Building Works at St. Edmund’s

Work to remove the plinths, and other items, at the back of the church, will begin on Monday 17th January 2022. Please be aware of the following:

  • When coming to church for the 12:15 PM Mass on Wednesdays, the church will not be open until 11:45 AM, and everyone will be required to leave the church by 1 PM; this is to ensure that the contractors can continue with the required work.
  • The church will remain closed on Thursday mornings until further notice.
  • Please follow all instructions given by the contractors when entering, leaving, and moving around the church.
  • Mass on Sundays will continue as usual at 11 AM.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our services.

2022

2022 is now here. Happy New Year to everyone.

Services at St. Edmund’s remain at their usual times:

Sundays: 11AM Sung Mass

Wednesdays: 1215PM Mass

Rt Revd Martin Gorick, the Bishop of Dudley, will be celebrating Mass at St. Edmund’s on Sunday 9th January 2022. Please come along to support him, and to ask him any questions you may have.

Below is some news from The Society for the New Year:

No photo description available.

Bishop Glyn is thrilled and delighted that The Reverend Canon David Wyatt, Rector of St Paul with Christ Church, Salford and Priest in charge of the Ascension, Lower Broughton and Mrs Helen Wyatt have been jointly honoured in the New Year’s Honours List for services to Homeless People and to the community in Salford, Greater Manchester.

http://seeofbeverley.org.uk/fullposts.php?id=266

Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (Anglican)

‘A very special year of thanksgiving…’ Bishop Philip, Master of the Guardians, introduces the Centenary of the Restoration of The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham 1922–2022 #WalsinghamCentenary #BeAPilgrim

Christmas 2021

Below are the Christmas Services at St. Edmund’s this year:

11 AM Sunday 19th December 2021: Sung Mass with Carols

7 PM Friday 24th December 2021: Sung Mass with Carols

10 AM Saturday 25th December 2021: Said Mass with Carols

11 AM Sunday 26th December 2021: Sung Mass

O Come O Come Emmanuel

To mark the first of the Great O Antiphon days in the final week of Advent leading up to the celebration of Christmas, the Church Union and The Society, which is supported by Forward in Faith, are delighted to issue this wonderful recording of the Advent hymn ‘O Come, O Come. Emmanuel’ by the choir of Saint Stephen’s, Gloucester Road. The hymn picks up on the messages of the O Antiphons, which address Our Lord by one of His messianic titles from the Old Testament. This linking of the Old and New Testaments is a striking and profound dimension of Advent from which we can learn much as we prepare for Christmas.

The Church of England has released a single which will hopefully be the Christmas Number 1 this year. Fore more details and how to download see here: https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/church-england-release-first-ever-christmas-single

The Church of England has released a video for Christmas. It can either be watched of the Church of England’s YouTube channel, or here:

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Covid-19 Update

It is now mandatory to wear a face covering in places of worship, and other public places, following changes to the rules and guidance on Covid-19 by HM Government last week. Please endure that you wear your face covering when coming to St. Edmund’s. There would usually be a carol service this afternoon (3rd Sunday of Advent), however this will not be going ahead this year. There are exemptions to wearing a face covering, which Rev. Hugh Burton has helpfully listed for us here:

From the latest C of E guidance – some of the exemptions from the face covering requirement:

• There are exemptions on wearing face coverings for those leading a service or giving a reading.
• There is a reasonable excuse exemption which allows people to remove a face covering whilst singing if they wish to do so. However congregations may wish to consider the use of face coverings while singing depending on the local circumstances.
• These exemptions are made to enable communication, particularly with those who rely on lip-reading, facial expressions or clear sound; they do not exempt clergy and other leaders from wearing face coverings in other situations or during other activities.
• young children under the age of 11
• not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
• to eat or drink, but only if you need to

For further guidance on HM Government’s Covid Plan B, please see here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

We look forward to seeing you at our services through Advent and Christmas, but please keep safe.

Advent 2021

Sunday 28th November 2021 marks the start of Advent. Advent it a time where we think about Jesus Christ’s first coming into the world on 25th December, and his second coming at the end of time; and is a time for us to prepare spiritually for the feast of Christmas. It is also the start of the church’s year.

Safe Families

The Benefice is assisting a charity called Safe Families, who are volunteers currently working with 17 families in Dudley. These families are often facing financial hardship and social isolation. If you want to find out more place contact Team Vicar: Rev Rachel Newell (teamvicardudley@gmail.com /01384 74777), or see the leaflet below:

safe-familiesDownload

Black Country Food Bank

The Black Country Food Bank require Christmas food donations. Please ask in church for more details.

At the Heart of Christmas

‘At the heart of Christmas’ is the Church of England’s theme for Advent and Christmas 2021. Looking to sign up for the reflections emails or download the app? Get involved today The event will be launched on Thursday at 6PM, you an watch it here:

Christmas Services

Christmas services at St. Edmund’s are as follows:

11AM Sunday 19th December 2021: Sung Mass with Carols

7 PM Friday 24th December 2021: First Mass of Christmas (Sung)

10AM Saturday 25th December 2021: Said Mass

11AM Sunday 26th December 2021: Sung Mass

Together

The Christmas edition of Together is now available either in paper form at the back of church, or electronically here: http://www.sswsh.com/together.php

Service times remain the same through Advent: 11AM Sundays – Sung Mass, 1215PM Wednesdays – Said Mass. All welcome.

Virtual Reality Service

The Church of England have made a virtual reality service for their YouTube channel. The service is the Blessing of the Light (best watched after sunset), and allows you to either stand next to, or move around, the choir. You do not need a VR head-set to watch the video. You can watch the video here:

Remembrance Sunday (14th November 2021)

Please advised that the Mass on Sunday 14th November 2021 (Remembrance Sunday) will start at 1050 rather than the usual time of 1100. This is so we can observe the two minutes silence at 1100.

All are welcome to the service.