Jottings for October

October marks the last few weeks of what we call Ordinary Time, the longest season in the church calendar. Ordinary Time comes in two parts: the first being a short run of Sundays between Candlemas and Lent; the second beginning after Pentecost and lasting nearly half the calendar year until it finishes on All Saint’s Day at the beginning of November.

For clergy, it is tempting to liken it to the long school summer holiday, allowing a period of calm between the busy-ness of the two great festivals of Easter and Christmas. But life in the Church is never quiet!

In St Mary’s, October begins with our annual Harvest Festival on Sunday 5th October and ends with Bible Sunday on the 26th. Harvest Festival, at which our thanksgiving collections go to Christian Aid, provides us with the opportunity to remind ourselves of God’s goodness in celebration of the wonderful created world in which we live. On Bible Sunday we recall the great and timeless story of salvation as told in Scripture.

In between these two, there is a special family and parish Communion service “Creation, Compassion and Music” which celebrates the wonder of music in drawing us to God, in connecting us with nature, and making us more compassionate towards others. On the Fourth Sunday of every month we have revived out traditional Evensong service. If you have never attended Evensong before do come along at 5pm on 26th October for what is a very beautiful and uniquely English service of meditative liturgy and restful music.

In addition, on 10th October at 7.30pm we will enjoy music from voice and organ (which is currently being restored) when the Nota Bene Choir  will sing, and Kim Lane will give an organ recital.

October is a chance to catch a breath before the countdown to Advent begins and we can start to look forward to what is, for many, the most beautiful and mystical part of the church year.
                                                                                                Rev Chris Shore