“Sanctus” is a Latin word which translates literally to “holy”. Very often in communion settings – indeed in the one we use at St Margaret’s – the Sanctus is bundled up with the “Benedictus”, which is Latin for “blessed”. Originally, they were separate paragraphs in the eucharist, and therefore treated separately by composers … More Sanctus – various
It must have been quite a dilemma for Thomas. His ten closest companions were all telling him the same thing. That Jesus, who he knew had died on the cross, was once more alive and had visited them in that very room … More St Thomas
Sunday 7 July saw Rev Helen’s first eucharist service, at St Margaret’s, surrounded by family, friends and parishioners. Rev Christine was also licenced as Deacon in the parish, and Father Charlie was guest preacher … More Rev Helen’s first Eucharist
Last weekend the parish celebrated not just one, but two ordinations: our life-long friend and sister in Christ Christine, and our lovely curate Helen. Here are some pictures in case you couldn’t get to either service … More A Double Ordination
The image that marked out the earliest Christians was Christ the Good Shepherd. It’s this face that you see when you explore their earliest burial sites – such as the Catacombs of St Callistos on the Appia Antica, which I climbed down into in April with our son Nick. Some might expect a Cross, to symbolise Christ’s achievement, or the Fish. But no. The face of the Good Shepherd mattered more – as a sign of who Christ is, his resurrection, his ultimate victory over sin and death … More Vicar’s Letter to the Parish for July 2024
Welcome to our service of holy communion for Sunday 30 June, on which we remember SS Peter and Paul. Rev Philip Miller presides.
We begin with the hymn “Morning has Broken” … More Saints Peter and Paul
It’s June. After one of the wettest Mays on record, many of us are hoping and praying for a drier, sunnier summer. Many of us are also hoping and praying for the return of some of the freedoms we took for granted until March last year … More What a Wonderful World (Weiss & Thiele, arr. Brymer)
No one likes a wait do they, especially a long one! If your patience level is anything like mine then you’ll know what I mean! My brother was the worst, when we used to go on holiday, sometimes in the early hours and heading down to Cornwall, Devon, Wales, we’d get to the end of our road and the question would come from the back, ‘are we nearly there yet?’, then my dad would turn the air blue. At least we knew though, ok it might be 6 or 7 hours driving but we’d get there. However, what if you don’t know the end time and how do you wait well … More How to wait well
Jesus liked his metaphors didn’t he, we’ve have quite a few of them as we dig down into his teachings. You get the face-to-face ones like the camel and the eye of the needle, but even more so you hear some of Jesus parables. When he compares something to something else or a situation to the Kingdom of Heaven/Kingdom of God (depending which gospel you are reading at the time). We’ve just heard the parable of the Mustard seed which I’m sure is one you have heard before about the tiny mustard seed growing into a large tree … More Starting small and getting very big
What do you mean by Prayers of the People? It’s what we call it the intercessions in the Church of England. We hold ourselves, and the people and situations we care about before God, and pray that he will show his reconciling, healing and transforming love. The term Prayers of the People is used in the USA to remind us that it’s the prayers of the whole of our congregations … More Prayers of the people
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 