We have arrived at September, and we begin to leave summer behind, noticeably as the weather shifts, the leaves fall, and the nights shorten.At the same time, St Philip's starts a new programme of activities. From September through until June we have a mixture of Beacon events, special services, seasonal specials, ongoing outreach and one off celebrations.Like many, we take July and August as our summer holiday, and as children and young people return to education, we 'start' our year in September. We mark this chiefly with our Back to School Service, Sunday 7 September, where we invite everyone to bring a bag with them in order to have it blessed. AutumnThrough September and October we're then gathering for a Prayer and Praise evening, Sunday 21 September, 6pm, followed by our Harvest Celebration on Sunday 5 October, 10.30am. All our donations this year will go to the Foodbank run on a Thursday in the church hall. Nestled between these two services, we also commemorate the anniversary of St Philips. The Church was consecrated and dedicated for worship on 1 October 1932. We're celebrating this 93rd birthday on Sunday 28 September. At the same time we start a new term, the church calendar is coming to an end. The month of November is a season of remembrance and memorials. The universal church celebrates All Saints Day on 1 November, which we will also partake in. We will have a special 'bonus church' All Saints' service, Saturday 1 November, 6pm. This will be a service of praise and communion, as we reflect on the joy of being part of a global community of believers.The evening before All Saints' Day was traditionally called All Hallows Eve, from which we get the word Halloween. We are excited to host the first of our Beacon Events with THE BIG TREAT, 4.30-6.30pm on Friday 31 October. This falls in Half term this year and we're excited to gather as many people as possible to remember Jesus the Light of the World. This is an alternative, Christian, event. Everyone is welcome - particularly families.We continue the remembrance with two special Sunday services in November. Firstly, our Memorial Service on Sunday 2 November at 10.30am. This is an all age service with an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of someone you love who has died. During this service, we honour the dead by reading out those names. Secondly, we gather on Remembrance Sunday, Sunday 9 November, 10.30am, during which we will be silent for 2-minutes in honour of the those who sacrificed their lives in war and in service of peace. The final special event in Autumn is our Community Bonfire Party on Saturday 8 November, 6-9pm. We launched this event last year and we saw over 600 people from the community come to enjoy the roaring fire, pie and peas, a quiz, and a firework display. Weekly activityAlongside these one-off events, St Philip's has regular weekly activities:Community Cafe, Tuesday 9.30-11.30am Connect Group, Tuesday 11.30-12.45pm at Vicarage Connect Group, Tuesday 7-8.30pm at Vicarage Youth Connect, Tuesday 7-8.30pm in Hall BCP Morning Prayer, Wednesday 9.30-11.30am in ChurchOur Father's House, Wednesday 6.15-8pm in HallConnect Group, Wednesday 7.45-9pm venue can be suppliedPrayer Meeting, Thursday 9.45-11.15am in Chapel Foodbank, Thursday 11-1pm in HallWinterAdvent Sunday will be special this year. Sunday 30 November is the official beginning of the church calendar: the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent takes us to Christmas. The special events to accompany us through Advent and Christmas are as follows:- Christmas Fair, Saturday 29 November, 11-2pm- Advent Confirmation Service, Sunday 20 November, 10.30am- Carol Service with Live Band, Sunday 14 December, 4pm- Nativity Service, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 4pm- Midnight Communion, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 11pm- Christmas Day Celebration, Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December, 10.30amCalendar of EventsHere's a full list of these special services and events:- Back to School Sunday, Sunday 7 September, 10.30am- Prayer & Praise Service, Sunday 21 September, 6pm- Harvest Service, Sunday 5 October- BIG TREAT (Halloween Alternative), Friday 31 October, 4.30-6.30pm- All Saints Praise and Communion, Saturday 1 November, 6pm- Memorial Service, Sunday 2 November, 10.30am- Community Bonfire Party, Saturday 8 November, 6-9pm- Remembrance Service, Sunday 9 November, 10.30am- Christmas Fair, Saturday 29 November, 11am-2pm- Advent Confirmation Service, Sunday 30 November, 10.30am- Carol Service with live concert band, Sunday 14 December, 4pm- Nativity Service, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 4pm- Midnight Communion, Christmas Eve, Wednesday 24 December, 11pm- Christmas Day Celebration, Christmas Day, Thursday 25 December, 10.30am
Here at St Philip's we have a strong programme of outreach, worship and ministry as we seek to encounter Jesus, praise and service Him, and tell our neighbours about His love. From September to June we have a packed programme of beacon events, special events and midweek activities.However, God commands us to rest. To pause and recharge.God has set a principle that 1 day in 7 should be set aside for sabbath. So important is this rhythm to God, He placed this instruction in the ten commandments. Consider carefully: God thinks resting is as important as not murdering or lying!1 in 7 is about 14%.So, as well as a weekly rhythm, at St Philip's we try to set aside 2 months from 12 (16%) as months of rest.As we head into July we have no special events, and we're winding down our midweek activities.From Sunday 20 July we suspend most midweek groups, and the six Sundays in the school holiday are all All Age services with no groups for children or youth to provide much needed rest to our brilliant volunteers.What does continue are our services:- Family Worship on Sundays 10.30am- Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer on Wednesdays 10am- Our Father's House service on Wednesdays 7pm in the church hallWe also continue to host the much needed Foodbank.Autumn 2025When we enter back into the school term in September we have a brilliant programme of Connect Groups, Community Beacon Events, and special services and times of worship. This autumn we'll be hosting the following:- Back to School Sunday, 7 September- Prayer & Praise Service, 21 September (subject to confirmation)- Harvest, 5 October- BIG TREAT (Halloween Alternative), 31 October- Community Bonfire Party, 1 November- All Saints Service, 2 November
You are invited!Holy Week and Easter 2025 - full flier herePalm Sunday - Sunday 13 April10.30am - All Age Service of Procession with Palms and Passion Reading (starts outside Festival Foods)Monday 14 April10am - Morning PrayerTuesday 15 April10am - Morning PrayerWednesday 16 April10am - Morning PrayerMaundy Thursday - Thursday 17 April9.30am - Prayers in Chapel11am - Chrism Mass at Ripon Cathedral7pm - Holy Communion with optional Feet Washing8-10pm - The Watch: prayers and silence in chapelGood Friday - Friday 18 April10.30am - Family Service with Prayer Stations and Dramatic Reading of Passion2pm - Hour at the CrossEaster Sunday - Sunday 20 April6am - Dawn Vigil and Service of Light starting in Hall8.30am - Easter Breakfast in Hall10.30am - Easter Celebration with Baptisms
2025 will be a full year.The first four months, January to April, take us through the seasons of Epiphany, Lent, culminating in our Easter celebrations on 20 April.As well as our usual Sunday worship we'll be marking the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, 5 March, with three special services to cater for the various types of household we support.Prior to Lent starting, we host an Annual PANCAKE OLYMPICS, which is our family event encouraging people to think about the deeper meaning and significance of Pancake Day - as well as having lots of fun with pancakes!There's lots more beside this. Here is a list of the special events we've got coming up:January5th Epiphany All Age ServiceFebruary2nd Christingle Candlemas All Age ServiceMarch2nd Transfiguration Sunday All Age Service4th Pancake Olympics, 4-6pm5th ASH WEDNESDAY (Lent begins)10am BCP Morning Prayer with Litany and Commination 4pm Family Service 7pm Holy Communion with Ashing23rd Annual Parochial Church Meeting, 12.30pm30th Mothering SundayApril6th Passiontide Begins – Service of Service HOLY WEEK13th Palm Sunday17th Maundy Thursday18th Good Friday: 10.30am Family Service; 2pm Hour at the Cross20th Easter Sunday: 6am Dawn Vigil, 7am Service of Light, 8-9.45am Breakfast, 10.30am Celebration 21st Family Event - walk to and picnic at Temple Newsam
