Welcome 2020 at HTR
NEW YEARS DAY – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Mass at Noon.
Sunday 5th January is when we celebrate The Epiphany at Holy Trinity, Ramsgate.
On this day we have a Solemn Mass with the Blessing of the Chalk at 9:30am. See below for further details.
Epiphany (also known as Twelfth Night, Theophany, or Three Kings Day) marks the occasion of a time-honoured Christian tradition of “chalking the doors.” The formula for the ritual — adapted for 2020 — is simple: take chalk of any color and write the following above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 20.
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi — Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar — who came to visit Jesus in His first home. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “20” at the end mark the year. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request for Christ to bless those homes so marked and that He stay with those who dwell therein throughout the entire year.
Our 2020 Confirmation Course will begin on Friday January 17th at The Rectory from 3pm – 4pm and repeated for those who cannot make that date on Saturdays at 11am – Noon. The course will run from January 17th until March 14th initially.
Sunday January 12th is The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Mass at 9:30am with Holy Baptism of Alina and Edie Carr and the renewal of our own Baptismal Vows.
January 15th 7:00pm Meditation Group meets at The Rectory. Fr Paul will lead a visual presentation on the face olf Jesus.
The Funeral Mass for Fr Stanley Evans will take place at St Saviour’s Church Westgate on Sea. Jan 16th at 1:30p.
The Epiphany Blessing of Chalk
Presider: 
Our help is in the name of the Lord. People Who made heaven and earth.
Let us pray.
O Lord God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name all those who with it write the names of your saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in the homes where this chalk is used. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
When you get home bless your home with these words and write on your door post or step.
Bless, O Lord God Almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of your law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
After the blessing, inscribe the initials of the Magi upon the doors with chalk. The formula for the ritual for 2020y: with chalk, simply write the following above the door of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 20.