A warm welcome to you on this our Harvest Festival. 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’.

The flowers in the Lady Chapel this week are in memory of Mary Phillips.

Pennie Hartopp
Pennie will be licensed as Team Vicar at St Mark’s Godalming on Thursday 18th October at 8pm. We have arranged a coach to take people to that service which will leave St Mary’s at 4pm. If you have not already booked a seat, please make sure you speak to Ann Walker as soon as possible.

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 3rd, 17th and 31st October at 10.45 am. All Welcome.
The Coffee Club have just donated £50 towards a charity for those suffering from Parkinson’s and £50 to St. Mary’s refurbishment fund. Gwen and Audrey

Salvation Army Band Concert
I am pleased to report that the members of the congregation and visitors who attended Saturday evening’s concert, experienced a really good evenings music, not least our very own Barry Walkers superb impromptu drumming display, the effort put in by the band and soloists was much appreciated. The combined income from the ticket sales, raffle and refreshment donations was £489, which will be shared equally between St Mary’s Refurbishment Fund and the Salvation Army. A sincere thank you to those who supported the concert in any way.
Gary Croshaw

Quiz Night
There will be a quiz night here on Friday 26th October and our Christmas Fayre will be on Saturday 24th November. Please put these dates in your diary now - more details will be published later.

Church Centre Cleaning
PCC have decided that we can no longer afford to pay to have the Church Centre cleaned and have asked two of the church groups who use the centre to help with the cleaning week by week. Whilst they are happy to do this some jobs remain, particularly the cleaning of the windows (on an occasional basis) and the regular (weekly) cleaning of the internal glass and finger plates. If anyone would be willing to help with this, would they please speak to Malcolm, Barbara or John please.

Alan Robinson has also said that he would like to retire from organising both the coffee and cleaning rotas. These rotas have several months to go before they need to be done again but if anyone would be willing to take this on it would be very helpful. Also, if anyone would be happy to go onto a new rota please speak to Malcolm, Barbara or John.

Mission
Please see the Mission noticeboard for the latest information from Global Care, Yeldall and USPG.
Sue Morton for Mission Group

Children’s Society Boxes
It is once again time for the Children’s Society boxes to be emptied. Will those who hold boxes please bring them to church during the month of October. Thank you. Audrey Curtis

Harvest Flower Festival
St John the Divine, Willenhall will be holding a Harvest Flower Festival from Friday 5th - Sunday 7th October 10am - 4 pm. At 4.30 pm on Sunday 7th there will be a Songs of Praise followed by a Harvest Auction. All are welcome to attend. See noticeboard for more details.

Harvest Thanksgiving

Collect: Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26. 1-11 Sally Vigeon

Second Reading: Philippians 4. 4-9 Hannah Tyler

Gospel Reading : John 6. 35-35 Owen Vigeon

Intercessor: Malcolm Tyler

Hymns: 534 179 423 138 137 101

Post Communion Prayer: Lord of the harvest, with joy we have offered thanksgiving for your love in creation and have shared in the bread and the wine of the kingdom: by your grace plant within us a reverence for all that you give us and make us generous and wise stewards of the good things we enjoy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 30th September 2007

Sunday 8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
7.30 pm Emmaus Group - Church
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
7.30 pm Deanery Synod at St Philip’s
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer

Sunday 7th October

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