A warm welcome to you on this Third
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’.
Wendesday Morning Bible Study
This group will resume again on Wednesday 29th February when it will be
joining in with the Lent Course.
Lent Courses
This year during Lent we shall be running two groups, one on Wednesday
morning after the 10am Communion Service and one at 7.30pm in the evening
also on a Wednesday. The sessions will last approximately 90 minutes.
Our subject this year will be ‘Handing on the Torch’ - sacred
words for a secular world.
The course written by John Young for ‘York Courses’ looks
at how society has changed over the years and how Christians may respond
to this. There are 5 sessions entitled:
A Christian Country? A Secular Society? A beleagured Church? Competing
Creeds? Handing on the Torch
It would be helpful if you could let us know if you will be attending
the course (either in the morning or evening) by signing the list in the
Church Centre.
Coffee Club
The Coffee Club meets next on Wednesday 8th February at 10.45 am. Price
£1. Tea or Coffee. All welcome.
Ash Wednesday
In preparation for Ash Wednesday please could you start bringing in any
Palm Crosses you have from previous years. These are then burned to produce
the ash.
Preparations for AGM
It seems almost impossible that the Annual Parochial Church Meetings should
be on the horizon again. Infact our meetings are scheduled for Sunday
25th March. This is the time to elect Churchwardens, PCC members and Deanery
Synod members as well as to receive the annual report and financial statements.
Please could you think seriously about standing or nominating for the
various officers. Currently we have only myself as a representative on
Deanery Synod and PCC effectively has had two vacancies during the past
year.
Also, could people please start to get reports ready and into the office
for inclusion in the meeting papers. The final date for submission will
be Sunday 4th March.
Finally we shall have to update our electoral roll. The revision dates
will be published soon when confirmed by PCC but please speak to Sheila
Wick in the meantime if you think you should be on our roll but are not.
Healing Services
We have decided to continue with our healing services on Wednesday morning
and evening. The next services will be held in Holy Week on 4th April
at 10am and 7.30pm.
Church Heating
Great news. All being well the heating will be replaced in church starting
on Monday 6th February. The work is likely to take just under a fortnight.
Quite where we will worship on 12 February (Church or Octagon) is uncertain
but we will carry on regardless and let people know what is happening
when we know ourselves.
Third Sunday before Lent
Collect: Eternal God, whose Son went among the crowds and
brought healing with his touch: help us to show his love, in your Church
as we gather together, and by our lives as they are transformed into the
image of Christ our Lord.
First Reading: Isaiah 40. 21-31 [8am only]
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 9. 16-23 [8am only]
Gospel Reading: Mark 1. 29-39 [8am only]
Post Communion Prayer: Merciful Father, who gave Jesus Christ to be for
us the bread of life, that those who come to him should never hunger:
draw us to the Lord in faith and love, that we may eat and drink with
him at this table in the kingdom, where he is alive and reigns, now and
for ever.
This week beginning 5th February 2012
This Sunday
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Splash, Xstream and Grid
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 February
8 am Holy Communion
10 am Parish Communion, Splash, Xstream and Grid
6.30 pm Evening Prayer
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