We have arrived at September, and we begin to leave summer behind, noticeably as the weather shifts, the leaves fall, and the nights shorten.
At the same time, St Philip's starts a new programme of activities. From September through until June we have a mixture of Beacon events, special services, seasonal specials, ongoing outreach and one off celebrations.
Like many, we take July and August as our summer holiday, and as children and young people return to education, we 'start' our year in September. We mark this chiefly with our Back to School Service, Sunday 7 September, where we invite everyone to bring a bag with them in order to have it blessed.
Autumn
Through September and October we're then gathering for a Prayer and Praise evening, Sunday 21 September, 6pm, followed by our Harvest Celebration on Sunday 5 October, 10.30am. All our donations this year will go to the Foodbank run on a Thursday in the church hall. Nestled between these two services, we also commemorate the anniversary of St Philips. The Church was consecrated and dedicated for worship on 1 October 1932. We're celebrating this 93rd birthday on Sunday 28 September.
At the same time we start a new term, the church calendar is coming to an end. The month of November is a season of remembrance and memorials. The universal church celebrates All Saints Day on 1 November, which we will also partake in. We will have a special 'bonus church' All Saints' service, Saturday 1 November, 6pm. This will be a service of praise and communion, as we reflect on the joy of being part of a global community of believers.
The evening before All Saints' Day was traditionally called All Hallows Eve, from which we get the word Halloween. We are excited to host the first of our Beacon Events with THE BIG TREAT, 4.30-6.30pm on Friday 31 October. This falls in Half term this year and we're excited to gather as many people as possible to remember Jesus the Light of the World. This is an alternative, Christian, event. Everyone is welcome - particularly families.
We continue the remembrance with two special Sunday services in November. Firstly, our Memorial Service on Sunday 2 November at 10.30am. This is an all age service with an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of someone you love who has died. During this service, we honour the dead by reading out those names. Secondly, we gather on Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 9 November, 10.30am, during which we will be silent for 2-minutes in honour of the those who sacrificed their lives in war and in service of peace.
The final special event in Autumn is our Community Bonfire Party on Saturday 8 November, 6-9pm. We launched this event last year and we saw over 600 people from the community come to enjoy the roaring fire, pie and peas, a quiz, and a firework display.
Weekly activity
Alongside these one-off events, St Philip's has regular weekly activities:
Community Cafe, Tuesday 9.30-11.30am
Connect Group, Tuesday 11.30-12.45pm at Vicarage
Connect Group, Tuesday 7-8.30pm at Vicarage
Youth Connect, Tuesday 7-8.30pm in Hall
BCP Morning Prayer, Wednesday 9.30-11.30am in Church
Our Father's House, Wednesday 6.15-8pm in Hall
Connect Group, Wednesday 7.45-9pm venue can be supplied
Prayer Meeting, Thursday 9.45-11.15am in Chapel
Foodbank, Thursday 11-1pm in Hall
Winter
Advent Sunday will be special this year. Sunday 30 November is the official beginning of the church calendar: the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent takes us to Christmas.
The special events to accompany us through Advent and Christmas are as follows:
- Christmas Fair, Saturday 29 November, 11-2pm
- Advent Confirmation Service, Sunday 20 November, 10.30am
- Carol Service with Live Band, Sunday 14 December, 4pm
- Nativity Service, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 4pm
- Midnight Communion, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 11pm
- Christmas Day Celebration, Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December, 10.30am
Calendar of Events
Here's a full list of these special services and events:
- Back to School Sunday, Sunday 7 September, 10.30am
- Prayer & Praise Service, Sunday 21 September, 6pm
- Harvest Service, Sunday 5 October
- BIG TREAT (Halloween Alternative), Friday 31 October, 4.30-6.30pm
- All Saints Praise and Communion, Saturday 1 November, 6pm
- Memorial Service, Sunday 2 November, 10.30am
- Community Bonfire Party, Saturday 8 November, 6-9pm
- Remembrance Service, Sunday 9 November, 10.30am
- Christmas Fair, Saturday 29 November, 11am-2pm
- Advent Confirmation Service, Sunday 30 November, 10.30am
- Carol Service with live concert band, Sunday 14 December, 4pm
- Nativity Service, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 4pm
- Midnight Communion, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 11pm
- Christmas Day Celebration, Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December, 10.30am