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On Sunday 14 April, the Third Sunday of Easter, we had the great pleasure of hosting the annual Civic Service for Houghton Regis. The Service was held in the presence of the Town Mayor, Councillor Jimmy Carroll and attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire and the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, along with the Mayors of Luton, Dunstable, Biggleswade, Sandy, Shefford, Stotfold, Kempston, Ampthill, Harpenden, and Leighton-Linslade. Many members of local uniformed organisations were present and formed a guard of honour for the dignitaries and the congregation. At the service the Town Mayor spoke passionately about the Neighbourhood Town Plan and about the history of Houghton Regis. He also wrote a history of the town which was included in the order of service. Father Diego, the Priest-in-charge of Houghton Regis, preached on the first reading, Philippians 4:4-9, and the choir of All Saints’ sung the anthem “Rejoice in the Lord alway” by Henry Purcell. Photo Copyright: All Saints' PCC Houghton Regis
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On Sunday 3 March 2024 we celebrated the Day of Reflection during the Parish Mass. Since 2021, Marie Curie has organised a Day of Reflection, which has seen communities across the UK come together to reflect on the COVID19 pandemic and remember those who lost their lives to the disease. The Day was also about showing support for two important groups of people: those who are still affected by the losses they experienced during that time, as well as for the workers, carers, and volunteers who played a vital roles during the critical times of the pandemic. We were very honoured that Dr Joan Bailey, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Councillor Jimmy Carroll, Town Mayor of Houghton Regis, members of the Town Council, and the Town Clerk attended the service. We are very grateful to Houghton Regis Town Council for organising this event with us, and for providing the orders of service and refreshments afterwards.
On Sunday 18 September we held a service of Evensong in Commemoration for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in partnership with Houghton Regis Town Council. The service, which took place on the eve of the State Funeral, was an occasion for the town community to come together, reflect, pray, and to give thanks to God for Queen Elizabeth life and long reign. Prayers were also offered for repose of her soul and for King Charles III. During his address, the Parish Priest of Houghton Regis, invited the congregation to reflect on a passage from Queen Elizabeth’s 2002 Christmas broadcast and on what “taking the long view” can mean for us in the light of the second reading from the Book of Revelation (Rev 21:1-6). "I know just how much I rely on my own faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. Each day is a new beginning, I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God. Like others of you who draw inspiration from your own faith, I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian gospel." (Queen Elizabeth II, Christmas message, 2002) Photos: Mr Myles Plüss Copyright: All Saints' PCC Houghton Regis
We celebrated a Solemn Mass of Requiem for the repose of the soul of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday 11 September 2022. The Mass was the first occasion for our town of Houghton Regis to come together with our Mayor following the sad news of the Queen’s death on Thursday evening. At the service we commended Queen Elizabeth to God’s mercy and love, we gave thanks for her life and her long reign, and we prayed for the His Majesty King Charles III as he accedes to the throne. In the sermon the Parish Priest, Father Diego, invited the faithful to reflect on the meaning of “a life well lived” – the way in which King Charles paid tribute to the life and reign of his late Mother. This meaning, he said, can only be found in a life that is lived as a gift to and for others, a life of service. The Town Mayor signed a Book of Condolences which was opened on Saturday 10 September and that will remain available for people to sign until the day after the Queen’s funeral. The Mass ended with the singing of God save the King. Indeed, may God bless our new King and bless his reign with his wisdom. Photos: Mr Myles Plüss Copyright: All Saints' PCC Houghton Regis Over the long weekend we hosted a few events and services as well, bringing the wider town community and our regular church family to come together in giving thanks to God for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Our town was truly blessed with so many community events taking place of the big bank holiday week to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen. Many thanks to Cllr Yvonne Farrell, the Town Mayor, for joining us on the Thanksgiving Service on Pentecost Sunday. Also, a big thank you to our church volunteers and to all those who have made these celebrations possible. Jubilee Tea Party - Friday 3 June Messy Church - A Platinum Jubilee Celebration - Saturday 4 June Thanksgiving Service - Sunday 5 June (Pentecost Sunday) On Sunday 6 February we marked the 70th anniversary of HM The Queen’s accession to the throne, and the beginning of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The Parish Mass on Accession Day at All Saints’ Houghton Regis was attended by the Town Mayor, Cllr Clare Copleston, by members of 1st/3rd Houghton Regis Scout Group, members of the Girlguiding Houghton Regis, and pupils from Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy. After Mass 6 Jubilee trees were planted in the churchyard as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. As part of our celebrations music with royal connections was played and sung before, during and after Mass. 'Nimrod' from Elgar's 'Enigma Variations' and Ronald Binge's 'Elizabethan Serenade' was played before the Service. The Introit Hymn 'Praise my soul, the King of heaven' is known to be a favourite of Her Majesty the Queen. During the distribution of Holy Communion movements from Handel's 'Water Music' was played, and the concluding Organ Music was John Stanley's Prelude and 'Bell' Allegro, an excerpt from his Concerto Op2 No3 arranged for organ, and played from a facsimile copy of a contemporary keyboard transcription. In 1924 Elgar succeeded Walter Parratt as Master of the King's Musick, a post which he held until his death ten years later in 1934. Ronald Binge's 'Elizabethan Serenade' was written in 1951, but was renamed in the early years of the Queen's reign. John Stanley, like Elgar, was appointed as Master of the King's Musick in 1779 until his death in 1786. Handel was never appointed master of the King's Musick, but his music was held in considerable regard by bothe King George I and King George II in the first half of the 18th Century. Jubilee Trees: Two Crataegus prunifolia (Hawthorn) Two Liriodendron tulipifera Snow bird (Tulip Tree), Two Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Glaucum' (Blue Giant Sequoia) Images from the Remembrance Sunday celebrations in Houghton Regis. The Solemn Requiem Mass was followed by a procession to the Memorial Stone on the Green for the Act of Remembrance. The service to place in the presence of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire and the Town Mayor. The Requiem Mass and the Act of Remembrance were attended also by many young people representing uniformed organizations of Houghton Regis and Dunstable. |
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