Dear all,

Thankyou to each and every of you who were with us for Midnight Mass - you were brilliant despite all the last-minute difficulties we were presented with. A truly team effort! Huge thanks to Sitso, who has so easily become an integral, and happy, part of us at the front of the Choir in such a short space of time. Kudos to Richard, who had his best outing as cantor ever, and Jeannette, for standing in for Molly at such short notice. Andrew's brilliant solo in In the bleak midwinter resounded once again, as it did, as did Molly's, at the Christmas Concert.

Happy New year to you and to all of yours!! May 2023 bring you the joy and peace that we all so very much need (and a bit of prosperity thrown in for good measure!).

Moving on.....! Our dinner, courtesy of Father Deo, is booked with him for Tuesday 7 February at Signore Ciccio in Streatham Vale a few doors up from the bridge over the river Graveney, at 20:00. Some of us have eaten there recently and some not so recently; it's friendly, relaxed, and the service is attentive, so looks to be ideal for us. I'll be circulating a menu for you to choose from nearer the time.

Moving on even further, I'm considering a revamp of our Christmas Concert music for 2023 (if we have one!), and as part of this I am contemplating this version of Away in a manger by Easthope Martin (1882-1925 - choral score here) - it was published in the year of the composer's death, and then popularised by the world-famous tenor John McCormack (recording 1926 here), receiving a performance at Prom 37 on 21 September 1929. I'm afraid I haven't been able to track down a recording of the four-part arrangement, so we might be in at the start of a revival!!

I'm currently open to suggestions for 2023's concert. If you think anything that we haven't done for a while, or something new that you think might be a popular addition to our Christmas repertoire (must be accompanied!!!), then do put it forward to me for consideration before Easter.

Love, Tony x

Choir Dates List 2023

The latest Dates List, dated 22 December, is to be found here - I've added the missing June Mass!! As always, the latest update of the Dates List will always be found on the Choir's Website here.

Forthcoming Poly Masses

Herewith the anticipated Music Lists for the 1 January, 5 February and 5 March Masses.
Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week for us, is on 2 April.

As always, I try and maintain a brief summary on the Parish Website for information. I do sometimes get asked the 'What is that you sang at the....' question after Mass, and at other times.

Forthcoming Plainchant Masses

The anticipated Music List for 15 January. 19 February and 19 March Masses to follow next month.

Forthcoming Hymn Choir Masses

forthcoming dates are 22 January, 26 February and 26 March. 2 April is Palm Sunday for Hymn and Plainchant Choirs. All are welcome to come up and sing!

Prayers, please

Please keep Father Michael Jones in your prayers as he recovers from a very recent stroke; there's a bit more detail on this in his parish newsletter.

Pope Francis has asked for prayers for Benedict XVI "... who is very ill".

Berni has asked for prayers, please, for her elderly aunt in Middlesbrough who is causing some concerns.

Please also continue to keep Maria, Terry F., Jane, Terry J. (did you spot her at our Christmas Concert - a wonderful sight!) and Mary & Frank in your prayers.

St. Bart's Memories No. 58

Father Michael's leaving Mass on 6 November 2004

January Jigsaw

An image from our church...... a pretty tricky 56 pieces.

For your coffee breaks

St. Bartholomew's Parish Website

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