Dear St Mary’s,
On the Third Sunday of Advent (15/12) – Gaudete Sunday – Revd Tim Scott will preside and Revd Ola Franklin will preach at 9am and again at 10.30am. We’ll celebrate Holy Communion at both services, with Revd Alan Moss sharing more about his new role with the Diocese of Chelmsford. We’ll also have supervised children’s groups at 10.30am and a Baby Lounge in the South Vestry at both services. For those unable to join us in person this Sunday, we’ll livestream the 9am service to Facebook.
After our 10.30am service, we’ll celebrate Revd Alan Moss’s ministry with us as well as his new role with the diocese – join us as we mark his ministry with cake and refreshments!
And then at 6pm, we’ll host Orchestral Carols led by our Musical Director Jonathan Rathbone and his 60-piece orchestra. This is a fully-booked, ticketed event, however, there may be a few walk-up tickets available on the day (see the notice in this newsletter for details), however, we cannot promise entry to those who don’t already have a ticket.
St Mary’s Christmas Choir: First Rehearsal in the Welcome Centre this Friday, 7pm
St Mary’s is putting a choir together for the beautiful Carols by Candlelight service, held on Sunday 22nd December at 6pm, and all are welcome to join. Interested? Simply turn up to rehearsals, which begin this Friday 13th December (Welcome Centre) and continue next Friday 20th December (St Mary’s Church), 7-8.30pm, with a 3.30pm rehearsal in the church on the day of the service. Those interested in joining the choir can hear the music by clicking here, or by emailing Jonathan Rathbone at .
Important Information Regarding Sunday’s Orchestral Carols
Due to its popularity, as well as the fact that our church building’s recommended seating capacity has been significantly reduced since our renovation project, this Sunday’s Orchestral Carols (15/12) is ticketed and fully booked. If you have a ticket to this Sunday’s Orchestral Carols, please arrive at the church by 5.45pm. Please also be aware that those who have tickets but arrive after 6pm may have their seats given to walk-ups and refused entry if the building is at capacity. We may have a few walk-up tickets on the day, however, we can’t guarantee entry as it won’t be clear how many tickets are available until 6pm. If you’ve booked a ticket but are unable to attend, email .
Volunteers for St Mary’s Advent and Christmas Services
We’ve had a brilliant response to our appeal for volunteers for our upcoming Advent and Christmas services, with over 50 members of our congregation offering to help in some capacity. If you volunteered to help at this Sunday evening’s Orchestral Carols, you should have already received an email with more information; if you’ve signed up to help at another service, you will be emailed soon with more information. We’re looking forward to serving with you as we welcome 2,000 people to St Mary’s over the next two weeks!
Crochet/ Knitting Group Meeting on Saturday 14th December in Exhibition Space
St Mary’s has started a Saturday crochet and knitting group which has been meeting in our church Exhibition Space and has had a brilliant response. The group will meet again this Saturday 14th December, 10am-Noon – its last meeting of 2024. Bring wool, needles, crochet hooks and whatever you’re working on; if you’re a beginner, let us know in advance so we can provide wool and crochet hooks! Details: .
Final Service for Revd Alan Moss This Sunday + Worth Unlimited Donations
Revd Alan Moss has been appointed Estates Youth Missional Lead for the Diocese of Chelmsford and his last official Sunday service at St Mary’s will be this Sunday 15th December. Some of Alan’s work has involved creating stronger links with Worth Unlimited, a local Christian youth charity, and in lieu of financial leaving gifts, Alan has asked that we consider donating to Worth Unlimited as a way of thanking him for his ministry. Donations can be made via the tap-and-go donation boxes in church (select ‘Worth Unlimited’); by donating via our website (stmaryswalthasmtow.com/donate) and writing ‘Worth Unlimited’ in the notes; or by donating via the Worth Unlimited website (worthunlimited.co.uk/donate).
London Forest Choir to Perform at St Mary’s on 19th December
The London Forest Choir, directed by our very own Jonathan Rathbone, will perform ‘Night of Wonder’ – a Christmas programme featuring carols – on Thursday 19th December at St Mary’s at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 on the door or £18 in advance (visit londonforestchoir.org to purchase advance tickets) with £5 tickets available for young people under 16.
Quiet Christmas for Neurodiverse Children on 21st December: Tickets Available
In addition to Orchestral Carols, St Mary’s other ticketed service this December is Quiet Christmas – specifically geared towards neurodiverse children and their families – on Saturday 21st December at 2.30pm. This service is ticketed to keep numbers low and create a positive experience for children who might find larger services overwhelming; however, please note that despite calling it ‘Quiet Christmas’, noise from children is not a problem! A parent or carer must accompany each child but tickets are only needed for children. Book your child’s free ticket here, or find the booking link at stmaryswalthamstow.org/christmas.
Advent and Christmas 2024 at St Mary’s and in the Parish of Walthamstow
In addition to our Sunday Advent services at 9am and 10.30am, we’ll have special services throughout December, including two evening carol services, community carols on The Drive and Attlee Terrace on 18th December at 6pm, three Christingle services on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve starting at 11.15pm and a 10.30am Christmas Day service. For details, visit stmaryswalthamstow.org/christmas or stmaryswalthamstow.org/calendar.
Praying for and Giving to St Mary’s this Advent
As St Mary’s continues to operate in a deficit budget in order to keep our ancient building open to all during the week, please pray for our clergy, staff team and PCC as we try and work out the best way forward. If St Mary’s is your church, please consider this Advent whether you might give monthly by standing order if you don’t already. You can donate via the Parish Giving Scheme (which automatically allows us to reclaim Gift Aid) by going to parishgiving.org.uk and searching ‘St Mary’s Walthamstow’ on the ‘Find Your Parish’ page; you can also set up a standing order at stmaryswalthamstow.org/donate.
Changes to Morning Prayer Schedule in December and January
Please note that our last Morning Prayer gathering of 2024 will be on Friday 20th December and will resume again on Epiphany (6th January 2025). From 6th January, there will be no Morning Prayer on Fridays – only Monday to Thursday – for the foreseeable future given St Mary’s more limited clergy availability in the wake of Revd Alan Moss taking on a new role.
St Mary’s Ruttle & Rowe Cafe + Play Area During December
Our partners Ruttle & Rowe will be operating their St Mary’s cafe in the run-up to Christmas, including on Christmas Eve, but will be closed from Christmas Day through the New Year, reopening on Epiphany (Monday 6th January 2025). Though we will have a number of school services and other daytime events happening in the church throughout the month of December, Ruttle & Rowe will remain open, however, seating may occasionally be moved to the Exhibition Space, including on Christmas Eve, and our Play Area will occasionally be closed. Please check our website or social media channels for the latest information.
Parish Office Closed From Monday 23rd December
The Parish Office will be closed from Monday 23rd December, reopening on Tuesday 7th January. For pastoral emergencies, contact Revd Tim Scott ().
EcoTip: The Church of England’s Net Zero Plans
The Church of England has committed to being Net Zero by 2030 – a huge undertaking in which the Church has pledged to stop emitting most of the planet-heating greenhouse gases it produces as well as to offset any emissions it is unable to eliminate by 2030. At St Mary’s, we still use gas to heat both the church and Welcome Centre, and we have no solar panels on our buildings – things we are keen to change. Take a look at the Church of England’s Net Zero route map here, or visit churchofengland.org and search ‘Net Zero Carbon’.
Please pray this week for:
- All who are finding the Advent and Christmas season stressful or difficult
- Those who lack food, shelter or other basic necessities – for help and social change
- All of us at St Mary’s to be generous with our time and money in support of others
- All who are unwell in body, mind or spirit – for hope and healing
- Efforts to create a peaceful Syria after its liberation from the Assad regime
- Those fleeing violence, oppression or catastrophe around the world
- More governments to uphold human rights, and for human rights campaigners
- St Mary’s and the Parish as we prepare for our many Advent/Christmas services
- Small businesses locally and around the UK operating in a difficult environment
- Leaders in the UK and internationally, to accelerate the transition to green energy
- For our bishops, Lynne and Guli, our archdeacon, Mike, and all clergy in our parish
- For the safety and wellbeing of all who are vulnerable this Advent/Christmas
Next Week in the Welcome Centre (16th-21st December)
Monday 16th December
Daphne & Friends (baby and child loss community), 10-11am
Breathe into Balance: Stress-Relieving Breathing Workshop, 12.30-1.30pm ().
Tuesday 17th December
No community/ commercial hires in the Welcome Centre on Tuesday 10th December
Wednesday 18th December
HulaFit, 6.30-7.30pm
Thursday 19th December
FoodCycle (free community meal), 6.30pm
Friday 20th December
St Mary’s Candlelight Choir Rehearsal (in the church), 7-8.30pm
Saturday 21st December
Walthamstow Welcomes Cafe (free help with confusing paperwork), 10am-Noon
Coming to St Mary’s Welcome Centre in January 2025
‘Ninja School’ is a dynamic martial arts program designed to teach children discipline, agility, and confidence through fun and engaging ninja-inspired training. Classes will start in the Welcome Centre on Wednesday 8th January and will meet on Monday and Wednesday afternoons/ evenings, beginning at 4pm. For details or to register, visit: ninjaschool.org.uk.
Reflection: ‘Rejoice!’
Natalie Burwell, our churchwarden, writes:
The third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday, brings with it a rose-coloured candle and the instruction: Rejoice! It’s a day of feasting and celebration in an otherwise sombre season.
I don’t know how it goes for you when someone tries to change your mood. ‘Calm down!’ ‘Relax!’ These words do not have the intended effect on me. But I don’t think the Advent command ‘Rejoice!’ is actually about mood. Advent is not telling us to cheer up, because it may never happen. Rather there’s a deeper realism in Advent. More like the words of Wendell Berry in his great poem ‘The Mad Farmer Liberation Front’: ‘Expect the end of the world. Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.’
Advent is a season rich in symbol and mystery, and it brings repeated invitations from the Holy Spirit to use our imagination — holy imagination! — to sense the joy and amazement of God-with-us. To call to mind the difference God’s close, loving presence makes in the sweep of history and in our own lives.
Exercising Advent imagination might look like listening quietly in prayer, singing with your whole chest, lighting a candle mindfully, serving a hot meal, or opening a door on the Advent calendar. All these practices can help us tap into God’s river of joy at the heart of reality. Theologian Willie Jennings says, ‘Joy is an act of resistance against despair and all its forces. It’s a work that can become a state that can become a way of life.’
This year an image in the Advent liturgy has stirred my imagination: the metaphor of ‘ransom’ when we sing ‘O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel.’
Revd Jo Kershaw posted this on Bluesky a few days ago: ‘Generally when the news brings to mind Advent themes it’s the gloomy ones of judgement, but the stories about the prisoners coming out of Assad’s awful political prisons are Adventy in a different and much more joyful way. “The ransomed of the Lord shall return with singing.”’
Paying ransom is not a Rambo-style violent intervention to set a prisoner free. God doesn’t act like that. But it carries the idea of a real cost. We can never know the true cost of humanity’s redemption— what it cost our loving God to give their only beloved son over to suffering. Or the cost to Jesus in offering himself in every moment of his life, and in death on the cross, to liberate us. Nor can we know the immeasurable joy permeating this divine mystery. But sometimes, perhaps especially when we come to the Communion table, can we sense some of it?
This Advent may we stretch our minds and hearts and imaginations towards the mystery of a costly love that sets us free. And even though we have considered all the facts, may we live out of joy anyway. Amen.
