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’.

Calendars - A supply of Walsgrave calendars are available at £5. Please see Stella if you are interested in these.

Coffee Club - The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 9th December at 10.45 am. Cost £1.

Lead Theft - Many of you will know by now that we had vandals attack the church twice recently. Although they did not take any lead away with them there was considerable damage both to the lead flashings and the flat roof of the church centre. Our architect has now been and inspected the building and has instituted a plan of action which should see the repairs underway over the next few weeks. Clearly we will need to investigate methods of ensuring this sort of thing doesn't happen again and PCC will take this on board. The Insurance Company have now appointed a loss adjuster who visited the church last Monday. Quotations are coming into the architect and we hope a contractor will be appointed quickly.

Christmas Day Lunch 2009 - Walsgrave Baptist Church - Once again Walsgrave Baptist Church are providing a lunch on Christmas Day for anyone who would otherwise be on their own. If you know of anyone in the neighbourhood who will have nowhere to go or no one to share Christmas Day with, please let Matt Jeffrey know their name and address and he will arrange for an invitation to be sent to them. As in previous years, they are able to provide transport for those who need it. Due to the amount of planning involved, an early answer, preferably by 1st December, would be much appreciated.

Safety Pins wanted - Audrey Curtis is appealing for safety pins (ordinary ones rather than curved Nappy Pins). She also needs small beads suitable for threading onto these pins. If you can help with any of these please have a word with her.

Christmas Meal - In last weeks notices we advertised a Christmas Meal in church on 10th December, but unfortunately because the roof will not be repaired in time, this has had to be cancelled.

Annual Christmas Card - As many of you will know at Christmas instead of sending individual cards to others in the congregation we prepare a church card which includes your personal message and is distributed to everybody on the Sunday before Christmas. Please join us and write your message on a paper slip (available in church). We normally ask for a donation of £1 and the money raised goes to a local charity which this year is the Coventry Myton Hospice Sensory Garden. This is a garden funded by Warwickshire’s Womens Institute, designed by a member of Baginton WI and our donation should buy an edging brick with ‘St Mary’s’ inscribed on it.

Jams and Pickled Onions - I have the following preserves available: Raspberry and Strawberry (£1.50 per jar,) Blackcurrant, Plum, Damson Jam and Seville Orange Marmalade all at £1.25 per jar. Pickled onions are also £1.25 per jar. If you need any for Christmas, please let me know. (024) 7661 2636 Jean.

The 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: Malachi 3. 1-4 [8am only]

Second Reading: Philippians 1. 3-11 [8am only]

Gospel Reading: Luke 3. 1-6 [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 6th December 2009

Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am “Worship For All”
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 7 pm Parish Office
Tuesday 9 am Morning Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion
Thursday 9 am Morning Prayer
Saturday 9.30 am Morning Prayer
2 pm Wedding

Sunday 13th

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