
Sun 6th Nov, 6pm, Choral Evensong & Benediction. Stanford, Bainton, Rossini, Fauré.
Wed 9th Nov, 7.30pm, Exeter College Concert. Cello & Piano.
Sun 13th Nov, 10.45am, Remembrance Sunday. Sumsion, Noble.
Sat 19th Nov, 3pm at St David’s Church – Holy Land Pilgrimage Preliminary Meeting.
Sun 20th Nov, 10.45am, Christ the King, Stir-Up, Confirmation. Casciolini, Parker.
Tue 22nd Nov, 6pm. CBS Plainsong Mass – St Cecilia (c.230), Patroness of Musicians.
Sat 26th Nov, 11am – 3pm. An Unusually Good Book Sale.
Sun 27th Nov, 10.45am, Advent Sunday. Wood x2.
Sun 27th Nov, 1pm, at Digger’s Rest, Woodbury Salterton. Advent Lunch.
Wed 30th Nov, 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lecture. Theology & Vegetarianism – Dr Matthew Barton.

Advance Notice:-
Sun 4th Dec. 6pm, Advent Procession – Readings, Candles, Carols, Hymns.
Sun 11th Dec, 4pm, Exeter Chorale Tea-time Concert. “Aqua Musicale”
Sat 17th Dec, late afternoon, Charity Carol Concert given by St Michael’s Choir.

Other Regular Services:-
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6pm Plainsong Vespers & Meditation.
Wednesdays, 9.30am Morning Prayer, 10am Low Mass.
See the Website & Twitter for Music List & Service details.

Book Sale, Advent Lunch, Lecture & Concert
BOOK_SALE_poster
Please support the “Unusually Good Book Sale” on Sat 26th Nov from 11am-3pm organised with St David’s Creates. As well as books & other media, there will be Piano music from Matthew Wright, Organ demonstration by Nigel Browne, and a guided tour of the Church given by Richard Parker. All-in-all, a day not to miss.

Please contact Chris & Lis Heaven in Church or via Facebook to sign up (by 20th at latest,please) for the St Mike’s Advent Lunch at the Digger’s Rest, Woodbury Salterton, EX5 1PQ. Cost £17.50 or £21.00.

On Wed 30th Nov we conclude our Autumn “isms” lectures with Dr Matthew Barton considering religious and theological aspects of Vegetarianism. Free & all welcome.

We are pleased to host a Concert on Wed 9th Nov in support of the Exeter College Chris Wilson Music Award; Jan Skrdlik, Cello & Petra Besa, Piano, play Saint-Saens, Kodaly, Dvorak. £15.

Please Note also:- Fr Christopher has asked his father-in-law Preb. Alistair Wheeler to organise a parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the month after Easter 2018! Alistair is a retired priest from Bath & Wells Diocese, who has led Holy Land pilgrimages over many decades. He will be making a short informal presentation about the Holy Land at St. David’s Church at 3pm on Saturday 19th November.

Choir Music

Our traditional All Souls’ Day Requiem, Wed 2nd Nov at 7.30pm, uses the Missa Pro Defunctis a 4, by Victoria, with Stanford’s motet “Justorum animae”, the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God. All are welcome to this moving Service when the list of names of the Faithful Departed is prayed.

On Sun 6th Nov at 6pm, our Evensong Anthem “And I saw a new heaven” by Edgar Bainton continues the Remembrance-tide theme. The Benediction hymns are Romantic settings by Rossini & Fauré, as Jesus, lifted up, draws us to himself.

For Remembrance Sunday on the 13th the music is the Communion Service in F by Herbert Sumsion (1899-1995), who was at Gloucester Cathedral, Chorister and Organist, for 60 years. From 1917 to 1919 Sumsion served in the Queen’s Westminster Rifles and spent time in the trenches in Flanders. The Motet by Tertius Noble uses a versified form of Wisdom 3.

“Souls of the righteous in the hand of God,
Nor hurt nor torment cometh them anigh;
O holy hope of immortality.
Souls of the righteous in the hand of God,
to eyes of men unwise, they seem to die;
They are at peace, O fairest liberty.
On earth as children chasten’d by Love’s rod,
As gold in furnace tried, so now on high
they shine like stars, a golden galaxy:
Souls of the righteous in the hand of God.”

Please support a special service on 20th Nov – as well as being Stir-up Sunday and Christ the King, we will welcome Bishop Martin Shaw to our Sung Mass to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation on Amy Down. We will sing “Te Deum laudamus”, the great 4th century credal hymn in a setting by the American composer Horatio Parker, learned on our summer visit to Winchester.

On Sun 27th Nov we joyously celebrate the traditional start of the New Liturgical Year, Advent Sunday, with music by Charles Wood, his Mass in F and “O Thou the central Orb”.

“Let Thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin, Our nature all shall feel eternal day
In fellowship with thee, transforming clay To souls erewhile unclean; now pure within.”

Richard Barnes

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Please see other Website links & Twitter posts for full Music List & Service details.

Concerts & Lecture
Please support the ExeVox Concert on Sun 2nd Oct, directed by Peter Adcock. They will give a half-hour mini-Concert at St Michael’s, followed by Refreshments. It’s one of three mini-concerts of classical and lighter pieces in an afternoon of music-making in aid of Hospiscare; starting at 2.00pm in St Stephen’s Church on the High Street, continuing at 2.45pm in St Pancras’ Church in the Guildhall Centre and coming to St Michael’s for 3.40pm. Each is free, with voluntary collections for Hospiscare. You may like to stay or return to St Michael’s for our monthly Evensong at 6pm.

Sat 8th Oct at Exeter Cathedral at 4pm sees a rather special Evensong with Exeter Symphony Orchestra and the Cathedral & University Chapel Choirs combining to offer the original orchestral versions of Brahms Psalm 84 “How lovely are thy dwellings”, the Canticles in A by Stanford, and the Anthem “I was glad” by Parry.

Please also support a joint Concert with St David’s Neighbourhood Partnership at 7.30pm on Fri 14th Oct featuring internationally known local flautist, Candice Hamel, with Mariko Asakawa-North, piano, and St Michael’s Choir.
Unfortunately, the Tudor Dance Display on Sat 15th Oct has been CANCELLED owing to circumstances beyond “ARTSfest”‘s control.

On Wed 28th Oct St Michael’s Lectures welcome back to Exeter Fr John Underhill, now a curate in Eastbourne, to talk on the subject of Deliverance Ministry & Exorcism.

Choir Music
On 2nd Oct, Dedication Sunday, we have a romantic 19th century Mass setting by Rheinberger (1839-1901). The Motet “Locus Iste” by Bruckner (1824-96) translates – This place was made by God, a priceless (inaestimabile) mystery; it is without reproof (irreprehensibilis).

Our Evensong music is mainly “mellow” for Autumn, Dyson in F Mag & Nunc, and Elgar & Fauré Benediction Hymns, and Harris’s Anthem “Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men” is suited to the Sunday & the Service.

Missa Lauda Sion is a lesser known Palestrina Mass now in our repertoire, and the French dramatist Jean Racine (1639-99) provides the words for the much loved “Cantique” by Fauré (1845-1924) on 9th Oct. This beautiful Hymn to Christ translates thus:-
O Word, equal to the Most High, Our sole hope, eternal day of the earth and heavens,
We break the silence of the peaceful night. Divine Saviour, cast Thine eyes upon us!
Shed the fire of Thy mighty grace upon us. Let all Hell flee at the sound of Thy voice.
Dispel the slumber of a languishing soul That leads it to forget Thy laws!
O Christ, be favourable to your faithful people Now gathered to bless Thee.
Receive the hymns we offer to Thine immortal glory, And may we return laden with Thy gifts.

Harvest is celebrated on Sun 16th Oct – we are asked to collect non-consumable items (shower gel, toothpaste/brush, washing-up liquid etc.) throughout October, rather than ‘food’ at this time, to be sent to the Exeter FoodBank. The Mass setting is new to us, John Ireland (1879-1962) in C, and the Motet is ”O Lord increase our Faith” with music by Henry Loosemore (1600-70) .

Trinity XXII sees us back in the 16th century with William Byrd’s Mass for 5 voices (SATTB) written around 1594, and “Lord for Thy tender mercies sake” by Richard Farrant (c.1525-80)

October ends with All Saints’ Sunday, singing Tomas Luis de Victoria’s Missa “O quam gloriosum”, published in 1583, and Sir William Harris’s “Holy is the True Light” from 1947.

Please note for your Diaries:- All Souls’ Day Requiem, Wed 2nd Nov at 7.30pm, with the Missa Pro Defunctis a 4, also by Victoria, and Motet “Justorum Animae” by Stanford.

Richard Barnes

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Please try to support the John Thurmer Memorial Lecture on Friday 27th May at 7.30pm at St Michael’s. It will be a privilege and a joy to welcome Professor Nicholas Orme who was a colleague and friend of Canon John Thurmer for many years. Professor Orme has a distinguished career studying Church History and medieval society & childhood, especially in the West country.

Reminder: Wed 27 April at 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lectures welcome Rt Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of Crediton, to talk on the topic “Should the Church be involved in the Health of our Communities?” continuing our theme of religious reflection on current social concerns.

With an abundance of Feasts this month, the Choir has a wealth of beautiful music to share with you.

Rogation Sunday, 1st May, 10.45am Sung Mass and Procession around Mount Dinham. Missa “Entre vous filles” by Lassus, and “Thou visitest the Earth and blessest it” by Greene.

Sun 1 May we also have our 6pm First Sunday Choral Evensong & Benediction. To mark Rogation Sunday, the Anthem will be “The Heavens are telling the Glory of God” by Franz Joseph Haydn from his Oratorio, The Creation. Come & see why Choral Evensong is the fastest growing service in the C of E.

Thurs 5 May, 40 days after Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into Heaven. Ascension Day Matins is sung at 7.30am from the West Gallery, followed by breakfast.

Thurs 5 May at 7.30pm, Sung Mass for Ascension Day. Music is Spatzenmesse (Sparrow Mass) by W A Mozart and “Ascendit Deus” by Peter Philips. This is a joint Parish service and CBS Mass for May. The Sermon preached by Fr Christopher can be read here.

Sat 7 May – Exeter Pride. We welcome any who want to show solidarity with Exeter’s LGBTQ+ communities to join us for Sung Matins at 9.30am at St Michael’s, and/or to join the Christian group in the Pride Procession from the St Sidwell’s Centre at 12noon.

Sat 7 May at 4.30pm Choral Evensong following a Diocesan Safeguarding Training Day – all welcome.

Sun 8 May, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Our Archbishops are asking all Christians to pray especially this week for better Witness and Evangelism to our secular society. St Michael’s continues to offer diversity and welcome to all – traditional Church for today! Mass Setting is Sumsion in F, and the Motet “O God the King of Glory” by Purcell.

We are much saddened to report the death of Fr Roger Shambrook SSC on Friday 6th May; his visits to St Michael’s to celebrate Mass and preach over the past year or so were always appreciated. Fr Roger had ministered with great devotion over many years to the people of Torquay. We offer our prayers and sympathy to all who knew him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. The Requiem Funeral Mass for Fr Shambrook will take place at 2pm on Friday 13 May at St Mary Steps Church, EX1 1BB.

Photograph by Jamie Bowen

Sat 14th May at 3pm. Christian Aid tea party at 95 Howell Rd hosted by the Vicar. Bring a cake or buy a cake!

Sun 15 May, Whitsunday/Pentecost, 10.45am. We welcome Ven David Gunn-Johnson. Sung Mass with Mass in F, by Josef Rheinberger, and Motet “If ye love me” by Philip Stopford. Revel in the rich romanticism of Rheinberger and the lush harmonies of Stopford.

Sun 15 May, at 7pm in Exeter Cathedral, “The Kingdom Come”, a Diocese of Exeter service in response to the Archbishops’ call to prayer. A pilgrimage of worship around the Cathedral to pray reflectively using prayer spaces especially created. Music with University of Exeter’s Chapel Choir and ending with night prayer.

Sun 22 May, Trinity, 10.45am. Sung Mass with Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass” and the Motet “Duo Seraphim” by Guerrero.

Thurs 26 May, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with Vespers at 6pm and Sung Mass at 7.30pm. We process the Blessed Sacrament around Mount Dinham (weather permitting) accompanied by Hymns. Our Music this year features the 16th century Spanish composer Francisco Guerrero with “Missa Inter Vestibulum” and Motet “O Sacrum Convivium”.

Please do put Friday 27 May at 7.30pm in your Diaries, when we are privileged to welcome University of Exeter Department of History Professor Emeritus Nicholas Orme, who will distil his extensive knowledge of Church History to give a lecture in memory of Canon John Thurmer, entitled “A Brief History of England’s Cathedrals.” Entry free, all welcome; we look forward to seeing you.

Sun 29 May, Trinity II, 10.45am. Sung Mass. Music t.b.c.

And finally, don’t forget our nest box camera can be viewed on the “Peregrine Falcons” website page; donations welcome. The eggs laid at Easter are due to hatch as April turns into May.

Richard Barnes.

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Michaelmas was celebrated in style with about 60 at Sung Mass followed by Drinks & Nibbles. Our Guest Preacher, Ven David Gunn-Johnson, told us of the Archangels of God from their Hebrew names in the Bible and Apocrypha, Gabriel (strength), Uriel (light), Raphael (healing) and our Michael (who is like God?) . The Mass Setting was by Josef Rheinberger – Liechtenstein’s famous contemporary of Queen Victoria. The Motet: Faire is the Heaven, by Sir William Harris – A high point of 20th century Anglican music from an Organist of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, setting a 16th century poem by Edmund Spenser.

September was a month of Welcome with our new Bishop of Crediton installed in the Cathedral and our new Curate ordained deacon. I’m sure every Church says it is “welcoming” in its website and notices, but we need to make sure we are in practice too…

Recently on the Ship of Fools website, a “Mystery Worshipper” made a telling report on Holy Trinity Brompton, home of the Alpha Course, finding it so full of its own success and activity that there was no welcome, no help with their pushchair, and the Worship Group was so loud and dominant that it seemed to be the focus of the congregation’s worship (and applause!) rather than God. See http://shipoffools.com/mystery/2015/2906.html

Indeed, it’s a feature of most reviews that the quality of Welcome counts more to a visitor than Sermon, Music, style of Worship, and even Heating. The ministry of welcome, both before and after our services, is really important, so thanks to those who do it so well at our churches.

Both our welcome and our music serve the Liturgy and help us all to worship God. We hope to welcome new and returning choir members and congregation at this time; during October we have:-

Sunday 4 October, we will keep the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. 10.45am Sung Mass with Missa L’Hora Passa by Ludovico da Viadana (1560-1627) and the Motet “Laudans Exsultet Gaudio” by Giovanni Croce (1557-1609). Plus “All creatures of our God and King” and “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”.

Also, being 1st Sunday, 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction – Smith Responses: Psalms 125, 126; Office Hymn: 242. Canticles: Walmisley in D minor, a Victorian take on the Faux-bourdon with unison T/B alternating with SSA trio. Anthem: O Lord the Maker of All Thing, music by Mundy, a prayer attributed to King Henry VIII. We might use the Elgar and Fauré settings of the Benediction Hymns.

Remember also Tues 6 Oct, William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformation Martyr, 1536.

Sunday 11 October, Trinity XIX, 10.45am Sung Mass. Missa Aeterna Christi Munera by Palestrina. Motet: Lead Me Lord, by SSWesley.

Tuesday 13 October at 6pm. CBS Mass for the Feast of St Edward the Confessor, King of England (June 1042 – January 1066). All are welcome. Plainsong Mass with Propers and Hymns for the day.

Saturday 17th October at 7pm in St James’ Church Hall – a Food & Quiz Evening for all from St David’s, St Michael’s and St James’ and friends to get together. Tickets, £7, from Tony Pugh.

Sunday 18 October, Harvest takes precedent over St Luke today, 10.45am, Sung Mass. Missa Brevis, by Lotti. Motet: God Looks on Nature, by Graham Keitch from a poem by John Clare. Gifts suitable for the Food Bank collection would be especially welcome.

In the afternoon of Sun 18, the Choir heads out into rural West Devon to sing Choral Evensong & Benediction at 6.30pm at St Peter’s Church, Lamerton, one of the churches now ministered to by Fr Andy Atkins, our former Curate, a few miles north-west of Tavistock. You are welcome to join us.

Wednesday 21 October at 7.30pm, St Michael’s Lecture. Idir Ouahes, a PhD student in the History Department of the University of Exeter, researching the French Mandate rule in Lebanon & Syria, will discuss “Christians in Syria”. All welcome.

Saturday 24 October, St Michael’s is hosting “YOUR FAITH, YOUR FINANCE AND THE COMMON GOOD”, a conference taking place from 10.30am to 4pm. It is being run by the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility and will look at the role of money in our personal life, our churches, our society and the wider world. Tickets can be booked online at Eventbrite, visit: www.bit.ly/1JuEyay for details.

Sunday 25 October, Trinity XXI, 10.45am Sung Mass. Mass in F, by Harold Darke. Motet: O Lord Increase Our Faith, by Loosemore.

Remember also Sat 31 Oct, not just Hallowe’en, but Martin Luther, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformer, 1546.

Sunday 1 November is All Saints’ Day, 10.45am, Sung Mass. Missa Brevissima, Casciolini. Motet: O Quam Gloriosum, Victoria.

And at 6pm Choral Evensong and Benediction, featuring Dyson in F Canticles. Anthem: And I Saw a New Heaven, Bainton.

Please note. Monday 2 November there will be our All Souls’ Day Sung Requiem Mass at 7.30pm featuring the Missa Pro Defunctis a 4, by Tomas Luis da Victoria. This beautiful a cappella setting of the Requiem texts alternates Plainsong Cantor with 4-part polyphonic Choir.

Congratulations to Paula who visited 25 churches in Exeter, very few of which were actually open, for the Devon Historic Churches Trust sponsored walk. Thanks to Richard Parker for arranging our Exhibition, and to all who spent long hours manning the church during the Heritage Open Days. There was a small but steady stream of visitors with about 40 on Saturday. All admired the beauty and presence of the church, and several tried the organ under Nigel Browne’s supervision. Thanks also to all who made our Parish Mass with Combined Choir to welcome Fr Christopher Durrant so enjoyable.

Richard Barnes.

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