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’.

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.

Christmas Fayre
Thank you to everyone who helped at last week’s Fayre. We banked £1608.22 this week which was enormously creditable. Once all the monies are in and expenses taken out we will publish the net total. Also a big thank you to all stall holders who made an excellent effort to dress up on the Fairy theme. You all looked wonderful and it was great to see everyone entering into the spirit of the occasion. Thank you once again.

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.

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.

Children’s Society
Thank you to all box holders of the Children’s Society and also many thanks to Crawford at the Post Office who changed all the coppers for me. The amount collected this year was £442.66. This was £200 less than last year but having said that an excellent total seeing that we have sadly lost 4 of our box holders over the last year and also one has moved away. If anyone would like to have a box, I would be pleased to supply them with one.
Audrey Curtis

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


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.

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: Isaiah 11. 1-10 [8 am only]

Second Reading: Romans 15. 4-13 [8 am only]

Gospel Reading: Matthew 3. 1-12 [8 am 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 5th December 2010

This Sunday

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Toy Service
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 12th December

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