st mary’s church spring for web.pdf · celebrating its 130th anniversary. up until the 31st...

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CONTACTS www.stotfoldchurch.org.uk RECTOR: Revd Bill Britt 01462 730218 [email protected] CHURCHWARDENS: Malcolm Charsley 01462 730893 [email protected] Jane Hyde 01462 730305 [email protected] BAPTISMS: Andrea Charsley 01462 730893 [email protected] WEDDINGS: Revd Bill Britt 01462 730218 [email protected] CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS: Maureen Winters 01462 730264 [email protected] St Mary’s Church Church Road Stotfold SG5 4NE St Mary’s Church Church Road Stotfold SG5 4NE Spring 2018 Parish Magazine St Mary’s Church Stotfold & Fairfield Parish Church Church Road Stotfold SG5 4NE www.stotfoldchurch.org.uk Charity No: 1131275 Opportunities for Fellowship: Everyone is Welcome Last year saw the addition of walks of varying lengths on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to neighbouring parishes. We primarily used public footpaths and bridleways and the walks were greatly enjoyed by all who took part. No dates have yet been set for this year but if you are interested in taking part keep an eye on our noticeboards / pew sheets or alternatively contact David on 01462 732659 to express your interest. Rev’d Bill has also planned a mini ‘pilgrimage’ around Radwell Mill and Church for those who would enjoy the fellowship but not necessarily the walks. Friends of St Mary’s Whist Drive St Mary’s Church Hall 2nd Tuesday of month Coffee Mornings in the Church 10.30-12 Last Wednesday of month Friendly faces and good conversation Hymn Singing for those who love them Do come and join us 2nd Wednesday of month at 2pm Stotfold & Fairfield Parish Church Welcomes All The Church is open for private prayer & reflection Monday - Saturday 9.30am to 4pm Morning Prayer: Monday to Saturday at 9am There is a prayer board in Church for you to place a prayer for someone or to say thank you to God * Please Note As internal alterations are taking place in Church, some weekday services/events may take place in the Hall Friendship Lunch at The Stag 1st Wednesday of Month 2 Courses £7.25 Sign up on list in Church **Look at our Noticeboards & Pew Sheets for our other events Women’s Fellowship 3rd Wednesday of month For events contact Jean Prutton 730804

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Page 1: St Mary’s Church Spring for web.pdf · celebrating its 130th anniversary. Up until the 31st October 2018 they are ... Today close to 80% of Rwandans take part in monthly community

C O N T A C T S w w w . s t o t f o l d c h u r c h . o r g . u k

RECTOR: Revd Bill Britt 01462 730218 [email protected]

CHURCHWARDENS: Malcolm Charsley 01462 730893 [email protected] Jane Hyde 01462 730305 [email protected]

BAPTISMS: Andrea Charsley 01462 730893 [email protected]

WEDDINGS: Revd Bill Britt 01462 730218 [email protected]

CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS: Maureen Winters 01462 730264 [email protected]

St Mary’s Church

Church Road Stotfold SG5 4NE

St Mary’s Church

Church Road Stotfold SG5 4NE

Spring 2018

Parish Magazine

St Mary’s Church Stotfold & Fairfield Parish Church

Church Road Stotfold SG5 4NE

www.stotfoldchurch.org.uk Charity No: 1131275

Opportunities for Fellowship: Everyone is Welcome

Last year saw the addition of walks of varying lengths on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to neighbouring parishes. We primarily used public footpaths and bridleways and the walks were greatly enjoyed by all who took part.

No dates have yet been set for this year but if you are interested in taking part keep an eye on our noticeboards / pew sheets or alternatively contact David on

01462 732659 to express your interest.

Rev’d Bill has also planned a mini ‘pilgrimage’ around Radwell Mill and Church for those who would enjoy the fellowship but not necessarily the walks.

Friends of St Mary’s

Whist Drive

St Mary’s Church Hall

2nd Tuesday of month

Coffee Mornings in the Church 10.30-12

Last Wednesday of month Friendly faces

and good conversation

Hymn Singing for those who love them

Do come and join us

2nd Wednesday of month at 2pm

Stotfold & Fairfield Parish Church Welcomes All

The Church is open for private prayer & reflection Monday - Saturday 9.30am to 4pm

Morning Prayer: Monday to Saturday at 9am

There is a prayer board in Church for you to place a prayer for someone or to say thank you to God

* Please Note

As internal alterations are taking place in

Church, some weekday services/events may take place in the Hall

Friendship Lunch at The Stag

1st Wednesday of Month 2 Courses £7.25

Sign up on list in Church

**Look at our

Noticeboards &

Pew Sheets for

our other events

Women’s Fellowship

3rd Wednesday of month

For events contact

Jean Prutton 730804

Page 2: St Mary’s Church Spring for web.pdf · celebrating its 130th anniversary. Up until the 31st October 2018 they are ... Today close to 80% of Rwandans take part in monthly community

In 1878 Joseph Spurgeon, a cousin of the great English Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon, founded in New York City an American version of the British newspaper The Christian Herald.

On 19 June 1899, the editor, Louis Klopsch, was working on an editorial and came up with the idea of printing the Bible in two colours. Most of the words would be printed in black and the words spoken by Jesus during his corporeal life on Earth would be printed in red. Klopsch’s inspiration was Luke 22.20: "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which I shed for you."

The first Red Letter Edition Bible was published in 1901 and it became instantly popular. I remember regularly seeing such Bibles when I lived in the United States.

I have thought up my own variation: a three-colour Bible, with the actions Jesus took and the things he did, printed in green ink, the words Jesus said in red ink and the rest of the Bible in black ink.

Jesus communicated in both words and deeds. Jesus lived in an age when most people were not literate and he communicated with what he said and what he did. For instance most of the people Jesus healed not only had a health problem, they also suffered from society treating them as outcasts because of their nationality, gender, or physical or mental condition. By healing people publically, Jesus was able to bring people back into society.

This year during our evening sessions during Holy Week were are going to look at the things Jesus did in the week leading up to his crucifixion.

Starting the week of Monday 26 March at 7.30pm there will be a reflection on why Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on a Donkey, followed on Tuesday with a reflection on why Jesus overturned the money changers’ tables in the temple and on Wednesday evening we will consider why Jesus washed his disciples’ feet.

On Thursday at 9.30pm, after our Passover meal at 7.30pm, there will a short talk as to why Jesus broke bread and shared wine, followed by a communion service and vigil.

There will also be two opportunities to both hear and see the final three days of our Lord’s Passion. On Sunday 25 March at 6pm there will be a Stations of the Cross service in church, looking at images that depict Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. On Tuesday 27 March children from St Mary’s Academy will act out a Passion Play in church for parents, grandparents, carers or anyone else who would like to come.

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On Good Friday we will hold our traditional Hour before the Cross Service at 2pm.

There will be a change on Saturday. Some people were finding it a chal-lenge to go to the 9.30pm Communion Service, so this year we are replac-ing it with a 7.30pm Service of Light, in which we will proclaim the resurrec-tion of Christ from the dead in word and action, silence and sound.

In the last few years an increasing number of people have been coming to the Holy Week services and a record number of people have been celebrat-ing the risen Christ on Easter Morning at St Mary’s. Come and celebrate the life he gives us today and the life to come.

Bill Revd. Bill Britt

Radwell Mill Spring Open Day

Sunday 8th April 2 - 4.30pm

A Great Day Out for the Family

In aid of All Saints Church, Radwell Roof Repairs

Tweet, tweet

A good dose of birdsong can cheer you up, boosting your mental well-being for more than four hours, a study has found. Seeing trees and the sky is also a help.

In a recent study, King's College researchers found that even short exposures to nature are hugely beneficial, especially 'to those individuals who are at risk of poor mental health.'

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In early December Ronald McDonald House Charities held a

fundraising ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service at St Martin-in-the-

Fields. This charity provides a free, welcoming home for families

who have children in hospital far from their own home.

The houses are always open enabling families to stay together, close to the

hospital, through very difficult times sometimes lasting weeks or even months.

There are four houses in London, very near St George’s Hospital, Moorfields

Eye Hospital, King’s College Hospital and Evelina London Children’s Hospital,

totalling 100 bedrooms and with a further 10 houses across the UK.

Our journey to Trafalgar Square ended with a bit of a white knuckle taxi ride

through the early evening London traffic but luckily there was time for a quick

cuppa in ‘The Crypt’. This amazing space with its beautiful brick-vaulted

ceiling is an excellent, warm and welcoming café, far removed from its original

purpose.

The huge church was full and the service began with the English National

Opera Chorus singing ‘A Spotless Rose’ and then the Advent Candle was lit

by the siblings of little Lewis who sadly lost his fight for life in June 2017.

Lewis’s family had been able to stay in one of the Charity’s houses, minutes

away from the hospital, for many weeks with invaluable support from the staff.

Other choirs taking part were the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir, the Soul

Symphony Choir and The Evelina Voices. There were readings from Luke’s

Gospel and the congregation sang carols with great gusto. Dr David

McCormick gave a moving account of his work as Consultant Paediatrician at

King’s College Hospital and underlined the vital importance of having their

parents close at hand to the recovery and emotional wellbeing of sick

children. The special evening ended with a blessing and final prayer from

Revd Dr Alastair McKay who had led the service and a resounding ‘Hark!

The Herald Angels Sing’ by all.

If you would like more information regarding Ronald McDonald House

Charities their website is www.rmhc.org.uk

Carol Grosvenor

Smile Line It was Palm Sunday, but because of a sore throat, young James stayed home from church with his grannie.

When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Johnny asked them what they were for. "People held them over Jesus' head as He walked by," his father told him.

"Wouldn't you know it," James fumed, "the one Sunday I don't go, and He shows up."

Ecclesiastical, the main company which insures church buildings is celebrating its 130th anniversary. Up until the 31st October 2018 they are donating £130 to a nominated church for any new home insurance policy taken out. Please see the noticeboard in church for information and terms and conditions.

Sunday School

In the Church Hall at 10am excepting All Age Worship Sunday

Brambles Home Care ‘An Independent Carer that Cares’

A friendly face offering a wide range of services to help older people get the best out of life

Personal Care * Housekeeping * Companionship Transport & Assistance to Appointments * Shopping

Provide Personal Hygiene Products at Competitive Prices

0 7 4 3 2 2 0 2 2 2 5 www.brambleshomecare.co.uk

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Community in Action

In the years since the genocide of 1994 the Government of Rwanda has been taking steps to reconstruct their country by drawing on aspects of their culture and traditional practices to enrich their country’s needs.

Their result is a set of Home Grown Solutions - culturally owned practices translated into s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t programs. One of these is Umuganda which can be translated as ‘coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome’. In traditional Rwandan cul ture, members of the community would call upon their family, friends and neighbours to help them complete a difficult task.

Modern day Umuganda can be described as community work. On the last Saturday of each month between 8 and 11am, communities come together to do a variety of public works. This often includes infrastructure development and environmental protection. Rwandans between 18 and 65 are obliged to participate in Umuganda and expatriates living in Rwanda are encouraged to take part.

Today close to 80% of Rwandans take part in monthly community work. Successful projects include the building of schools, medical centres and hydroelectric plants as well as rehabilitating wetlands and creating highly productive agricultural plots. The value of Umuganda to the country’s development since 2007 has been estimated at more than US $60 million.

In February Rwanda's High Commissioner to South Africa, Vincent Karega, and Officials from his office joined South Africans to clean Diepsloot Eldorado Park and some of the areas of Johannesburg. This cleaning campaign had been inspired by a visit by the Mayor of Johannesburg’s technical team who had been to Rwanda to see how ‘Umuganda’ is done and after returning, had decided to carry out the activity once a month.

By Masako Kato (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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CONTACT US:-

07842 204359 01462 612480

[email protected]

I have been in the plastering trade for over 10 years, and gained lots of experience having worked on many commercial and domestic projects. We promise an excellent job at an excellent cost. You can also look me up and read some reviews on:

Smile Lines

Windows

She texted her husband from home on a cold winter’s morning: ‘Windows frozen, won't open.’

He texted back: ‘Gently pour some lukewarm water over it.’

She replied five minutes later: ‘Computer not working at all now.’!

Atheist

I was just wondering whether an atheist can get insurance against acts of God?

What? When?

What do we want?

PROCRASTINATION! When do we want it? NEXT WEEK!

JOIN THE GLOBAL WAVE OF PRAYER

10TH - 20TH MAY

www.thykingdomcome.global

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Angels While looking at ‘Coronation of the Virgin in Paradise’ by an artist known only as ‘a master of Ceneda’, I wondered why, as with many mediaeval artists, the host of angels have red clothes and red faces or blue clothes and blue faces. ….. Then I wondered about the term ‘choir’. I’ve finally taken the time to try to satisfy my curiosity, and this is what I've learned so far:

What does the word "Angel" mean? The word ‘angel’ comes from Old English ‘engel’ and Old French ‘angele’. Both terms come from the earlier Latin word, ‘angelus’, meaning, ‘Messenger of God’. In Medieval and Renaissance art, angels are often depicted as messengers; the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will give birth to Christ. And in the Middle Ages, it was believed that angels carried the soul to Paradise.

What is an angel? The term ‘angel’ does not describe the spiritual being, it describes what they did. St. Augustine clarified this point ; "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel'".

The Angelic Hierarchy Angels have a hierarchy. Pope Gregory the Great (540- 604) established nine angelic orders divided into three choirs, with cherubim and seraphim populating

the highest choir: Seraph(im), cherub(im), Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, Angels

Artists traditionally clothe cherubim in blue, and seraphim in red.

Seraphim Seraphim : translated as ‘burning ones’, surround the Heavenly Throne as fiery guardians; (hence their red faces). Seraph is normally a synonym for serpents when used in the Hebrew Bible. Seraphim are the highest angelic class and they serve as the guardians of God’s throne.

Cherubim Cherubim have four faces: one of a man, an ox, a lion, and an eagle (later adopted as the symbols of the four evangelists). They support the Throne of God, represent the Presence of his Glory and are depicted in the colour blue.

Putti or Cherub? Putti, the small, chubby, male children frequently seen in Renaissance art are often confused with Cherubim. In the Classical world, Putti were winged infants who were believed to influence humans.

I have realized that, while angel choirs DO sing, the term ‘choir’ also refers to the ‘hierarchy’ of angels. Hazel Irwin

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Angel Quiz - Either questions or answers have a connection to angels 1 . What is Angel Hair? 2. Which Archangel accompanies Tobias in the Apocrypha? 3. Which pudding did the company Birds create in 1967? 4. Who was the Goodwill Ambassador to the UNHCR in 2001? 5. Name the author of ‘I know why the caged bird sings’. 6. What is an Angelus? 7. Which artist sculpted a statue of David? 8. Who brought news of the Annunciation to Mary? 9. Who sculpted the Angel of the North? 10. Which mathematical term reverses two letters of the quiz topic? 11. In which country would you find the Angel Falls? 12. In which novel by Thomas Hardy is the character Angel Clare? 13. Who wrote the hymn ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory’? 14. Which angel is referred to as ‘Son of the Morning’? (Isaiah, 14) 15. What do we call oysters wrapped in bacon? 16. Name the author of Angels and Demons. 17. In which American state is Los Angeles? 18. Who sang ‘Angels’ in 1997? 19. Name the author of the novel ‘Where Angels fear to Tread’? 20. Name the appropriate landmark in London.

Answers Page 13

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There But Not There

In the First World War 50 men from the small village of Penshurst lost their lives, a community’s sacrifice. In 2016 50 life-size clear Perspex silhouettes were placed in the pews of St John the Baptist Church leading up to Remembrance Sunday. Some sat next to each other, representing the lives lost in one family, and others sat on their own. This art installation was called ‘There But Not There’.

It is also the name of the inaugural project of the charity Remembered: "Commemorate. Educate. Heal." It is a national campaign to mark 100 years since the end of WW1. After 2018, Remembered will have other projects to help it continue to achieve its aims.

Remembered aims to:

Inspire communities to purchase and install their silhouettes of their local Fallen wherever they are listed for the Armistice Period 2018, and/or to buy their 6’ Tommy figure for use in a public space during 2018

Educate all generations about why they made the ultimate sacrifice

Raise very substantial funds to help heal those suffering from the hidden wounds of war

On the 28th February this year 6’ iconic Tommies appeared at 4 sites in the UK: The Giants Causeway in Bushmills, County Antrim; in sentry boxes usually manned by Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London; seven at Hearts FC in Edinburgh - one for every first team player who died in the war and also at the Big Pit National Coal Museum in South Wales.

In addition to the life-size silhouettes which will be installed as part of a nationwide art installation across the nation for November 2018, Remembered have created a limited-edition table-top Tommy figure, based on their logo, to represent every single name from the 888,246 British and Commonwealth Fallen of the First World War. Each of the Tommies and their commemorative packaging are made by veterans employed by their manufacturing partner, Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI). The table-top figures cost £29.99 + £3 p&p. This includes a voucher which can be used at Timpson’s to have the name of a Fallen soldier to be engraved on the base of their Tommy.

In the first 3 hours of the launch Remembered sold nearly 10,000 Tommies whose profits will go to The Royal Foundation: Heads Together; Walking With The Wounded; Combat Stress; Help for Heroes; The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and Project Equinox: Housing Veterans and Medical Students.

For those of you who would like to know more or purchase a table-top figure their website is www.therebutnotthere.org.uk

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D&J WINDOW

CLEANERS

TRADITIONAL

WINDOW CLEANERS

GUTTERS

SOFFITS

CONSERVATORIES

TEL: 07815 610906

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www.mjryall.co.uk [email protected]

Social Evening in Support of Tariro – Saturday 26th

May

‘Tariro’ means 'Hope' in Shona, one of the two main languages of Zimbabwe. This charity gives these children and young people hope when they have had none, it gives them a reason to live, and helps them to thrive.

We are once again organising a social evening to raise funds for Tariro which is being held at the vicarage on the evening of Saturday 26th May so please put this date in your diary.

All are welcome and tickets will be available nearer the time. Look up on the internet ‘Tarirouk.com’ and see the work they do. We are in the early stages of planning the evening and nearer the time there will be posters about it.

Please plan to join us.

Theresa and Andrea

1. Pasta 2. Raphael 3. Angel Delight 4. Angelina Jolie 5. Maya Angelou 6. A prayer 7. Michaelangelo 8. Gabriel 9. Antony Gormley 10. Angle 11. Venezuela 12. Tess of the d’Urbervilles 13. James Montgomery 14. Lucifer 15. Angels on Horseback 16. Dan Brown 17. California 18. Robbie Williams 19. E M Forster 20. The Angel, Islington

Answers to the Angel Quiz

So you think English is easy? The bandage was wound around the wound. The farm was used to produce produce. We must polish the Polish furniture. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present. A sea bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. The insurance was invalid for the invalid. They were too close to the door to close it. After going out after having done some sewing, a sewer fell into a sewer. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.

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Our Community

A church is more than bricks and mortar. It is a community of people who, together, live in relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Our churches belong to everyone and are not only for solemn worship but also about joy and fellowship. Our community has embraced our monthly coffee mornings which have been held with the support of the Academy of Central Bedfordshire, our Hymn Singing ‘for those who love them’ and with the current interior alterations to make our church more user friendly who knows what else we will then be able to offer.

We are therefore excited that we now have a community choir singing in our Church on a Tuesday evening using God's space.

Cords Contemporary Choir is a vibrant community of amateur singers who

perform a repertoire of popular music from the 1960s to the present day. The

choir has been meeting for a over a year in Haynes, and recently a second

group has been established in Stotfold at St Mary’s Church, every Tuesday

from 7:15-8:45 during the school term. Cords’ main mission is to engage local

communities in ensemble singing, and to build and foster the community spirit

that comes with joining together in song. They offer a free taster session to

anyone tempted to try the group out. There are no auditions and no prior

singing experience is required.

Would you like to sponsor a tile?

Refurbishment of the floor to the north and south aisles has now begun so that the body of the Church will be all at one level and we are asking if you would like to sponsor a tile? £10 for a large tile and £5 for a small tile. The floor tiles

will be blank. A ledger will be kept in the church that will show the name of the

sponsor if wished or, if applicable, a dedication to a person or event.

If you would like to be a sponsor please contact Carolyn on 01462 733981 or [email protected].

Cords

Contemporary Choir

Tuesdays

Haynes Village Hall 13:15 - 14:45

St Mary’s Church, Stotfold 19:15 - 20:45

Mid-Bedfordshire’s very own rock and pop choir!

Come along for a free taster session.

Contact Tim Burns [email protected]

or 07580922358 for more details.

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A striking expansion in Bible production: by Geoffrey Hill

We are accustomed nowadays to buy many kinds of goods and equipment that turn up in our shops and online, only to find that they were “Made in China”. It may surprise you that Bibles printed in China are also on sale here, in English and in many other languages.

The story behind their production began when the China Christian Council founded the Amity Printing Press and started to print Bibles in 1987. This was done with the approval of the Chinese Government, which supplied the land, buildings and workers for the venture. The Christian Council was in partnership with the international charity, the United Bible Societies, which at the outset provided a huge printing machine, Bible paper and expatriate management. After 18 years, in 2005, the Press moved to larger premises, with a second state-of-the-art printer and enlarged binding facilities.

Recently Hazel Southam, a reporter from the British Bible Society (a founder member of the world federation in 1946) visited churches in China. She wrote this account of her time at the Amity Printing Press:

“A screen in the lobby of the Amity Printing premises in Nanjing, eastern China, shows the number of Bibles the vast printing press has produced. And it’s constantly adding more. When I arrive the number stands at 154,773,000 Bibles. When I leave a few hours later, it’s up to 154,805,139.

The Bibles are sent to 72 countries. They also go to more than 70 distribution points across China and through them to some 60,000 churches. It’s impossible to keep up with demand. The Church in China is burgeoning. One million people are believed to come to faith every year. 500,000 are baptised each year. In churches across China, local people buy Bibles to give to non-Christian friends. Giving gifts is hugely important in Chinese culture, so this is an acceptable means of outreach.

In the south of China, in Luquan, the result of Amity’s work is clear. It’s just printed 10,000 copies of the Bible in the Black Yi language, a local dialect spoken by millions. ‘My greatest hope has been fulfilled’, says local pastor Zhang Wenfu. “It means that when we worship, we can read the Yi bible to the congregation’. During the Cultural Revolution, ‘we dug out a space in the wall behind the bricks and hid the Bible’, says Wenfu. ‘So you can imagine that now, to be able to read it any time and to preach the gospel and give sermons to the congregation is wonderful’.

In 25 years from 1987 to 2012, Amity Printing Press produced 100 million Bibles. Because of demand within China and elsewhere in the world, it is extraordinary that the next 50 million Bibles have been printed in only five years. The growth of the Church in China, although persecution of Christians continues in some areas of the country, is itself compelling evidence of God’s Spirit at work among the Chinese people in their own land.

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform”

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St Mary’s Church Hall for Hire

Hall dimensions are: 15.5mx6.4m ( 51'x21') and the ceiling just over 3m high accommodates a bouncy castle. The kitchen is approx. 4mx2.75m (13'x9') and has a cooker, a microwave, 2 kettles, a fridge, crockery, cutlery and linen. Parking is available in the church car park.

Hall bookings can be made by contacting Alison Collis on 01462 625637 or email [email protected]

Carole Finch organises our collection of used UK and foreign stamps to help persecuted Christians round the world and recently received an email from Paul White which stated:

‘Thank you so much for your fantastic support with the batch of stamps that you recently sent through again in support of ‘Release International’. I can advise that the stamps will be of some value.

I can also confirm that I am still supporting this cause, so any additional stamps that you come across either yourself or among your church members would be most gratefully received. God Bless.

Do you have any old pairs of glasses lurking in

drawers or other hideaways? There is a box in the

north aisle for any unwanted spectacles so that we can

send them to Africa where they are really needed.

Little Angels

(Baby & Toddler Group)

St Mary’s Church Hall

Thursdays 10.15am

Term Time Only

Everybody Welcome

No Charge

Plant Sale & Refreshments

Saturday 13th May

10am - 12 noon

Craft Fair & Refreshments

Saturday 24th March

10am - 1pm

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35 Brook Street Stotfold SG5 4LA 01462 731098

www.thestagpubstotfold.co.uk

Jan and Les offer you a warm welcome *Cask Marque *Sunny Patios *Dog Friendly Bar

*Sky & BT Sports *Parties Welcome

Food Served Daily

Lunch for £5 Tuesday - Saturday 12noon-3pm

Breakfasts:

Saturdays/Sundays & Bank Holidays 9.30-12noon

Sunday is Quiz Night

Check our website and notices for other events and offers

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Holy Week and Easter Services 2018

25 March Palm Sunday 9.45am Donkey sets off from St Mary’s School and heads to church 10.00am Parish Communion. After the donkey and procession arrives at

church, there is a Blessing of the Palm Crosses and the children attend Sunday School.

6.00pm Stations of the Cross. We follow in the footsteps of Jesus in the days leading up to his crucifixion.

26 March Monday 7.30pm Lent reflection and Compline. A short talk and the service of

Compline, which is based on the prayers religious communities say at the end of the day.

27 March Tuesday 10.00am Passion Play. The children of St Mary’s Academy act out the story of Christ’s passion and resurrection. 7.30pm Lent Reflection and Compline. 28 March Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion 7.30pm Lent Reflection and Compline. 29 March Maundy Thursday 10.15am Little Angels Baby & Toddler Group experience the Easter Story in

craft and play. 7.30pm Passover Meal and Communion. An opportunity to learn more about

the Passover Meal which Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before he died. We share a simple meal with fellow Christians in an informal setting, in the Church Hall.

9.30pm Holy Communion with foot washing followed by stripping of the altars and a vigil at the altar of repose.

30 March Good Friday 2.00pm Hour before the Cross. Hymns, prayers and reflection. 31 March Holy Saturday 7.30pm Service of Light. This service proclaims the resurrection of Christ from the dead in word and action, in silence and sound. The service begins in darkness and the Easter Candle, symbolizing Christ, the light of the world, is lit and the light is carried through the church and progressively passed to the whole congregation. The Exsultet, an ancient Easter song of praise, is sung. The service is followed by The Vigil. 1 April Easter Sunday 6.30am Sunrise Service at the Beacon with the Salvation Army Band. Short

service lasting 30 minutes, organised by Stotfold Churches Together. 10.00am Easter Communion followed by coffee and cake in the church and an

Easter Egg Hunt in the Vicarage gardens.

19

Our Services

9 - 9.20 am MORNING PRAYER Monday to Saturday

10am ALL AGE WORSHIP SERVICE normally takes place on the first

Sunday of the month and is suitable for children and adults. The service

includes music, prayers, an address suitable for all ages and sometimes

crafts. It does not include Holy Communion service. This service is

approximately 45 minutes. Refreshments are served after the service.

10am PARISH COMMUNION takes place each Sunday except the first

Sunday of the month. It is a sung holy communion service in

contemporary language with hymns and lasts 1 hour. The choir and

organ accompany the service. The hymns include traditional and more

contemporary ones. Children can attend Sunday School in the church

hall and come into the service for a blessing towards the end, or they

can stay in church where there is a children's corner. Refreshments are

served after the service.

8.00am HOLY COMMUNION is a said service which normally takes place on the 1st Sunday of each month. The service lasts 45 minutes.

9.30am HOLY COMMUNION each Wednesday - a 40 minute said service.

If you would like an arrangement to

be placed in Church

in celebration of a special occasion

or in remembrance of a loved one

Contact:

Anne Scarr - 01462 834844

or

Joan Cave - 01462 733765