Past Events at St Andrew’s
St Andrew's Parish Retreat & Pilgrimage to Ampleforth Abbey, North Yorkshire
Early in September a group of eighteen of us from the parish had the privilege of staying at Ampleforth Abbey, deep in rural Yorkshire and home to the largest Benedictine community in Britain. It was a wonderful, spiritual place in which to make a retreat and the nearby ruined monasteries of Rievaulx Abbey, Mount Grace Priory and the atmospheric crypt at Lastingham Parish Church were ideal places to which we could make pilgrimage.
Ampleforth Abbey
It was a truly uplifting week and a superb insight into the spiritual life of Benedictine monks who live, pray and work together as brothers. The monks seek to follow a rule of life draw up by St Benedict who was born in Italy around the year 480AD and who is widely regarded as the founder of western monasticism. Thankfully for us, hospitality to strangers figures large in his rule. St Benedict instructed his brothers that, “any guest….should be received just as we would receive Christ himself.”
Rievaulx Abbey
We were certainly warmly welcomed and cared for. The accommodation was comfortable and the food was good. We were welcome to join the monks for prayer and sit alongside them in the choir of the Abbey Church. The plainsong of Morning prayer at 7.30am, Vespers at 6.00pm, and Compline at 8.15pm and the great silence, transported us into a spirituality and tradition which has survived over a 1000 years. Fr Kieran who spoke to us during our retreat described it as a stream in which we could dip our feet. I think we did more than dip our feet, we swam in it! Needless to say we were truly refreshed! It is comforting to know that the stream continues to run and that we can return to bathe in it anytime we want. Which of course members of the group can't wait to do!
The Crypt of St. Cedd at Lastingham Parish Church
Happy band of Pilgrims at Rievaulx Abbey
St Andrew's Youth Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Four nights under canvas with hundreds of young people from all over the country aged between 11 – 18yrs, their youth leaders and parish priests is not how everyone would want to spend a week in August. But I have to admit that attending the National Youth Pilgrimage to Walsingham attended by 800 people is one of the highlights of my year. It was a privilege and a joy to spend a week with the young people from Holt Parish Church on what was yet another inspiring and spiritually uplifting week.
The Eucharist was at the heart of the Pilgrimage
With the Eucharist at the heart of the pilgrimage, it was encouraging to see so many young people queuing to go to church! Church for the week was a huge round marquee rather like a big top circus tent and was packed with the latest visual and audio equipment. Worship was imaginative, exciting, exuberant and also prayerful. The tent was filled with the joy of worship and when needed, the silence of prayer. “I have enjoyed the mass in the morning” said one of our young pilgrims, Mary-Anne.
This year's theme was the “Enter the Mysteries.” Using the Christian tradition of the rosary, which has for centuries has been used as an aid to prayer by billions of Christians, we were encouraged to reflect on the mystery of God. Focusing on the “Luminous mysteries,” which are; Jesus' baptism, the wedding in Cana, Jesus' teaching about the Kingdom of God, his transfiguration and the institution of the Eucharist, light was shed on the nature of God's love and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Alice, another of our own young people said that, “this week has been fantastic. I have enjoyed everything and learning about the rosary beads and the luminous mysteries.”
Benediction in the Shrine grounds
The Holy Mile Procession
One evening we took part in an all night prayer vigil and on another we walked the holy mile from the Slipper Chapel to the Shrine, some of us bare foot! Once we had reached the Shrine gardens we knelt or sat in silence before the Blessed Sacrament. Jenny, one of our youth leaders who not long ago was one of our young pilgrims said, “ I never thought that anyone could mange to silence 800 youths, but place the Blessed Sacrament before them and they are silenced instantly. That moment for me was when I saw the glory of the Lord and felt closer to God than I have ever felt before.”
Beside the Seaside at Wells-Next-The-Sea
But as well as the worship and devotion we enjoyed the many and varied activities on offer. BBQ's & discos, arts & crafts, music & dance, climbing walls & inflatable assault courses, hand ball & football, with coaches from Norwich City turning up for football in the community, sea & sand and even canoeing at in Abraham's bosom at Wells. “This week has been so good I am coming next year,” said Ryan. To which Tristan said; “I don't want to go home!”
Young St Andrews Fun Day Out
On summer Saturday, the members of St Andrews Junior Church plus
Leaders including Fr Howard and Fr Philip, set off to see the seals and
land
on Blakeney Point. On their return to Morston, there was time to
catch some
crabs using string, a heavy stone and bacon- about 20 went
into the bucket,
to be released as we left.
Then off to Natural Surroundings to see the contents of their moth trap
and
try our hand at river dipping-catching shrimps and sticklebacks.
We ended
the day with games and a BBQ at the home of long time
friends of Junior
Church -Wendy and Alistair Baron at Stone Lodge
Lower Bodham. We were
blessed with a perfect day. Thanks to all
who helped.
Fiona Jolliffe
Beating the Bounds on Rogation Sunday
A hardy group prepared for a wet and windy day, set off to "Beat the Parish Bounds" following the age old tradition on the Sunday before Ascension Day, on which traditionally Christians pray for the communities in which they live.
The group of townsfolk, led by the clergy and crucifer, walked a symbolic route through the parish, the actual boundary stretching some 25 miles. In the past, unruly choirboys were also beaten as part of the ceremony. As they walked, the people asked God's blessing on the place where they lived and worked, and for every sector of the community both near and far.
Bluebells in Abundance
Late April with Spring in the air, how better to enjoy the fellowship of friends from Church on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Wandering through the bluebells, enjoying the trees coming to life and the activity of the birds and the bees
Ecumenical Procession of Witness
On Good Friday, Members of St Andrew the Apostle Holt and Holt Methodist Church in procession from Holt War Memorial to the Obelisk. Followed by Hot Cross Buns kindly offered by the Methodist Church
Christmas Tree Festival at St Andrew's
Many beautifully decorated and much admired Christmas trees were displayed to over 1,500 visitors to St Andrew's during the duration of the festival. The festival is to be a bi-annual event
Trip to the Seals
One of the many St Andrew's "Out and About" trips, this time a Seal Trip to Blakeney Point. With own refreshments and with suitable clothing to meet all eventualities an enjoyable outing was had by all.
Services in the style of Taizé
For lovers of the Taizé unique style of worship, the music, the peace, the inner contentment, St Andrew’s Church Holt holds special services twice a year.
Taizé, in the south of Burgundy, France, is the home of an international, ecumenical community, founded there in 1940 by Brother Roger. The brothers are committed for their whole life to material and spiritual sharing, to celibacy, and to a great simplicity of life.
Today, the community is made up of over a hundred brothers, Catholics and from various Protestant backgrounds, from more than twenty-five nations.
At the heart of daily life in Taizé are three times of prayer together with music and singing playing an important role. The brothers live by their own work. They do not accept gifts or donations for themselves.
Since the late 1950s, many thousands of young adults from many countries have found their way to Taizé to take part in weekly meetings of prayer and reflection.
Welcoming others has always been an essential part of life in Taizé and this we do at St Andrew’s. Everyone is invited and welcome to join in the experience similar to that which is the daily routine of Taizé.
Out and About with St Andrew's
Off on another day out, this time to Duxford.
Pancake Day - Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Day is celebrated every year when for the entrance price you can have as many pancakes as you can eat. Everyone joins in the fun and apart from the youngsters, the old youngsters still enjoy a good pancake.
The Bishop of Norwich, Graham James outside church following the Confirmatiion Service on Sunday 9th May 2010.
Parish B.B.Q.
Sunday 27th June 2010 was the date set for the annual Parish B.B.Q and congratulations go to Philip Murrell and the Social Committee and all their helpers who made the day a resounding success. We were blessed with beautiful sunshine and good company. Well done!
