A warm welcome to you on this Seventh Sunday after Trinity. 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’.

Petition
Please do sign the petition available at Church today for an easy walking route to the hospital from Hall Lane if you feel strongly about it.

Sponsored Walk
A big thank you to everyone who sponsored Hannah for her walk to raise money for her trip to Chester with the National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra. Mel Smith accompanied her all the way and can confirm she did the necessary amount. Mel will be collecting your money from today on Hannah’s behalf as she is currently in Cambodia.

Cleaner Wanted
Stella is looking for a cleaner. Please speak to her if you know of anybody looking for such a post ( a couple of hours a week).

Belgrade Theatre Mysteries 27th July - 1 August
Please see the flier on the notice board for details of the Mysteries in our own words at the Belgrade Theatre starting on July 27th

Church Clock and Sponsored Bike Ride
Many of you will have noticed that the Church Clock has not been working for some time. The reason is that the PCC felt they could not afford the £2,000 needed to repair it. After some time the clock was brought back from the repairers (un-repaired) but over half of the bill has been incurred already (£1,100). PCC have now decided to encourage people to take part in the sponsored Ride and Stride Day on 12th September (formerly the Sponsored Bike Ride) in aid of the Historic Churches Trust. If people take part in that we as a Church can receive half of your Sponsor money. If we could raise up to another £500 towards the clock being fully repaired it would be a big help. Please speak to Tony Thistlewood if you could help or would be willing to sponsor people.

Gideons
Please see a thank you letter on the noticeboard for our recent donation of £100 towards the work of the Gideon Ministry. Thank you to all concerned.

Coffee Club - The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 5th & 19th August at 10.45 am. Cost £1. All Welcome.

Postcards from your summer travels - Postcards from your summer travels would be very much appreciated. Please see noticeboard where these will be displayed.

Donations welcome - Any donations towards the cost of fruit and sugar for jam making for our Christmas Fayre would be most appreciated. A pot for donations will be in the foyer on Sunday. Thank you.

Bottles - Please start collecting bottles of wine or spirits for our Christmas Fayre. Our apologies that this appeal is early but we need at least 100 bottles. If you can help please bring them along to church and leave them in the office or notify Mel or Alison. Thankyou.

Please Support - An enterprise group from Richard Lee Primary School has designed a bag to sell to raise funds for Cancer Research. The children are trying to sell as many as possible - please help - Bags cost £2 each. They decided to support Cancer Research as a young teacher at the school is seriously ill with cancer at the moment. Thanks for your support. Nickie Harwood

Glass Jars - It is jar saving time again!! 454 gms (1lb) and 227 gms (½ lb) for jam and various sizes (but not small jars) for pickled onions please. Unfortunately coffee jars are not suitable because they have plastic lids.
Thank you. Jean Hudson.

Please be aware ….. we have been informed that there has been a rise in vehicle crime in the area recently. Therefore please be alert and do not leave valuables etc on show.

The Seventh Sunday after Trinity

Collect: Generous God, you give us gifts and make them grow: though our faith is small as mustard seed, make it grow to your glory and the flourishing of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 11. 1-15 Margaret Oakley

Second Reading: Ephesians 3. 14-end Sarah Tompkins

Gospel Reading: John 6. 1-21

Intercessor: Lorraine Baker

Hymns: 188 337 10 152 522

Post Communion Prayer: Lord God, whose Son is the true vine and the source of life, ever giving himself that the world may live: may we so receive within ourselves the power of his death and passion that, in his saving cup,
we may share his glory and be made perfect in his love; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

This week beginning 26th July 2009

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer
4 pm Wedding

Sunday 2nd August

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