Wood carving of St Mary by Peter Kramer given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Logo of St Mary’s Church

Sunday 5 November 2006: Fourth Sunday before Advent

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Christine Offer after a short illness. The funeral will be on Thursday 9 November at 11:00 a.m. at St Mary’s church. Please remember the family in your prayers

Intercessions

We remember those with birthdays this week: Jean Ruston (5th), Kathy Freer (6th), Anne Bold and Vikki Casstles (8th), Becky Frall and Jo Brown (9th), Sam Jupe and Jessamy Otway (10th) and Richard Blake (11th).

The church is open every morning between 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon, but to enable us to keep the church open in this way, we need more people to offer an hour one morning a week to be available in church. If you can help, please have a word with Jonathan Hodgson.

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.

Loop

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.

Weekday services

The 7:30 a.m. service of Holy Communion at St Mary’s will be moving from Friday to Thursday from November on the first and third Thursdays.

Malawi Market

On Thursday 30 November at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral. Stalls and activities on many aspects of Malawi work.

Malawi Calendars 2007

These are now available to order from the Cathedral price £5.00. Please sign the order sheet at the back of St Mary’s.

Freespirit

Joint Youth Service on Sunday 19 November at 7:30 p.m. at All Saints Kings Heath. Both youth groups have been exploring the theme Remembering and all are welcome to join in this service.

Christmas Shopping Event

At 23 Chantry Road on Friday 10 November from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday 11 November from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in aid of Save The Children.

St Mary’s News and The Spire

Available in church today. November edition of B13 is also now ready.

Christmas Fair 2006

Urgently needed: two volunteers to help with serving tea and coffee from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and three more to take over from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. If you can help please contact Claire Johnson (07752 507324).

Fancy Goods & Handicrafts

We would be glad of any handicrafts as well as fancy goods for the Christmas Fair, jewelry, knick­knacks, small items suitable for gifts, etc. Contact Jokhim Meikle 449 4276, or leave in the collection box under the table at the back of church. Many Thanks.

Advent Groups

These will meet for four weeks from week beginning 20 November. This year there are six groups with different times and venues. Please sign the lists at the back of both churches. Further information from Revd Peter Hansell (449 5950).

Bible Society

Last Sunday there was a retiring collection for the great work of this organisation to help Set the truth free for prisoners in Papua New Guinea, many of whom are unable to read or write. In order to continue literacy classes, New Reader Bibles are needed. £120 would provide 50. It is not too late to make your donation. Please give generously.

Amnesty International Protect the Human Campaign

Rosemary has enamel badges at £2.00 each and Raffle Tickets £1.00 each to sell in support of Amnesty’s annual fundraiser. For more info check www.amnesty.org

Bishop David

He will be inaugurated as the ninth Bishop for Birmingham on Friday 17 November at the Cathedral. This is a clergy or ticket only event, but Bishop David is also having services of welcome for the Deaneries. Congregations from Moseley Deanery are invited to the Cathedral on Monday 20 Nov at 7:30 p.m. I hope that many from our two parishes will attend and that we will continue to hold Bishop David in our prayers. For more information speak to the wardens or Rosemary. We need to know the numbers attending by Monday 6 November.

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Sunday 5 November 2006: Fourth Sunday before Advent

St Mary’s
TimeServiceDetails
8:00 a.m. Holy Communion Order One traditional language. Followed by Parish Breakfast Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (M Hell)
Mark 12: 28-34
Preacher: The Revd Joan Griffin
10:00 a.m. Family Service led by The Revd Rosemary Donovan and Lis Sparrow
11:15 a.m. Choral Communion Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (J McKinley)
Mark 12: 28-34
Preacher: The Revd Joan Griffin
6:30 p.m. Evensong Daniel 2: 1-11, 25-48 (J Holloway)
Revelation 7: 9-17 (B Atkins)
We welcome as our Preacher The Revd Nicolas LoPolito


St Anne’s
TimeServiceDetails
10:15 a.m. Parish Communion Preacher: The Revd Peter Hansell
6:30 p.m. Memorial Service Preacher: The Revd Peter Hansell

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Mid-week services to which all are welcome

Day Morning Prayer Holy Communion Evening Prayer
Monday
St Mary’s
     
Tuesday
St Mary’s
  9:15 a.m. 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday
St Anne’s
9:15 a.m.   4:45 p.m.
Thursday
St Anne’s
    4:45 p.m.
Friday 9:15 a.m.
St Anne’s
  4:45 p.m.
St Mary’s

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Other events this week

Day Time Details
Monday 12:45 p.m. Lunch Club St Anne’s Contact Hilda Johnston 604 5643
8:00 p.m. St Mary’s Bell ringers
Tuesday 5:15 p.m. St Mary’s Junior Choir
Wednesday 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon Coffee & Co at St Mary’s
7:30 p.m. Youth Group Rose Cottage at St Mary’s
8:00 p.m. Wednesday Group meets at 16 Paton Grove
Thursday 7:30 p.m. St Mary’s Singers
Friday 6:45 p.m. St Mary’s Robed Choir
7:30 p.m. St Anne’s Choir
Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon Coffee & Co at St Mary’s

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Next Sunday 12 November: Remembrance Day

St Mary’s
Time Service
8:00 a.m. Holy Communion Order Two
10:30 a.m. Remembrance Service
6:30 p.m. Choral Requiem
St Anne’s
Time Service
10:15 a.m. Family Service
6:30 p.m. Holy Communion

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Future Dates for Your Dairy

Date Time Details
Mon-06-Nov Lunch Club Outing to Wickstead Park
Tue-07-Nov 8:30 p.m. Prayer Group at 16 Paton Grove
Thu-09-Nov 11:00 a.m. Funeral service for Christine Offer at St Mary’s
4:00 p.m. Children’s Service at St Anne’s
8:00 p.m. Joint Standing Committee with Peter Howell-Jones at St Anne’s Parish Hall
Sat-11-Nov 10:00 a.m. Piggott Room St Mary’s—Flower Guild meeting to discuss cake stall for Christmas Fair and decoration of the church for Christmas
7:30 p.m. DAVID BRIGGS (International Organ Virtuoso)
Improvises musical accompaniment to a special big screen showing of the 1925 silent movie The Phantom of the Opera Starring Lon Chaney
Tickets: £10 (£7.00 concessions)
Family ticket: £20 (2 Adults / 2 Children)
Sun-12-Nov 10:30 a.m. Service of Remembrance & Reconciliation, St Mary’s (Please note change of time)
Mon-13-Nov 8:00 p.m. St Mary’s Standing Committee, 87 Salisbury Road
Tue-14-Nov 7:45 p.m. St Mary’s Pastoral team meeting
Thu-16-Nov 8:00 p.m. St Anne’s PCC in the Council room
Fri-17-Nov 11:00 a.m. Inauguration of Bishop David at the Cathedral
Sat-25-Nov 7:30 p.m. Wine Tasting Evening at St Anne’s Parish Hall, Park Hill

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Thought for the Week from Elizabeth Way

Straight to the point
Straight to the point

The reading for today from Deuteronomy tells us of God’s commandment to the children of Israel to love the Lord their God with all their hearts, with all their souls and with all their might. The possession of the land flowing with milk and honey was conditional on their keeping this commandment. St Mark’s gospel narrates how Jesus answered the scribe who asked which of the ten commandments was the first in importance. To Moses’s commandment, Jesus added the second: “you must love your neighbour as yourself.” The brilliant simplicity of this cuts through all the complications of the Ten Commandments and other religious laws, and if followed universally, could produce almost a heaven on earth. Looking round our present world, in many places reeling in agony from violence and hatred, may make us feel that such a vision does not belong to reality.

However, certain people and certain actions amazing in their selflessness, can relight the hope. These are exemplified by two people I heard talk last week, an Israeli woman who had lost her son in a Palestinian attack, and a young Palestinian who had lost his dearly loved brother in an Israeli attack. Both had surmounted their grief and bitterness to come together in understanding and closeness, determined to spread their conviction that hatred begets only violence and that forgiveness and reconciliation alone can lead to peace.

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Collect for today: Fourth Sunday before Advent

Almighty and eternal God, you have kindled the flame of love in the hearts of the saints: grant to us the same faith and power of love, that, as we rejoice in their triumphs, we may be sustained by their example and fellowship; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

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