Dear Friends
We come to the end of what has turned out to be a most extraordinary year. To say this year has been challenging for all of us might also be the understatement of the year. It has been difficult, but it has also been heartening to see how wonderfully people have responded. My thanks to everybody who have helped to keep St Nicholas doors open, our services online and in person. It was good to wake up this morning to the news that the Oxford vaccine has been given approval, I’m sure this will have a massive impact on all our lives, but it will take a few months. In the meantime we might have to put up with further restrictions, this new variant is obviously highly contagious and we need to remain vigilant. I fully understand if you feel unable to worship with us in person at the moment, let’s hope by the end of Spring, as the vaccine gains traction, life can begin to return to normal.
Until then our service pattern remains the same. If we are locked down again, obviously this will change.
Sunday
8am Mass online only.
9.30am Parish Mass with music.
11am Family Mass – until further notice and until the PCC has had time to discuss this the 11am family mass will be on the following Sundays:
3 January
17 January
7 February
21 February
7 March
May I wish you all a very Happy New Year – lets hope and pray it will be!
God Bless
Simon
Please click here for Sunday 3rd January 8am Mass Sheet
Dear Friends
The Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the arrival of the three kings in Bethlehem to visit the infant Jesus, falls on January 6th. We shall keep this Feast at St Nicks in 2021 on Sunday 3rd January.
At Epiphany it is the custom for chalk to be blessed so that houses can be marked with a special logo to remind us of the visit of the Magi. On, or near, the front door the initials of the legendary names of the three Magi and the numerals of the New Year are written, connected with a series of crosses. In 2021 we shall write: 20+C+M+B+21.
C,M and B commemorate the Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also stand for the Latin prayer: Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which when translated means: May Christ bless this house.
As you write this with your chalk a special prayer can be said:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence.
Bless it and all who live or visit here with the gift of your love;
And grant that we may show your love to each other and all whose lives we touch.
Lord Jesus Christ, be with us now and for ever. Amen.
Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and blessed 2021.
Mother Eileen
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