Update from the Vicar

25th November 2021

Here's the link to the video

It’s nearly here, it’s Advent Sunday this weekend. I wonder if you’re all set with your calendars? We will be hearing from Matt with the last of sermons on our preaching series about our vision statement, which is: Encountering God, Rooted in Christ, Transforming Lives. This Sunday our topic is about joining Jesus in his ministry of setting people free to live life in all its fullness. Having been challenged last Sunday about praying with Jesus’ authority it will be good to engage further with this key theme of transforming lives.

I will be taking some time off from Wednesday of next week so that will include not being at church on the 5th.

There are a couple of things I’d love us to pray about please, as well as the most essential prayers we’re pouring out at this time. Please pray for the various Christmas preparations that are underway for the church including for the Christingle Service, Carol Service, carolling and school visits. Please pray for God’s sustaining and protection over us all during this season.

I thought I’d share a couple of Bible verses that may be helpful as we are praying continually for healing. If you wake in the middle of the night, as many of us do, it can be a good time for praying through the watches of the night. If it’s an unsettling time these verses from a psalm may be helpful to turn to:

Psalm 57 (NIV version)
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 91 (NIV version)

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say[a] to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
…. under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

I find the image of Almighty God as our refuge, and how we are covered under the shadow of his wings a comforting one. We can find rest in times of turmoil. I find opening the Bible helps in those moments and it can be as simple as opening up a Bible app like YouVersion and seeing what the verse of the day is.

This is another verse that I have found helpful recently:

Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Let’s pray big prayers because our God is able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine. If you need a song to raise your faith as you pray, you could try King of Me by Rend Collective

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