Old Saint Martin’s in the Cornmarket is a parish which stands firmly in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. Here you can expect to find dignity, order and structure in worship, orthodox theology and faithfulness to apostolic order. The Mass is at the centre of our life both for us as individual Catholic Christians and as a congregation. It is celebrated every Sunday and Solemnity, and regularly during the week (and always by a male priest). You will find details of this week's services on the right hand side of this page. Confessions are heard by appointment with one of the Parish clergy.
Our church offers you good music, catholic liturgy, and preaching of a reasonable length. We try to be a welcoming congregation, and should you wish to join us please make yourself know to the clergy or the sidesmen. We also recognise that some people choose to come and worship, watch and listen in solitude, and you are welcome to do that.
Please explore our site through the menu bar which you will find at the top of each page.
Father Ian Pearson,
Parish Priest.
Christmas has for centuries been observed as The Twelve Days, with the following day, Epiphany (January 6th - the visit of the Wise Men) as a kind of short postscript to Christmas. In our present Church Calendar the season of Christmas (including Epiphany) extends for forty days, from Christmas Day itself to Candlemas (2 February). This is achieved by making Epiphany a major festival season of four weeks, with white as the liturgical colour, and the crib still in church.
Traditionally Epiphany itself has been seen as the visit of the Magi, the Three Wise Men or Three Kings, who perceived God's glory in a young child (and unwittingly put his life at risk forcing him and his family to flee for their lives).
This theme of God showing his glory in Jesus the Christ is the great theme of the Epiphany season, and is now extended beyond the Babe of Bethlehem to take in other Biblical events. So we are also given the Baptism of Christ, when perhaps for the first time Our Lord knew himself to be the Chosen One of God, and the First Miracle at the wedding in Cana-in-Galilee, the occasion when Jesus showed forth his glory "and his disciples believed in him."
It is no accident that as we contemplate the glory of God in the face of Jesus that the Church should be asking us (through the Bible readings of this season) to make the same decisions that the first disciples made. They could not behold his glory without responding, and neither can we. We, too, in our own day are given the opportunity to follow Jesus in the company of the disciples on the way that leads us ultimately to the same glory. But it is a glory that is achieved at a cost, for ourselves, of course, but most of all for Jesus. And it is this cost that occupies the Church's mind after Candlemas, when we turn towards Lent, Holy Week and Easter.
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
The Diocese will be praying for the City Benefice during the course of this week, as follows:
Wednesday: The Benefice Clergy
Thursday: Old Saint Martin’s
Friday: Saint George’s
Saturday: All Saints
We are invited to the Cathedral for Evensong on these days at 5.30pm.
Art and Craft Group
Has finished now, until 13 January. I would like to thank everybody who gave things for the Samaritans’ Purse. We filled 15 shoeboxes. We will be collecting in the New Year for next year’s boxes. Hope we can fill more than 15 boxes!! Ann and John Sheen wish all a Happy Christmas.
Candlemass
Bishop John is coming to preside and preach at our Candlemas Celebrations (Monday 2 February at 7.30pm).
Items for the pewsheet
Items for next week's pewsheet can be given to Denise at the Institute, or emailed to her, by Wednesday a.m. at the latest. worcester.cityparish@virgin.net
Click here for a printable version of this week's pewsheet
Click here for a printable pew sheet including this week's service and notices.
Tuesday, 6 JanuaryThe Epiphany
12.00 noon: High Mass
19.30pm: Mass
Intention: Thanksgiving for the generosity of God
Wednesday, 7 January
Epiphany feria
10.30am: Mass
Intention: The clergy of the City Benefice
Friday, 9 January
Epiphany feria
12.00 noon: Mass
Intention: Saint George’s Barbourne
Saturday, 10 January
William Laud
12.00 noon: Mass
Intention: All Saints Worcester
Sunday, 11 January
The Baptism of the Lord
9.15am: Solemn Mass
Readings: Common Worship Lectionary page 418
Psalm 29 Response: May the Lord bless his people with peace.
From 24 December to 2 February
Nativity scene and crib
Bring the children to see our beautiful nativity scene, with crib, shepherds and the Holy Family. Sit for a while in the peace of the church and remember the miracle of the birth of the baby Jesus.
Tuesday 6 January
EPIPHANY
We will be keeping the Feast Day of the Epiphany on the proper day with a High Mass at 12 noon followed by a Bring-and-Share lunch.
This will be the main Mass of the day. For those who are not able to be there at noon, there will be a Low Mass at 7.30pm.
Sunday 11 January
Baptism of The Lord
Our monthly Choral Mass
Friday 16 January
Monthly Requiem Mass at 12.00 noon
Our montly Requiem at which we remember those departed whose anniversary falls in January.
Sunday 18 January
Solemn Evensong and Benediction at 16.00
We are the only Anglican Parish in Worcester offering a service of Benediction. Come along and experience how special this is.
Saturday 24 January
Rosary at 11.30
Join us for our monthly public recitation of the Rosary before Mass at 12.00 noon.
Monday 2 February
Candlemass
Bishop John is coming to preside and preach at our Candlemas Celebrations.
Visit our Liturgical Calendar page for full details of all forthcoming services.