As ever we had a wonderful time at our Christingle services – one at 3pm for families and then a grown-up look at the Christingle at 6pm.
We hope you can join us for our other Christmas services on Christmas Eve:
Here are some photos from the Christingle services, all proceeds raised went to the Children’s Society. Photos by John Lambton and Bryony Taylor.
We hope you will join us for our Christmas Celebrations this year – there is something for everyone!
Tuesday 12 Dec 7pm – Light of Life – dedicate a light on our Christmas Tree to a loved one and sing some carols
Wednesday 13 December 7pm – Gilpin Singers Christmas Concert
Sunday 17 December
3pm Family Christingle Service – make a Christingle orange to take home
6pm Engage with Christingle – a Christingle service for adults
Christmas Eve – Sunday 24 December
3pm Family Crib Service – come in a Nativity Play costume or use one of ours!
7pm Traditional Carol Service
11.30pm Midnight Mass
Christmas Day Monday 25 December
10.00am Festival Eucharist
We will be lighting the Christmas tree on Tuesday 12th December at 7.00pm and we would be delighted if you could join us. Each light on the tree will shine brightly for those special people whom we love but see no longer during the Christmas season. The Service will be a mixture of Christmas carols, readings and a time for special prayers and remembrance.
This is a special way to remember and give thanks.
Forms to make a dedication are available in the Signpost magazine or at church (and will be available on the night). For each dedication you will receive a special card.
Join us for one of the most beautiful services of the year this Sunday 3rd December at 6pm followed by festive refreshments.
Want to know what Advent is all about? Watch this 2 minute video:
Join us for our Service of Remembrance Sunday 12th November.
8.30am – Eucharist
10.15am – Remembrance Sunday service with laying of wreaths at the cenotaph at 11.00am
6.00pm – Choral Evensong
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
We are celebrating our Toddler Group’s 50th anniversary with special parties and gifts for all of our current children. On Sunday the 19th November there will be a commemorative service at 10.00 am in Church followed by a private celebration for all of our wonderful volunteers past and present.
We would love as many people as possible to join us in Church on November 19th – it is a testament to the relationship our church continues to enjoy with the people of Houghton that this group has not only survived, but thrived.
Have you or a friend lost a loved one?
We are moving into our season of Remembrance and on through Advent eventually into Christmas. We have a series of services of Light and Hope, starting this Sunday evening with our All Souls Eucharist. Here are the dates and times of our other services over this season. Please share this with your friends.
We hope you can come and that it gives you some comfort to gather with others to remember your loved ones.
Our Field of Remembrance will be opened in a short service at 10.45am on Wednesday 1st November. All are welcome to attend.
Current biographer of Bernard Gilpin, parishioner Roger Elsey is interviewed about Gilpin’s Faith, Generosity and Service and his inspiration for us today in this short 4 part documentary film. This film is part of the Gilpin 500 Exhibition on display at St Michael and All Angels Church throughout Houghton Feast 6-14th October 2017.
Watch the documentary here:
This year is the 50th Houghton Feast in its modern incarnation – from the beginning the Community Hymn singing on Feast Sunday (this year on 8th October at 6pm) has been a very popular part of the feast celebrations.
This year we are focusing on our Gilpin 500 celebrations of our Rector Bernard Gilpin and his life and witness. We will be joined by Houghton Area Youth Band – a wonderful brass band that will help us give the hymns some welly!
We look forward to welcoming you on Sunday 8th October at 6pm for inspiration through music.
