Mei Ling Rhodes and Andrea Bean (25th), Amy Watson (26th), Elizabeth Lawson (27th), Isabelle Brown (28th), Dylan Webb, Pat Sack and Julia Burton (29th).
Gift Aid: If you are a taxpayer, please maximise your giving in the Offertory Plate by using the Gift Aid envelopes provided.
St Mary’s notices can be sent to the Parish Office at info@stmarysmoseley.co.uk, or by phone: 0121 449 2243 (mornings) by 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Voicemail messages can be left at any time. Also see http://www.stmarysmoseley.co.uk.
St Anne’s notices can be sent to Revd Rosemary Donovan at info@st-annes-moseley.org.uk, or by phone: 0121 449 1071 by Thursday. Also see http://www.st-annes-moseley.org.uk.
St Mary’s has a loop system for the hard of hearing, in the centre block of seats. Turn your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
Groups recommence today. Children aged 3-11 meet on the second, third and fourth Sundays during the 10:00 a.m. service. They continue worship in their groups and meet their leaders at the back of the church after the collect for the day. All children are welcome. There is a crèche facility at all 10:00 a.m. services.
Children meet on the first, third and fourth Sundays during the 10:15 a.m. service. They leave with their leaders after the first hymn. All children are welcome.
The Youth Group meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Piggott Room at St Mary’s.
We’ve already got a list of 15 adults who are interested in exploring about the Christian faith in a relaxed informal way and to possibly consider being confirmed in October. Once a month from April ? October we will be holding a group during the 10:00 a.m. service at St Mary’s (the same time as the Children’s Sunday Groups) and hope that you may be able to join us.
The dates and titles of the sessions are:
| Date | Subject |
|---|---|
| Sun-26-Apr | What do we believe? |
| Sun-May-17 | Knowing Jesus Christ |
| Sun-14-June | Come Holy Spirit |
| Sun-12-Jul | Knowing the Bible and praying |
| Sun-9-Aug | Holy Communion |
| Sun-13-Sep | Belonging to a Church Community |
| Sun-11-Oct | Getting ready for Confirmation |
| Sun-18-Oct | Confirmation led by Bishop David |
We’ve also creating a group to look at the above subjects. Dates and times to be announced.
If you would like to join the groups to consider confirmation or know more about the Christian Faith, then let us know: info@stmarysmoseley.co.uk or contact Jeremy (449 1459) or Rosemary (449 1071).
All welcome to come and explore about our faith and the bible stories that shape it. In Rose Cottage at St Mary's. For more info contact Rosemary: 449 1071. Five sessions on the following dates:
| Date | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Tue-12-May: | 8:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. | From Abraham to Joshua |
| Tue-19-May | 8:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. | From Joshua to the exile |
| Tue-26-May | 8:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. | From the exile to John the Baptist |
| Thu-2-Jul | 8:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. | Understanding the New Testament |
| Thu-9-Jul | 8:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m. | Reading the Bible today |
The pledges received total an additional £395 per week including Gift Aid, £10 per week above our goal. Many thanks to all those who have pledged so generously. Please complete your standing order appropriately. if you have not already done so.
URGENT! Please will all those who have recently been issued with a CRB check form, return the names of their referees to Janet as soon as possible please. Contact details in the information pack.
Katherine and Chris Aldridge wish to thank all who braved the weather to support their Plant Sale. £2200 was raised for Christian Aid!.
Open Thursday and Friday this week
| Service | First Reading | Second Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Acts 1:6-14 | Gospel: John 17:6-19 |
| Evening | Isaiah 61 | Luke 4:14-21 |
| Time | St Mary’s | St Anne’s |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Holy Communion Celebrant: Revd Jeremy Dussek Preacher: Jonathan Hodgson |
|
| 10:00 a.m. | Sung Eucharist Celebrant: Revd Jeremy Dussek Preacher: Jonathan Hodgson Hymns: 329,69,565,391,235 Anthem: God is Gone Up (Hutchings) |
|
| 10:15 a.m. | Matins Officiant: Eric Dwyer Preacher: Revd Rosemary Donovan Psalm: 1 Hymns: 309,81,432,103 |
|
| 6:30 p.m. | Evensong Officiant & Preacher: Revd Jeremy Dussek Psalm: 45 Hymns: 13,94,480 Anthem: 0 Be Joyful (Britten) |
Celtic Service Officiant: Revd Rosemary Donovan Hymns: In Christ Alone,122,86 Printed Order of Service |
| Day | Time | St Mary’s | St Anne’s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue-26-May | 9:00 a.m. | Holy Communion | |
| Wed-27-May | 9:00 a.m. | Morning Prayer | |
| 11:00 a.m. | Funeral | ||
| Fri-29-May | 9:00 a.m. | Morning Prayer |
| Time | St Mary’s | St Anne’s |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Holy Communion | |
| 10:15 a.m. | Joint Celebration Sung Eucharist to mark Eric’s retirement. We welcome Revd Alan Reynolds as preacher. A Celebration lunch for Eric follows at 12.30pm | |
| 6:30 p.m. | “Haydn” Joint Sung Eucharist marking the bi-centenary of Haydn’s death. | |
See also: Calendar of Future Events
| Date | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Mon-25-May | Bank Holiday | Benefice Pilgrimage to Venice departs |
| Tue-26-May | 7:30 p.m. | How can St Mary’s and St Anne’s become more environmentally friendly? What opportunities can we find to spend or invest our money in a more ethical way? Please come along and share your ideas. We will be meeting at 14, Sinclair Court Park Road. Refreshments will be provided. For more information contact Karen Gray on 415 4124 or email kiwazuli.co.uk. |
| 8:00 p.m. | Bible Study in Rose Cottage | |
| Sat-30-May | 11:30—2:30 p.m. | Spring Bonanza in the Benefice Hall. Help required to set up on Friday 29th at 7.30pm and on Saturday morning at 9.00am also during sale .Phone Graham Hindley 444 7760. |
| Sun-31-May | 10:15 a.m. At St Anne’s |
Pentecost and Retirement Service for Eric Dwyer. We are marking Eric’s retirement from Regular ministry with a special celebration at Pentecost. There will be a joint benefice service where we will welcome Revd Alan Reynolds as preacher. |
| 12:30 p.m. In the Benefice Hall |
Retirement lunch which will follow will be a ticketed event These are available today from the church wardens price £5. Eric has asked that his retirement gift will be a collection for Christian Aid. If you would like to contribute then please see the church wardens at either church. | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Pentecost Haydn Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s Church. As part of the Pentecost Celebrations, there will be special Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s in the evening with a Mass setting by Haydn marking the bicentenary of his death. Please come along and celebrate this (incense will be used in the service). | |
| Thu-4-June | 7:30 p.m. | Water Orton Parish Church. Talk "Beyond changing light bulbs; how people of faith can engage with climate change" |
| Sat-6-Jun | 7:30 p.m. | Byron Jackson and Friends. St Mary’s Church. Opera, spiritual and musical theatre. |
| Sat-13-June | 6:00 p.m. | Parish Barbecue at Vicarage |
| Wed-17-Jun | 7:30 p.m.—9:00 p.m. | Creating a Labyrinth and Peace Garden Improvements. Can you help the youth group improve and maintain the Peace Garden at St Anne’s? Bring some gloves and a spade! The Labyrinth will take about £50 to create for builders lime, weedkiller and sand etc., and a further £50 is needed to provide permanent signs for this and the Peace garden. If anyone is willing to donate please see Rosemary. |
| Fri-10 & Sat-11-Jul | 7:00 p.m. | Moseley Mystery Play staged in Moseley Park. See A Village Play for the Community of Moseley for full details of the plays, their background, supporting events and to obtain tickets. |
Occasionally we hear questions such as “Can the Church still be relevant in this modern age?” or “Will Christianity survive the 21st century?” Perhaps those who ask such things have forgotten that their doubts are nothing new. They were real in the days surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Some believed but others doubted. Although the resurrection appearances caused his immediate friends and followers to rejoice, what does it all mean for those who have not shared their experience? Probably, at that stage, no one was thinking about the long term future.
But the Ascension was to change all that. It was “great news”" not only for his disciples but also for those of us who have come afterwards. Jesus had been “released into the world”. He was no longer trapped in one place and time. Now he is “everywhere” for always. In other words the Church will survive because Jesus survives.
He is present today in an unseen way with his Church. He is here in this community of faith, among those who’ve found the new life in Christ. And it is here we shall find this, living Christ who will see to it that the Church survives and remains relevant. He will do this, if necessary, in spite of us if he cannot do it through us.
O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.