Christian Aid Sponsored Swim
Many thanks to all our swimmers and to those who sponsored them, around £500 was raised. Well done everyone!
Lent Groups
Lent Groups continue this week – Tuesdays at 7:30pm at The Rectory & Fridays at 10am at St Luke’s. You are welcome to any or all of the sessions. All material supplied, please bring a Bible.
Ladies Afternoon Group
Please join us at our Lent Service at St Mary’s on Thursday 27 March at 2pm, followed by refreshments. If you cannot make the service, you are very welcome to join us after the service if you wish, for the refreshments around 2.30pm in the Hall. There will be a Raffle to help raise funds for `Her Place` (Motherwell), if you would like to make a donation by buying raffle tickets on the day, that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Frances.
Lent Soup Lunches
The next Lent Lunch is Wednesday 2 April in the Church Hall at 11.30am with a variety of soups at £4.50pp. All Welcome!
Men’s Group Social – 7.30pm Friday 28 March
Please join us for liquid refreshments at Ebenezers, 2 Castle St, Nantwich followed by a curry or a Thai curry. Open to all men over the age of 18. Feel free to bring male family and friends. No need to RSVP – see you there! Howard.
Christian News and Information
From Sarah Rhodes our Christian Aid rep:
Christian Aid celebrates its 80th anniversary this year having been set up after the end of World War II.
Dates for your diary; Tuesday, 1st April – Bucket collection at Crewe Alexandra’s football match. Contact Sarah Rhodes if you would like to help with the pre-match collection and get free entry into the match!
Advanced notice, Christian Aid Week is Sunday 11th to Saturday 17th May. Please consider if you could join the team delivering collection envelopes to the houses on the streets St Mary’s covers.
Christian Aid has a focus country each year to explain more about their work. This year is Guatemala in South America. It is a very small country whose population is very dependent on agriculture. Christian Aid provides support in one way through an agricultural school gathering and sharing indigenous peoples knowledge. Christian Aid supports families to learn new techniques, for example, in rainwater harvesting and setting up micro businesses.
Save the date: Messy Church
Messy Church Saturday 10 May at 2:30pm in the Church Hall. Messy church is a form of church for everyone that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. Expect activities, songs and prayers and an entirely new way to express your faith. More information about Messy Church can be found here: https://www.messychurch.brf.org.uk/
Women Ignited Together
Crafty Cream Tea in the Church Hall on Saturday 26 April 3:30pm-5pm.The Passion by Lamps on Friday 11 April 7:30pm Union St Baptist Church (£8). Please see Clare Shackleton for more info and booking for both events.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) 2025
Our APCM is on Sunday 6 April in St Mary’s at 12 noon followed by a Bring ‘n’ Share lunch.
We will be appointing 2 Wardens and electing 5 PCC Members. If you are interested in standing all the forms needed are available at both churches. Please speak to Revd Mike if you’d like further information.
Electoral Roll 2025
The Electoral Roll 2025 closed on Sunday 16 March 2025 until after the APCM. The new Electoral Roll will be available to view in St Mary’s Church Porch from Sunday 23 March.
New Songs you may want to take a listen to
The Music Group have been learning a couple of new songs over the and I thought it would be good to share them with you so you can take a listen and learn them.
God of Every Grace by Keith & Kristyn Getty – a beautiful hymn-like song from the Gettys
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/Z5SARNm0M8A?si=UkmWk3h1TgBI6qIn
No longer slaves (we will be singing this this coming Sunday)
https://youtu.be/Qny6zKQ6Z2k?si=kMhNMxBwFerBdz__
Choir Vestry Repairs
The Dry Rot repairs in the Choir Vestry will cost in the region of £19,000 to repair. However, add to this roof repairs, plastering, painting and professional fees, the whole project could be in the region of £30,000. If you would like to pledge a donation towards this project please let Revd Mike know.
Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer, 9:30am on Zoom: bit.ly/930mp on Tuesday & Thursday this week.
There is the Church of England Daily Prayer at bit.ly/cofeprayer and Daily Prayer app – search your device’s App Store to find it and Daily Hope: a free phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers you can call at any time on 0800 804 8044.
Her-Place Period Poverty Collection Point
You may have seen this in the porch of the Church Hall, in it you can donate period products as well as other young girl’s and women’s hygiene products. Thanks in advance.
Chester Diocese Website
Chester Diocesan website (chester.anglican.org) is well worth a visit to find out what’s happening around the diocese including news and events.
Online Service Resources
Service Orders at St Mary’s can be viewed/downloaded at bit.ly/serviceorders.
The Weekly Sheet is available at the top of this Blog page. We will continue have printed Weekly Sheets available, but if you can do it electronically, it means we can print less and not throw as much away.
Easyfundraising
Thanks to all who support us this way, it costs you nothing, please consider using it for online and click and collect, visit here for more info: bit.ly/stmaryseasyfundraising
Giving
Our church relies upon personal giving to keep going. To give quickly & securely online click here or scan the QR Code below or Click Here to see all the ways you can support the church financially.
