Dear friendsJust a brief note to remind you of two events at The Annunciation during this month of May.Thursday 9 May is ASCENSION DAY, which we will be anticipating this year with a Sung Mass on the Eve, WEDNESDAY 8 MAY at 7.30pm. This will also be a celebration of my Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood, and I hope you will be able to join me both to mark the Ascension (all too often overlooked these days) and to share in my celebration. Refreshments will follow.Then on SATURDAY 18 MAY we will hold out customary SPRING FAIR from 10.30am to 2.00pm. Since we were able to resume them post-COVID our fairs have done very well; but they are important not only for the revenue they provide, but also for the visitors they attract and for the fellowship we enjoy. Please support us if you can. If you can bring a friend even better!With every blessing,Father Paul F.
Dear friends As we approach the holiest week of the Church's year once again, a reminder of the pattern of services at The Annunciation. Please do support these services as best you can, and remember that if you are unable to get to church for any reason I am happy to bring you your Easter Communion at home. PALM SUNDAY 8.00am Low Mass with Blessing of Palms 10.00am Liturgy of the Palms and Sung Mass of the Passion. 5.00pm Joint Penitential Service at Saint George's, Bickley MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK 10.00am Low Mass and short address TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK 12.00pm Bishop Norman's Chrism Mass at Canterbury Cathedral 6.30pm Low Mass and short address WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK 10.00am Low Mass and short address MAUNDY THURSDAY 7.30pm Sung Mass of the Lord's Supper, with Washing of Feet, Transfer of the Blessed Sacrament, Stripping of Altars, and Watch at the Altar of Repose (Please see the sign-up lists in church for the foot washing and watch) GOOD FRIDAY 10.00am Ecumenical Walk of Witness from Chislehurst Methodist 12.00pm Stations of the Cross 3.00pm Liturgy of the Passion HOLY SATURDAY 9.00am Church cleaning and preparation 8.00pm The Easter Vigil, with blessing of the New Fire, Lighting of the Paschal Candle, Renewal of Baptismal Promises and First Mass of Easter EASTER SUNDAY 8.00am Low Mass 10.00am Sung Mass of the DayPlease also remember our celebration of our Feast of Title, THE ANNUNCIATION, deferred this year because of the early date of Easter, which will take place on Low Sunday, 7 April, at 5.00pm, when our preacher will be Fr Philip Barnes, Vicar of Saint Stephen's, Gloucester Road, and former Shrine Priest at Walsingham. Suitable celebratory refreshments will follow. As always details of these and other events will be found in the April magazine available in church and on our Facebook and A Church Near You page.With every blessing for Holy Week and Easter Father Paul
Dear friendsTomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and as we prepare to embark once again on our annual Lenten journey, and I writing to let you know about our special services and programmes for the season at The Annunciation.On ASH WEDNESDAY itself there will be Masses at 10.00am (said) and 7.30pm (sung) as usual, with Imposition of Ashes at both services.Then, starting with SUNDAYS, we shall continue our long-standing practice of walking the Way of the Cross jointly with our neighbours at Saint Patrick's each week at 3.00pm, starting on the First Sunday of Lent at The Annunciation and alternating between the two churches.(Please note that there will be NO 8.00AM MASS this coming Sunday, 18 February, as I shall be in Montreal for my mother's funeral. Father David will celebrate at 10.00am and lead Stations of the Cross.)Then on TUESDAYS there will be an opportunity to spend time with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament with at period of silent prayer following the 6.30pm Mass and ending with a simple form of Benediction at 7.30pm.And on WEDNESDAYS at 8.00pm there will be a four-week online Lent Course by Zoom, beginning in the Second week of Lent on 28 February, and using the new SPCK/CBS 'Bread of Life' course, a look at the Christian faith through the shape of the Eucharist. If you wish to join this course please send me an email so I can send you the link.I will write to you again about Holy Week services, but it is not too early to mention our celebration of our FEAST OF TITLE, the Annunciation. Because 25 March falls this year in Holy Week the feast is transferred until after the Easter Octave. Accordingly we will celebrate it with a Sung Mass at 5.00pm on Sunday 7 April at which the preacher will be Father Philip Barnes of Saint Stephen's, Gloucester Road, former Shrine Priest at Walsingham. Please make a special effort to join us.Finally a word about our LENT APPEAL, remembering that almsgiving is one of the traditional Lenten disciplines alongside prayer and fasting. With so many pressing needs in the world at the moment, from the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine to natural disasters in many places around the globe, we have decided to support the British Red Cross general appeal and allow them to use the money where it is most needed.Please be generous. If you are giving in church use a white Gift Aid envelope from the pews and mark it clearly for the Lent Appeal, to make it easier for those who count the collection to assign it correctly. And as always, if you can Gift Aid your donation it will go even further. A link for online donations is also available on our new webpage with A Church Near You.With every blessing for a holy and rewarding Lent.Father Paul.
