A warm welcome to you on this Second Sunday of Advent 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’.

Owen
We are very glad to say that Owen was released from hospital last Tuesday and is much like his old self. Nothing very disastrous was revealed by the customary tests; but of course there will be some medical follow up to come. May we say how profoundly grateful we are both for the care and concern of all the congregation: and especially for the calm, efficient and loving way the little crisis was dealt with. We were particularly fortunate to have a Reader, a Church warden and a retired Ambulance man for carrying off the unlooked for emergency with great aplomb, love and efficiency. We are not in church this morning to say this personally as we have gone to Lancashire for the eightieth birthday party of a dear friend. Owen & Sally

Christmas Meal
Please make sure you get your tickets for our Christmas Meal on Sunday 14th December, 12.30pm. (min £10, £8). Tickets are available from Mel Smith, Malcolm or the wardens.

Annual Christmas Card
Each year we produce a Christmas Card at St Mary’s given to each member of the congregation on the 4th Sunday of Advent. We produce it to reduce the need to send numerous Christmas Cards around the congregation. For a donation of £1 a brief message may be inserted into the card. This year the money collected will be donated to Walsgrave Baptist Church towards the cost of the Christmas Lunch they provide for those likely to be on their own on Christmas Day. Please do put your message in via the slips provided.

Coventry Myton Hospice
The Amount raised last Wednesday at the Coffee Morning was £314.60 and from the previous Coffee Morning £35.40 making a total of £350.00. Many thanks to all the helpers and people who supported us on the day. Gwen & Audrey

Henley Ward Forum
The next Ward Forum will take place on Thursday 11th December at Henley Green Community Centre in Wyken Croft (7pm - 9pm).

Poppy Appeal
Thank you very much for helping with this years Poppy Appeal. £68.08 was collected by St. Mary’s. This money will help them continue their vital welfare and benevolent work.

November Tote
1st Prize No. 23 M. Sweet £26.00
2nd Prize No. 77 T. Fearns £8.00

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club will meet next on Wednesday 10th December at 10.30 am Price £1. This will be the only meeting in December. In January, they will start again on Wednesday 7th. All Welcome.

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

Quiz Night
This Friday 12th December - 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! Start time 7 pm at Church.

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.

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.

Second Sunday of Advent

Collect: Almighty God, purify our hearts and minds, that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour we may be ready to receive him, who is our Lord and our God.

First Reading: Isaiah 40. 1-11 [8 am only]

Second Reading: 2 Peter 3. 8-15 [8 am only]

Gospel Reading : Mark 1. 1-8 [8am only]

Post Communion Prayer: Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him
in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again,
we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 7th December 2008

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am “Worship for All”
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday No Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday No Morning Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
Thursday No Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer
1 pm Wedding

Sunday 14th December

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