Update from the Vicar

6th January 2022

Here's the link for the update

Happy new year! We are all praying for a good 2022 and I’ve been reminded recently that in the Christian life there are always battles running alongside the joys, it’s not so much that we expect to enter a battle-free season and we’re waiting for that, instead we need to acknowledge there’s an ongoing combination of joys and sufferings, there’s always battles but we have God with us. So I’m praying we’ll truly find our hope and joy in Jesus, in him, keep rooted in him.

John 1:17 says ‘For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ’. Though there are still many changing situations for us to deal with, the unchanging grace and truth of our God, through Jesus, is always there for us. The Good News, the Gospel, will always be Good! There is always hope and joy, even in the midst of our challenges (Psalm 23). Let’s keep turning our eyes to him, prayerful and worshipful. I find I need to keep reminding myself when I get grumpy that I’m called to prayer and praise including in that very moment, again and again, called to connection with our loving God. Let’s wear our garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Is 61:3), instead of the spirit of heaviness.

I think the Lord would like us to know just how much he knows and understands our situation and how he loves us and wants to lift us with refreshing. I received a word from someone which I think is right to share with our church and which I feel was also confirmed recently in a prayer meeting this week, when there was a picture of the gentle yet bold people of God coming out from behind a beautiful curtain where they felt safe and drinking from the waterfalls of God’s living waters. We know the strong roar of the lion of Judah and he is beautifully gentle and lowly. When we humble ourselves before him we find our deepest refreshing and strengthening. Gentleness and boldness. As ever with words from the Lord, we weigh them for discerning what is good or bad, so that we can hold onto what is good for building our faith. We discern the Lord’s voice together based on our knowledge of Scripture. So here’s a word which I hope will encourage us:

'My church (indicates this was Jesus speaking), you are walking with a limp. You are not functioning to your fullest capacity. You are feeling tired and weary. You have just about got through this season of COVID. You are My church and I know how you are feeling, I know all of your moans, groans and hardships. I know it all because you are mine, you belong to me and I love you. I'm not going to leave you as you are. I'm coming with a fresh wind of fire. I'm going to breathe on you anew and afresh. I'm going to restore you, I'm going to lift you up and raise you up above your circumstances. To receive My refreshing that is to come all I ask you to do is to position yourself prostrate before Me. Find a place where you can come, get low before me, daily surrender all that you are to me so that I can give you all that I have for you. My Church you are precious to Me, you are My Beloved and I love My Beloved and I want My Beloved to experience My love, to live in My love and to become My love. All you have to do is find a quiet place, learn to rest in Me and to receive My love. In that place all you have to do is open up your heart to Me and I'll do the rest. The more you come and drink and receive from Me the more you'll become like Me. That's what I created you for, to become the beloved, My beloved, The Fathers Beloved. You are The Father's Son's and Daughters and He has so much more for you. All you have to do is come, sit, wait, remain and let me teach you how to abide with Me. It's so simple. I'm here ready and waiting for you, to take you on an adventure, a journey where you will discover just how much more I am for you in this season. Love your Big Brother Jesus.'

Let’s be praying into this. It strikes me that there’s both a literal way of prostrating ourselves before God, lying face down in his presence and a spiritual way in our attitudes and availability before him our King. So if you can’t physically lie prostrate don’t worry, this is a humble approach, letting God be God, to receive his love and grow in the likeness of Jesus. Our relationship with our living God is of first importance, as ever, this year.

John 8:36 - So if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed
Galatians 5:1 - Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Isaiah 61:3- - Through this scripture Jesus is encouraging us to put on the garment of praise (to praise Him every day) so we lay aside the spirit of heaviness (the oppression of the enemy).

This Sunday we’re starting a new preaching series looking at the book of Colossians. On Sunday we’ll be setting the scene of the book and looking at thankfulness for our faith in the word of truth of the gospel.

Look out for all the things coming up this week and please be daily praying for our youth, over these 40 days before the youth alpha course begins on the 9th February. Thank you for joining in with this 40 days of prayer.

On Saturday there’s a cuddly toy storytime on zoom at 10am for 25mins for 2-7 year olds, contact Lizzy for the link at lizzy@stmarysleamington.com, and you should have received an email with the link too. Children are encouraged to bring a favourite cuddly toy to help take part, and they MUST have an adult with them throughout.

Also this Saturday there’s a CAP taster day so you can find out more about being a befriender or debt coach, it’s in the church from 10am til 11:30am, do come along.

The men’s curry has moved to the 23rd January – so a reminder, it’s not on this Sunday.

The Sparklers Sunday group (age 2 to year 2) restarts this Sunday and Rockets restarts on the 16th running every 3rd and 4th Sunday at the moment.

Finally save the date for the next Sparklers/Flames children's social which is the Big Family Playdate on Thursday 27th January, 3.30 - 4.45pm in the Lower Hall. A stay-and-play social with toys, crafts and refreshments for children aged 2 up to Year 2, with their parents. And please pray for the PCC as we meet next week.

Please keep in touch, our office number is 01926 778505, know that you’re in my heart and prayers.

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