A warm welcome to you on this Palm 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’.

Congratulations to Samantha Harris and Damian Townshend on the birth of Dylan this past Monday, 30th March, a brother to Joshua. Sam and Dylan are both doing well.

Today’s service at 10am follows a slightly different format at the beginning as we bless the Palm crosses and parade outside the church building in memory of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday. To help people follow the service better, please follow the enclosed order of service at the start of the service. As people re-enter church we will sing the last two verses of All glory, laud and honour again.

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.

Easter Services
Please see below a list of our services during Holy Week and Easter. On the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week we shall hold a half hour service of meditations on some of the Stations of the Cross. Each day we shall look at three stations and the whole service will last no more than 30 minutes. Do come along if you can for some peace, quiet and reflection in a very busy week.
Our rehearsal for servers involved in Easter Services will be at 8pm on Wednesday.

Holy Week Services
Mon-Wed 7.30 pm Meditation on Stations of the Cross
Maundy Thursday 8 pm Eucharist with food washing
Good Friday 10 am Walk of Witness from St Chad’s
2 pm Good Friday Devotions
Easter Day 5 am Vigil, Easter ceremonies and eucharist,
followed by breakfast
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 15th April at 10.45 am. Cost £1. All Welcome.

Hope Rising
Elim Pentecostal Church (The Butts) are holding a Musical of Easter on Wednesday 8th April at 8pm. Entrance is free but an offering will be taken with proceeds going to Global Care.

Thought for the week….
Lord Jesus Christ who suffered so much and complained not at all;
who loved so greatly and with so little response;
teach us how to swallow up resentment in pity;
teach us how to turn hatred into healing power;
for thy mercy and for thy truths sake. Amen.

Palm Sunday

Collect: True and humble king, hailed by the crowd as Messiah: grant us the faith to know you and love you, that we may be found beside you on the way of the cross, which is the patch of glory.


Opening Gospel: Mark 11.1-11 Margaret Davoll


Second Reading: Philippians 2.5-11 Hannah Tyler


Passion Gospel: Mark 14.1-15.47 Stephen Baker


Intercessor: Tony Thistlewood


Hymns: 11 435 148 72 226

Post Communion Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you humbled yourself in taking the form of a servant, and in obedience died on the cross for our salvation: give us the mind to follow you and to proclaim you as Lord and King, to the glory of God the Father.

This week beginning 5th April 2009

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Junior Church and Lazers
3 pm Marriage Blessing
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
7.30 pm Meditation
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
7.30 pm Meditation
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
7.30 pm Meditation
8 pm Servers’ rehearsal
Maundy Thurs 9 am Morning Prayer
8 pm Holy Communion & Footwashing
Good Friday 10 am Walk of Witness from St Chad’s
2 pm Good Friday Devotions
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer

Sunday 12th April

Easter Sunday

Easter Day 5 am Dawn Eucharist
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer