Christmas Services [+ updates]
We will have a carol service on Sunday 22nd December at 5pm, with mass immediately afterwards.
Our Christmas Mass will be celebrated on 26th December, on the feast of St. Stephen.
Christmas Mass: 26th December, 12pm noon.
You’ll understand this is due to Father’s availability in combination with ferry operations.
Other Christmas events to look out for are:
- Kirkwall Christmas Tree Lighting
Kirkwall’s Christmas tree – a gift from Norway – will be lit up on Saturday 30 November. As in previous years, the Christmas tree – which will stand on the Kirk Green outside St Magnus Cathedral – has been gifted by the county of Vestland in Norway, the county formed by the merger of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland, which has gifted the tree for many years. The tree lighting ceremony will be officiated by Convener Graham Bevan, with guest speaker His Excellency Tore Hattrem, Norwegian Ambassador to the UK.
The Kirkwall City Pipe Band is due to start playing outside the Cathedral at 4.45pm, followed by the Saint Lucy procession at 5.00pm.
A service will then take place inside the Cathedral, following which the tree outside will be lit at 6.10pm.
Vestland County Council has arranged for two Norwegian musicians – Alexander Aga Røynstrand, fiddle, and Berit Opheim, one of Norway’s most renown folk singers – to perform at the Kirkwall event. - December 13th, at the East Kirk – Kirkwall Council of Churches are planning another Advent Nativity Evening based on Les Misérables. Friday 3rd December 2024.
- [Possible further announcement pending]
EDIT
I have just recieved this bad news from Pentland Ferries
ANNOUNCEMENT: *DISRUPTION TO TRAVEL*
SATURDAY – 21/12/24
The first run on Saturday morning has been CANCELLED:
Departing St Margaret’s Hope at 06:45 -CANCELLED
Departing Gills Bay at 08:30- CANCELLED
All other sailings on Saturday are cancelled.
SUNDAY – 22/12/24
All sailings are CANCELLED
Christmas Eve departures:
St Margaret’s Hope – 07:45 and 14:30;
Gills Bay – 0930 and 1630
Please note that there will be no sailings on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Normal timetable resumes on 26 December and 2 January
I am on the reserved list for the 11.30am Monday morning sailing, with the intention of celebrating the Christmas Vigil with carols and readings starting at 5pm.
PLEASE NOTE, I AM 4th ON THE RESERVE LIST FOR THE 11.30 sailing.
If I get to the island I will attempt to return to Caithness on the 2.30am Sailing. To return on Boxing Day for our Christmas Day celebration of Christmas Day.
Stay safe everyone.
P.S please if you know someone who is not on Facebook, can you phone them and let them know.
Fr Colin.
