Elvis returns to Catford!

Phew, it is hot in the office!

There's plenty going on, as usual, so remember to check our calendar from time to time (click on "What's on" under "Links" to the right). In the meantime though here's a plug for one of the highlights of the Summer - 'Elvis' will be performing here at St Laurence's on Saturday 11th July, and tickets are on sale now!! You can read more about him by clicking on the title of this post.

We had a brilliant evening last time he came here, so do come along if you can. The money raised from the ticket sales is the start of our fundraising efforts for the Christmas Day Party that we put on every year for the benefit of the people of Catford (you can find out more about last year's below).

See you on the 11th!

Parish pilgrimage holiday

A number of St Laurence's congregation joined together with All Saints', Blackheath for their annual pilgrimage earlier this month. This year the venue was Aosta, the birthplace of St Anselm and the most completely surviving Roman garrison town in Europe (and also, incidentally, visited by the Archbishop of Canterbury 10 days before our visit!).

John took photos of the presentation to the Bishop (Fr Charles Pickstone of St Laurence's on the left, Fr Nicholas Cranfield of All Saints' on the right).



I've heard that a good time was had by all, and hopefully someone will write an account of their visit for the next parish magazine (hint, hint).

Concert on Saturday

Our next organ recital will be this Saturday, 9th May at 11am, at which
Michael Bonaventure will play music by Kenneth Leighton:

1. Paean (1966)
2. Improvisation (In memoriam Maurice de Sausmarez) (1969)
3. Festival Fanfare (1968)
4. Veni Creator Spiritus - Prelude (1987)
5. Prelude, Scherzo and Passacaglia (1964)

Michael was invited by the Edinburgh Society of Organists to give a recital to mark the 80th anniversary of Kenneth Leighton's birth. At St Laurence, Michael will play an abridged version of the programme he presented at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh on 10 January this year.

Free entrance, coffee and biscuits afterwards, and retiring collection for St Laurence choir bursary fund.

Blessing the palms

Holy Week and Easter services

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. The 10 o'clock mass begins in the church hall, where palm crosses are distributed and blessed, and we process into the church.

Please click on the link on the right for our Holy Week and Easter services (click on "services and events" and then on "Holy Week and Easter").

The turning point

This Sunday marks the end of the Christmas period, with the feast of The Presentation of the Lord. It is the midpoint of winter, midway between the shortest day and the Spring Equinox.

Also known as Candlemas, this is traditionally the day when the candles to be used in church for the coming year were blessed. This Sunday's 10am mass will begin in the hall where candles will be blessed before we process into the main church for a family mass led by Fr Iain.

As we're keen to keep the ball rolling following positive feedback from those who attended in 2008, fundraising efforts for this year's Christmas day party for the elderly start in the hall afterwards with a raffle!

In the evening, we have our monthly Choral Evensong at 6pm which is well worth coming back for. Especially if you have been busy cooking or shopping during the day, it makes a great start to the week; dare I say it, possibly an antidote to the Monday morning blues?

The Epiphany of the Lord

our crib scene, showing the wise men en route!