NEWS & VIEWS

ASCENSION DAY Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, which was transferred from last Thursday due to the parish retreat. The Ascension of Christ marks the end of his post resurrection ministry, when he returns to the Father from where he came, in preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

ANNUAL MEETING our Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting - St Mary’s AGM – will take place immediately after Mass today. Refreshments will be available in church rather than upstairs. Nomination forms for the posts of Churchwarden and to be a PCC member are at the back of church and can be submitted any time before the commencement of them meeting. We are asking all members of the church family to be present for the Mass and the following AGM so that we can begin the process of listening as outlined by Fr Gareth a few weeks ago. 

FR GARETH is on annual leave this week, and due to the combination of this and the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend, there will be no public services this week.

PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS We are making no attempt to compete with the celebrations that will take place across the nation and Commonwealth, but our service on Sunday 5 June will be a special celebration to mark this historic occasion, combined with the great feast of Pentecost.  We will have drinks and canapes after Mass that day, hopefully outside. Please bring cupcakes, sparkling wine and soft drinks.

PENTECOST Next Sunday is the universal Church’s birthday, the day when the Holy Spirit was first sent upon the Apostles in tongues of fire. Pentecost is only second to Easter in importance in the Church’s liturgical year.

INTERCESSION

OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE PRAY FOR

the sick, distressed and bereaved

John & Joan Cassidy, Richard Holland, Lucy Ball, Jane Kew, Amberly Crediton, Charlotte Carney, Christine Taylor, Nik, Kathy Valentine, Margaret Harding, Daniel Drake, Fr Jacob, Suzanne Spencer, Avelle Pugh, the Noory family, Karala Singham, Kate Lovesey, Bernard Street, Mel Taylor, Marian Semple, Julia & Steve, Fr Christopher, Joe Calvert; Joe & Sally Cox

the recently departed

Barbara Iggulden, Sandy Semple

those whose anniversaries of death fall this week

Sunday

Gordon Cooke

Monday

William Jones, Jack Blade priest

Wednesday

Georgina Rome, Edward Jackson

Thursday

Edward Palmer

Friday

Arthur Powell

Saturday

Dot Rice

please pray for

our Annual General Meeting

ORDER OF SERVICE