Today our Advent treats are Carol and Tom with “Away in a Manger”, Peter reading “The Donkey’s Story”, and Rev Helen reads “Twinkle, Twinkle” for us (but not that one!) … More Digital Advent Calendar 2024: day 11
There is plenty of research to support many teachers’ experience that singing reinforces memory. That’s why so many CDs exist with tunes for learning times tables, historic dates and the like. Dementia carers also understand well that long after other memories have eroded, songs remain for those living with the condition … More The Lord’s Prayer – various
November is a time for remembering, and this year there is a heightened poignancy to our memories of friends and family we have lost. In September we had a memorial service for those in our parish that had died during the pandemic, and who we had not been able to mourn properly at their funerals … More In Memoriam (Words and Music S Overington 2018)
For me, “La Mer” is a love song to the sea, shore and sky, which is why Tom and I decided to offer it during a service for Creationtide in September 2024. On the appointed day, I had to be elsewhere for family reasons, so our recording of this song is only available in the recorded version of the service that went out on Sunday 15 September … More La Mer – Charles Trenet (1913-2001), trans. Janet Raynor
This article was first published in the September 2021 issue of our parish magazine.
About a year ago, in the autumn of 2020 we had endured a full national lockdown, a summer of somewhat eased restrictions, and were entering a time of less-than-clear tiered restrictions. If memory serves, that meant that worshippers could attend services in person, but had to remain seated throughout, keep a mask on at all times, and absolutely no singing whatsoever … More Thou Visitest the Earth
Good morning and welcome to our service of holy communion for Sunday 13 October 2024. Rev Steve will preach, and Rev Sue presides. We begin with the hymn “Take my life” … More Delayed Gratification
Cohen steadfastly avoided giving explanations for his lyrics, instead allowing cover singers and audiences to find their own meaning in the poetry. He did however say that “many different hallelujahs exist”, and that “there is a religious hallelujah, but there are many other ones. When one looks at the world, there’s only one thing to say, and it’s hallelujah” … More Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
Do you recall that up until Monday 19 July 2021, in accordance with England’s covid-19 restrictions at the time, congregational singing was prohibited, as was choral singing in groups larger than 6? This posed some challenges for planning a service with music as its focus! … More St Margaret’s Patronal Festival Medley (arr. Dalton & Porter, 2021)
Good morning and welcome to our service of holy communion for Sunday 22 September, the third of Creationtide, in which we focus on mountains.
Rev Helen will preside, Rev Steve reads, and Krystyna will preach.
We begin with the hymn “Praise to the Lord the Almighty” … More Creationtide – mountains
The “Agnus Dei” is the last movement of any mass setting, and it means “Lamb of God”. Throughout the Old Testament, blood sacrifices are offered to please God, to praise him, to thank him, and to ask favour of him. Jesus put an end to that by offering himself as the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. He became the sacrificial lamb, submitting entirely to God’s will and dying a tortuous death on our behalf … More Agnus Dei
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 