News and Notices

The second Sunday after The Epiphany

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday after The Epiphany

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 21 January at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the Conversion of Paul
Next Sunday 25 January at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in January

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Baptisms

It is a joy to welcome Elijah, with Oliwia and Daniel, as he comes to be baptised today. Please pray for him and for the whole family as they continue to grow as followers of Christ. Please also keep in your prayers Max, who will be baptised after today’s service, and Ashton, who will be baptised next Sunday after our main service.

Experience Easter

Have you heard us speaking about the ‘Experience…’ sessions that we run for children from our local primary schools? Would you like to find out more? We will be running our next session, ‘Experience Easter’ on 4, 5, and 6 March. If you would be interested in volunteering to help with these sessions (you don’t need to commit to doing all of them – just one morning or afternoon is fine), just ask Claire for more information.

Assembly Bangers

Next Sunday 25 January at 4.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Do you love to sing? Do you remember your schooldays with fondness and nostalgia? Do you need something to bring cheer to a cold January afternoon? Then join us for ‘Assembly Bangers’, a chance to sing all your favourite school assembly hits, old and new. Informal fun for all the family; nostalgic refreshments (jam and coconut sponge, anyone?) available. Tell your neighbours, bring your friends… school uniform not required…

Candlemas Lantern Making

Saturday 31 January at 3.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Join us to make and decorate lanterns for Candlemas. Light up the dark winter evening. Share refreshments and crafts. The session will end with a short service of thanksgiving for the light that is returning and a lantern procession around the church.  

Pancake Social

Tuesday 17 February at 5.30 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

A date for your diary. Ash Wednesday this year is 18th February, which can mean only one thing… our famous Pancake Social will be on 17 February from 5.30 pm in the Community Centre. Pancake prayers, games and fun, and of course pancakes galore! Don’t miss it.

The Baptism of Christ

Sung Eucharist for the Baptism of Christ

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Messy Church
Today at 4.00 pm

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 14 January at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday after The Epiphany
Next Sunday 18 January at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in January

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

The Epiphany

Sung Eucharist for The Epiphany

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Festal Evensong for The Epiphany
Today at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 7 January at 10.00 am

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 7 January at 8.30 pm

Sanctuary
This Thursday 8 January at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the Baptism of Christ
Next Sunday 11 January at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Church
Next Sunday 11 January at 4.00 pm

Dates for your diary in 2026

The fun doesn’t stop once Christmas is over. Please keep these dates free in your diaries…

• 25 January, 4.00 pm: Assembly Bangers – come and sing all your primary school favourites.
• 31 January, 3.00 pm: Lantern-making for Candlemas – come and make a lantern in the Community Centre. Refreshments available. Followed by a lantern parade into the church. Primarily aimed at primary-aged children.
• 17 February, 5.30 pm: Pancake Party, in the Community Centre.

Terry Foster RIP

Please note the arrangements for the funeral of Terry Foster. Terry will be received into church at 4.30 pm on Friday 9 January. His Requiem Mass will be at 11.00 am on Saturday 10 January, followed by a reception in the Community Centre. All who knew Terry are very welcome to attend any part of this commemoration of his life.

Chalking the door

Chalking the Door is a very old Epiphany tradition for asking God to bless our churches and homes and all who live, work, or visit there throughout the coming year, marking them with chalk symbols as a sign that we are inviting God’s presence into the places, relationships, and situations that we call home. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors with blood so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this short liturgy we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God’s presence and blessing into our homes. In Deuteronomy 6:9 God tells the people of Israel: “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house… You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Chalking the door is a tangible way to honour God in our lives.

The door is marked with the following symbols (updating the last two digits for each new year):

20 + C + M + B + 26

The first and last numbers comprise the four digits of the current year (2026). The letters “C,” “M,” and “B” come from the three traditional names for the Wise Men in Matthew 2: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also suggest the phrase: “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” (“May Christ bless this house”). A cross is placed between each set of numbers and letters. For more information, see wkrk.uk/ctd.

At the end of our service this morning, we will chalk the lintel of the church door. Blessed chalk will be available for you to take away so that, if you would like to, you can chalk the door of your own house too. You might want to use the following prayers as you do so.

Peace be to this house, and to all who enter here. Amen.

God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.

All may take turns chalking the door: 20 + C + M + B + 26 as the following words are said:

The three Wise Men, Caspar [C] , Melchior [M], and Balthazar [B] followed the star to Bethlehem and the child Jesus two thousand [20], and twenty-six [26] years ago. May Christ bless our home [+ +] and remain with us throughout this year [+ +]. Amen.

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in January

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

The first Sunday of Christmas

Sung Eucharist for the Feast of the Holy Innocents

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Sung Eucharist for The Epiphany
Next Sunday 4 January at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Festal Evensong for The Epiphany
Next Sunday 4 January at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in December

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Dates for your diary in 2026

The fun doesn’t stop once Christmas is over. Please keep these dates free in your diaries…

• 25 January, 4.00 pm: Assembly Bangers – come and sing all your primary school favourites.
• 31 January, 3.00 pm: Lantern-making for Candlemas – come and make a lantern in the Community Centre. Refreshments available. Followed by a lantern parade into the church. Primarily aimed at primary-aged children.
• 17 February, 5.30 pm: Pancake Party, in the Community Centre.

Terry Foster RIP

Please note the arrangements for the funeral of Terry Foster. Terry will be received into church at 4.30 pm on Friday 9 January. His Requiem Mass will be at 11.00 am on Saturday 10 January, followed by a reception in the Community Centre. All who knew Terry are very welcome to attend any part of this commemoration of his life.

The fourth Sunday of Advent

Sung Eucharist for the fourth Sunday of Advent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Festival of Lessons and Carols
Today at 7.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Crib Service: Christmas Unwrapped
This Wednesday 24 December at 5.00 pm

Midnight Mass
This Wednesday 24 December at 11.30 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Sung Eucharist for Christmas Day
This Thursday 25 December at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Sung Eucharist for the Feast of the Holy Innocents
Next Sunday 28 December at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Advent and Christmas at St Mary's

• December 7, 6.00 pm: Advent Carol Service, ‘The one who is to come…’
• December 13, 7.00 pm: Svitoch Ukrainian Choir, an Advent concert
• December 14, 4.00 pm: Messy Christingle: Messy Church for Christmas, with a short Christingle service
• December 18, 6.00 pm: The Longest Night: a chance to reflect and remember 
• December 19, 7.00 pm: Carol Singalong in the Brown Cow with Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• December 21, 7.00 pm: Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Christmas Eve, 5.00 pm: Crib Service
• Christmas Eve, 11.30 pm: Midnight Mass

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in December

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Christmas break

Please note that we will be taking a short break after Christmas. There will be no midweek Eucharist on either Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve and no Daily Prayer in the church from Christmas Eve until Tuesday 6th January. There will also be no Bible Discussion Group in the week after Christmas. This will restart on Friday 9 January. Sunday services on 28 December (Holy Innocents) and 3 January (Epiphany) will be taking place as usual.

A Christmas message from Rev'd Claire

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone at St Mary’s a very happy Christmas, and a peaceful and healthy 2026. It is a joy and a privilege to serve this community as your vicar and I pray that the joy of the Christmas message will remain with you throughout the year ahead. I don’t send Christmas cards, so please don’t be offended if you don’t get one from me. In lieu of cards, I have made a donation to Shelter, because no-one should be without a home to call their own at Christmas. My Christmas greetings are no less heartfelt for not being accompanied by a card. Happy Christmas and thank you for all you do to support me and the work of the church in LS15.

— Claire

Dates for your diary in 2026

The fun doesn’t stop once Christmas is over. Please keep these dates free in your diaries…

• 25 January, 4.00 pm: Assembly Bangers – come and sing all your primary school favourites.
• 31 January, 3.00 pm: Lantern-making for Candlemas – come and make a lantern in the Community Centre. Refreshments available. Followed by a lantern parade into the church. Primarily aimed at primary-aged children.
• 17 February, 5.30 pm: Pancake Party, in the Community Centre.

Terry Foster RIP

Please note the arrangements for the funeral of Terry Foster. Terry will be received into church at 4.30 pm on Friday 9 January. His Requiem Mass will be at 11.00 am on Saturday 10 January, followed by a reception in the Community Centre. All who knew Terry are very welcome to attend any part of this commemoration of his life.

Crib Service: Christmas Unwrapped

This Wednesday 24 December at 5.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Don’t miss our legendary Crib Service at 5.00 pm on Christmas Eve, when we will once again be playing a Christmassy pass-the-parcel. Fun for all the family.

The third Sunday of Advent

Sung Eucharist for the third Sunday of Advent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Messy Christingle
Today at 4.00 pm

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 17 December at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the fourth Sunday of Advent
Next Sunday 21 December at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Festival of Lessons and Carols
Next Sunday 21 December at 7.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Advent and Christmas at St Mary's

• December 7, 6.00 pm: Advent Carol Service, ‘The one who is to come…’
• December 13, 7.00 pm: Svitoch Ukrainian Choir, an Advent concert
• December 14, 4.00 pm: Messy Christingle: Messy Church for Christmas, with a short Christingle service
• December 18, 6.00 pm: The Longest Night: a chance to reflect and remember 
• December 19, 7.00 pm: Carol Singalong in the Brown Cow with Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• December 21, 7.00 pm: Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Christmas Eve, 5.00 pm: Crib Service
• Christmas Eve, 11.30 pm: Midnight Mass

Bible discussion group

Due to clashes with other Christmas and Advent activities, the Bible Discussion Group will take a break in December. It will restart on Friday 9 January, 6.00 pm until 7.00 pm as usual.

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in December

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Messy Christingle

Today at 4.00 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Messy Church does Christingle! Come along today at 4.00 pm for snacks, games, and Christmas crafts, including the chance to build a Christingle. Followed by a short Christingle service in the church, featuring Rev’d Claire’s now-legendary giant Christingle!

The Longest Night

This Thursday 18 December at 6.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Christmas is not always an easy time. If you have lost a loved one, are struggling with illness or depression, are far from home, or are dealing with any other kind of uncertainty or sadness, the enforced jollity can feel very hard. If this speaks to you, or if you think it may speak to someone you know, our ‘Longest Night’ service may be just what you need. A service without words, this offers a chance to be still amid the busyness, to pray, to reflect, perhaps even to dare to hope. There will be a chance to light a candle and to leave a prayer or the name of a loved-one on a memorial Christmas tree. All very welcome. The service operates on a drop-in basis – come at any time between 6pm and 7pm and stay as long as you need.

Sanctuary

This Thursday 18 December at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We had to postpone last week’s scheduled ‘Sanctuary’ service due to illness. It will now take place this week, on Thursday at 7.00 pm. This will be a special service for Advent, reflecting on the so-called ‘O Antiphons’. Want to find out more? Why not come along? It’s a service of peace and reflection. It will follow directly on from the end of the Longest Night service.

Carols at the Brown Cow

This Friday 19 December at 7.00 pm
The Brown Cow

Looking for some traditional jolly Christmas fun? Join members of the church choir and congregation and Altofts and Normanton Brass Band at the Brown Cow for lots of fun with traditional carols for all to sing along with. Approximately 7.00 pm until 7.30 pm and 7.45 pm until 8.15 pm.

The second Sunday of Advent

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday of Advent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Advent Carol Service: "The one who is to come…"
Today at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 10 December at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the third Sunday of Advent
Next Sunday 14 December at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Christingle
Next Sunday 14 December at 4.00 pm

Advent and Christmas at St Mary's

• December 7, 6.00 pm: Advent Carol Service, ‘The one who is to come…’
• December 13, 7.00 pm: Svitoch Ukrainian Choir, an Advent concert
• December 14, 4.00 pm: Messy Christingle: Messy Church for Christmas, with a short Christingle service
• December 18, 6.00 pm: The Longest Night: a chance to reflect and remember 
• December 19, 7.00 pm: Carol Singalong in the Brown Cow with Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• December 21, 7.00 pm: Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Christmas Eve, 5.00 pm: Crib Service
• Christmas Eve, 11.30 pm: Midnight Mass

Advent Carol Service: "The one who is to come…"

Today at 6.00 pm

We would love you to join us this evening for our Advent Carol Service. As the church moves from darkness to light, we will sing Advent hymns and will hear a series of readings that point us to Jesus as ‘the one who is to come’, as the choir sings Advent anthems. Come for a multi-sensory experience to help us focus not just on Christmas but on this time of waiting and anticipation.

Svitoch Ukrainian Choir: An Advent Concert

This Saturday 13 December at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

The prizewinning Svitoch Ukrainian Chamber Choir perform beautiful, exciting carols and seasonal sacred Ukrainian songs. Book your tickets online now at wkrk.uk/aws.

Advent Sunday

Sung Eucharist for Advent Sunday

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 3 December at 10.00 am

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 3 December at 8.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday of Advent
Next Sunday 7 December at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Advent Carol Service: "The one who is to come…"
Next Sunday 7 December at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in November

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Advent and Christmas at St Mary's

• December 7th, 6pm: Advent Carol Service, ‘The one who is to come…’
• December 13th, 7pm: Svitoch Ukrainian Choir, an Advent concert
• December 14th, 4pm: Messy Christingle: Messy Church for Christmas, with a short Christingle service
• December 18th, 6pm: The Longest Night: a chance to reflect and remember 
• December 19th, 7pm: Carol Singalong in the Brown Cow with Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• December 21st, 7pm: Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Christmas Eve, 5pm: Crib Service
• Christmas Eve, 11pm: Midnight Mass

Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to yesterday’s Christmas Fair, whether by running a stall, providing prizes, baking cakes, helping in the kitchen, setting up, clearing away, attending and spending your money, or simply telling people about it. It takes effort from everyone to make this event a success! Thank you all so much!

Advent Course 2025

A reminder that the Tuesday session of our Advent course will take place _in the church _this week, due to the pantomime which is taking place in the Community Centre.

Pilgrims in the Park

Pilgrims in the Park is taking a winter break (partly due to the weather and partly due to clashes with other activities such as the Christmas Fair). It will be back in March as the weather hopefully starts to improve again. Watch this space for more details in due course.

Experience Church

Children from our local primary schools will be taking part in Experience Church in the church from Wednesday 3 December until Friday 5 December. Only those helping with these sessions will be able to access the church on Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday, and Friday morning. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Bible discussion group

Due to clashes with other Christmas and Advent activities, the Bible Discussion Group will take a break in December. It will restart on Friday 9 January, 6.00 pm until 7.00 pm as usual.

Advent Carol Service: "The one who is to come…"

Next Sunday 7 December at 6.00 pm

We would love you to join us next Sunday at 6.00 pm (in the usual Choral Evensong slot) for our Advent Carol Service. As the church moves from darkness to light, we will sing Advent hymns and will hear a series of readings that point us to Jesus as ‘the one who is to come’, as the choir sings Advent anthems. Come for a multi-sensory experience to help us focus not just on Christmas but on this time of waiting and anticipation.