As we enter Tier 4 in London, I want to assure you that all our Christmas services will take place as planned. The government has specifically stated that public worship can continue under the new Tier 4.
I am satisfied that the precautions we have taken to make our church COVID safe mean that we can worship with the risk of infection reduced to the minimum. As we enter Tier 4 we will ensure these precautions continue with extra vigilance.
Our main Christmas services are all ticketed so there will be no risk of overcrowding at the Carol Service or Midnight Mass. We have all got used over the past few months to the usual practice of disinfecting hands, wearing face coverings, and keeping a 2 metre distance from others, and I would urge you to keep to those disciplines with renewed resolve and care as we worship together.
This virus will not cancel Christmas! It does not have the power to overshadow the joy that the birth of Christ will put in our hearts, and God’s love with triumph no matter what.
Fr Peter Anthony
This year’s Christmas services will be reduced in number because of COVID. It will also be necessary to book (entirely free) tickets for most of the main sung liturgies so we can predict how many people will be present in our building.
We can fit a maximum of around 50 people in the church at the moment. We have made the decision not to have our usual Christmas Eve Children’s Crib Service this year. We aim, in addition, to have a Christmas Carol Service on Sunday 20th December at 6.00 pm, Midnight Mass on Thursday 24th December at 9.00 pm, and a Mass on Christmas Day at 11.00 am.
There will be no congregational singing at any of our Christmas liturgies, but there will be a choir present singing for us at Midnight Mass and the Carol Service.
Could we ask parishioners to start booking tickets NOW for these three Christmas liturgies? Please send Fr Peter an email indicating how many tickets you need for which service, and whether those attending form the same household or bubble.
Services for the week beginning 20th December 2020
Sunday 20th December 2020
Advent 4
11.00 am Sung Mass
6.00 pm Christmas Carol Service
Tuesday 22nd December
O Rex
11.00 am Mass
Wednesday 23rd December
O Immanuel
7.30 pm Mass
Thursday 24th December
Christmas Eve
9.00 pm Midnight Mass
Friday 25th December
Christmas Day
11.00 am Mass
Saturday 26th December
St Stephen
11.00 am Mass
Sunday 27th December
Feast of the Holy Family
11.00 am Sung Mass