Holy Week and Easter

Holy Week is the most important week in the Christian year. It truly us a holy week that takes us from Christ's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through the moving events of Maundy Thursday, the pain and desolation of Good Friday, to the triumphant light and joy of the resurrection.

Faithful Christians journey through these profoundly moving days by participating in the Church's rich and ancient liturgies. You are most welcome to join us as we journey with our Lord from death to life, from darkness to the bright light of Easter.

This year we are delighted that the Archdeacon of Chichester, The Venerable Dr Tom Carpenter, will be our preacher during Holy Week and Easter Day.

All services are at St Nicholas unless otherwise indicated.

Palm Sunday - 29th March

The liturgy for Palm Sunday, which is celebrated at 10.00 am, features the blessing of palms and a procession into church, recalling the triumphant entry of our Lord into the Holy City of Jerusalem. On this day the gospel reading takes the form of a dramatic reading of the Passion.

8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00 am Liturgy of Palms and Sung Mass for Palm Sunday

Holy Monday - 30th March

6.30 Said Mass in the Lady Chapel

Holy Tuesday - 31st March

12.00 pm Said Mass in the Lady Chapel

Holy Wednesday 1st April

10.00 am Holy Communion (BCP) in the Lady Chapel
6.30 pm Said Mass in the Lady Chapel

Maundy Thursday - 2nd April

In the liturgy for Maundy Thursday we recall Jesus’ supreme example of humble service in washing the feet of his disciples. This liturgy also commemorates the institution of the Eucharist in the upper room. The final feature of this day is the Watch before the blessed sacrament, recalling Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. People are free to come and go during the hours of the Watch.

8.00 pm Sung Mass of the Lord's Supper, followed by the Watch.
11.00 pm Compline

Good Friday - 3rd April

The ancient liturgy for Good Friday consists of three major parts: in the liturgy of the word we hear the story of our Lord's Passion and Crucifixion; in the veneration of the cross we adore our Lord in his sacrifice; in the reception of Holy Communion we become one with our Lord in his death that we might also share in his resurrection.

10.00 am Children's Good Friday Activity
1.30 pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion

Holy Saturday - 4th April

In this special service marking the beginning of our Easter celebrations, our watching and waiting throughout Lent is rewarded with light.

Our service begins outside, where from a new fire the Paschal Candle is lit. As we process into the church, the light from the candle is shared amongst the congregation. We celebrate the victory of light over darkness, of life over death, as we hear scriptural readings telling of our creation by God and how he restores us to new life. We then renew our baptismal vows, before sharing in the First Mass of Easter.

8.00 pm Easter Vigil and the first Mass of Easter

Easter Day - 5th April

On Easter Day we celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord with great joy and thanksgiving.

8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
9.00 am Eucharist at St Leonard's South Stoke
10.00 am Sung Mass of the Resurrection

Lent Lunch

This year our Lent Lunch will once again be raising funds for Family Support Work. FSW helps families in Sussex to overcome their difficulties and prevent crises. They support families struggling with issues such as poverty, ill health, learning difficulties, bereavement, family break-up and domestic abuse. FSW offers intensive support via home-visits, group work and community based activities.

Mass at 12 Noon, followed by lunch at approximately 12.45pm. The lunch consists of soups (homemade), breads, and cheeses, and we ask that you make a donation to FSW.

Please let the Parish Office know if you would like to attend lunch.

If you would like to make an online donation, simply use the link below. Thank you.

Hanover Band J.S. Bach St John Passion

The Hanover Band, one of Britain’s finest period instrument orchestras, returns to St Nicholas’ Church, Arundel to bring a special Passiontide performance of JS Bach’s seasonal masterpiece.

Telling the story of the Passion, the final days of Jesus’s life, is a tradition that dates back to the fourth century. This originally took the form of a liturgical chant, but during the sixteenth century, music and theology became tightly bound and from this time, the Passion began to be sung and performed in different ways. J.S.Bach’s St John Passion is a wonderful way to reflect on Good Friday and the approach of Easter Day.

Andrew Arthur conducts The Hanover Band and Chorus, joined by an exceptional line up of soloists.

Philippa Hyde soprano
Tim Morgan alto
Bradley Smith tenor
Simon Wall Evangelist
Alex Ashworth Christus
Ed Price Pilate

BACH PURE

Celebrated violinist Jorge Jiménez returns to St Nicholas’ for the second instalment of Bach's immortal Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin.

With his eclectic solo violin programs, Jorge has toured extensively throughout Europe, South America, and Canada. Performing in Istanbul, Seville, Barcelona, Biecz, Swidnica, Krakow, London, Manchester, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, Varazdin, Montreal, Cochabamba and, of course, Arundel.

Tickets priced £20 include a complimentary glass of fizz and are available online or by phone 07771842323 to reserve them or further information.

A Journey Through Lent with Mediaeval English Mystics

Friends of St Nicholas Balloon Debate

Who would you save?

Five characters fight for the last parachute in a doomed balloon. Who is most worthy? The choice is yours.

Featuring:

Bertie Wooster (Simon Brett)
Bess of Hardwick (Canon Vanessa Baron)
Dick Whittington (Daniel Hodson)
Marie Antionette (Lady Colin Campbell)
Marie Curie (Dr Justine Hextall)

Compered by Fr Andrew Wadsworth

All proceeds go toward The Friends of St Nicholas, a local charity that supports the maintenance and restoration of Arundel's fourteenth century parish church.

More information on the Friends is available here.

Tickets online via the link below or from the Parish Office.

The Brighton Consort

The Brighton Consort present Au Noble Roi Francois: French Music Fit For A King

Vive la France! While Italy and England get a lot of attention from fans of Renaissance music, France was an incredibly important country during the Renaissance economically, militarily, and of course musically. We present music in a range of styles, both sacred and secular, that all have a connection with French royalty. Beautiful sacred music by Josquin, Richafort, Mouton, and Sermisy will be complemented by delicate and gentle secular music from the period as well as the significantly LESS delicate and gentle 'war chansons' La Prise de Calais by Guillaume Costeley and Clement Janequin's famous La Guerre! Ever wanted to hear a choir make sounds like canons and horses on the march? Now's your chance!

https://fienta.com/brighton-consort

The Epiphany of the Lord

We celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord on Tuesday 6th January with a Sung Mass at St Nicholas' as 7.00 pm.

Epiphany (from Greek for 'manifestation') celebrates the revelation of Jesus' divinity to the Gentiles through the visitation of the Magi or Wise Men.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Magi from the east travelled to Jerusalem, seeking the newborn “king of the Jews” after observing a special star. Guided by the star to the child Jesus, they worshipped him, offering him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As the Epiphany marks the end of our celebration of Christmas, the service will be followed by a glass of fizz!

Author Archive: David Twinley