NEWS & VIEWS

Today, called Quinquagesima in older calendars, seven weeks before Easter, we continue the ‘pre-Lent’ season. In the Gospel we hear how the Godhead of Jesus is displayed in his transfiguration - ‘his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white’ and the Father says ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ Let us pray that we may truly hear God speaking to us.

LENT BEGINS on Ash Wednesday this week; we have Mass with ashing at 12 noon. Please ensure you have a copy of the special Lent, Holy Week and Easter leaflet, which lists our services during that period, and check ‘The Week Ahead’ below in this booklet.

NEW DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Last Sunday Fr Gareth announced the appointment of Barry Hopwood as our new Director of Music. We are supremely grateful to John Cox for staying on in the role (after retiring) to see us through the pandemic and pending the new appointment: We will miss his leading of the musical elements of our worship but also look forward to a ‘new chapter’ as Barry - who has lent his voice to the choir over the last few months – takes over in March.

PALM CROSSES Could you please bring any Palm Crosses you may have to church by Tuesday so that - in keeping with tradition - they can be burned to ash for use on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday.

MMU QUIZ EVENING There will a quiz evening at St Margaret’s at 7.30pm on Saturday 25 March and St Mary’s (and St Luke’s) folk are specially invited. Further details to follow.

REGULAR GIVING We rely on the people who worship at St Mary’s to cover the costs associated with our church. Financial giving to fund the ministry of the Church is part of being a Christian and an essential part of our commitment to our faith. Please, if you don’t already, would you consider giving a regular amount each month? We are really struggling to make ends meet! No amount is too small. Using our parish giving plan is easy and you are in full control (and Margaret Quinney will be pleased to help you if needed).

NEW YOUTH CHOIR The Royal School of Church Music in Essex and East London (RSCM-EEL) has set up a youth training choir - The Elvers - for which 35 choristers have signed up. Go to tinyurl.com/elverschoir for more information. They will be singing Choral Evensong, with the Romford based Wykeham Chamber Choir, in St Paul’s Cathedral on Bank Holiday Monday 1 May at 5pm .

WALSINGHAM We would like to gauge if there is any interest in a parish pilgrimage to Walsingham in September this year (no dates yet confirmed). It would be Monday - Thursday. If this is something you would be interested in – no commitment at this stage - please put your name on the list at the back of church. We need a minimum of 12 people to make it viable.

TURKEY/SYRIA EARTHQUAKE We are supporting the Tearfund (a Christian charity) appeal for the disaster fund set up to deliver aid to those affected by this devasting earthquake. If you would like to donate to the fund, please use the card machine in church - select ‘Earthquake Appeal’, put cash or cheques payable to ‘St Mary’s Ilford PCC’ in the box at the back of church, or follow this link:  https://givi.ng/klbt.

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY FOR

the sick, distressed and bereaved
John & Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Lucy Ball, Amberly Crediton, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Mel Taylor, Bernard Street, Muriel Masters, Keith Holland, Helen Johnson, Joe & Sally Cox, Kay Higgins, Edward, Peter Decker, Doris Collom, Matthew, Jacqui & Leslie Haigh; Linda Decker

the recently departed

Art Okungbower

those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Sunday

Florence Hayhoe, Ernest Lovell

Monday

Lily Taylor, Grace Jackson, Edith Williams, Jean Halsey

Tuesday

Vera Gowland

Thursday

Lydia Redding, Henry Redding, Nellie Hatfield, Maureen Borowski

Friday

John Rome, Ethel Paskin

Saturday

Annie Metcalfe

please pray especially for

the aid agencies in Syria and Turkey

ORDER OF SERVICE