A warm welcome to you on this Mothering Sunday. Please do join us after the service to share in a cup of tea or coffee. All ages are welcome at St. Mary’s, children included. There is also a crèche in the Octagon for the very young if you need it. If this is your first time with us, please do fill in the slip at the end of the newsletter, so that we can keep in touch with you. St Mary’s is fitted with a hearing loop system. Members of the congregation who have a hearing aid with a ‘T’ switch will find that they can hear better when it is switched to ‘T’.

During Lent (and at anytime!)
Please remember the word’s from Owen’s sermon a few weeks ago.
Before the service - talk to God
During the service - let God speak to you
After the service - talk to one another

Lent Appeal
As some of you may know Pennie has a connection with the Coventry Peace House. Some weeks ago she was shocked to see the desperate state of several young mothers who are expected to look after themselves and their children on very small amounts of money. The Peace House are always wanting baby toiletries (nappies, nappy sacks etc) and basic hygiene products for the mums. We thought we would ask for your help this Lent. Please bring any products that might be useful and they will be donated at Easter. Thank you already for those who have contributed to this appeal.

Photoboard
We have changed many of the photos on the photoboard, thanks to Les’ photographic efforts. Please do have a look and either bring in a photo if you are not on the board or have a word with Les Dakin who will happily ‘snap’ you.

Jam Jars
Can you please save all sizes of glass jars complete with lids, as I will need them later in the year when I make jams, pickles, etc. Thank you. Jean Hudson

Coffee Club
For those members of the coffee club who are not attending the Lent Course.
The Coffee Club meetings will be on Wednesday April 12th and May 3rd. (note the three week gap).
Edna and Alan Robinson

Pictures of St Mary’s
Owen Vigeon has recently taken some photos of St Mary’s which he is willing to reproduce for anyone who might want them. Please see the photos on the red board immediately you leave church, together with details of costs. All proceeds will go to the Refurbishment Fund for Church.

Daily Scripture Readings
Bishops Colin and John are encouraging all church members to read a daily verse of scripture and have produced some booklets particularly appropriate for us in Lent. Week 4 booklets are available now with some left over from weeks 1 ,2 and 3.

Annual Parochial Church Meetings
Please remember to collect your papers for next week’s Church meeting (if you haven’t done so already). Also please collect an amended last sheet if you collected your papers last week. The Junior Church report was inadvertently omitted in the main body of the report so the last page has been reproduced.

Next week our Annual Church Meetings take place to elect Churchwardens, PCC Members and one Deanery Synod Rep (to replace Karen Hauler-Davies who has moved).

Please do consider standing. Nominations for Churchwardens Close on Thursday at 10 am (as per the law which now states nominations must close before the meeting starts).

PCC nominations may be received at the meeting itself.

This year Sheila Thistlewood wishes to stand down as Churchwarden. Sheila has given excellent service in this role but it means we no need a new warden!

Mothering Sunday

Collect: God of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading Exodus 2. 1-10 [8 am only]

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 1. 3-7 [8 am only]

Gospel Reading: Luke 2. 33-35 [8 am only]

Post Communion Prayer: Merciful Lord, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 26th March 2006

Sunday 8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, for mothering Sunday. 6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
7.34 pm Quinquennial Group
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
10.30 am Lent Group
7.30 pm Lent Group
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer

Sunday 2nd April

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and lazers
11.15 am Annual General Meeting
6.30 pm Evening Prayer