A warm welcome to you on this the last Sunday before 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’.

Palm Crosses
Lent is almost upon us (Ash Wednesday is this coming Wednesday). Today is the last day for you to bring in any Palm crosses you may have so that they can be burnt in preparation for Wednesday.

Lent
During Lent we shall be running the 5 week Lent Course ‘Lentwise’ by Paula Gooder on Wednesdays 10.30 am - 12 noon. The course will start on Wednesday 4th March. The course is based on 5 passages from St John’s gospel starting with the well known John 14 passage containing the phrase ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions’. Because there has been some disappointment about there being no course in the evening I would like to see what interest there really is for such a course. If you would like to join an evening course (Wednesdays) and can commit to 4 of the 5 sessions at lease please do sign up on the noticeboard today. The Emmaus Course (a Christian basics) course will run through Lent on either a Monday or Tuesday evening. Please see Malcolm if you would like to join this course.

St Mary’s Charitable Giving Update
Please see the Mission notice board. We have received “Thank-you’s” from: Anglicans in World Mission [USPG], Yeldall Manor, Gilead Health Development, Global Care Sponsor a Child, Coventry Myton Hospice Appeal.
Sue Morton, for St Mary’s Mission Group.

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 4th and 18th March at 10.45 am. Cost £1. All Welcome.

January Tote
1st Prize No. 10 R. Stokes £25.50
2nd Prize No. 2 A. Curtis £ 8.50

Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting this year is scheduled for Sunday March 29th. We shall be reviewing our electoral roll membership from the middle of February and seeking membership of the Parochial Church Council at a similar time. If you worship here regularly but are not on our electoral roll, please have a word with Sheila Wick who will be able to help you get on the roll. If you normally write a report for the AGM, please start to think about it now. All reports need to be into the office by today.

Prayer Tree
Please do remember our Prayer Tree for your prayer requests. Leaves are available to place you prayer requests on the tree or you can also use the yellow and green prayer cards.

Coventry Walkathon 2009
The Coventry walkathon 2009 will take place in the Memorial Park on Sunday 10th May. Local charities have raised a staggering £140,000 over the last 14 years. Anyone can take part in this Walkathon to raise money for a charity or worthwhile cause which you nominate or for local charities nominated by the organisers. Walk starts at 11 am and closes at 3.15 pm and the idea is that you walk as many laps of the park as you can manage. Each lap is 1.75 miles You can come in fancy dress and there will be prizes for the most original costumes. Please see poster for more details

The last Sunday before Lent

Collect: Holy God, you know the disorder of our sinful lives: set straight our crooked hearts, and bend our wills to love your goodness and your glory in Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: 2 Kings 2. 1-12 Owen Vigeon

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4. 3-6 Yu Hung Xia Guo

Gospel Reading : Mark 9. 2-9 Sally Vigeon

Intercessor Sue Morton

Hymns 56 327 317 82 30

Post Communion Prayer: Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ: may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power to change and save. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 22nd February 2009

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and Lazers
12 noon Baptisms
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
Ash Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion with Ashing
8 pm Holy Communion with Ashing
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer
3 pm Wedding

Sunday 1st March

8 am Holy Communion
10 am All Age Worship
6.30 pm Evening Prayer