We remember those with birthdays this week, especially Raife Connolly Maddox (1st) and Mike Stocks (2nd).
Thank you to all who supported the prayer walking and united service.
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.
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.
The Revd Jeremy Dussek, our new Priest-in-Charge will be licensed on the Feast of Candlemas, Friday 2 February.
6:00 p.m.: Prayers and Legalities at St Anne’s followed by procession with lights through Moseley.
7:00 p.m.: Licensing service at St Mary’s.
The Social Committee will be organising a finger buffet after the licensing service. St Mary’s are to provide savouries, St Anne’s sweets. Examples of food required shown on sign-up sheets at the back of both churches. Further information from Jan Miller, Claire Johnson and Janet Thorne (St Mary’s), Hilda Johnson (St Anne’s).
Interfaith educational programme coming to Birmingham in February. The Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations (CJCR) in Cambridge is being funded by the Home Office to provide an educational resource in interfaith relations and citizenship. Working with the Council of Christians and Jews and the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations, CJCR has developed a Flexible Interfaith Educational Programme which is coming to Birmingham. Its aim is to enable those working in and with faith communities to gain a greater understanding of the interfaith encounter and to develop skills to value diversity and deal with difference in their work.
Before the Annual Meetings on 25 March, we have to prepare a totally new roll. Anyone, whether or not they are on the present roll must apply to be included. An applicant has to be baptised, aged over 16 and either live in the parish or attend worship regularly. People who are ill or infirm but would attend if they were able can still apply. Forms can be obtained from Eric Dwyer or a church warden, and need to be returned by end of February. Any questions or problems please ask Eric (449 1610).
The lunches will resume on Thursday 22 February.
Holiday Villa to let one mile south of Porto Cristo, adjacent beach and swimming pool. Sleeps four. Shops within walking distance. July/August available. Contact Peter Magson 0121 449 0285.
It is coming up to that time again. The next issue for St Mary’s News is for February/March. Please could you continue your superb support by sending any articles to this email address (mark1427uk@aol.com) and could you adjust your address book and delete the hotmail.com address. If you have any ideas that could be featured please let me know. If you know anyone who wants to or could contribute then please feel free to pass this email address to them.
It’s time to update our birthday list again. A copy of the current list is in each church. Please check the list. If your name is on there please check the date, if it isn’t on the list why not write it in (date only not the year) so we can send our greetings to you on your birthday.
Saturdays 24 February and 10 March at St Mary’s. Open to all. But specially for those working with children and young people. Please sign form at back of either church and indicate your preferred date.
| Time | Service | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Holy Communion Order One Traditional Language | Preacher: The Revd Joan Griffin |
| 10:00 a.m. | Parish Communion with Children’s Groups and the Baptism of Caroline Hall, we welcome her family and friends to this service | Preacher: The Revd Peter Hansell |
| 6:30 p.m. | Evensong | Preacher: The Revd Joan Griffin |
| Time | Service | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 10:15 a.m. | Matins | Preacher: The Revd Rosemary Donovan |
| 6:30 p.m. | Celtic Service | The Revd Freda Evans and The Revd Rosemary Donovan |
| Day | Morning Prayer | Holy Communion | Evening Prayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
7:30 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. Children's Service |
|
| Friday | 9:15 p.m. St Anne’s |
| Day | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:45 p.m. | St Anne’s Lunch Club, 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 - 12 noon | Coffee & Co at St Mary’s |
| 7:30 p.m. | Youth Group | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Wednesday Group meets at 16 Paton Grove | |
| Thursday | 4:00 p.m. | Children’s service St Anne’s (resumes 18th January) |
| 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 - 12 noon | Coffee & Co at St Mary’s |
| Time | Service |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Holy Communion Order one Traditional Language, followed by Parish Breakfast |
| 10:00 a.m. | Family Service |
| 11:15 a.m. | Choral Communion BCP |
| 6:30 p.m. | Evensong |
| Time | Service |
|---|---|
| 10:15 a.m. | Parish Communion |
| 6:30 p.m. | Evensong |
| Date | Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sun-28-Jan | 3:00 p.m. | Interfaith visit to Telford |
| Mon-30-Jan | 6:00 p.m. | Rehearsal for Licensing begins St Anne’s |
| Tue-31-Jan | 11:30 a.m. | Parish Office Christmas Day Together debrief |
| Fri-2-Feb Candlemas | The Licensing service for The Revd Jeremy Dussek, our new Priest-in-Charge, by the Bishop of Birmingham Rt Revd David Urquhart | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Prayers and Legalities at St Anne’s followed by procession with lights through Moseley | |
| 7:00 p.m. | Licensing service at St Mary’s. | |
| Mon-5-Feb | 7:45 p.m. | Deanery Synod at St Agnes |
| Tue-6-Feb | Prayer Group at 16 Paton Grove | |
| Thu-8-Feb | St Mary’s Standing Committee | |
| Sat-17-Feb | Pancake Party & Quiz at St Anne’s | |
Today’s reading from St Luke’s Gospel includes the words of Simeon, which we now call the Nunc Dimittis and sing every week at Evensong. What lovely comforting words they are. But I would like to know how he instantly knew that this little baby was the Messiah, “the Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of your people Israel”. Simeon was considered righteous and devout and had been told by the Holy Spirit “that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ”. But there were presumably several first born sons being brought up to the Temple each day to be presented to the Lord as was required under the Law, so how did Simeon recognise so quickly that this baby was the Messiah?
Do we consciously look for that special something in the people we meet in our daily lives, or do we tend to judge people rather hastily? The Sunday papers’ approach implies that to be someone special we need to wear designer label goods, go to the most fashionable resorts for our holidays, and do the latest fad in searching for “our inner self”. Simeon recognised in Jesus immediately that this little baby was someone special. Everyone on God’s earth is someone special. Let’s go out this week and see if we can recognise that special something in everyone we meet.
God our creator, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness: we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, shine into the hearts of all your people and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of 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.