Update from the Vicar

30 September

What's happening this week and how we can get involved: click here for an update from Becky Jones

Hi everyone,

This Sunday we have our all-age worship and at the end we will have lunch together – so remember to bring along a picnic to eat in the building as usual for First Sundays. It’s a great time to catch up and meet new people. If you forget your food there’s a corner shop only 2min up the road so do stay. If you’ve never been to St Mary’s before come along Sundays at 10:30pm or at 6pm (for refreshments) for the 6:30pm service, we’d love to see you.

At our services on Sunday we’ll be focussing on our vision statement: Encountering God, Rooted in Christ and Transforming Lives – this week moving on to Rooted in Christ and thinking about Becoming More Like Jesus. There’ll be seating round tables and chairs and a relaxed friendly atmosphere.

I am sorry that we weren’t able to upload an audio recording from the sermon last week. We would love to stream once a month but we need to build up our laptop and sound teams, so if you feel a nudge from God do let us know if you’d like to receive some training to help with this key area of church life. We want to be able to keep providing for those who join St Mary’s online.

While we’re talking teams, do be praying about how you could serve – we have urgent need of helpers and leaders in childrens work, the welcome team, refreshments, prayer ministry and CAP (Christians Against Poverty). Just give us a call or email the office and let’s have a chat about possibilities. There’s a childrens ministry team meeting on Monday night (the 4th) so email Lizzy if you want to know more.

Hospitality is on my heart at the moment. How can we live generous hospitable lives? This can look very different for different people but let’s be thinking about what it looks like for us and how we can build up the loving community we are. For some it might mean dusting off some rusty skills, after lockdowns, and finding ways of inviting people into our home. It could be lunches on Sundays or an invite to join you at teatime. I expect there’ll be some students popping by in the coming weeks as they settle into university (please do be praying for them and the staff), so why not be ready with extra food to invite people round for lunch on Sundays (but not this Sunday because there’s the picnic)? For others it might be more practical to invite people for quality time outdoors, meeting at a local café or going for a walk. Invite some guys to the mens curry on the 10th. And while you think about being hospitable, what could you do for those who can’t get out? How about some doorstep hospitality or if they don’t want to meet an encouraging phonecall? Sunday night after church a few people could go for a drink. Let’s keep connecting as we are able. Have a great week. I won’t see you Sunday because we’re at a baptism but I’ll be praying for us all, as we do all we can to be Rooted in Christ and becoming more like him. May you know the Lord’s gracious loving kindness this week!

Finally a few prayer requests for this week: please pray for PCC on Tuesday night, for our youth, for Rockets and for staff setting aside time to listen to God for his vision as we look towards plans for 2022.

Hello! and a warm welcome to St Mary's church.
If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

We hope that you can visit and get to know us better, we would love to meet you!

Our Sunday Services

10.30am (refreshments after the service)

The main service begins at 10.30am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our band. We typically have 2 or 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Sometimes a person might pray out loud or read a small passage from the Bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. We share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is Bible-based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. There is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service. Holy Communion is 4th Sunday of the month. If you have any questions please ask!

6pm (refreshments after the service)

Our 6pm service is held in the Church Centre in the Lower Hall. An informal, quieter service with contemporary songs and occasional liturgy. Holy Communion is 2nd Sunday of the month.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access via the centre door, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it in the church. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is a disabled toilet in the Church centre.

Newcomers Lunch

We invite everyone to be a guest at a Newcomers Welcome Lunch normally held once a term after the 10.30 Sunday service, usually in the Church Centre.

As well as an opportunity for us all to get to know one another better, you can hear more about the life and ministry of St Mary’s and how as a committed Christian you may be able to get involved.

We also have a Whole Church Sunday lunch together once a month in our Lower Hall.

Christmas inside church

What about my kids?

Children's groups run on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays of every month (except school holidays) at the 10:30 service and your kids are very welcome to join them.

Each group (excluding Crèche) includes, sung worship, Bible reading, prayer, listening to God, games, craft and food!

All groups are led by wonderful volunteers from within the church family who have completed a DBS check and are safely recruited.

Creche (0 months to 2 years). Parent supervised.
Sparklers (2-4 years)
Flames (5-7 years)
Rockets (8-11 years Junior School)
Youth (Secondary School age)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service as we worship (sing songs), together for the first part of the morning. At some point someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. You will need to go with your children to their groups at first and register them as part of our child safety policy.

For more information about what happens in the children's work please visit the Children's Ministry page. Children return to the service before the end.

St Mary's has lots of children and families, we love having kids around and try to make them feel welcome and at home.

Hope kids pic

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Rev'd Becky Jones
Vicar of St Mary's

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

Becky