Collective Worship

Burning of the Palm Crosses and Ash Wednesday Service

4th and 6th March 2019

Candlemas Collective Worship February 5th 2019

Lord Jesus Christ,

Light of the world,

shine among us and within us;
turn us from darkness
and bring us to your eternal light,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Epiphany Collective Worship January 6th

Christ bless this house in 2019

How to bless your house on Epiphany, 6th January 2019

In many countries around the world there is a 6th January Epiphany Day tradition of blessing a home by writing in chalk above the front door the New Year and the initials C M B:

20 + C + M + B + 19

The initials are from the first letter of the names of the three Magi or Wise Men from the East who visited baby Jesus: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The initials, C, M, B, can also be interpreted as the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" which means "Christ bless this house". The + signs represent the cross and 2019 is the year.

This year the students of St Mary’s Academy have blessed their school following this tradition.

We invite you and your family to ask for God’s blessing on your home and all those who live in or visit it. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.

Use the chalk to mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:

20 + C + M + B + 19 while saying:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and seventeen years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

Then offer the following prayer:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the
gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch.
May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace,
O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

Christingle Collective Worship 6th December

Please look at our pictures page for more photographs following our
Christingle Collective Worship led by Rev'd Bill on 6th December, in which we made another 'human Christingle'!

Christ the King Collective Worship on Tuesday 27th November 2018

We reflected on different images of Jesus: teacher, healer, friend, shepherd and King.
We also reflected on what king is Jesus?

Jesus was a king, but he was different from other kings. He didn’t live in a palace.

He didn't wear a beautiful robe or a jewelled crown. He had no servants to wait on him.

He had no soldiers to fight his battles. He didn't even have a country over which to rule over

because he ruled over the Kingdom of God. Jesus is King of Kings, the King of Heaven.

Bishop Michael, the Bishop of Hertford, led our service, along with children from Year 4.

He said, “It was inspiring to be part of the collective worship – just brilliant to see the children

take full roles as leaders of the liturgy.”

The children said, “We were excited to have Bishop Michael there. He made it even more special.”

Remembrance Collective Worship on Tuesday 6th November 2018

Today we remember all those from Stotfold who were caught up in the courageous but tragic events of the First World War.

We remember those who were killed in battle, or by disease, the wounded and those who suffered permanent physical and mental injuries.

According to the 1911 census, Stotfold was a tiny village. Only 3,128 people lived here. During the war 61 men died. Nearly every person in Stotfold would have lost a husband, brother, son or uncle or a friend in the First World War.

A book is kept in the church and lists all the names of the men from Stofold who died in The First World War.

As we remember those who fought and those friends and family who remained at home in this community, let us pray that God will heal all memories, speak a word of peace, and bring us his healing.