St Mary’s News – The Great Expectations Edition

St Mary’s News – Great Expectations

After Revd. Heather’s reflections around ‘Great Expectations’, this editions includes:

Great Expectations - Pip starting his journey to Germany - AI generated

A Happy Sustainable New Year!,
January Events, and
The usual listings of services and contacts.

A New Year Reflection from Revd. Heather

Great expectations

For those that enjoy Christmas movies, the season for watching them, which appears to span anytime from the end of October to December is finally over. One book, which seems to feature over and over again in Christmas films, albeit under many different guises, is that great Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol.

Another novel of Charles Dickens is Great Expectations.

October 28, 2023October 28, 2023

St Marys News – the Eco-Bronze Edition

In this edition St Mary’s looks at progress including winning the Eco Church Bronze award

After hearing about wining the Bronze Eco-Church award this edition continues with:

Parish Share Increase,
Heating,
Shoebox Appeal,
Return of the Advent Trail (with a twist),
Remembrance & Café Church services, and
the usual listings of services and co nt acts.

Eco Church – Bronze Award

We are delighted to announce that St Mary’s has achieved the Bronze Level award for the Eco Church Scheme!

Eco Church is an award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate their care for creation as an integral part of loving their neighbour and following God faithfully.

September 29, 2023September 29, 2023

St Mary’s News – What are you thankful for?

In this edition Revd Heather asks “What are you thankful for?”

Orphan train is used as a reference point when Rev. Heather asks What are you thankful for.

After discussing ‘what are you thankful for’ this edition continues with:

Church Open on Halloween,
Storytime Session,
FISH is back,
Harvest activities, and
the usual listings of services and co nt acts.

A copy of the PCC (Parochial Church Council) minutes are available to view in the Church (in the leaflet rack on top of the side cupboards).

Rev. Heather’s asks “What are you thankful for?”

What are you thankful for? As I ask this question I am reminded of the film ‘The Orphan train’, which depicts the journey, Emma Simms, niece of Reverend Simms, made taking orphan children to find new homes in the West of America. The journey is accompanied by many traumas, including a fire in their train carriage, arriving in the town of Clayhorn, only to be driven away by the townsfolk and a massive storm causing a bridge collapse, with the last few orphans, having to walk the final 15 miles to the town of Mildred.

July 3, 2023July 3, 2023

St Mary’s News – the Summer Holiday Edition

In this edition Revd Heather reflects on Summer Holidays

After discussing Summer Holidays, this edition continues with:

Afternoon Tea at the Rectory (to heat the Church),
Food in School Holidays Club (FiSH),
Songs of Praise at the Old Church,
Café @ St Mary’s, and
the usual listings of services and co nt acts.

Rev. Heather’s Summer Message

It is that time of year when, for many of us, our minds turn to summer holidays.

Whether we are escaping to far flung places and the promise of hours of uninterrupted sunshine, sweltering temperatures, and beautiful beaches, or opting to take our chances with the British weather, staying in this country, whilst also being assured that wherever we go we are blessed with a beautiful country with plenty to see and to learn about. For me and the family this year it is a holiday in Northumberland that we are looking forward to.

March 4, 2023March 4, 2023

St Mary’s News – the Daffodils & Hope edition

This edition of St Mary’s News starts with Daffodils & Hope and then continues with:

Daffodils - By Genet, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24680708

Eco Church,
Lent Soup Lunches,
Vocations Evenings,
Lent Compline, and
the usual listings of services and co ntacts.

Daffodils and Hope

As March beckons, spring bursts onto the scene. The words of William Wordsworth might come to mind as we see the daffodils emerging from beneath the ground:

January 28, 2023January 28, 2023

St Mary’s News – the “Love Is All Around Me” edition

This edition of St Mary’s News starts with “hopes for 2023″Love is all around me”, and continues with other news including:

FISH Club,
Pancake Party,
Church Hall Decoration,
Wedding Celebration, and
the usual listings of services and co ntacts.

Love Is All Around Me

‘I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes, Christmas is all around me and so the feeling grows’

… say the lyrics of the Christmas film, which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, Love Actually.

It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were celebrating Christmas, and yet in the world of advertising and card manufacture, we have definitely moved on, into a season more appropriately linked to the original lyrics of the song, first performed by the Troggs in 1967 ‘I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes, Love is all around me, and so the feeling grows.’

December 31, 2022December 31, 2022