PASSIONTIDE and EASTER
Palm Sunday
The Sunday before Easter Day is Palm Sunday. We don’t have a separate service at each church but meet together at a different venue often a barn to watch or take part in the Easter Drama following the events of Holy Week and Easter. We finish with a simple all age communion and a shared lunch. See What’s on for details of the time and location closer to the time.
Holy Week – the week leading up to Good Friday
On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Good Friday during Holy week we meet at a different church in the benefice each evening at 7pm for a reflection and short service. See What’s On for details of the venue and talks.
Maundy Thursday
In the morning at 10am all the ministers renew their vows and collect the Holy Oil for use during the year for healing, baptism and confirmation at the Chrism service at Ely Cathedral and anyone is welcome to attend and support them and to receive communion and be receive a blessing with Holy Oil.
In the evening at 7pm we meet at the back of Somersham Church around a table for a shared supper (usually a lamb or veg casserole) and a Celtic Style communion.
Good Friday
10am Messy Easter – Somersham Church– crafts and activities and a special Holy Week trail around the church following Jesus’ last week and taking part in activities. We finish with hot cross buns, singing and the Easter Story. For all ages.
2-3pm – ‘Last words at the cross’ words of reflection and short act of worship in the chancel of Pidley Church.
7pm – The final part of the Holy Week reflection held in the chancel of Somersham Church.
Saturday Light Service – the Evening before Easter Day
In this service we bring the ‘light of Christ’ into the church as the new Paschal Candle is lit in the porch from a small fire with prayers and then brought into the dark church. The light of the Paschal Candle flickers on the walls as the congregation light their own candles from it. We sit at the back of the church and listen to some Old Testament readings and drama.
EASTER DAY
We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in all our churches. The children may make an Easter Garden or take part in an Easter Egg Hunt during or after the service. We celebrate this joyful day in the Communion and with hymns and prayers.
SERVICES IN THE AUTUMN
Remembrance Sunday
A Service of Remembrance takes place in each of our churches at different times to be found in What’s on.
In Somersham people join us for an Act Of Remembrance at the village War Memorial at 11.00am. There follows a Service in the church which includes the British Legion and members of uniformed organisations.
Memorial Service
Each year we hold a Service of Remembering on the afternoon of All Souls Sunday, which falls either at the end of October or the beginning of November, at 3.30 p.m.
It is an opportunity for us to come together to remember those we love who have died, to give thanks for all they have meant to us, reflect on our memories and support one another. It is a peaceful service with music, prayers, readings and lighting of candles. We contact those who have been recently bereaved and read out their names in the service. Let us know on the day or before hand if you would like us to remember a loved one (whether recent or not).
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PLOUGH SUNDAY
Plough Sunday is celebrated at Pidley Church on the 2nd Sunday of January at 4pm. In this special service, we invite farmers and their families to come forward and touch the plough share as we say a prayer of blessing over the sowing of the seed. It is a service of celebration and children are welcomed and can bring a tractor (one that fits in the church). Afterwards we all go back to someone’s home for tea, cake and sandwiches.
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
Children’s Christmas services
Christingle
We hold a Christingle Light Service each year in Somersham Church on or around Advent Sunday (end of Nov/beg Dec) at 4pm. The Christingle Service supports the work of the Children’s Society and is very popular. Although children love this service, adults can really connect with it too. We particularly encourage our baptism families to come back and remember their baptism. Refreshments are offered at the end.
Crib Service
This is held on at 4pm on Christmas Eve in Somersham Church. Children and adults are invited to dress up if they wish. You may come as a king, sheep, shepherd or angel. We have some spare outfits if you have none of your own.
Posada
The Posada is a Spanish idea. The figures of Joseph and Mary from the stable scene in the church, begin their journey round Somersham (on the way to Bethlehem) on Advent Sunday, four weeks before Christmas Day. They spend a night in someone’s house and then that person takes them round to spend the next night with the next person on the list, and so on. The idea is to invite a neighbour or a friend to share your hospitality that day or evening.
On Christmas Eve they arrive at Church for the crib Service and then finally go to the stable in time for Midnight Communion.
Carol Services
Carol Services are held at each church in the Benefice. This is a wonderful service each year with readings and reflections from the Christmas story, well known carols for everyone to sing. The service begins in candlelight as we sing the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City.’ Mulled wine and Mince pies are served at the end.
Old Hurst and Woodhurst 4pm, Somersham 6pm the Sunday before Christmas and Pidley have their carol Service at 6pm on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve
The Crib Service (see above) is held at 4pm at Somersham Church. It is very popular so it is best to get there early.
Pidley Church Carol Service is held at 6pm.
Midnight Mass (Communion) is a traditional service but there is something very special about going to church in the middle of the night. The services at both Somersham and Woodhurst Church begin at 11.30pm.
Old Hurst begins at the slightly earlier time of 10.00pm (good if you have to get up early).
Christmas Day
We have two services on Christmas Day There is a Family Service with a short communion at 10.30am at Somerham and also 10am at Pidley. We have an opportunity to sing more carols and it is a happy and joyful celebration of our Saviour’s birth. It is a really great start to the celebrations of the day!
