NEWS & VIEWS

Hearing today’s Gospel we wonder what Peter said to Jesus to provoke his rather sharp rebuke - “get behind me Satan!” - we only know that Peter’s mind was on ‘human’ rather than ‘divine’ things. Jesus had been saying that he would be rejected and suffer - eventually being crucified - and (with the crowd and disciples) we are told that to follow Christ we must deny ourselves and (figuratively) ‘take up our cross’. But reflect on the final event that Jesus here predicts for himself - that he would rise again.   

FIRST IMPRESSIONS a friendly greeting and welcome at the door can be very reassuring to people arriving at an unfamiliar church for the first time and who may be feeling a little uneasy; and it’s nice for regulars too. We need some more welcomers to help with this important (but not onerous) ministry. It would involve arriving at least 15 minutes before the start of Mass, but with enough people on the rota (that we intend to produce) each one would not be called upon often.

LENT HOLY WEEK AND EASTER Please ensure you have a copy of the leaflet, detailing our services and other events in this period. Our weekly Lent course on the sacraments continues on Wednesday at 7.45pm the Community Hall. It is not too late to join in.

DOREEN AND DAVID WELLER Next Sunday during Mass the Wellers will mark their Golden Wedding Anniversary by renewing their marriage vows and receiving a blessing. After Lent (on a date yet to be fixed) we will have a party after Mass.

LENT BOXES to take away are available at the back of church. These are for Lenten alms for the Additional Curates Society. The ACS helps less well-off parishes to afford a curate. They have helped us in the past and we hope they may do so in the future.

THURSDAY MASS is our principal weekday service. We begin at 9.30am with silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and Mass follows. Then we have coffee/tea and catch-up in the Community Hall. Why not make attending this ‘Holy Hour’ part of your Lenten discipline?

VOCATIONS DAY St Margaret’s Barking is hosting a session on Saturday from 9.45-12.45 for people to explore the nature of God’s calling and what that might mean for their service. More details and booking at http://tinyurl.com/vocationsbkg

REGULAR GIVING Giving to fund the ministry of the Church is an essential part of our Christian faith. Please, if you don’t already, would you consider giving a regular amount? No amount is too small. Using our parish giving scheme is easy and you are in full control. One-off donations can be made using the Parish Giving Scheme, or with the card machine at the back of church, or by putting cash/cheques in the offering plate. Cheques should be made payable to St Mary’s Ilford PCC.

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY

for the sick, distressed and bereaved
Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Lucy Ball, Amberly Crediton, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Mel Taylor, Bernard Street, Keith Holland, Matthew, Leslie Haigh, Bibi Bacchus, Fr Elwin Cockett, Jeanmarie Morton, Alastair Ogilvie, Paul Zmak, Dawn Roberts, Caroline & Hugo Furzland, Margaret Quinney, HM The King, Tim Holliday; Katharine & Edward Lewis

for the recently departed 

Heidi Dover, Christine Goldsmith, Alan Wilson bishop

for those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Sunday

Annie Metcalfe

Monday

Edwin Andrews, Mary Weatherley, James Humphreys, Margaret Duce

Tuesday

Jessie Welch, Elsie Moss, Albert Borowski

Friday

Jean Bigg, Frank Southern

Saturday

Alfred Licorish, Doris Doughlin

please pray especially for

world peace

ORDERS OF SERVICE