Saint Sylvester

St Sylvester and the Dragon

Saint Sylvester overcomes the dragon of the Tarpeian Rock, by Battista da Vicenza (1375?–1438)

Most merciful God, we humbly pray thee, that like as when thy blessed Abbot Sylvester was devoutly meditating over an open tomb on the vanity of this life, thou didst vouchsafe to call him thence unto the desert, and . . . → Read More: Saint Sylvester

Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

Thomas Becket

The Martyrdom of Thomas Becket

O God, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr Thomas triumphed over suffering, and despised death: Grant, we beseech thee, that enduring hardness, and waxing valiant in fight we may with him receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. . . . → Read More: Saint Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Holy Innocents

The Massacre of the Innocents, from the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1644). From Wikipedia.

O Almighty God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify thee by their deaths: Mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by thy . . . → Read More: The Holy Innocents

Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Saint John and the Poisoned Cup, by El Greco (1541–1614). From Wikipedia.

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it, being illumined by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John, may so walk in the light of thy truth, that . . . → Read More: Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Saint Stephen

martyrdom of st stephen by carracci

The Martyrdom of St Stephen by Annibale Carracci (1560—1609)

Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to . . . → Read More: Saint Stephen

The Sermon for Christmas Day – Sunday December 25th

Fr Kerouac

Here is the sermon for Christmas Day: Christmas Day, 2016

The Sermon for Christmas Eve – Saturday December 24th

Fr Hawtin

Here is the sermon for Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve, 2016

Christmas Children’s Crêche Service – Christmas Eve 4.00 pm

Fr Hawtin

Here is the Christmas Eve Children’s Story: Christmas Childrens Story, 2016

The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day

The altar at St Stephen’s Anglican Church at Christmas

¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave.

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only–begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we being . . . → Read More: The Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day

Christmas Eve

Advent Wreath Christmas

O Lord Jesus Christ, thou that art higher than the highest and didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb: Humble us under thy mighty hand, that we may be accounted true citizens of the heavenly kingdom; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

. . . → Read More: Christmas Eve