A warm welcome to you on this Second 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’.

Haiti
Thank you to all those who gave so generously towards the Haiti appeal. We raised £219.37 in total which will be sent off shortly.

Cathedral
Many of you will know that the Cathedral has recently started charging an entry fee. The standard amount is £4.50. There is however no cost either on a Sunday or to go in to pray. Whilst there is great sadness at charging, the financial demands on the Cathedral are very high and unless something is done the situation would only have got worse. I did hear that admission charges on the first two weeks raised more that the voluntary donations for the entire month of January in 2009!

Letters around the Parish
PCC would like to make an appeal around the parish for funds to help with the Roof. To this end letters are prepared for delivery around the parish and I hope people will feel able to take some today and deliver in the stated roads. Thank you.

Ash Wednesday and Lent
Ash Wednesday is on 17th February this year and starts the season of Lent. Please look out your Palm crosses over the next few weeks so that they may be brought into church for burning (to provide the Ash for the Ash Wednesday service). We are planning Lent courses again. These will be held on Wednesdays, both after the 10am service and in the evening at 7.30 pm - see insert for details.

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 17th February at 10.45 am. Cost £1. All welcome.

Latest newsletter from Yeldall
Please see the Mission notice board and read about the good news from Yeldall Manor. Increasing numbers of people struggle with serious drug and drink addictions. Yeldall is a Christian response to addiction which is a beacon of light and hope to those who need it. Its residential rehabilitation programme is intensive and demanding for residents and staff. It's good to hear that the National Treatment Agency has recognised Yeldall's good work and provided significant grant aid. Thanks be to God.
Sue Morton, for Mission Group

Scripture Union
Walsgrave Baptist Church are hosting two training mornings run by Scripture Union for anyone who works with children, not just junior church leaders. The first one was held yesterday but there is another one on Sat 24th April from 9.15 - 12.45pm. The cost is £5. See flier for more details.

Roof Appeal
Work has now finished on the roof itself though the internal decoration will not begin for a while as the Centre needs to dry out better. The loss adjuster has agreed to the appointment of a decorator even though his quote was £500 over the £2,000 limit for obtaining more quotes. Thank you to everyone who has donated to our appeal for funds so generously to date. A special thank you to David and Bernice Greenhalgh who donated money to the funds in lieu of an 80th birthday party for Bernice.

St Mary’s Charitable Giving 2009
Please see the Mission notice board for thank you letters from:
• Coventry Myton Hospice
• USPG Anglicans in World Mission and Nicholas Wheeler’s newsletter from Brazil
• The Gurkha Welfare Trust
• Yeldall - a Christian response to addiction
• The Church Army
Sue Morton, for Mission Group

Second Sunday before Lent

Collect: Almighty God, give us reverence for all creation and respect for every person, that we may mirror your likeness in Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading: Genesis 2. 4b-9, 15-end [8am only]

Second Reading: Revelation 4 [8am only]

Gospel Reading: Luke 8. 22-25 [8am only]

Post Communion Prayer: God our creator, by your gift the tree of life was set at the heart of the earthly paradise, and the bread of life at the heart of your Church: may we who have been nourished at your table on earth be transformed by the glory of the Saviour’s cross and enjoy the delights of eternity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 7th February 2010

This 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

Sunday 14th February

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