A warm welcome to you on this Third Sunday before Advent (Remembrance 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’.

Flowers in the Lady Chapel today have been donated in memory of Wally Sleath.

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 12th November at 10.30 am. Price is £1 which includes coffee & biscuits. All Welcome.

Children’s Society Boxes
If you haven’t yet brought in your Collection Box for the Children’s Society please could you do so by next Sunday as I need to finalise the totals. Thank you. Audrey Curtis

Walsgrave 2009 Calendars
Malcolm has a supply of Walsgrave Calendars for sale at £5 each. If you would like one, please see Malcolm.

Spirit of Christmas Fayre
The Church will be open from 2pm on Friday for the setting up of the Spirit of Christmas Fayre. If you are a stall holder, please have a word with Mel about arrangements for setting up your stall. At this stage it would also be helpful to know of any people who would stand in for stall holders on the day for short periods. Even if you can only offer ½ an hour it would be good to know. Please speak to Mel if you can help.

Spirit of Christmas Fayre Raffle Raffle tickets are available for sale today. If you feel able to sell tickets amongst your acquaintances please do take an envelope from Mel which has full instructions and the prize list.

Centre Cleaning Rota
For some time now we have had no paid cleaner to clean the Church Centre (not the church itself.) We have relied on volunteers to keep the Centre reasonably tidy. Whilst this has worked most of the time there have been occasions when the Centre could have been better presented. PCC have discussed this and feel that we cannot affort to pay a cleaner and hope that volunteers can be found to clean the Centre on a rota basis (maybe once every six or so weeks). They are leading the way but would be glad to know of anyone else who would be happy to go on a rota. Please see Malcolm for more details and to volunteer.

Major Emergencies in Coventry
Might you be willing to help out in the event of a major emergency happening in Coventry? The local authority is looking for people who would be willing to ‘befriend’ people who may be temporarily evacuated to a centre in the event of a major emergency. The job would be to be around to chat to people, get cups of tea and relay messages. If you might be interested to help please have a word with Malcolm.

Weekly Collection Envelopes
The envelopes for the new year (week number 1 being 7 December) are now available and can be collected from the tables in the reception area. If anyone would like to join our weekly giving envelope scheme please speak to Malcolm or Jean Hudson.

Early date for your Christmas Diary!!
Before your diary becomes too hectic please pencil in Friday 12 December - the date of our Christmas Quiz Night. Questions will have a Christmas theme in all of the categories, but they will not be too difficult. So please come along, enjoy the quiz, the company and mulled wine and mince pies!

Third Sunday before Advent

Collect: God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: Amos 5. 18-24 [8am only]

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4. 13-18 Sarah Tompkins

Gospel Reading : Matthew 25. 1-13 Glynis Wood

Intercessor: Lorraine Baker

Hymns: 56 139 518 321 186
omit 2vv
Post Communion Prayer: God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This week beginning 9th November 2008

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and Lazers
11 am Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
7.30 pm Deanery Synod: St Mary’s
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer

Sunday 16th November

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and Lazers.
12 noon Baptism
6.30 pm Evening Prayer