Come and join us at our Christmas Services and Events

Saturday16/17 December
Christmas Tree Festival in St James Church 10am until 5pm
Explore and enjoy the trees
Have a glass of mulled wine, a mince pie and soft drinks for the little ones

The Service of Remembrance will take place on Sunday 13th November at 10am in the church, and will be followed by the Act of Remembrance at 1055 at the War Memorial in Ludgershall.  The service will again be broadcast live by Castledown FM (huge thanks to them). We look forward to welcoming everyone, including 26 Engineers, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers, Cadets, and members of Ludgershall Town Council.

if you want to follow the words of service, then please use this link which will download a pdf file of the order of service, including hymns. st-james-remembrance-sunday-and-mem

We should like to apologise for any distress caused by recent events in the churchyard. Two events happened to which we needed to respond quickly, giving us no time to communicate with those affected as we would have preferred.

The Diocese of Salisbury, which is responsible for the rules for churchyards, has issued new rules, particularly with regard to what may be placed on graves.  The rules are very specific, allowing only vases or pots which are part of any memorial stone, with anything else not permitted. In the past, vases, pots and ornaments have been tolerated within the churchyard, recognising the comfort that their placement can offer the bereaved.

At almost the same time and at the worst possible moment in the grass growing season, our contractor announced they would no longer be able to mow the churchyard.  They have suffered bad damage to two machines because of hitting objects which should not have been there in the first place.

We were left with two options:-

1. Remove objects from graves which were not permitted, so that we could organise alternative contractors, to safely resume grass cutting as soon as possible.

Or

2. Attempt to communicate with everyone with graves via the magazine and noticeboards, inviting removal of the offending objects before resorting to their removal by Churchwardens as above, after a reasonable period and before starting new contractors.

The situation was outlined in the June magazine with the churchyard clean-up introduced as Churchwarden Mike Dunning’s first working party of the year.

Because of the rate of growth of the grass, the Rector and Churchwardens agreed that the first option was most likely to result in a quicker return of the churchyard to its normal state.  We did not consider that a further month of would be the right thing to do.

Of course we are very sorry for the resulting distress caused to relatives.  We are grateful to all those of you who maintain graves regularly, and thank you for all your hard work in helping keep the churchyard in good condition. We hope you will understand that we faced a difficult decision, and that we regret the upset caused.

Claire Maxim

Rector

You are invited to all five sessions of this year’s Lent Group.  We will be learning about the Psalms – which are the “Top 150” of their day – songs which express all sorts of feelings and situations, many of which are familiar to us today.

The sessions will be held in the Church Hall, and will end at about 8.30 pm

(The first session is earlier because we will follow it with the Ash Wednesday service in church)

There is a course booklet available for purchase at £3.50, but it isn’t necessary for you to have a copy to enjoy this course.  However, it would be useful if you bring a Bible with you

If you have any queries, please contact Claire Maxim (Rector) on 01264 393026 or via email rector [at] themaxims.co.uk

15 December Castle Primary Carol Service 1.30pm.

16 December Crib Service for Castle Primary School KS 1 10am.

17 December Carols in the Crown and Queens Head starting 7pm in the Crown Pub and Queens Head 7.30pm. (Money raised will be donated to Wilts Air Ambulance Service.)

19 December Carols and Crumpets in the Church Hall 3pm

20 December Carol Service 6pm

24 December Christingle and Crib Service 4pm.

24 December Midnight Mass 11.30pm

25 December  CHRISTMAS DAY Communion 10am

The Christmas Tree Festival returns on Friday 11th December (2pm-4pm), Saturday 12th December (10am-4pm) and Sunday 13th December (11.30am-4pm, or during services at 10am and 4pm).

If you want to enter a tree, please contact Claire (rector@themaxims.co.uk).  Note we don’t have any prizes for the trees, we think they are all beautiful!

10am in church, about 10:50 am at war memorial on Sunday 8th November for the Act of Remembrance. This year, you can also listen to the service on Castledown Radio, 104.7 FM, or via the internet. The Church Hall will be open in case the church becomes too full, and the service will be available there via the radio.

The service will be led by The Rev’d Claire Maxim, with Padre Ivan Linton of 26 Engineers, and Mr Michael Meade.

If you want to follow the service at home, you can see the service sheet below.

St James, Ludgershall and Faberstown Service of Remembrance

Hymn 

Clergy will process in, followed by any Colours/Standards which will be received at the High Altar.

Welcome

God is our refuge and strength;
 a very present help in trouble.
                           Psalm 46.1

We meet in the presence of God.  We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations,
 that all people may, together, live in freedom, justice and peace. We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror. We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow
 those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present,
 have been given and taken away.

Reading (Please sit)

The response

This is the word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Penitence

Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world; its pride, its selfishness, its greed; its evil divisions and hatreds. Let us confess our share in what is wrong, and our failure to seek and establish that peace which God wills for us all.

Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.

Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hymn (Please stand)

Reading (Please sit)

The Response

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Hymn (Please stand) A collection will be taken

Prayers of Intercession (Please sit or kneel)

The Response

Lord in your mercy Hear our Prayer                       

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn (Please stand)

Standards may be returned to bearers, who remain at the chancel step

Commitment
Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service.

Will you strive for all that makes for peace?
We will

Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?
We will

Will you work for a just future for all humanity?
We will

National Anthem  

Colours/Standards are dipped in salute.

Blessing

God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest,

to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all people, peace and concord,

and to us and all his servants life everlasting,

and the blessing of God Almighty,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all evermore. Amen.

Any Colour/Standard Bearers depart. The Clergy depart.

Procession to War Memorial

Act of Remembrance At War Memorial

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Opening Prayer

Stir up your power, O God, and come among us.

Heal our wounds, calm our fears, and give us peace. Amen

Remembrance

Let us remember before God, and commend to his sure keeping:

those who have died for their country in conflict;

those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure;

and all who have lived and died in the service of humanity.

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

We will remember them.

The Last Post —  The Silence — The Reveille

Kohima Epitaph

“When you go home tell them of us and say:

“For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

Reading of names

Wreath laying and other ceremonies take place here.

Commemoration

Remember, Lord, your people, who cry to you in their grief.

Remember the fallen in battle, and the innocents who have died.

Remember your power to heal and save. Amen

Commitment

Lord God our Father,

we pledge ourselves to serve you and all your peoples,

in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering,

and for the praise of your name.


Guide us by your Spirit;

give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope;

and keep us faithful now and always.

Amen

Ending

The Lord bless you and watch over you, The Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you,
The Lord look kindly on you and give you peace.
The blessing of God Almighty,The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Rest upon you and be with you always.  Amen

The Rector and Parochial Church Council of St James,the Town Council and 26 Engineers would like to thank you all for your participation and support.

© Common Worship: Times and Seasons 2006

© Brian Elliot CF 2006, 2013