Christmas 2024
Services and Events
As usual there's a lot going on at St Margaret's!
Make sure you put these dates in your diary and look forward to a joyful, colourful and musical festive season with us. Please note our 'Midnight' Mass is at the earlier time of 9pm this year.
Ideal for children:
Christingle
Crib Service
Christmas Day at 10am
Carols and Cakes
Saturday 14th December, 2-4pm
A very popular Warnham 'special', Carols and Cakes is for many the true start to Christmas.
Request your favourite carol!
See what you can win at the raffle!
Come in for as much or as little as you wish, and enjoy an informal singalong with tea, coffee, squash and cakes.
And afterwards we are switching on the Christmas Tree lights in the churchyard.
Christmas Carol Service
Sunday 22nd December at 6.30pm
Join us for the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols, led by our robed choir.
In the hushed, candlelit church a single voice sings 'Once in royal David's city...'. There follows the Christmas story told in words as music, and we sing together heartily the carols we know and love.
Everyone is welcome. Come early for a good seat!
Crib Service
Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December 2024 at 4pm
Put on your favourite Nativity costume and join in the fun and carols.
Some costumes are available for you to borrow on the day - we're often short of Innkeepers and Kings!
Our annual Passiontide and Easter devotions
Holy Week
Palm Sunday
We meet at the Village Hall at 10am and process down Church Street with our palms, recreating Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Then in the evening at 6.30pm the mood is meditative as we follow 'The Way of the Cross' (see above).
Maundy Thursday
Our service at 7.30pm commemorates Jesus's institution of the Lord's Supper, or Eucharist, and we break bread together and wash each other's feet. After the service there is the chance to stay and pray in silence in the side chapel for a few hours, watching with Christ.
Good Friday
At 1.30pm we gather to remember the hours of Christ's suffering and death, and spend some time before the cross in penitence for our sins.
Easter Saturday - Vigil
And yet death does not have the final word! On Saturday at 7pm the atmospheric and mysterious Vigil and Service of Light begins. At first in darkness, then exploding in a joyful noise and blaze of light in imitation of Jesus's bursting from the tomb, we celebrate his victory over death and rising to new life.
Easter Day
At 10am we rejoice in Christ's resurrection and sing alleluias. After the service the celebration continues with fizz and chocolates, and an egg hunt for the children.
The Way of the Cross
A meditation for Holy Week
Music and readings brought to us by the choir.
An opportunity to go with Jesus on his journey to the cross - to pray, to worship, to mourn with him.
6.30pm on Palm Sunday