the parish

There may be many reasons why couples still choose to be married in church:

It's something the bride has always dreamed of doing;It wouldn't feel quite right elsewhere;It's traditional and what the family expect;St. Alphege is a beautiful church and was where mum and dad were married and I was baptised...

But surely there must be more to it than this? Indeed there is, and this is set out in something called 'The Preface' in the marriage service.

Please read the following extract carefully:

Marriage is given, that husband and wife may comfort and help each other, living faithfully together in need and in plenty, in sorrow and in joy... ....

It is given as the foundation of family life in which children are born and nurtured in accordance with God's will, to his praise and glory....

In marriage husband and wife belong to one another, and they begin a new life together in the community. It is a way of life that all should honour; and it must not be undertaken carelessly, lightly, or selfishly, but reverently, responsibly, and after serious thought.

This is worth thinking about and discussing together: what does this mean for each of you?

Falling in love is a very human experience. But when we decide to make lifelong promises in church, we are making a commitment not only between ourselves, our family and friends, but in the sight of God.

We are pledging ourselves to unconditional love, and for life. This is a daunting task, but God offers us his own supreme love to strengthen and sustain us, to make this love possible. This is what lies at the heart of Christian marriage, which is why marriage is one of the seven sacred and special events of the Church known as Sacraments.

ST ALPHEGE

Sundays

8.00am Holy Eucharist (said)

9.15am Parish Eucharist & Sunday Club (2nd Sunday : All-age Eucharist)

Plus on 4th Sunday 'easy' in OBH rejoining Parish Eucharist at communion

11.00am Sung Eucharist

(traditional language)

6.30pm (except 4th Sunday)

Choral Evensong

6.30pm (4th Sunday)

Congregational Evensong

Plus at 6.00pm (1st Sunday)

‘the space’ – informal parish worship

(in the Oliver Bird Hall)

Weekday Eucharists

Monday 9.30am

Tuesday 9.30am

Wednesday 10.15am

Thursday 10.30am

Saturday 9.30am

Morning Prayer

Mon-Sat 9.00am

(Wed term-time 8.30am)

ST CATHERINE

3rd Sunday only

11.00am Eucharist

ST HELEN

Sundays

8.00am Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)

10.00am Parish Eucharist and Sunday Club 3rd Sunday : All-age worship (non-eucharistic)

6.30pm Evening Worship in Chapel

6.30pm (2nd Sunday) Wholeness and Healing service in Chapel.

Weekday Eucharist

Friday 10.00am

ST MICHAEL

Sundays

10.30am Holy Eucharist and Sunday Club (Sharmans Cross School)

10.30am (2nd Sunday) All-age worship (Sharmans Cross School).

4.30pm (2nd Sunday) Holy Communion (St Michael's Chapel).

Weekday Eucharist

Wednesday 10.00am at Oak Cottage