Holy Communion

On the second and fourth Sundays of the month we celebrate Holy Communion. These services begin at 9:30am and are usually led by Rev. Richard Newton. We sing 5 hymns and also sing the Gloria (usually to a well-kown hymn-tune) so there’s unlikely to be anything radically new or off- putting. The Church of England website says that .. “Holy Communion is celebrated by the whole people of God gathered for worship. The ministry of the members of the congregation is expressed through their active participation together in the words and actions of the service, but also by some of them reading the Scripture passages, leading the prayers of intercession, and, if authorized, assisting with the distribution of communion.” A spoken service of Communion is held at St. Leonard’s on the First and Third Wednesdays of each month at 11:15am. The times and ceremonies of the Church of England run from Advent Sunday through to ‘Christ, the King’ Sunday, a year later.

Different Styles of Worship

St. Leonard’s is lucky enough to host several different styles of worship - which schedule is presently suspended due to the Pandemic infection. “Now you just come back .. y-all !”

Worship 4 All

On the first Sunday of the month - 10am - this “all age” service is led by our ALMs (our Authorised Lay Ministers). Four hymns, simple prayers and an illustrated story make this the ideal service for all the family.

Evensong

During the summer months we’ have Sunday Evensong at 6:30pm, in the Choir. A small, intimate setting for quiet, peaceful contemplation. It followed the traditional sung- service pattern of 3 hymns; the chanted Psalm, Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis, intoned Canticles, and collective prayers.

THE CHURCH YEAR

This does not coincide with the conventional calendar - but then, neither does the financial year (04 April), nor those of businesses (from when they started trading), nor people (from our birthdays). 29 November 2020 06 December 13 December 20 December 25 December 27 December 03 January 2021 10 January 17 January 24 January 31 January 07 February 14 February 16 February (Shrove Tuesday) 17 February (Ash Wednesday) 21 February 28 February 07 March 14 March 21 March 28 March 01 April 02 April 04 April

Lay-led

The Third Sunday of each month - 10am - we take the service ourselves (or, at least, a volunteer does). This means that it really means something to someone and they speak ‘from the heart’. It can take many forms (and it does) but it always includes some elements in common with the other services. This is a real “taste and try” experience .. and they’re all different. So come along, and see if it suits you ! The Readings from the Bible also change according to whether we are in Year A, B, or C (so that we get to hear most chapters of most books in a 3 year cycle). At the moment we are in Year B. Advent is a period of contemplation and anticipation. The colour Purple is used for vestments and altar cloths. Christmas is a Celebration of the arrival of Christ. The colour White is used. White continues to be used through the period of Epiphany - up to ‘the Presentation of Christ in the Temple’. Colour - Green Pan-cake Day A period of fasting or abstinence during which preparation is made for Easter. Colour - Purple Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem - Red Jesus initiates Communion-White Jesus is executed - Red Jesus lives again ! - White

SERVICES