January
Saturday 6th, 2024 12:00am
EPIPHANY

The Magi arrive at the Crib and celebrate the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.
Sung Mass, Choral Evensong and Benediction

Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

February
Friday 2nd, 2024 7:00pm
CANDLEMAS

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, celebrated 40 days after Christmas
Sung Mass with Candle Blessing and Procession.
Choral Evensong and Benediction

Liturgical colour:  WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

February
Wednesday 14th, 2024 7:00pm
ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent and takes places 46 days before Easter. This follows the PASCHAL full moon each year.
Sung Mass with Imposition of Ashes

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

March
Sunday 10th, 2024 11:00am
MOTHERING SUNDAY (Laetare Sunday)

Mothers are presented with posies of spring flowers, distributed during the service, followed by Simnel cake and refreshment.
Sung Mass.

Liturgical colour: ROSE RED

April
Monday 8th, 2024 11:00am
THE ANNUNCIATION of OUR LADY (Lady Day)

We celebrate the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the Mother of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and Son of God, marking his incarnation.
Sung Mass

Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

March
Sunday 24th, 2024 11:00am
PASSION SUNDAY

5th Sunday in Lent Marked with the Veiling of Crosses and Statues
Sung Mass

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

HOLY WEEK 24th-30th March 2024

In the Anglo-Catholic tradition, Holy Week is perhaps the most important Liturgical time of the year. At St Michael’s the pattern of the week marks the journey of Jesus entering into Jerusalem through to his suffering and passion on the Cross. The following days and services are observed:
Palm Sunday: Sung Mass
Tuesday: Vespers & Meditation, Passiontide Office
Spy Wednesday: Stations of the Cross and the Stabat Mater is Sung
Maundy Thursday: Vespers & Meditation, Maundy Thursday Office
Sung Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday: Sung Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Adoration
Good Friday: Tenebrae, the Lamentations of Jeremiah are sung from the Gallery by candlelight
Holy Saturday: Sung Mass & Great Vigil, with the Lighting of the Pascal Candle and Blessing of the New Fire
Easter Sunday: Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: PURPLE

March
Sunday 24th, 2024 11:00am
PALM SUNDAY

Sung Mass with the Blessing & Procession of Palms and Sung Gospel of the Passion

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

March
Wednesday 27th, 2024 6:00pm
SPY WEDNESDAY

Spy Wednesday, Stations of the Cross with Stabat Mater Dolorosa

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

March
Thursday 28th, 2024 7:30pm
MAUNDY THURSDAY

Sung Mass of the Lord’s Supper, with Foot Washing
At the end of this service the High Altar is stripped – followed by the Watch through the Night

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

Plainsong Tenebrae is sung during the Watch through the Night

March
Friday 29th, 2024 10:30am
GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday Liturgy with Veneration of the Cross

Sung Mass of the Pre-Sanctified and Adoration

Liturgical colour: BLACK

Good Friday Tenebrae, 8.00pm.  The nave is lit with candles which are gradually extinguished during the service of sung Psalms and prayers, meditating on the Passion and Death of Our Lord.

The Psalms and Responds of the Lamentations of Jeremiah are sung to plainsong, elaborated with polyphony by Orlando di Lassus (1532-1594)  and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

March
Friday 29th, 2024 8:00pm
HOLY SATURDAY

Easter Eve – Vigil and the First Mass of Easter with the Ceremony at the Font : the Blessing of the New Fire and Lighting of The Paschal Candle, Sung Exsultet, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and First Mass of Easter. The service is followed by a party.
Sung Mass

Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

March
Saturday 30th, 2024 11:00am
EASTER DAY

Festal Mass and Blessing of the Easter Garden
Sung Mass for Easter Day

Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

May
Sunday 5th, 2024 11:00am
ROGATION SUNDAY

Rogation Procession, Sunday before Ascension

Sung Mass with procession around Mount Dinham, praying for God to bless our work and the fruits of the Earth in their seasons

Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

May
Thursday 9th, 2024 7:30pm
ASCENSION DAY

Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter
Plainsong Matins is sung from the Gallery, followed by breakfast
Sung Mass

Liturgical colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of our Lord

May
Sunday 19th, 2024 11:00am
PENTECOST (Whitsunday)

Commemorating the gift of the Holy Spirit. 50 days after Easter
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: RED

May
Sunday 26th, 2024 11:00am
TRINITY SUNDAY

A Feast dedicated to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the essence of God expressing itself in three persons: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God. It is one of the few Christian feasts that celebrates a doctrine, not an event.
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ a Feast of Our Lord

June
Sunday 9th, 2024 11:00am
MUSIC SUNDAY (RSCM)

Sung Mass with Viennese Mass Setting (sometimes accompanied by Strings in previous years).

Date chosen by Royal School of Church Music (RSCM)

Liturgical Colour: GREEN

RSCM Music Sunday “.. is a fabulous opportunity not only to celebrate the role of church music in worship and the dedication of all our church musicians, but also to reach out into the community and join with others“.

May
Thursday 30th, 2024 7:30am
CORPUS CHRISTI

The Feast of Corpus Christi honours the institution of the Holy Eucharist. At St Michael’s, as part of the High Mass, a canopy or “chuppa” is used to process the Blessed Sacrament from the church around Mount Dinham, lead by the Crucifer, flower children scattering petals, servers and followed by the choir and congregation. Once inside the church again and at the High Altar, Benediction takes place.

Sung Mass with Benediction.

The service is followed by a party and this year, 2024, a particularly significant historic moment was celebrated on Mount Dinham by residents and members of the congregation.

Held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.

Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ Feast of Our Lord

July
Sunday 14th, 2024 11:00am
SEA SUNDAY

The Second Sunday in July has been kept as Sea Sunday with Sermon and Prayers reflecting on the worldwide work of the Mission to Seafarers.
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: GREEN

August
Thursday 15th, 2024 7:30pm
ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Traditionally observed on the 15th August annually. This year a Sung Mass will be celebrated at Tuckers Hall, formerly the Chapel of the Assumption of Our Lady, for the first time since the Reformation.
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: WHITE ~ Feast of Our Lord

September
Sunday 8th, 2024 11:00am
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

A celebration of the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Liturgical Colour: WHITE – Feast of Our Lady

.

September
Sunday 29th, 2024 11:00am
MICHAELMASS

Feast of St Michael and All Angels with Procession, High Mass and Party for our Patronal Festival.

Liturgical Colour: GOLD

October
Sunday 6th, 2024 11:00am
DEDICATION SUNDAY (after Michaelmas)

Traditionally, this is held the Sunday after our Patronal Festival. However, in 2024, this day is Harvest Sunday (see below).
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: RED

October
Sunday 6th, 2024 11:00am
HARVEST SUNDAY

Celebrated on the Sunday closest to the Harvest Moon and the Autumn Equinox. Harvest Thanksgiving with shared Harvest Loaf.
Traditionally, a Bountiful Table of Baking, Produce & Preserves is set up.
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: GREEN

November
Friday 1st, 2024 7:30pm
ALL SAINTS' DAY

Also known as All Hallow’s Day, celebrated in honour of all the Saints of the Church.

Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: WHITE

November
Saturday 2nd, 2024 7:30pm
ALL SOULS' DAY

A day of remembrance and prayer for the faithful departed. Commemoratio Omnium Fidelium Defunctorum.

Sung Requiem Mass

Liturgical Colour: BLACK

November
Sunday 10th, 2024 11:00am
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

A a memorial day to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. Act of Remembrance is observed at 11am, or at the end of the service.
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: BLACK

November
Sunday 24th, 2024 11:00am
CHRIST THE KING

Also traditionally known as Stir-up Sunday, from the Prayer Book Collect and the making of Christmas puddings. The last Sunday before Advent is a celebration of Christ the King, Jesus as the just ruler over all the Universe.
Sung Mass

Liturgical Colour: RED

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ADVENT 1st Dec - 24th Dec 2024

Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.

At St Michael’s the Advent wreath is decked with 5 candles, 4 around the edge and 1 in the centre. The first candle is lit on the first Sunday in Advent, then two are lit on the second Sunday and so on, until all four and the fifth are lit together on Christmas Day.

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

December
Sunday 1st, 2024 11:00am
ADVENT SUNDAY

The Litany published in 1544 is the earliest officially authorized vernacular service in English.  The 1st candle of the Advent wreath is lit.

Advent Sunday is the Sunday nearest to 30 November and the start of the Christian Year.
Sung Mass with Litany by Cranmer (1544)

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

December
Sunday 8th, 2024 6:00pm
ADVENT PROCESSION

The Advent Procession uses Prayers, Readings, Hymns and Advent Carols illuminating the Great O Antiphons, which comprise the Advent Hymn “O come, O come Emmanuel” and concludes with the Magnificat (and in former years the service of Benediction).

This usually takes place on the 2nd Sunday of Advent to allow for Exeter Cathedral’s Advent Service on the 1st Sunday.

Liturgical colour: PURPLE

December
Sunday 15th, 2024 11:00am
GAUDETE SUNDAY

The 3rd Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Introit words “Rejoice in the Lord alway”; the Rose Candle of the Advent wreath is lit.
Sung Mass

Liturgical colour: ROSE RED

December
Wednesday 13th, 2023 6:00pm
SANKTA LUCIA

Sankta Lucia Services are held at a growing number of locations throughout the UK, though the origins of the festival lie in Scandinavia. St Lucy was a fourth century Christian martyr and her feast day is December 13th; she is associated with bringing light into the winter darkness.

https://www.facebook.com/ExeterLucia

The traditional events follow the Swedish pattern of a candle-lit procession in church  with special carols and readings, led by a girl representing the Saint wearing white robes with a crown of blazing candles.

Liturgical colour: WHITE

December
Tuesday 24th, 2024 11:00pm
CAROLS, with MIDNIGHT MASS at 11:30pm

Midnight Mass is the first liturgy of Christmastide that is celebrated on the night of Christmas Eve, traditionally beginning at midnight. At St. Michael’s the Sung Mass is preceded by Carols from the West Gallery at 11:00pm, followed by the Mass at 11:30pm.

Sung Mass and Blessing of the Crib.

Liturgical colour: WHITE/GOLD

December
Wednesday 25th, 2024 11:00am
CHRISTMAS DAY

Christmas Day, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, followed by celebrations and refreshment at the West end of the church.
Sung Mass with Prayers at the Crib.

Liturgical colour:  WHITE/GOLD