We are delighted to offer the latest of our monthly broadcasts online, reflecting on the theme of The Epiphany – the journey of the Magi and their gifts, in readings, poems, meditations and music.
The broadcast will be available on our YouTube Channel from 9.30am on Sunday 2nd January. Do have a watch!
I know that many in our community are really looking forward to Christmas, and that after the last-minute rule changes last year, especially so this year. We’d love for St Mary’s to be a part of your Christmas celebrations and we can assure you of a very warm welcome.
Despite the challenges and sadness of the past year, I wish you a very Happy and Blessed Christmas .
Will
This service, often known as Midnight Mass, is an absolute gem and is really the first of the main Christmas services. We gather at 11.30 pm to celebrate the Christmas story of God coming among us in the birth of Jesus.
This is a communion service with the blessing of our special crib and face coverings will need to be worn for all attending (unless exempt). Whether you come to St Mary’s regularly or not – you can be assured of a warm welcome – for you and your family and friends.
We offer two services on Christmas morning, the first being the traditional Communion services using The Book of Common Prayer.
Our main service on Christmas morning is a Eucharist, where God’s people, young and old, gather together to celebrate the joy of Christmas with communion and a short sermon to suit all ages.
Face coverings must be worn for those attending either of these services. Our revised capacity is limited to ensure social distancing. If large numbers come, with regret, we may have to turn some away. We can minimize this possibility by encouraging you to attend the Midnight Mass or the 8 am service which are likely to be less busy.
Our crib services are so busy that sadly we can’t do things in quite the same way we normally do. Instead, we invite you to a fully immersive walk-through nativity experience.
Come down to St Mary’s on foot, or park up if you have come by car. Then head for Church End, to the churchyard gates, where you will be greeted by a special host.
And then every ten minutes groups will be invited to enter the church drive, stopping at various points along the way to hear again the Christmas story, to meet some of the characters and to sing one or two carols.
Pause to wonder at the amazing stable scene finale before making your way out of the gates on Hemel Hempstead Road. Please do observe this one-way system for this event – for safety reasons the churchyard will be closed to all vehicles.
We look forward to welcoming you and your household for this lovely time together.
St Mary's Church, Redbourn 