YOUTH MASS

Once a month, usually on the last Sunday, the Parish Mass is partly led by young people from the Andy's Church Youth Group and the Uniformed Organisations.

The Youth Mass is more informal and shorter than the Parish Mass.

There is no Sunday School.

HOLY COMMUNION

Holy Communion is the eating of the consecrated bread and wine: Holy because the priest has blessed the bread and wine (known as the elements); Communion because the consecrating prayer over the bread and wine recalls the words of Jesus at his Last Supper with his disciples, This is my body...this is my blood.

This 8am service is known as BCP Communion because the Book of Common Prayer, sanctioned for use by Parliament in the Church of England in 1662 (although much of it is based on earlier books of 1549 and 1552 largely written by Archbishop Cramner), is used. The language is archaic but beautiful.

The service is said (ie. no music is used) and lasts about half an hour.

Fr Tim has to rush off afterwards to get to St Nicholas!

There is no service on the last Sunday of the month or during August.

PARISH MASS

The main service of the day: Parish because the Church of England divides the country into parishes, each with its own Parish Church, at which the main service of the day is offered for the needs of everyone living in the parish. Mass because the service is Common Worship the new service book of the Church of England produced in 2000 with the addition of some words from the Roman Catholic Missal.

The service is sung (ie. there are hymns and Fr Tim sings some of the prayers) and there is a Sunday School: everyone starts the service together, then, after the Readings from the Bible, children aged up to 12 years old go to the Sunday School room for part of the service.

The service lasts about an hour; coffee and biscuits are served afterwards.

HOLY BAPTISM

Once a month, except during Lent - the six week before Easter - and December, there is a Christening service.

Baptism is another word for Christening: Baptism reflects the use of water from the Greek word for washing; Christening means Jesus (Christ) receives the one Baptism into the family of the Church.

Children and adults can be Christened. Children can have up to six Godparents adults dont need any.

The service lasts about half an hour and is open to anyone with an association with Buckland church living locally or with family members who have been Christened or married in the church.

Contact Fr Tim to make an appointment to arrange a Christening

MIDWEEK MASS

A shorter version of the Parish Mass without music.

ST NICHOLAS MASS

St Nicholas is a modern church on the Buckland Estate in a multipurpose building including a Childrens Centre.

The Sunday Mass has hymns and lasts half an hour.

Although there is no Sunday School, the short service is good for adults and children.

YOU HOVERED!!

When ever you hover your mouse over a word in green more information appears just here.

Advent Four weeks of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas

The liturgical colour (the colour of the hangings around altar, and the vestments worn by the priest) is Violet because, like the Season of Lent leading up to Easter, Advent is a pentitential season

Penitential means a time for reflection and self-examination. We want to make ourselves spiritually ready to welcome the birth of Jesus. It doesn't mean being sad! Thinking about the true meaning of Christmas makes you happy!

Liturgical means anything to do with the service in church. During Advent there are two special liturgical 'added bits'.

Advent Candles, also known as the Advent Wreath. There are three purple, one rose, and one white, candles.

The First Sunday of Advent celebrates the Patriarchs. The Patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Old Testament characters with whom God first made the Covenant that lead ultimately to the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. The first purple candle is lit.

The Second Sunday of Advent celebrates the Prophets. The Prophets are people in the Old Testament inspired by God to encourage God's people to live lives of holiness and justice, preparing the way for God's Messiah. The second purple candle is lit

The Third Sunday of Advent celebrates The Forerunner. The Forerunner is Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, who, through repentance and baptism, prepared people for the imminent arrival of Jesus who began his ministry by being baptized by John. The rose candle is lit because we are halfway to Christmas! Rose vestments are worn by the priest. This is 'Gaudete' Sunday from the Latin of the opening antiphon: 'Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near'.

The Fourth Sunday of Advent celebrates the Blessed Virgin. The Blessed Vigin is Mary, Mother of Jesus, known as 'Theotokos': God-Bearer. Jesus is made human in Mary, the Mother of God.

The White Candle is lit at Midnight Mass at the traditional moment of Jesus' birth.

Advent Prose is a plainchant setting of words from Isaiah. A verse with a congregational response is sung each week during Advent.

Christmas The Incarnation of Christ - twelve days from the 25th of December until Epiphany on January 6th.

The liturgical colour (the colour of the hangings around altar, and the vestments worn by the priest) is Gold because like Easter, the Season of Christmas is a joyful celebration.

On Christmas Eve at the 5pm Crib Service the Nativity figures are collected from around the church and placed in the stable - with two exceptions!

The manger is left empty because traditionally Jesus is born at midnight. The Three Kings are also absent because they do not arrive until Epiphany.

Midnight Mass at 11.45pm culminates with the Procession of the Christ Child from the altar to the stable.

On Christmas Day, the 10am Mass of the Presents at St Nicholas is an informal service where Christmas presents are put around the altar. (You can take them home afterwards!)

Epiphany

The Revelation of Christ to the world - from the Epiphany on Jan 6th to Candlemas on Feb 2nd.

The liturgical colour (the colour of the hangings around altar, and the vestments worn by the priest) is white because like Easter, the Season of Epiphany is a joyful celebration.

On the Epiphany, properly Jan 6th but transferred to the nearest Sunday, the figures of the Wise Men are brought to the Crib to replace the shepherds. Matthew's gospel describes the visitors as Magi which means astrologers. We can assume they were men but Matthew does not tell us how many! In Christian art, three are traditionally depicted, one for each of the three gifts. The tradition of kings is through association with the prophecy of Isaiah in the Old Testament that the Messiah would be worshipped by kings (Isaiah 60:3).

The meaning of Epiphany is revelation, revealing something previously not known. Jesus as Messiah came as Saviour of the world, not just the Jewish people. The Adoration of the Magi, the worship of the Wise Men from the East beyond the bounds of the Promised Land of God's Chosen People, the Jews, at the feet of the child Jesus, makes this point.

Candlemas properly Feb 2nd but, like the Epiphany, transferred to the nearest Sunday completes the Season of Epiphany with the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

Simeon who has devoted a life of prayer to the coming of the Messiah greets the infant Christ.

Candlemas begins with the lighting of tapers and a procession to welcome Christ, the Light of the World.

Candlemas

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple - February 2nd.

The liturgical colour (the colour of the hangings around altar, and the vestments worn by the priest) is white because Candlesmas is a joyful celebration.

Candlemas completes the season of Epiphany forty days after the birth of Christ. Like Epiphany, the Feast is usually transferred to the nearest Sunday.

The Jewish Law of Moses required the first-born child to be redeemed (Numbers 18:15) by offering a sacrifice in the Temple at Jerusalem. The ancient Christian custom of Churching women after childbirth (no longer practised) reflects this Jewish custom.

St Luke's account (Luke 2:22-40) concerns what happened after the rituals had been completed. Two people, Simeon and Anna, directed by the Holy Spirit, greet the Holy Family in the Temple courts.

Simeon prophecies that Mary will share in passion of her Son: 'A sword will pierce your own soul too so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. This was fulfilled when Mary stood at the foot of the cross.

The Candlemas

Lent

Six weeks of preparation for Easter, beginning on Ash Wednesday.

The liturgical colour (the colour of the hangings around altar, and the vestments worn by the priest) is purple because Lent is a pentitential season.

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent with the Imposition of Ashes as a sign of penitence. The ash is the residue of burnt Palm Crosses used to make the sign of the corss on the forehead.

The fourth Sunday of Lent is kept as Mothering Sunday with a Youth Mass and distribution of flowers.

The last two Sundays of Lent fall in Pasiontide: they are Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday

The images in the church are covered as our thoughts turn to Jesus passion and death.

Holy Week follows Palm Sunday leading to the first mass of Easter on Easter Eve.

On every Friday at 6pm throughout Lent, Stations of the Cross is a devotional walk around the church, pausing at fourteen icons representing Jesus' journey from his trial to the tomb.

Passiontide Red

From the fifth Sunday of Lent to Easter Eve, including Palm Sunday
(white for Maundy Thursday)

Easter Gold/white

The Resurrection of Christ from the dead
Six weeks from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, including the Ascension

Pentecost Red

The sending of the Holy Spirit

Three Year Lectionary Cycle

The Bible readings used for the Mass are organised into a three year cyle, beginning each year on the First Sunday of Advent, four weeks before Christmas.

Each Sunday has a First Reading (usually from the Old Testament) followed by a psalm reflecting the theme of the reading. The Second Reading is from the New Testament.

The Gospel Reading - Matthew in Year A, Mark in Year B, and Luke in Year C - is supplemented by readings from the Gospel of John. 2009-10 is Year C.

To show the particular importance of the gospel narrative, being the source of the life and teaching of Jesus, it is customary to stand during the Gospel Reading.

The Gospel Procession led by cross and candles goes to the centre of the church among the people to symbolise Jesus in our midst. All turn to face the Gospel Reader (always a priest) as the gospel is read.

The Messiah

Messiah in Hebrew means the same as Christ in Greek: the Anointed One.

Like our own monarch, the Kings of Israel were anointed with oil before taking office. In the Old Testament, there grew an expectation that God would send someone, from the kingly line of David, who would be anointed with special authority, a Messiah to finally bring about God's kingdom on earth

For Christians (but not for Jews!), Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy.

Liturgy

The Liturgy of the Church is the order of prayers, readings, etc. within a church service.

The word 'Liturgy' comes from the Greek for 'work', because worship is not a causal thing, neither is it always very easy. It requires an attitude of mind and heart made open to God.

The Liturgy of the Mass five sections: The Introductory Rite which includes the Confession, and the ancient hymns Kyrie (Lord have mercy) and Gloria (Glory to God).

The Liturgy of the Word includes the Readings, Sermon, Creed (Statement of Faith) and Prayers.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the prayers that recall the Last Supper Jesus ate with his disciples. It is at this moment that the Bread and Wine (the Elements) become the Body and Blood of Christ (the Blessed Sacrament).

The Communion Rite is the receiving of the sacrament at the altar rail.

The Concluding Rite sends the worshippers home with God's blessing.

Stations of the Cross

The Way of the Cross is a solemn service of readings and prayers based on the traditional fourteen Stations, ie. stopping points, on Jesus' Via dolorosa (sorrowful road) - the walk from his trial to his death. Pictures around the walls of the church give a focus for each station at which in turn we genuflect (kneel on one knee) briefly to say the antiphon: We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee: for by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world and listen to a meditation.

The traditional stations are: 1 Jesus is condemned to death, 2 Jesus receives his cross, 3 Jesus falls for the first time, 4 Jesus meets his Blessed Mother, 5 The cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene, 6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus, 7 Jesus falls for the second time, 8 Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem, 9 Jesus falls for the thrid time, 10 Jesus is stripped of his garments, 11 Jesus is nailed to the cross, 12 Jesus dies on the cross, 13 Jesus is taken down from the cross, 14 Jesus is laid in the sepulchre. (In some churches a fifteenth station 'Jesus is raised from the dead' is added).

The service lasts about half an hour.

Mass of Prayer with Anointing

Everyone couple of months, we have a special mass for Prayer and Anointing at 10.30am in St Andrew's.

In place of the Sermon, there is a special opportunity to bring your needs to God in three ways:

Firstly, through coming forward for the Laying on of Hands and Anointing with Oil. As Christians, we are encouraged to pray for each other. As a further step, there is the Sacrament of Anointing which traditionally was given as Last Rites to those close to death, but has now been extended to any who need God's special grace during times of ill health or other difficulties. (See James 5:14-15) The priest lays hands on the head, and then anoints the forehead and palms of the hand with Holy Oil.

Secondly, prayers may be written down and pinned to a large wooden cross.

Thirdly, votive candles are available to light.

Lent Reflections

During the Season of Lent, we have two mornings of Lent Reflections.

Setting aside time for prayerful reflection is a vital part of the Christian journey, and particularly important during a Penitential season like Lent.

Both sessions are at St Nicholas on a Saturday morning and run from 10 am to noon.

The format is a mix of readings, songs, homily and silent prayer, divided into three parts so that any who can't manage the whole two hours can 'dip' in and out (quietly!).

The times of the sessions are:

- 1st Session 10am to 10.40am

- 2nd Session 10.40am to 11.15am

- Tea Break 11.15am to 11.30am

- 3rd Session 11.30am to noon