Services

8.30 am Service;  The type of service varies. Most use the Book of Common Prayer and the service lasts about 30 minutes and is conducted  without hymns. Some services at Shereford instead use the booklet " Common Worship "  ( indicated by an asterisk ). 

10.30 am Morning Service;  Uses liturgy with hymns, lasting up to an hour. 

10.30 am Communion Service;  Uses contemporary ( " Common Worship " ) liturgy, with hymns, lasting about one hour. At Communion, young and old, whatever religious conviction, are welcome to come to the altar rail for a blessing. Those already Confirmed or who receive Communion at another place of worship, are welcome to receive the bread and wine. If you wish to consider becoming Confirmed ( confirming the vows said for you as a child at your christening / infant baptism ), please contact the Rector.

Family Service;   Held occasionally at Whissonsett, lasts  about 30 minutes with guitar - led hymns and songs, providing a good introduction for children, families and anyone who appreciates a touch of informality:

Leadership of services is shared between the Rector Revd. Robin Stapleford, Benefice Reader Richard Hirst and local retired clergy, with lay involvement.

 

 

 

Upper Wensum Services

 

January 2010

 

 

Fri 1st  ~

      New Year’s Day

10.30 am Morning Prayer Colkirk

 11 am – 12 noon  Ring the church bell! / candles

Rector

Sunday 3rd Jan.

Christmas 2

Jer 31:7-14 ; Eph 1:3-6,15-19a
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Gateley

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Horningtoft

10.30 am  Eucharist  Whissonsett

10.30 am  Eucharist  Ryburgh

Rector

Reader

Assistant Priest

Rector

Wed 6th ~ Epiphany

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

7.30 pm Benefice Eucharist (incense) Whissonset

Rector

Rector

Fri  8th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Ryburgh

Rector

Sat 9th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 10th Jan.

Baptism of Christ

Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

8.30 am Eucharist  Shereford

10.30 am  Eucharist  Brisley

10.30 am  Eucharist  Colkirk

10.30 am  Christingle Family Service  Whissonsett

4 pm  Prayer Book Evening Prayer  Ryburgh

Rector

Assistant Priest

Assistant Priest

Rector

Rector

Wed 13th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 15th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Shereford

Rector

Sat 16th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 17th Jan.

Epiphany 2

Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Cor 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Horningtoft 

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Ryburgh

10.30 am  Eucharist  Whissonsett

10.30 am  Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Lay Assistant

Assistant Priest

Rector

Wed 20th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 22nd

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Whissonsett

Rector

Sat 23rd

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 24th Jan.

Epiphany 3

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
1 Cor 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Shereford

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Colkirk

10.30 am  Eucharist  Ryburgh

10.30 am  Eucharist  Brisley

Rector

Reader

Assistant Priest

Rector

Wed 27th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 29th

10 am  ‘Julian’ contemplative prayer  Rectory

Rector

Sat 30th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 31st Jan.

Presentation of Christ

Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Cor 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30

 

10.30 am  Benefice Eucharist  Horningtoft

 

 

Rector

 

The Gate of the Year: quoted by King George VI, Christmas broadcast 1939

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown!"

And he replied: "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

 So, I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night

And He led me toward the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

 So, heart, be still! What need our little life,

Our human life, to know, if God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things both high and low God hideth His intention.

 

from ‘The Desert’ (1908) by Marie Louise Haskins (1876-1957

 

 

Upper Wensum Services

 

February 2010

 

 

Wed 3rd

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 5th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Brisley

Rector

Sat 6th 

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 7th Feb.

2 before Lent

Isaiah 6:1-8, [9-13]
1 Cor 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Gateley

10.30 am  Eucharist  Horningtoft

10.30 am  Eucharist  Whissonsett

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Ryburgh

Rector

Rector

Assistant Priest

Reader

Wed 10th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 12th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Ryburgh

Rector

Sat 13th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 14th Feb.

Last before Lent

Exod 34:29-35; 2 Cor 3:12-4:2
Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]

8.30 am Eucharist  Shereford

10.30 am  Eucharist  Brisley

10.30 am  Eucharist  Colkirk

10.30 am  Benefice Family Service  Whissonsett

Rector

Assistant Priest

Assistant Priest

Rector

Ash Wednesday:

                  17th Feb.

Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51: 1-18
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

10.30 am Benefice Eucharist with ashing  Colkirk

7 pm Benefice Eucharist with ashing  Ryburgh

(mark of ash on the forehead for those who wish to receive it)

Rector

Rector

Fri 19th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Gateley

Rector

Sat 20th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 21st Feb.

Lent 1

Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Rom 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Horningtoft 

10.30 am  Eucharist  Ryburgh

10.30 am  Eucharist  Whissonsett

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Colkirk

4 pm  Compline (Night Prayer) with Taize  Brisley

Rector

Rector

Assistant Priest

Reader

Rector

Wed 24th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 26th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Whissonsett

Rector

Sat 27th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 28th Feb.

Lent 2

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Phil 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Shereford

10.30 am  Eucharist  Colkirk

10.30 am  Eucharist  Ryburgh

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Brisley

Rector

Assistant Priest

Assistant Priest

Rector

 

‘Lencten’ *

 

Lord, may I follow the seasons of life

Allow winter to follow fall;

Lent-meaning-spring to arrive on the coat-tails of winter

As flowers fragile and bare find their course

Through the cold soil healed of its frost

So may I be drawn by your Son’s light

To new beginnings

Leaving behind the debris of my hard lessons learned

Cradle my soft roots

Quenching their thirst on the life-giving moisture of your spirit.

 

Amen

 

[ * Anglo-Saxon origin of the word Lent = Spring ]

 

 

Upper Wensum Services

 

March 2010

 

 

Wed 3rd

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 5th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Brisley

Rector

Sat 6th 

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 7th Mar.

Lent 3

Exodus 3:1-15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Gateley

10.30 am  Eucharist  Ryburgh

10.30 am  Eucharist  Whissonsett

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Horningtoft

4 pm  Songs of Praise  Colkirk

Rector

Rector

Assistant Priest

Reader

Rector

Wed 10th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 12th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Ryburgh

Rector

Sat 13th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 14th Mar.

Mothering Sunday*

Joshua 5:9-12; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 / John 19: 25b-27

8.30 am  Benefice Eucharist  Shereford 

 

10.30 am Benefice Family Service  Whissonsett

Rector

 

Rector

 

Wed 17th

10.30 am Benefice Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 19th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Horningtoft

Rector

Sat 20th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk

Rector

Sunday 21st Mar.

Lent 5

Isaiah 43:16-21;

Philippians 3:4b-14;

John 12:1-8

 8.30 am  Prayer Book Eucharist  Horningtoft 

10.30 am  Eucharist  Colkirk

10.30 am  Eucharist  Whissonsett

10.30 am  Morning Worship  Ryburgh

4 pm  Compline  Brisley

4 pm  Short Evensong / APCM   Shereford

Rector

Rector

Assistant Priest

Lay Leader

Lay Leader

Rector

Wed 24th

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

Fri 26th

9.30 am  informal Morning Prayer  Whissonsett

Rector

Sat 27th

9 am  informal Morning Prayer  Colkirk  [N.B. ‘BST’...]

Rector

Sunday 28th Mar.

Palm Sunday

Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; passion gospel

10.30 am  Benefice Eucharist  Brisley

                 with Passion Gospel narrative

2.30 pm Ecumenical Service from St Andrews to                       

              Methodist Chapel  Ryburgh

 

Rector

Rector /   

     Minister

Wed 31st

10.30 am Benefice Midweek Eucharist  Colkirk

Rector

 

*History of Mothering Sunday:

Most Sundays in the year churchgoers in England worship at their nearest parish or 'daughter church'. Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or 'mother' church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their 'mother' church - the main church or Cathedral of the area.

Inevitably the return to the 'mother' church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old.) And most historians think that it was the return to the 'Mother' church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family. As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.

St Mary’s, Whissonsett is not our mother church! But it usually hosts a short Family Service on the second Sunday of the month, so the Family Service that day will be on the Mothering Sunday theme, suitable for all.