Dear Friends,

Picture an infant waking into a new world and seeing as the lovely, joyful and tender smile of her mother. In the mother’s smile, it dawns on her that there is a world into which they are accepted and welcomed. Perhaps the mother’s smile communicates something even more wonderful to the child – that existence is good, true and beautiful. As a child awakens to love, he or she also awakens to knowledge of the world! 

And perhaps God reveals Himself to us as love in the same way. Jesus is the smile of God, which awakens love and knowledge in our hearts.

He smiles at us. He radiates love, which kindles the light of love in our hearts, and it is this light that shows us that we are loved and that the world is good, and charged with the grandeur of God.

With love and my prayers,

James

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Sunday and weekday Services

Our weekly service times are:
Sunday 10:00am Eucharist
Tuesday 10:00am Morning Prayer (BCP)
Thursday 10:30am Holy Communion (BCP)

The weekly online service is now a livestream of our Sunday Morning Eucharist Service. The link for the livestream page is https://stmarymagdalene.church/livestream-service/ the Service for the coming Sunday is listed on this page on a Friday. The page includes a video that will go live at approximately 9:55am on Sunday, it also has the words to the hymns, collects and readings and has a downloadable service booklet. It will continue to be made available to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend church.

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Clothing Exchange photos

Photos of our five lovely ladies, Pam, Amy, Yezi, Alison, and Bella, modelling some of the clothes that were available to buy at the Clothing Exchange are now on the website: https://stmarymagdalene.church/2023/03/clothing-exchange/

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Coffee and a Concert

Wednesday April 12th, David Lewiston-Sharpe with a Piano Recital at 12:30pm – Including the two Arabesques by Debussy. Meet as usual at 11:30am in the Choir Vestry for coffee and cake before the concert.

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Ladychapel Memorial book

Every week we remember the anniversaries of death for different people. Their names are taken from two Memorial Books we keep. One for those whose ashes are interred in the Memorial Garden and a second, in the Lady Chapel, for people we wish to be remembered on a certain date (usually their death).

If you would like the name of someone to be remembered in the Ladychapel Memorial Book please speak to Maureen Rew, the cost is £25.

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Community Café – Free, warm, welcoming, safe.

Every Wednesday, from 1:30pm-3:30pm, we will be opening the hall for anyone and everyone as a free, warm, welcoming, and safe place to be for a couple of hours. Cups of tea or coffee will be provided along with the opportunity for somewhere warm to meet others in a friendly and safe space.

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Fellowship

Please note, Fellowship on Wednesday 19th will be joining the Community Café

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MAY IS GOING TO BE BUSY!

There is a lot going on in May so here are reminders of dates to put in your diaries.

Coronation Lunch.
This will be held on Sunday 7^th May after the 10.00 morning service. We will soon be asking for names of those who want to attend. More details to follow.

Christian Aid Week
Sunday 14th – Saturday 20th May.

Volunteers to help are badly needed as there is now only a small group of us. The most important task is delivering envelopes house to house. You do not have to return to collect if you feel it is not possible for you.

Please let Alison Reeve know if you are able to help.

Spring Fair
This is being held on Saturday 20th May.

We are looking for volunteers to man stalls. These include the kitchen, the raffle, various games and the plant stall.

The plant and cake stalls can’t run without plants and cakes and the raffle needs prizes so any donations for these will be gratefully received.

If you can help with any of the above or have any ideas for a stall you would like to run, please talk to Alison Reeve.

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Dates for your diary

April
Wednesdays 1:30pm-3:30pm: Community Café
Sunday 2nd 10:00am: Palm Sunday Service
Monday 3rd 8:00pm; Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th at 4pm: Stations of the cross
Tuesday 4th 7:00pm: Agape Meal
Thursday 6th 8:00pm: Maundy Thursday Service with Watch
Friday 7th 2:00pm: Good Friday Service
Saturday 8th 9:00pm: Paschal Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter
Sunday 9th 10:00am: Easter Sunday Service
Wednesday 12th 11:30am Coffee followed by a Concert at 12:30pm with David Lewiston-Sharpe, piano recital
Tuesday 18th 11:00am: Coffee Morning
Wednesday 19th: Fellowship joining with Community Café

May
Sunday 7th after the Morning Service: Coronation Lunch
Saturday 13th 7:00pm: Gisela Meyer piano recital
Sunday 14th – Saturday 20th: Christian Aid Week
Saturday 20th 10:00am – 12noon: Spring Fair
Sunday 21st  after the Morning Service: APCM in the hall