St Mary's Notices

Our next meeting is a talk: ‘HMS Glamorgan and It’s Role in the Falklands Conflict.’ We start with coffee at 10:15am and look forward to welcoming all ladies and gentlemen to this and future meetings. If you would like to receive monthly meeting reminders via e-mail, please contact admin@stmaryincharnwood.org.uk

Remembrance Day Services this Sunday. All Together Worship will take place at 10am and Evening Communion will be at 6pm. Please join us for our services for Remembrance Day as we pray for peace across our world. The 10am service is intergenerational and will end early in order to give us time to gather around the War Memorial for a short Act of Remembrance at 11am.

In previous years we have decorated the church with different themes- angels, doves, sheep etc. and this has been the taken on by the flower team and volunteers. Last year we held craft sessions inviting all ages of the congregation and their families and friends which was very special. This year we are planning to fill the church with Christmas Trees and we would like to involve the church, its various groups and the wider community to help us with this. The trees would be Eco based, which supports our ethos for sustainability, therefore we would like trees made of wood, twigs, paper, cardboard rolls, paper cups, card, or anything else your inspiration takes you to (images will soon be available to give some ideas). We will need trees of various sizes; for the windows they ideally should be maximum 3ft 6 inches in height or less and we will need at least 1 for each window about 10 in total. If you feel you can commit to a larger tree that would be
wonderful - please let us know. If this seems a little daunting, we will also require numerous small trees which we can give away, which can be crafted from wool, paper, pinecones, lollipop sticks, card, material, string, ribbon etc. We will be holding a craft session on Saturday 2nd December (TBC). All trees would need to be delivered to church on December 9th so we can create the displays. Thank you!

Returning monthly on the second Saturday of the month from 4:45pm to 5:15pm. Join us for a short reflective service in the woodland around the firepit.

As usual in November, the ‘theme’ of the walk will be Remembrance and we will be having one or two stops on the route with thoughts for the day and season. Meet at The White Horse, White Horse Lane, Birstall LE4 4EF at 9:45am or so for a 10am start. For more information about the walk please contact admin@stmaryincharnwood.org.uk

This month’s meeting will have a seasonal theme. We will continue to make donations to the Food Bank - Pot Noodles, Deodorant (Men and Women’s), Shampoo/Shower Gel, Toothbrushes, Tins of Vegetables and Microwave Rice are on the latest list of items most needed, but all contributions are much appreciated. For details of the meeting place, please contact admin@stmaryincharnwood.org.uk

Everyone is welcome to our All Together Agape Meal at 10am and Evensong at 6pm. This Sunday we celebrate All Saints, which fits well with the conclusion of our sermon series as we consider our
relationship as part ‘OF’ the Church across time and space. At 10am we will be trying something new – an Agape Meal, sharing bread and wine as a sign of our unity and fellowship as the Body of Christ. Agape Meals are part of ancient Christian tradition and have sometimes been used in place of sacramental communion, offering a more inclusive and informal expression of fellowship that does not require a priest to preside.

Please join us for our annual bereavement service that is open to everyone who would like to remember and give thanks to God for a loved one who has died. There will be an opportunity to light a candle in the service and to write the name of your loved one on a card for prayer. The service will be followed by light
refreshments.

This group warmly invites anyone who would welcome some company whether they live alone or not. It is a lovely opportunity to meet together to share lunch and chat. The meetings take place on the last Wednesday of each month at the Toby Carvery, Forest Road at 12 noon. Please contact admin@stmaryincharnwood.org.uk if you would like any more details.

Please join us for Morning Worship at 10am and Evening Communion at 6pm – both with an Advocate slot.
We are continuing our St Mary's Vision series. Last week the focus was 'UP', and our relationship with God. This week we are looking at what it means to be a people that are called to go 'OUT'. The readings are Isaiah 45:1-7 and Matthew 28:16-20. Chris and Keith will be joining us from the SoAR Project to give us their latest updates.

The next meeting will be this Friday, the 20th October at the Forest Gate (i.e. the Toby Carvery on Forest Road). We start between 8pm and 8:15pm. All men are welcome to join us over a drink and friendly discussions about work, St Mary’s, local issues, and people’s interests. Please contact admin@stmaryincharnwood.org.uk if interested in coming or just turn up! We look forward to seeing you.

Why not shine some light, love, and hope during the week of Halloween by getting involved in the
national Streets of Light project? The project is simple and easy to do. Simply sign up via the Streets of Light website by the 16th of October, make your window displays and put them up in your windows from the 30th of October to the 5th of November 2023. There is also a Streets of Light Craft Event on Saturday 14th October, 9:30-11:30am at The Arc Community Hub, Knox Rd, LE11 2UP. It will be great to see loads of LCP churches getting involved in this amazing project as we shine for Jesus during these dark nights.