Christian Faith and Worship
'Being a
Christian' by Baron Williams of Oystermouth

Christian life is lived in relationship with God through Jesus
Christ and, in common with other Christians, seeking to deepen that
relationship and to follow the way that Jesus taught.
Central to that relationship is knowing we can trust God. Saint Paul
says at the end of the eighth chapter of his letter to the Church in
Rome, 'if God is for us, who can be against us?' And this is the
heart of faith.
How do we know that 'God is for us'? Because Jesus Christ, the one
human being who is completely in tune with God - with what God wants
and what God is doing - has carried the burden of our human
betrayals of God and running away from goodness. He has let himself
be betrayed and rejected, executed in a humiliating and agonising
way, and yet has not turned his back on us. Death did not succeed in
silencing him or removing him from the world. He is alive; and that
means that his love is alive, having survived the worst we can do.
Nothing - says St Paul in the same passage - can separate us from
this love. But this isn't an excuse for doing what we like, knowing
we can get away with it. Once we know that God is 'for us', we open
up to the gift that God wants to give us - which is a share in his
own love and freedom and mercy. We breathe with his breath - that's
part of what it means to say that we receive God's 'Spirit', which
makes us live like Jesus 'in tune' with God. If we have really taken
the message in, we shall live lives of selfless generosity, always
asking how the gifts given us - material or imaginative or spiritual
or whatever - can be shared in a way that brings other people more
fully alive. And we shall be able to trust the generosity of others
and be free to receive what they have to give us.
Generosity, gratitude, confidence that when we fail we are still
loved - all of this focused on Jesus' life and death and
resurrection. That's where we start in the lifelong job of being a
Christian.
Our services
-
Sadly our public worship is subject to change at present due
to the Coronavirus pandemic - please see our home page for
current services
In normal times our regular worship is:
Every Sunday:
8.00am Said Eucharist
This is a quiet reflective service of said Holy
Communion which lasts about half an hour. It is held at St
Clement's (2nd and 4th Sunday) and St Saviour's (1st and 3rd
Sundays).
9.15am Dittisham Parish Sung Eucharist This parish communion service usually lasts about an hour, our singing is led by the choir and everyone
is invited to refreshments afterwards.
2nd, 3rd and 4th
Sundays at St George's Church with the first Sunday
being lay-led Village Worship.
11.00am Dartmouth Parish Sung Eucharist This parish communion service usually lasts about an hour
and 15 minutes, our singing is led by the choir and everyone
is invited to refreshments afterwards.
1st and 3rd
Sundays at St Clement's Church with the
first Sunday being particularly family friendly (there is a
children's corner with toys and games).
2nd and 4th
Sundays at St Saviour's Church
There is also a
children's corner in St Saviour's with toys, colouring etc.
9.30am 'Wake up on Sunday' at St Clement's Church an
informal, relaxed family get-together on the first Sunday of
the month where children can
enjoy interacting with Bible stories and parents can
socialise.
6.30pm Sung Evensong/Taize/Compline
From
Easter - September, there is Sung Evensong at St Petrox Church
From September - Easter, at St Saviour's Church there is
Sung Evensong on the 1st and 3rd Sundays;
at St Clement's Church on the 2nd Sunday our Taize service
is meditative worship by candlelight with music, prayer and
times of silence; on the 4th Sunday we say Compline, an ancient service of night prayer
5th (Benefice) Sundays
Please see the calendar for details of our
combined benefice services when there are 5 Sundays in a
month.
The Blessed
Sacrament is reserved in St Clement's and St Saviour's
churches.
Regular midweek services
St Clement's Church
On Thursdays there is a Said Eucharist at 9.30am (followed
by coffee for those who want to stay for a chat). Morning
Prayer is said on Monday and Tuesday at 8.30am and on
Thursday at 8.45am and whenever possible Evening Prayer
Monday to Thursday at 4.30pm.
St George's Church
On the Tuesday after the 2nd Sunday of the month there
is a Said Eucharist at 9.30am, preceded by Morning Prayer at
9am.
St Petrox Church
On the first Tuesday of the month all year round there
is a Said Eucharist (BCP) at 10.00am
St Saviour's Church
On Wednesdays there is
a Said Eucharist at 10.00am, preceded by Morning Prayer at
9.00am.
A short service of prayer is said daily (Monday - Thursday)
at noon; this includes those who have asked for our prayers
and any requests left on the board in St Saviour's; you can
also
email prayer requests.
Festivals
Please see the calendar for details of celebrations at
Festivals
Cell of Our Lady of
Walsingham
We have an active and dedicated Cell of
Our Lady of Walsingham which meets
at St Clement's on the
2nd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm for worship and prayer with a Eucharist and
'bring and share' supper each quarter. We are
exploring the ministries offered at the Shrine, in
particular the healing ministries (laying on of hands,
anointing and reconciliation. All are welcome, you do
not have to be a member of the cell to come along and join
in, or simply to sit and listen; we especially welcome
anyone who might be considering going on pilgrimage in the
future.
Prayers for Peace
Each Wednesday, at our midweek
Eucharist in St Saviour's at 10am, prayers are offered for
peace throughout the world.
Advent and Lent Courses - we invite everyone to join
in our Advent and Lent courses; we have used various study aids including Emmaus,
Hilary Brand's 'Christ and the Chocolaterie', 'Everybody
Welcome' by Bob Jackson and George Fisher and most recently
Henri Nouwen's meditation on Rembrandt's painting 'The
return of the Prodigal Son'. We have also discussed
questions raised by members of the congregation and the
Creeds.
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage can
be a life changing event as setting aside a time
specifically to focus on God is when we are most open to
change and growth. Each year a small group from the
benefice goes on pilgrimage to The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham; there is a Walsingham 'cell' in the benefice
(see above). We also have a tradition of attending the
annual Glastonbury Pilgrimage.
|