Saint Martin’s Church in Fenny Stratford
In Aylesbury Street at the heart of Bletchley
Serving the Communities of Fenny Stratford, Central Bletchley and Granby
Saint Martin’s Church in Fenny Stratford In Aylesbury Street at the heart of Bletchley Serving the Communities of Fenny Stratford, Central Bletchley and Granby |
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Worship and Spirituality
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The main act of worship at St. Martins is the Sunday Parish Mass, which takes place at 9.30am. It combines a form of worship, which is unashamedly, Anglo-Catholic in ritual and ceremonial with a relaxed, welcoming and friendly atmosphere. There is also a said or Low Mass at 8.00am. On the first Sunday of the month Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer is sung and is followed by Benediction. On the third Sunday of the month another form of evening prayer - Vespers, take place followed by Benediction. A Healing Mass with the Laying on of Hands and Anointing takes place four times a year for those who seek and desire healing in body, mind or spirit. Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Vespers (Evening Prayer) are said regularly and Mass is celebrated daily. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in Church for those seeking quiet time and meditation. There are many opportunities provided at St. Martins to foster the spiritual life. There is an annual parish day retreat that takes place on a Saturday in Lent. There is a weekend retreat to Walsingham that takes place during September each year and other pilgrimages to Walsingham also feature in our parish life. The clergy are always available for Spiritual Direction and the Sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation.
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Sundays 9.00 am Lauds - Morning Prayer 6 pm Evensong & Benediction (1st Sunday in the Month) Vespers & Benediction (3rd Sunday in the Month) or Taizé |
Mondays
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Tuesdays
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Wednesdays
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Thursdays
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Fridays
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Saturdays |
For Details about Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, Confessions or Any Other Pastoral matter Please Contact Fr Victor 01908 372 825
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A Guide to Worship
Lauds and Vespers - Morning and Evening Prayer |
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In Morning and Evening prayer we join in with the whole Church in its saying of the 'Divine Office'. Together with the daily Mass, they form the prayerful bedrock of our ministry. We recite and reflect upon the Psalms and other passages from scripture, and pray for the Church, the world and for the town around us. All are welcome to join us for these prayers that are the 'hinges' of our day. |
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The Sacraments |
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What is a Sacrament? |
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A Sacrament is an outward sign of God's invisible grace. In our everyday lives, a sign on the road is there to point out to us or to alert us to something. As Christians, we believe that the sacraments are a gift from Christ to his Church in which he alerts and points out to us that we can receive God's grace. We believe that there are seven of these sacraments. They are Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist (known as the Mass), Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Marriage. |
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In our baptism (often called our 'Christening') we are made Christians. We are marked out by God as his children and we become members of his holy Church. Through the waters of baptism ,we also receive the forgiveness of 'original sin', those sins we inherit as part of our human nature. Through baptism we therefore receive 're-birth' and so are made new. |
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Confirmation |
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In our Confirmation by the bishop we receive the Holy Spirit. We renew and confirm the promises that were made at our baptism and we enter into a fuller communion with Christ's body 'the Church'. |
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The Mass or the Eucharist |
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In the Mass, which is both the summit and source of the Church's life, we recall the moment when at the last supper Jesus took bread and wine and told us to do this in memory of him. Under the appearances of bread and wine, the Mass is an offering of Christ's body and blood in which we receive his very soul and divinity. In our celebration of the Mass we are not only united with one another -we are united with the whole of the Church, both here on earth and in heaven. We also listen together to God's word in the scriptures and to Jesus speaking to us in the Gospel. |
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In the Sacrament of Reconciliation Christ offers us absolution (forgiveness) for those sins that we have committed following our baptism. All of us through human frailty fall into sin from time to time and often experience the pain of guilt. In this wonderful sacrament, Christ calls out to us to offer our burdens upon him, so that we may be set free. Christ transforms our guilt by the price he paid for our sins upon the cross. The priest acts as Christ's ears and mouth giving advice, penance and absolution. Anything said to a priest in confession is always in total confidence under what is called the seal of the confessional. |
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Anointing of the Sick |
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In the anointing of the sick, olive oil specially blessed by the Bishop on Maundy Thursday is used to comfort the soul and to restore health of body, mind and spirit, if it be God's will. In dangerous illness, the Sacrament of anointing prepares the soul for death, commending the sick person to God's merciful and loving keeping. |
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Marriage is a wonderful gift from God in creation and the sacrament in which a man and a woman are united with one another. They are joined together and become one. On their wedding day, the bride and groom face each other to make their solemn promises of commitment to one another in the presence of God. The couple receive God's blessing and the support and prayers of those present. Marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but only with great reverence and responsibility in the sight of God almighty. |
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Holy Orders |
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Through the Sacrament of Ordination performed by the bishop, the Holy Spirit is sent upon the candidate so that they may receive grace to perform a sacred duty and office in God's church. It is through ordination that a candidate is made a deacon, a priest or a bishop. |
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Other Forms of Worship |
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In Exposition, sometimes called Eucharistic adoration, we kneel before the blessed Sacrament, for we believe that Christ is 'really' and truly present upon the altar under the appearance of the Eucharistic bread. Readings, prayers and other meditations are lead as we look in adoration upon our Lord who gives himself and feeds us in the sacrament of the Eucharist. |
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Taizé is the home of an international ecumenical community founded in France by Brother Roger. The community is one of prayer rooted in simple meditation and aided by reflective music and singing. Every few months at St. Martin's, our Sunday evening worship follows the pattern and style of a Taizé evening prayer. A wonderful opportunity to take stock and to reflect before the week ahead begins! |
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