A warm welcome to you on this Fourth Sunday of Easter. 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’.

Coventry Peace House
We have received a letter from Penny Walker at the Peace House this week thanking us for inviting her last Sunday. Please see the letter on the noticeboard between the Octagon and the Safe Room.

Global Care’s Child Sponsorship scheme - news from Vio, Home of Hope, Romania
Please see the Mission notice board for the latest photo and letter from Vio; also a newsletter with updates about the Home of Hope.
Sue Morton [St Mary’s Mission Group]

Coffee Club
We wish to thank you all for your kindness and generosity last Wednesday, our retiring day. We were deeply touched and really appreciative of the flowers, cakes, biscuits and cards etc.
In future, as you know, Gwen and Audrey will be taking over and we hope you will give them the same support and kindness you have given to us over the past seven years. God bless you all.
Alan and Edna

The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 17th and 31st May at 10.45 am. All welcome.
Gwen and Audrey

Deanery Synod - 16th May 2006
On Tuesday week (16th May) at 7.30 pm the three Coventry deaneries will meet to hold a joint synod to discuss Assisted Dying and Euthanasia. The speaker will be Dr Rhona Knight (a GP and lecturer in Medical Ethics).
The Synod is open to all who might be interested to hear a discussion on this vexed subject from a christian and medical perspective. The meeting is at St Peter’s, Hillfields.

Christian Aid Week
Christian Aid Week 2006 is from 14th to 20th May - seven amazing days of fundraising, prayer and action against global poverty. Please given generously of your time, money and prayer. There is a list of streets for which we need house-to-house collectors in the foyer, some are quite small and it does not take long to collect. Please consider signing up to help - every little helps and comparatively small amounts of money by Western standards can have a huge impact on the Worlds poorest communities. Please sea Dean or Lawrence for further information.

Christian Aid are now producing small eco friendly shopping bags for £5. If you would like to purchase one please let Malcolm know and we will put in an order. (sample available to view).

Coventry City Mission General Manager
Coventry City Mission (in Deedmore Road) are looking to appoint a General Manager to oversee the daily management of the Mission’s activities, buildings and personnel from 1st September. This is a new position and an application pack is available from the Mission now. Please contact Neville Carpmell on 7661 5931 or Neville@covcitymission.org.uk if you might be interested. Further details are on the noticeboard. But applications close on 19th May.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Collect: Gracious Father, by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world: draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him, our Saviour Jesus Christ.

First Reading: Acts 4. 5-12 [8 am only]

Second Reading: 1 John 3. 16-24 [8 am only]

Gospel Reading: John 10. 11-18 [8 am only]

Post Communion Prayer: Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 7th May 2006

Sunday 7th 8 am Holy Communion
10 am Worship For All
11.45 am Baptisms
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer
4 pm Wedding Blessing

Sunday 14th May

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and Lazers
6.30 pm Evening Prayer