A warm welcome to you on this Fifth Sunday of Lent. 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’.

We especially welcome the Nicholls family to church today as Louise, Georgie and Millie are to be baptised. Louise will also be confirmed at Coventry Cathedral on Easter Eve at 8pm together with Kay Chesters who is also being prepared for Confirmation.

Songs of Praise
Many of you will regularly watch Songs of Praise on a Sunday evening. Tonight and next Sunday are of special interest as three members of our congregation are part of the Blue Coat School Choir who recently competed in the Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year. Whilst I am not allowed to tell you the result (which comes next week!) the programmes are well worth watching.

Ivan Collinson’s Retirement
All those who know Ivan (and Carole) are invited to attend a retirement party in his honour on Saturday 29th March at 4pm. This is to be held at Walsgrave Working Men’s Club on the corner of Woodway Lane/Narbeth Way. Please arrive by 4pm. Please phone 7661 2565 if you are planning on attending. Please also sign the card today that we shall be sending from St Mary’s.

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

Mission Group
Please see the Mission notice board for thank you letters recently received from Headway, Global Care and Anglicans in World Mission [USPG]; all recipients of St Mary’s 2007 charitable giving.

Global Care’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations
Global Care are holding an early evening Thanksgiving Service at Coventry Cathedral to mark their 25th Anniversary on Saturday 8th March 6 - 7.30 pm. A great opportunity to hear speakers (including Baroness Caroline Cox, Fiona Castle and Bishop John) who each have a vital and powerful message for the Christian church today. All welcome. See poster for more details.

Annual Meeting
Because of the early date of Easter PCC have set the annual meeting for 20th April this year. We shall be revising the electoral roll during March (please see Sheila Wick for a form if you worship with us regularly and are not on the Electoral Roll). All reports should be into the office by Palm Sunday, please (ie next week!)

February Tote
Tote winners for February were as follows;:

First Prize £28 No. 72 G Wakeman
Second Prize £ 9 No. 25 V Hartley

Good Friday
As in previous years we shall be joining with members of Walsgrave Baptist Church, St Philip’s and Potters Green URC in a Walk of Witness from St Philip’s to ASDA on Good Friday. We shall start at 10.30am and hope to finish at ASDA by about noon. As last year we shall be distributing eggs and service cards at ASDA. Please do join us if you can for an important way of witnessing to the local community

The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Collect: Gracious Father, you gave up your Son out of love for the world: lead us to ponder the mysteries of his passion, that we may know eternal peace through the shedding of our Saviour’s blood, Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: Ezekiel 37. 1-14 David Greenhaugh

Second Reading: Romans 8. 6-11 Keith Lashley

Gospel Reading : John 11. 1-45 Tony Thistlewood

Intercessor: Malcolm Tyler

Hymns: 362 69 226 225 303

Post Communion Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do also for you: give us the will to be the servant of others as you were the servant of all, and gave up your life and died for us, but are alive and reign, now and for ever.

This week beginning 9th March 2008

This Sunday 8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion with Baptisms, Junior Church
and Lazers.
12 noon Baptism
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
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 16th March

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion with procession, Junior Church and Lazers
3 pm Baptism
6.30 pm Evening Prayer