14th December 2025 – Third Sunday of Advent Isaiah 35:1-10 When Isaiah penned his “Rivers In the Desert” poem, Judah was in a bad way—internally Judah was corrupt and externally it was under threat of foreign invasion. But the poet of audacious hope does not despair; instead he proclaims that God will come, and in …
Author archives: Philip Rawlings
Sermon 2025-12-07
7th December 2025 – Second Sunday of Advent Polemic politics, nuclear testing, unjust imprisonments, genocide, misogyny, racism, deportations, suicides – all in our newspapers an on our televisions in the past couple of weeks. I’m sure we could add more to the list. Pain. Violence. Anger. War. Aggression. Suffering. And in the midst of it, …
Reflection December 2025
Reflections from the Rectory – December 2025 I believe in ‘wintering’. Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. They hunka …
Music 2026-01-11
11th January 2026 – 1st Sunday of Epiphany 16:00pm Choral Evensong Organ Jesu, meine Freude (BWV 610) – J S BachIntroit A New Year Carol – Benjamin BrittenHymns Op: 49 (1st tune) Brightest and best; aP: Behold, a tiny tender babe (tKingsfold NEH 376) F: 30 O come, …
Music 2026-01-04
4th January 2026 – The Epiphany/2nd Sunday of Christmas: 10:30am Parish Communion Organ A Fancy – Thomas Tomkins Introit Personent hodie – Anonymous, arr. Holst Hymns Op: 49 (2nd tune) Brightest and best; G: 28 In the bleak midwinter (vv 1,2&5) [IA: A solis ortus]; Of: 40 What child is this; F: 36 …
Music 2025-12-28
28th December 2025 – The Holy Innocents 10:30am Benefice Communion Organ Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen – BrahmsIntroit The Coventry Carol – Anon. 16th centuryHymns Op: Good King Wenceslas looked out; Gloria substitute Good Christians all, rejoice!; G: 39 Unto us a boy is born Of: 21 …
Music 2025-12-25
25th December 2025 – Christmas Day 11:30am Parish Communion The church bells will be rung Introit Advent Wreath Prayer V – Malcolm ArcherHymns Op: 30 O come, all ye faithful (vv1,2,6&7); Gloria substitute Joy to the world; G: 42 While shepherds watched their flocks by night; Of: 25 God rest you merry; F: 26 Hark! the …
Music 2025-12-14
14th December 2025 – 3rd Sunday of Advent 6:00opm Choral Evensong Organ Fantazia no. 1 in two parts – GibbonsIntroit Advent Wreath Prayer III – Malcolm ArcherHymns Op: 2 (t238) O heavenly word of God on high; aP: 8 (t312) Lift up your heads; F: 33 (vv 1,2,3&7) Of the Father’s heart …
Music 2025-12-07
7th December 2025 – 2nd Sunday of Advent 10.30 Benefice Parish Communion Organ Wachet auf! (BWV 645) – J S BachIntroit Advent Wreath Prayer II – Malcolm ArcherHymns Op: 10 Long ago prophets knew; G: 12 On Jordan’s bank; [IA: Creator of the stars] Of: 5 Hark! a herald voice is calling; F: 11 O …
Music 2025-11-30
30th November 2025 – Advent Sunday 10.30 Benefice Communion – St Mary’s, Holmbury With combined choirs, welcoming Rev’d Canon Roy Woodhams to the Benefice Organ Ciacona in E minor – Diderik BuxtehudeIntroit Advent Wreath Prayer I – Malcolm ArcherHymns Op: 39 Hills of the north; Kyrie substitute 36 Hark the glad sound; G: 30 Come, …
