Sun 1st Dec, 11am. ADVENT SUNDAY. Sung Mass. Litany in Procession, 11, 15. Missa Brevis, Lotti. Matin Responsory, Palestrina. 12Noon Bountiful Table of Bakes, Preserves & Produce.
N.B. No Evensong on Sun 1st Dec.

Sat 7th Dec, 10 – 12. Church Cleaning Morning – please come & help if you can.

Sun 8th Dec, 11am. Advent II. Hymns: 5: 10: 16. Mass in the Dorian Mode, Tallis. People Look East, Trad.
6pm ADVENT PROCESSION & CAROL SERVICE, followed by Mulled Wine & Mince Pies.

Fri 13th Dec, 7pm. Swedish Choir Santa Lucia Day celebration. All welcome.

Sun 15th Dec, 11am. Gaudete, Advent III. 7: 12: 499 . Mass in Phrygian Mode, Wood. E’en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come, Manz.

Sun 15th Dec, 6pm at St David’s Church. Service of Readings & Carols.

Wed 18th Dec, 7.30pm.  The Revd. Dr. Alastair Logan “In Search of Ancient Gnostics”

Sun 22nd Dec, 11am. Advent IV. 21: 57: 186. Missa Brevissima, Casciolini. Ave Maria, Arcadelt.

Tue 24th Dec, 11.30pm. Midnight Mass of the Nativity. With Carols from the Gallery at 11pm. Hymns: 26: 29: 30. Mass in F, Sumsion. O magnum mysterium, Byrd.

Wed 25th Dec, 10.30am (N.B. earlier time) Christmas Day Sung Mass. 24: 32: 30 (v1,2,6,7). Mass in F, Darke. Ding, dong, Merrily on High, arr. Woodward.
Sun 29th Dec, 11am. Christmas I. 25: 39: 42. Merbecke/Shaw. O men from the fields, Cooke.

Sunday 5th January 2020. Christmas II/Epiphany. Sung Mass. 50: 47: 52. Mass in F, Wood. Whence is that goodly fragrance, arr. Willcocks.

6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction for Epiphany. Smith Responses. Psalm 98 (&100). Hymn 49. Stanford in C. Anthem: Christus, Mendelssohn. O salutaris 269 Tantum Ergo 268.

Sun 12th Jan, 11am. Epiphany I/Baptism of the Lord. 56: 495: 58. Missa l’Hora passa, Viadana. Lully, Lullay – Keitch

Sun 19th Jan, 11am. Epiphany II. 55: 294: 467. Missa Sancti Nicolai, Nicholson. The Lamb, Tavener.

Sat 25th Jan, 9.30am. Men’s Breakfast at the Farmers’ Union, Queen’s Terrace.

Sun 26th Jan, 11am. Epiphany III. 36: 302: 57. Mass in F, Darke. Beati Quorum Via, Stanford.

Wed 29th Jan, 7.30pm Lecture. Dr. Robert Guyver will speak on John Coleridge Patteson, the martyred Bishop of Melanesia.

Sunday 2nd February, 11am. Candlemas. Sung Mass. 439: 408: 44. Mass in C&F, Nunc Dimittis in B flat, both by Stanford.

6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction for Candlemas. Reading Responses. Psalm 122 (&132). Hymn: 475. Stanford in B flat. Anthem: O nata lux, Lauridsen. O salutaris, Tantum Ergo.

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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.

The post February 2018 at St Michael’s appeared first on St Michael & All Angels.

“You wait little year on an empty stage, for fate to turn the light on;
your life little year is an empty page that we will have to write on – Twenty-sixteen going on seventeen!”
New Year’s Day Mass at 10.45am is Fr Tom Honey’s final Service at St Mike’s – please support this as we wish him well for the future.
And pray for our Parish of St David’s & St Michael’s as we enter the Interregnum/Vacancy of 2017; a busy time for Church & Chapel Wardens, our Curate Fr Christopher and the rota of visiting priests at both churches.

Sunday 1st January 2017, Holy Name of Jesus, 10.45am. Mass in F by Sir William Harris. Carol: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, trad. arr. Willcocks. This is Fr Tom Honey’s final service at St Michael’s; we wish him well for his new ministry as Hospice Chaplain in Basingstoke.
N.B. No Evensong today, but please come to…

Tues 3rd Jan and each Tuesday. 6pm Plainsong Vespers & Silent Meditation. 7pm Choir Practice.
Wed 4th Jan and each Wednesday. 9.30am Prayer Book Matins, 10am Low Mass (Monthly Requiem).
Thurs 5th Jan and each Thursday. 6pm Plainsong Vespers & Silent Meditation.

Friday 6th January, Epiphany, 7.30pm. Mass in F by Sumsion; O God who by the leading of a star, by Attwood. Please support this first weekday Feast of 2017. Celebrant & Preacher Fr Christopher Durrant.

Sunday 8th Jan, Baptism of Christ, 10.45am. Missa Aeterna Christi Munera (the eternal gifts of Christ), by Palestrina; Listen Sweet Dove, by Grayston Ives.

Sunday 15th Jan, Epiphany II, 10.45am Sung Mass. A little post-Christmas austerity with Kenneth Leighton’s Mass in D and John Tavener’s “The Lamb”. Celebrant & Preacher Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

Tuesday 17th January at 6pm. CBS Plainsong Mass. St Antony of Egypt, Hermit, Abbot (356). Celebrant Fr David Hastings.

18-25 January – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Sunday 22nd Jan, Epiphany III, 10.45am . Mass in C & F and Beati quorum via, both by Stanford. Preacher Rev M Diffey (URC).

Wednesday 25th Jan, Conversion of St Paul, Years’ Mind of Canon John Thurmer. 9.30am BCP Matins, 10am Low Mass.

Thursday 26th Jan, Parish Lunch Club at 12noon in Exeter College’s @34 Restaurant – please sign up in church.

Saturday 28th Jan, Men’s Breakfast at 9am at the Farmers’ Union – please sign up in church.

Sunday 29th Jan, Epiphany IV, 10.45am. Missa L’Hora Passa by Viadana; Ubi caritas, by Duruflé. Ven David Gunn-Johnson.

We complete the Nativity narrative with the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas, on Thursday 2nd February at 7.30pm. Mass in C by John Ireland; Nunc Dimittis by Gustav Holst. Celebrant & Preacher Fr Christopher.

Richard Barnes.

The post January 2017 at St Michael’s appeared first on St Michael & All Angels.

Click “Events” for more details of some of the following:-

Sunday 3rd January 2016, Christmas II, 10.45am. Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd. Motet: Lullay my Liking, by Gustav Holst. N.B. No Evensong today, but please come to…

Wednesday 6th January, Epiphany, 7.30pm. Mass in C & F by Stanford. Motet: Three Kings from Persian lands afar, by Cornelius. Please make this Event a priority in your diary. We shall be formally thanking Fr David Hastings for the gifts of his ministry among us at St Michael’s over several years, as he retires from his position as Honorary Assistant Priest.

Sunday 10th January, Baptism of Christ, 10.45am. Mass in F by William Harris. Motet: O for a Closer Walk with God, by C V Stanford. Thereafter we go a cappella for 3 Sundays.

Sunday 17th January, Epiphany II, 10.45am Sung Mass. Missa L’Hora Passa by Viadana and O Sacrum Convivium by Croce.

Sunday 24th January, Epiphany III, 10.45am. Mass for Five Voices and Sing Joyfully, by William Byrd.

Monday 25th January is the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul and end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It is also the Year’s Mind, anniversary of death, of Canon John Thurmer.

Sunday 31st January, Epiphany IV, 10.45am. Missa “Lauda Sion” by Palestrina. Motet: If Ye Love Me, by Tallis.

We complete the Nativity narrative with the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas, on Tuesday 2nd February at 7.30pm. Singing the Missa Brevis “Laetatus Sum” by Dr Nigel Browne, based on themes from Parry’s “I was Glad”, and a contemporary Motet, “Lux Aurumque” by Eric Whitacre.

The story of the old man Simeon & prophetess Anna recognising the light of the world in the Infant Jesus when Mary & Joseph brought him to the Temple contrasts with the scene in Holy Week. There Pilate’s wife is concerned, but the High Priest and the Roman Governor are trapped by the system; and the most just Man is condemned and deprived of dignity.

Candlemas is also perhaps the time when our thoughts move on to the spiritual meanings of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. And there through it all is Mary, Mother of God, pondering these things in her heart and representing our humanity, in its joys and sorrows.

Wishing you all the love, joy and peace that we so need this New Year.
Richard Barnes.

Awaiting more information on this :- The group of mainly students, led by Br Michael, who prayed and sang Matins most mornings from ~8.15-9am last Autumn are planning to resume this regular practice from mid-January on Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fridays; we are grateful to them for this strengthening of our prayer life and mission.

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We are quick off the mark as Candlemass is transferred a day early to Sunday 1st February. Do join us for the final service of the seasons of winter lights, as we bless candles for the coming year and remember the drama of Jesus’s Presentation in the Temple, what Simeon and Anna said about him, and Mary treasured in her heart.

Sunday 1st February – Candlemas – The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. 10.45am. Mass Setting is the lovely Mass in F by Charles Wood (1866-1926).

The Candlemas Anthem “When to the Temple Mary went” by Johannes Eccard (1533–1611) is one of many by foreign composers which were supplied with translations or new words in the 19th century. It was translated from German and given a second verse by Revd J Troutbeck (1833-99) best remembered for his translations for Bach’s Passions and Christmas Oratorio. Eccard’s music is frequently scored for more than four voices; this setting is in six parts. His music is thus rich and sonorous, the inner parts having their own melodic and rhythmic interest.

Singers who enjoy Choral Evensong are welcome to join us on the 1st Sunday of the month to rehearse the music beforehand at 4:45 pm. Sun 1st Feb Evensong and Benediction at 6pm.
The Canticles are Collegium Regale by Herbert Howells and the Anthem is Abendlied by Josef Rheinberger, from Luke 24 v29, “Bide with us, for evening shadows darken, and the day will soon be over.” Music for O salutaris & Tantum Ergo is by Chris Upton.

Between Candlemas and Ash Wednesday, we have just two “gesima” Sundays.

Please make a note of, and support, our monthly Recitals@StMichael’s. This month Friday 13th Feb, at 7.30pm, sees the Frizzante Sopranos, Devon-based classical duo Donna-Marie Hughes & Jane Anderson-Brown with a varied song recital. See music/recitals on the website for full details.

Our neighbours at Exeter Cathedral are celebrating a “Day of Love“ on St Valentine’s, Sat 14th Feb, with a Service for Renewal of Wedding Vows at 2pm, and the chance to book romantic Tower Tours for two throughout the day.

On Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, there is 6pm Vespers & Meditation, 7pm Choir Practice, and 8.30pm Pancakes.

Ash Wednesday, 18th February, is marked with Matins at 9.30am and Low Mass with Imposition of Ashes at 10am, and in the evening at 7.30pm by Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes.
Setting: Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd and Anthem: Versa est in luctum by Alonso Lobo, My harp is tuned for lamentation, and my flute to the voice of weeping. Spare me, O Lord, for my days are as nothing.

On subsequent Wednesdays in Lent (except 25 March – Annunciation), Stations of the Cross are prayed at 6pm. Plainsong Vespers continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm.

Sunday 22nd February, Lent 1, 10.45am, features the Litany of 1544 sung in procession, Plainsong Sarum Mass and Farrant’s Hide not thou thy face from me O Lord.

Tuesday 24th February at 6pm, in place of Vespers, CBS Mass for St Matthias’ Day with Plainsong Propers and Hymns.

Wednesday 25th February at 7.30pm there will be the next St Michael’s Lecture – speaker and title to be announced soon.

Sunday 1st March, Lent 2, 10.45am, Anglican Folk Mass by Martin Shaw, Anthem O nata lux by Thomas Tallis.

Sunday 1st March, 6pm. Evensong and Benediction will be more penitential, with Tallis Responses & Canticles, Allegri’s sublime Miserere, and Plainsong Benediction Hymns.

HLF Project.

Many thanks to all who have helped in any way with the Organ, Peregrine and Heritage Project over the past 2 years. Our final report should go to the Heritage Lottery Fund this month, to complete the Project. But hopefully the physical, digital and cultural legacy will serve and inspire us for many years to come. The nest box camera should be back online on the Peregrine page of the website at the beginning of March, hoping for egg laying around the Spring equinox.

Richard Barnes.

The post February Events appeared first on St Michael & All Angels.

And not before we have also marked the Conversion of St Paul the previous Sunday, instead of Epiphany 3 or Septuagesima this year. The radical Paul, who may have played on his Roman citizenship and been a bit ambivalent about women, but put Gentile and Jew, slave and free, rich and poor, as equal in the Church, and lived with some sort of chronic illness or disability, his “thorn in the flesh”, from Stephen’s stoning through the Damascus Road to adventurous journeys spreading the Good News of that same Jesus.

The Faith, Hope and Love of St Paul’s famous Letter should be seen mirrored in our Church life as a Worshipping, Witnessing and Caring community, where, as at the Manger, all are welcome.

So our journey to Lent looks like:-
Friday 9th January at 7.30pm. Recitals@StMichael’s will feature Eleanor Little and Ralf Ayling-Miller, the winners of our Young Organists’ Competition. £5/£3.50

Sunday, 11th January, Epiphany I, 10.45am Sung Mass (Baptism of Jesus)
Setting: Missa Brevis, Wills. Anthem: Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes, Palestrina.

Sunday, 18th January, Epiphany II, 10.45am Sung Mass
Setting: Missa “L’Hora Passa”, Viadana. Anthem: Beati quorum via, Stanford.

Sunday, 25th January, Conversion of St Paul, 10.45am Sung Mass
Setting: Mass in F, Harold Darke. Anthem: The Lord is my shepherd, Schubert.

Wednesday 28th January at 7.30pm, St Michael’s “Heritage” Lecture exploring the effects of history and religion on church music in Devon, with West Gallery Singers and St Michael’s choir.

Sunday, 1st February, Candlemas, 10.45am Sung Mass

Sunday, 1st February 6pm Evensong & Benediction

Sunday, 8th February, Sexagesima, 2 before Lent, 10.45am Sung Mass

Friday 13th February at 7.30pm, Recitals@StMichael’s welcomes “The Frizzante Sopranos”, a Devon-based classical duo, Jane Anderson-Brown and Donna-Marie Hughes, to give a song recital.

Sunday, 15th February, Quinquagesima, 1 before Lent, 10.45am Sung Mass

Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, 6pm Vespers & Meditation, 7pm Choir Practice, 8.30pm Pancakes.

Ash Wednesday, 18th February, 7.30pm Mass with Imposition of Ashes

January 25th also marks the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – The Well is Deep – which has the following interesting commentary on its website:-

“This year’s theme comes to us from the churches of Brazil. Brazilians, who have traditionally been tolerant of their various social classes and ethnic groups, are now living through a time of growing intolerance made manifest in high levels of violence, especially against minorities and the vulnerable. The logic that undergirds this kind of behaviour is competition for the religious market. Increasingly, in Brazil, some Christian groups compete with one another for a place on the mass media, for new members and for public funds. The Brazilian churches have begun to recognise that intolerance should be dealt with in a positive way – respecting diversity and promoting dialogue as a permanent path of reconciliation and peace in fidelity to the gospel. We can share this recognition. Although the competition between churches is less obvious in our islands, we are well aware that competition and violent discrimination lie beneath the surface of our lives together. Jesus challenges us to acknowledge that diversity is part of God’s design, to approach one another in trust and to see the face of God in the face of all men and women.”

And finally…

The really useful Cross-Country train from Exeter to Edinburgh traverses a dozen Dioceses and affords glimpses of several Cathedrals, such as Durham reflecting the late December afternoon light and the elusive Orthogonal Cathedral of St Pythagoras (sorry, St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jesus, Tyne).

Over Hogmanay, I enjoyed two rather similar stories; the 2013 anti-slavery film “Belle” set in England around 1770, and the hit musical “Wicked” set in the not-so-wonderful world of Oz (now on tour and coming soon to Plymouth and then Bristol). Both revolve around a pair of contrasting girls, having to grow up together through force of circumstances, defying the conventions of their times, and their friendship changing each of them for good and hopefully for the better.

Both seemed to exemplify the Latin maxim used by Lord Mansfield in “Belle”. “Fiat justitia ruat coelum” – Let justice be done, though heaven may fall. And in the event, justice was done, and people coped. Could there be a parable for the Church of England in 2015 too?

RB.

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