ST GILES FARNBOROUGH - SERVICE TIMES


Below are services at St. Giles Farnborough. Variations from the norm are in Red.
 
Our 10:00am services on Sundays are especially suited to families with children.
Further Information

Pewsheets for Sunday services are available for download in advance, usually by the end of Friday each week.  See the Pewsheets and Bulletins link on the front page.

8th Dec

Second Sunday of Advent
8:00am Holy Communion - 1662 The Ven. Dr. Paul Wright
10:00am Family Communion The Ven. Dr. Paul Wright
11:15am Mattins - 1662 The Ven. Dr. Paul Wright
6:30pm Choral Evensong The Ven. Dr. Paul Wright
     

15th Dec

Third Sunday of Advent

  
8:00am Holy Communion - 1662 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
10:00am Morning Prayer Chris Hallett - Reader
11:15am Mattins - 1662 Chris Hallett - Reader
6:30pm Holy Communion - Order 1 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

17th Dec

(Tuesday)

  
8:00pm Quiet Carol Service The Revd. Matthew Hughes
  We are holding an alternative Carol Service specifically designed for people who are not particularly looking forward to Christmas, for those who find Christmas a sad and difficult period. The service will be quieter and more reflective. It will be an opportunity for people to light a candle, to sing a few quieter carols and to hear the Christmas message of hope and love. It will also be an opportunity to give thanks to God for happier Christmases of the past and to seek his strength and comfort for the future.  
     

22nd Dec

Fourth Sunday of Advent

  
8:00am Holy Communion - 1662 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
10:00am Family Communion The Ven. Dr. Paul Wright
The Revd. Matthew Hughes
11:15am    ***  no service   *** 
6:30pm Nine Lessons and Carols Service The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

24th Dec.

(Tuesday) Christmas Eve

  
3:00pm Sunday School led Candlelit Service
For ticket-holders only – tickets obtainable from Irene Dancer at the 10 a.m. services on Sundays or from the Parish Office 		The Revd. Matthew Hughes
4:00pm Children's Scratch Nativity
At this service children are invited to come dressed as angels,shepherds or Wise Men to participate in the service		 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
5:00pm Children's Scratch Nativity
At this service children are invited to come dressed as angels,shepherds or Wise Men to participate in the service		 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
11:00pm Midnight Communion - please note earlier start time than previous years The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

25th Dec

(Wednesday) Christmas Day

  
8:00am Holy Communion - 1662 The Revd. Diana Coutts
10:00am Family Communion
Children are invited to bring presents to show the congregation 		The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

26th Dec

(Thursday - Boxing Day) - St. Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr
9:30am BCP. Said Holy Communion - see panel
Theme - Those who are persecuted for their faith in Christ		 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

27th Dec

(Friday) - St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
9:30am BCP Said Holy Communion - see panel
Theme - The Winess of John's Gospel		 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

28th Dec

(Saturday) - Holy Innobents

  
9:30am BCP Said Holy Communion - see panel
Theme - Prayers for those who suffer		 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

29th Dec

First Sunday of Christmas

  
10:00am United Morning Prayer with St. Nicholas Chris Hallett - Reader
     

5th Jan

Epiphany

  
8:00am Holy Communion - 1662 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
10:00am All Age Worship The Revd. Matthew Hughes
11:15am Holy Communion - 1662 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
6:30pm Epiphany Service The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

12th Jan

Baptism of Christ

  
8:00am Holy Communion - 1662 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
10:00am Family Communion The Revd. Matthew Hughes
11:15am Mattins - 1662 The Revd. Matthew Hughes
6:30pm Choral Evensong The Revd. Matthew Hughes
     

Prayer Group

Sundays 8:30am

Thank you to those who have joined in our Prayer Group which meet 'at home' on Sunday at 8.30 a.m.  Please let me know if you participated in this so I can let the ‘group’ know. 

If there is somebody in your circle of family and friends who could
benefit from our prayers, or if you have suffered a recent bereavement please forward the relevant name to the Parish Office.

Prayer Requests

At St. Giles there are opportunities for private and communal prayer, whether it is lighting a candle or praying with others on Sunday morning, we believe God hears our prayers and answers them as may be best for us.

If there are particular issues that you would like prayed for then please let us know. In particular we pray every Sunday for those who are sick and for those who have passed away


FAITH AND WORSHIP


Arrangements for Services

Sunday 11:15 services

There is now no 11.15 am. service on the 4th and 5th Sundays of the month.


Midweek Services

Thursdays 10:00am

Midweek Holy Communion. 

The Season of Christmas:
Post Christmas Saints Days

26-28th December 9:30am services

I would imagine that for most people Christmas finishes about night time on Boxing Day. Then its back to work for a few days before the New Year celebrations. For us clergy Christmas Day lunch time signals a welcome break from one of our busiest times.

For the Church, Christmas is not just a couple of days but a Season which starts after midnight on Christmas Eve and concludes with the Feast of the Epiphany on 6th January. Part of the Season of Christmas are the post-Christmas Day Saints days which play an important part in conveying the power of Christ’s birth in the life of his followers. One of the challenges for the Church at Christmas is how to convey the spiritual truth and power of Christmas in an overwhelming sea of a secular and consumer celebration.

This year I would like to offer the Parish an opportunity to observe the full Season of Christmas beyond Christmas Day with the purpose of enriching our experience of this occasion at a spiritual level. To this end I would like to invite those of you who are available to attend St. Giles for three services on 26-28th December, for details see the main panel.

You may notice from the above that these post-Christmas Saints Days have a rather serious feel to them in contrast to the joy and levity of Christmas. This is because the Church wants us to understand that the coming of Jesus into the world is a transforming event which has a significant impact on the lives of others. It is an event that is not met with a universal welcome and in some cases down right hostility.

I appreciate that many of you will be with family and friends, or away visiting family. However, if you are around and you would like to experience something that I believe will be different and profoundly spiritual then I look forward to seeing you.

Matthew Hughes