A warm welcome to you on this St. Stephen. 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’.

Please remember to pick up our annual Christmas card and take home with you today.

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

Christingle Making
Help would be appreciated in making the Christingles as many hands make light work. We will be making them on Thursday 23rd at 10am. Please do come and help.

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 not meet again until the new year. The first one in January will be Wednesday 19th at 10.30am. Tea/Coffee £1. All welcome.

Wednesday Morning Study Group
The Wednesday morning study group will start again in the new year on Wednesday 12th January.

St. Stephen

Collect: Gracious Father, who gave the first martyr Stephen grace to pray for those who took up stones against him: grant that in all our sufferings for the truth we may learn to love even our enemies and to seek forgiveness for those who desire our hurt, looking up to heaven to him who was crucified for us, Jesus Christ, our mediator and advocate, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 24. 20-22 Barbara Gardner

Second Reading: Acts 7. 51-60 Sheila Wick

Gospel Reading: Matthew 10. 17-22 Keith Lashley

Intercessor: Glynis Wood

Hymns: 84 251 377 53 34

Post Communion Prayer: Merciful Lord, we thank you for the signs of your mercy revealed in birth and death: save us by the coming of your Son,
and give us joy in honouring Stephen, first martyr of the new Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week beginning 26th December 2010

This Sunday

No 8 am Service
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion

Sunday 2nd January

8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion
6.30 pm Evening Prayer