I do hope you all, and your families, have the most wonderful remainder of the Christmas period, and take this opportunity to wish everyone every happiness throughout the coming year..... especially with the Choir!

Look forward to seeing you all again on the 3rd for our Epiphany Mass, and again on the 5th for drinks and nibbles.

With much love, Tony

Christmas thanks

I am writing this having just got home after the concert. What you produced for the concert was quite (unbelievably!) wonderful, and I'm so pleased for you all. The huge amount of extra work over recent weeks, both within and without church, paid dividends. The crowd that attended was the best in recent memory, both for their singing and their number, and their generosity to to SVP: the retiring collection raised a wonderful £322.63 with more to add when the last of the your 'money in lieu of cards' finally comes in. Thanks also to Antony for such a reliable accompaniment to the Concert - we are so very fortunate to have someone so capable and gifted as our organist.

I'm now writing after Midnight Mass! Well done, all!! As you will have gathered from the reception from downstairs at the end of Mass, when Father Deo waited on the sanctuary until after Hark the Herald to thank you all (as I apparently cut him off in his prime with my intro to the carol!), and the congregational applause that started before it was sought! Father Deo referred to you all 'as angels' in his words - don't get carried away; I shall have words with him in the New Year and set matters right!!! Father Paul was absolutely 'bouncing' over the music after Mass - he said our singing had restored his faith in something or other (I didn't quite hear what he said....... Purgatory, perhaps??!!!! No, no: I jest. honestly!).

A finally a huge thank you to Jeannette, who I have to accept (!), we, and I in particular, couldn't do without when it comes to these big occasions.

 
St. Bart's Crib 2015 (left) and 2014 - well, I guess Rosemary and Gordon's tortoises have certainly improved things a tiny bit for baby Jesus.......?

7th February 11:30 Poly Mass

A reminder that Father Deo has agreed that this Mass will be celebrated with the Orchestra, as well as the organ, under the baton of their new conductor Florent de Bazelaire. More details in the New Year.

2016 - Cantors

With Jaru's sudden departure and Ken's current (and understandable) difficulties with being present with us on Sundays, I have had to re-cast the cantors for next year.

I'll have copies of the latest Dates List for you all on the 5th January, when we meet for post-Christmas drinks and nibbles in the upstairs hall at 8pm, but in the meantime I would ask our Cantors to note their revised 2016 duties HERE.

The 2016 singing 'workshop'

I'm struggling to find a date for this before Easter. Ideally it needs to be a second Sunday of the month weekend. January is too early, February we're into Lent, and March is too close to Easter. Saturday 9th April? There will be fewer liturgical restrictions then on the music we look at at learn/teach. I hope to be able to offer you more in January.

Always a smile on his face....!

Click on the pic for a larger image

....unlike almost everyone else present!! What a wonderful picture!

Prayers, please.....

..... for the safe and happy repose of the souls of Helen Stanley and Mary Lane's mother. Helen's Funeral Mass will be at St. Elphege's Wallington on 29th December at 10am.

Also for George Meyern, George Norton, Christine and Eugene, Maria & Family, Anne Mitra, Mary & Frank Elliott and Madeleine and her husband. Please also remember Ken's mother and Jeannette's mother in your prayers at this time.

For your coffee breaks

A Copper's Christmas - sent to me as a chuckle, but I found it rather moving......

If you're ever in Switzerland, this has to be a must do train ride!

The 51 most commonly misused words and phrases - an opportunity to keep up with, match, or even get ahead of John!

The picture to the left shows Archbishop Peter wearing his Amaranth red Zucchetto. Father Deo was really delighted with the black one that the Choir gave him for his 35th Ordination Anniversary on the day of our Christmas Concert.

Five people you know out carol singing.

A working pipe organ commissioned from Mander Organs to promote a product, and its various attributes, that is finally revealed in the closing seconds of the sequence. If you can't wait for the revelation (or don't understand it!), all is explained HERE.

And finally, I wonder if you would like to sing this arrangement of Silent Night next year? Do turn your speakers on and have a listen and let me know.

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