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

Lent approaches
Lent is approaching very fast! Ash Wednesday is on 6th February this year and it would be helpful if people could bring in their palm crosses from last year by the end of the month so that they may be burnt prior to the service on Ash Wednesday.

Lent Course
We shall be running a Lent Course based on the film ‘Chocolat’ this year. The story of the film is about a woman who comes to open a chocolate shop (chocolaterie) in an austere French village during Lent.
The course will run at two times, both on a Wednesday, starting on Wednesday 13th February. We shall hold a daytime course 10.30 am - 12 noon followed by soup and rolls and a 7.30 pm - 9 pm session followed by tea and biscuits.
The first session is particularly important as we shall watch the film together. As the film is 1¾ hr we shall start promptly at 7.30 pm - Be warned!

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club have decided to postpone their meetings now until after Lent. Therefore they will not start back until Wednesday 19th March at 10.45 am. (This is the Wednesday in Holy Week). All welcome.

Mike Wakeman
Sadly Mike Wakeman had a series of heart attacks on Sunday evening of last week. He is well enough as I write this but please hold him and Geraldine in your prayers.

Welcome and Collection Duties
I am just about to draw up the next rota of volunteers who welcome people to our 10am Sunday service, give out books and put them away afterwards and also take the collection during the service. It is a commitment every 8/10 weeks and it would be lovely to be able to include some new people, so if you would like to help, please have a word with me. Barbara Hancox

Verger
PCC have agreed to the appointment of Barry Walker as our new Verger.

Cleaners
We are in need of some new cleaners to staff our church cleaning rota. If you would not mind helping once every 6 or 7 weeks on a Saturday morning for half an hour, please speak either to Kerry Tutchings, the wardens or Malcolm.

Mission Notice Board
Please see the Mission notice board for the latest news from:

Coventry Myton Hospice. A thank you letter from Myton Hospice for St Mary’s donation of £380 [part of our 2007 charitable giving] and news of the development of the new Coventry Myton Hospice on the side of the old Walsgrave Hospital.

Yeldall Manor. A thank you letter from Yeldall for our donation of £380 [also part of St Mary’s 2007 charitable giving] and the work ahead in 2008.

Global Care A thank you card from Global Care for our ongoing support, in their 25th anniversary year.

Christian Holiday Handbook 2008
We have been supplied with a number of copies of the Christian Holiday Handbook for 2008. If you would like a copy, please take one from the foyer.

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Collect: God of heaven, you send the gospel to the ends of the earth and your messengers to every nation: send your Holy Spirit to transform us by the good news of everlasting life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: 1 Kings 17. 8-16 Chris Addie

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1. 18-31 Lorraine Baker

Gospel Reading : John 2. 1-11 Dave Kirkwood

Intercessor: Nicola Harwood

Hymns: 106 82 227 235 560

Post Communion Prayer: Generous Lord, in word and eucharist we have proclaimed the mystery of your love: help us so to live out our days that we may be signs of your wonders in the world; through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

This week beginning 27th January 2008

This Sunday 8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and Lazers
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
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer

Sunday 3rd February

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