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Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-AvonGrace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be always with you | ||||||
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Welcome to Holy Trinity Church, one of England's most beautiful parish churches. The people of Stratford have worshipped God in this building for more than 750 years and on this site for over 1,000 years. Here, every day of the year, local Christians offer their praise to God, through his son Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity is the church where William Shakespeare was baptized, where he worshipped and where he is buried. Thousands of visitors come each year to view his final resting place. When you visit, try to allow time to do more than just gaze at a grave! You will surely find yourself moved to wonder at the faith which led our ancestors to build this place with such skill and beauty. Feel the atmosphere of prayer and praise, an echo of the millions of prayers offered here over the centuries. Sit awhile in a place which is designed to make us especially aware of the love and the peace of God, and of his concern for the world. We pray for our visitors each day of the year. We ask for your prayers, for the people and clergy of Holy Trinity.
May the peace of God be always with you Revd Martin Gorick Vicar Vicar's Christmas Message
Christmas is a magical time of the year in Stratford, with
streets shining with our wonderful Christmas lights, shops bustling
and churches filled with carol singing worshippers. It can also feel a hard time
of year for many, especially those missing loved ones, or feeling
far from home. Difficult too for those who have lost their job, or
are struggling to make ends meet, struggling to afford essentials of
life like food and heat, let alone any Christmas luxuries. In a time of recession
statistics say that we become more selfish, not less. The instinct
of ‘every man for himself’ begins to take over. I’ve met a number of people
who have been burgled recently, and metal theft is rife as we all
know. Huge bonuses, inflated salaries and tax avoidance can be theft
too in all but name and increase the sense of ‘missing out’ in those
left behind. In
these troubled times of diminishing resources I think we have a
choice. Do we prey on
one another like animals in a Dawkins style universe of ‘dog eat
dog?’ Or do we pray for each other as
brothers and sisters in a God given universe where we are called to
‘love our neighbours as ourselves?’
At
Christmas we celebrate God amongst us in Jesus, born, not in a
palace but a stable; laid not in clean sheets but in animal straw;
came to preach peace where there was no peace.
So come and receive a warm welcome at one of the special services happening in churches all over the town. They are free after all! At Holy Trinity for example there is the 3.30pm Christmas Eve traditional Carol Service with robed choir, followed by the 6pm ‘Waiting for Jesus’ family carol service, where children (and adults!) can come dressed as a shepherd, angel or king and join in the big nativity. Calm returns at 11.30pm for traditional Midnight Mass, with 8am Holy Communion and a lively Family Communion at 10.30am on Christmas morning. All collections this year are going to Holy Trinity’s own project in Rwanda where we have been working through the charity Send-a-Cow to lift 31 families out of desperate poverty. You can read all about it on the Shakespeare’s Church Facebook page, or our website www.stratford-upon-avon.org Our village church in Clifford Chambers has a Christingle on Christmas Eve at 5pm and Midnight Mass at 11.30pm, whilst at Luddington there is a friendly village service on Christmas Day at 9.15am. And
remember: When
the song of the angels is
stilled, When
the star in the sky is gone, When
the kings and princes are home, When
the shepherds are back with their flocks
– The
work of Christmas begins: To
find the lost, To
heal the broken, To
feed the hungry, To
release the prisoner, To
rebuild the nations, To
bring peace among the people, To
make music in the heart. May
God bless you this Christmas
time.
Sermons and Articles A series of sermons for the 2010 Celebrations "800 Years - 10 Lifetimes"
Other Sermons and Articles
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