A warm welcome to you on this Advent 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’.

The Pastoral Group at St Mary's has been re-formed and the membership now is Barbara Gardner, Betty Dakin, Hazel Turner, Alison Liggins, Sheila Wick, Sue Morton and Barbara Hancox. Its main aim is to support members of the congregation for example in times of illness or other difficulties, by keeping in contact by 'phone or visiting at home and we can also arrange for people to receive home communion. People will particularly be held in prayer, so if you know or have concerns about anybody and think that we may be able to help, please contact one of the group members.

Tony Thistlewood
From today until Easter Tony Thistlewood will be taking a mini-sabbatical from St Mary’s. Whilst he and Sheila intend to worship with us, Tony will be taking the opportunity to recharge his spiritual batteries by standing back just a little. This means he will not be ‘upfront’ until Easter (except on 2.1.11) and having a break from meetings and involvement generally. We wish him well in this and thank him for all he does at St Mary’s.

Harvest Thank you
We have received a letter of thanks from Coventry City Mission for our Harvest gifts this year. I will endeavour to find it at the vicarage and put it on one of the noticeboards here. Apologies that this has not been done before.

Parish Christmas Card
Please put in a message to our Annual Christmas Card for £1 (or more). Donations will be given to ‘Open Hands’, a local charity supporting those who are trying to overcome the problems of alcohol abuse.

Christmas Services
Following the congregational survey and a decision at PCC on Tuesday Christmas Services at St Mary’s will be as follows:-

Christmas Eve
3.30 pm Christingle
7 pm Carols & Communion

Christmas Day
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion

St. Stephen’s Day (26th)
10 am Parish Communion

Toy Service Sunday 5th December
By tradition we hold a Toy Service on the first Sunday of December. Please remember to bring along some brand new toys and gifts (but NO cuddly toys please; they have too many already) which can be given to local families via the Salvation Army Annual Appeal. Please do not wrap the toys and you can bring basic toiletries (including towels, underclothes and socks) as they are very useful for older recipients and men who use the Social Service Centre in Lincoln Street. Please do not bring things you would not like to receive yourself!

Mission2Grow Blog
Tony Thistlewood has been writing a Blog detailing the events, groups and fun that happened during the Franciscan Mission back in September. This first part of this blog can now be seen on the St. Mary’s website - www.stmarys-walsgrave.org.uk

Coffee Club
The Coffee Club will me just once in December. The date of this meeting will be Wednesday 15th December 1t 10.30am. Tea/Coffee £1. All welcome.

Advent Sunday

Collect: Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

First Reading: Isaiah 2. 1-5 Lorraine Baker

Second Reading: Romans 13. 11-14 Elizabeth Chester

Gospel Reading: Matthew 24. 36-44 Nicola Harwood

Intercessor: David Greenhalgh

Hymns: 358 219 307 98 449

Post Communion Prayer: O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 28th November 2010

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion with Baptism, Junior Church and Lazers
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Monday 9 am Morning Prayer
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 5th December

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Toy Service
6.30 pm Evening Prayer