St. Mary's Church, Berkeley

St. Mary's Newsletter

2009-12-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

St. Mary's Newsletter 20th December

Blog readers,

This is the last Newsletter of 2009 (no Newsletter next week), everything you need to know about the next 2 weeks at St.Mary's shoud be included in this issue. Please remember that there are no morning services at St.Mary's on Sunday 27th Dec; we will be at All Saints' in Stone. If in doubt, please check the calendar at www.stmarys-berkeley.co.uk.

Have a very Happy Christmas.

Over the Christmas Period

Sunday 20th December
The Fourth Sunday of Advent
9.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Eleven - Informal Worship
6.00pm Christmas Carol Service - A service of nine lessons, carols and music for Christmas.

Tuesday 22nd December
8.30am Morning Prayer
12 noon Funeral of Terry Jones

Thursday 24th December
Christmas Eve
3.00pm Crib Service
11.30pm Holy Communion

Friday 25th December
Christmas Day
10.30am Holy Communion

Sunday 27th December
The First Sunday of Christmas
9.30am Benefice Communion at All Saints', Stone
6.00pm Evening Prayer at St Mary's, Berkeley

Tuesday 29th December
8.30am Morning Prayer

Friday 1st January
8.30am Morning Prayer

Sunday 3rd January
Epiphany Sunday
9.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Eleven - Informal Worship
6.00pm Epiphany Carol Service

Wednesday 6th January
Epiphany
10.00am Benefice Epiphany Holy Communionat All Saints', Stone

Online Advent Calendar
at www.whywearewaiting.com.

MISSION GIVING AT ST MARY'S

We are now thinking about the charities that we would like to support as a church in the coming year.

This year, the charities chosen have been Emmaus, Gloucester City Mission, Water Aid, The Bible Society, CMS, Tearfund and Mission Aviation Fellowship. You may have read about some of them in the Herald in recent months.

The PCC has already decided to support CMS by becoming a link parish with Dave and Rine Ingleby, who came to St Mary's earlier in the year and are due to go out to North India next year to begin their work as mission partners. Your suggestions for other charities to support would be most welcome. You may wish to continue to support some of the charities that we are contributing to this year or have other suggestions to make.

This is a most appropriate time of the year for us to think about our giving in this way. Please do add your suggestions of charities you would especially like us to support, together with any information/contact details that you may have, to the nominations sheet at the back of the church. It will be there until the end of December. The PCC will then vote on the suggestions that you make at its meeting in January.

If you would like any further information, please speak to David or Jenny Frith.

Peal Attempt

On 2nd January ringers from the benefice and other local churches will attempt a peal of 5100 changes of Stedman Caters to celebrate the centenary of the Wotton Branch of bell ringers. We have a number of the branch ringers who regularly support our service ringing and practices and they enjoy being able to ring the bells at New Year.

Readings for this Sunday

Old Testament: Micah 5:2-5a
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Vicar- Rev'd Richard Avery
Phone 01453 810294 E-mail averys@rjavery.co.uk
Not available on Mondays except in emergency

Curate- Rev'd Christine Birkett
Phone 01454 260398 E-mail christine.birkett@virgin.net
Not available on Mondays except in emergency

To have items included in next week's Pew Sheet contact Peter Yardley
Phone 01454 319749
or email pewsheet@stmarys-berkeley.co.uk

If you send items to Peter Yardley for the printed Pew Sheet, they should make it into this newsletter.

www.stmarys-berkeley.co.uk

Stop receiving the newsletter

St. Mary's Newsletter

2009-12-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

St. Mary's Newsletter 13th December

Blog readers,

Eleven goes walkabout today! Starting from the Church.

Please join us for an interactive retelling of the nativity story as we seek out the principal characters hidden around the town. The route is pushchair friendly - come prepared for all weathers. Duration approx one hour followed by a soup and bread lunch back at the church.

EVENING OF HOMESPUN ENTERTAINMENT AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

The Vicarage

Wednesday 16^th December at 8 pm

Everyone welcome and we encourage you to bring something to share eg a short story, a poem, a song, a dance or a favourite short piece of recorded music – anything silly, serious or just seasonal!

Please speak to Beth Ansell (810380) or Jenny Avery (810294) if you'd like to come.

The Churches of Berkeley invite you to
Christmas Carols
Saturday 19th December
10.30am
Mariners Arms Car Park
Supported by Woodford Silver Band

Come and visit the stable,
see Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
Talk to the animals.
Mince Pies and Mulled wine.
Sing your favourite carols.
Free

Online Advent Calendar
at www.whywearewaiting.com.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARDS
A big thank you to all who took the parish Christmas cards and delivered them during this last week.

Dates for your Diary

Sunday 20th December
9.30am Holy Communion
11.00am Eleven - Informal Worship
6.00pm Christmas Carol Service: A service of nine lessons, carols and music for Christmas.

Thursday 24th December
Christmas Eve
3.00pm Crib Service
11.30pm Holy Communion

Friday 25th December
Christmas Day
10.30am Holy Communion

Sunday 27th December
9.30am Benefice Communion at All Saints', Stone
6.00pm Evensong at St Mary's, Berkeley

Readings for this Sunday

9.30 am Choral Communion
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Luke 3:7-18

11.00am Eleven - Nativity Trail
Meet at the Church

6.00pm Evening Prayer
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Luke 3:7-18

To have items included in next week's Pew Sheet contact Peter Yardley
Phone 01454 319749
or email pewsheet@stmarys-berkeley.co.uk

If you send items to Peter Yardley for the printed Pew Sheet, they should make it into this newsletter.

www.stmarys-berkeley.co.uk

Stop receiving the newsletter

St Mary's Newsletter

2009-12-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

St. Mary's Newsletter 6th December

Blog readers,

St Mary's Nativity Trail
Sunday 13th December 11.00am

Eleven goes walkabout! Starting from the Church.

Please let us know if you intend to come, it will help with catering preparations.
(Contact: Debbie Page 01453 511168).

EVENING OF HOMESPUN ENTERTAINMENT AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS

The Vicarage

Wednesday 16^th December at 8 pm

Everyone welcome and we encourage you to bring something to share eg a short story, a poem, a song, a dance or a favourite short piece of recorded music – anything silly, serious or just seasonal!

Please speak to Beth Ansell (810380) or Jenny Avery (810294) if you'd like to come.

What about the end of the world?

Wednesday 9th December "The New Beginning"

8 pm at The Vicarage

From the Calendar

Benefice

All Saints'

St. Mary's

St. Michael's

Sunday, 6 December

09:30 Parish Communion

11:00 Informal Worship

11:00 Christingle

18:00 Advent Carol Service

Tuesday, 8 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

Wednesday, 9 December

09:30 Morning Prayer

13:30 Primary school bringing staging into St Mary's Church

19:30 Bell Ringing Practice

20:00 Bible Study - The New Beginning

Thursday, 10 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

10:00 Primary School Concert Rehearsal at St Mary's Church

18:30 Christmas Concert for Berkeley Primary at St Mary's Church

Friday, 11 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

10:00 Little Fishes

19:00 Choir Practice

Saturday, 12 December

19:00 Young Musicians Concert at St Mary's Church

Sunday, 13 December

09:30 Parish communion

09:30 Choral Communion

11:00 Informal Worship

11:00 Parish Communion

18:00 Evening Prayer

Tuesday, 15 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

Wednesday, 16 December

09:30 Morning Prayer

19:30 Bell Ringing Practice

Thursday, 17 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

Friday, 18 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

10:00 Little Fishes

19:00 Choir Practice

Saturday, 19 December

10:30 Outdoor Carols & Nativity at Mariners, Salter St Berkeley

Sunday, 20 December

09:30 All-Age Worship

09:30 Parish Communion

11:00 Informal Worship

16:00 Christingle

18:00 BCP Communion

18:30 Christmas Carol Service

Tuesday, 22 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

Wednesday, 23 December

09:30 Morning Prayer

19:30 Bell Ringing Practice

Thursday, 24 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

15:00 Crib Service

23:30 Midnight Christmas Communion

Friday, 25 December

08:30 Christmas Communion

09:30 Christmas Communion

10:30 Christmas Communion

Sunday, 27 December

09:30 Joint Communion for Berkeley Benefice

18:00 Evening Prayer

Tuesday, 29 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

Wednesday, 30 December

09:30 Morning Prayer

19:30 Bell Ringing Practice

Thursday, 31 December

08:30 Morning Prayer

Friday, 1 January 2010

08:30 Morning Prayer

10:00 Little Fishes

19:00 Choir Practice

Youth Makes Music
At Berkeley

Saturday 12th December
7.00pm start at St Mary's Church

A concert celebrating local children's musical talents

Some of the musicians appearing will be:-

The Award Winning Berkeley Primary School Choir
Vivace String Quartet
5 Valleys Senior Wind Band
Ben King – Piano
George Setterfield – Clarinet
James Barnes – Singer
Chris Barnes – Organist

Tickets Adults £3, Children 50p

Price to include a glass of mulled wine (soft drink) and a mince pie
Proceeds towards
St Mary's Refurbishment Fund

Tickets available from Angela Barnes
ANGELABARNES3@aol.com
The Perfect Blend Coffee Shop Berkeley
Stroud and Swindon Building Society Berkeley
or on the door.

Dates for your Diary

Sunday 6th December 6.00pm
St Mary's Advent Carol Service

Wednesday 9th December 8pm
Bible Study at The Vicarage

Thursday 10th December 6.30pm
Berkeley Primary School Christmas Concert at St Mary's Church

Friday 11th December
Magazine deadline

Saturday 12th December 7.00pm
Young Musicians Concert at St Mary's Church

Sunday 13th December 11.00am
St Mary's Nativity Trail

Christmsa Carols

Saturday 19th Dec
10.30am Mariners Arms Car Park

Charities for 2010

Each year St Mary's gives a proportion of its income to charities – local, national and international. The PCC has begun to think about this for 2010 and would like to receive suggestions from the congregation.
If you have a charity that you would like to be considered, please put the details on the list at the back of the church over the next few weeks. Thank you.

Keeper of Church Linen Required

We would welcome a person who could take on the task of checking the linen covers on the altars are in good order and changed when necessary. The main task is to collect and clean the communion purificators every week or so, these are the small chalice wiping cloths that are used at communion (usually only 2 or 3 a week).

Please contact;
David Bainbridge, 01453 810049

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARDs – CAN YOU HELP?

Once again we have produced a 'Christmas card' listing the services at all the Berkeley churches over Christmas.

The cards have been bundled into streets and are at the back of the church, on the table by the door. They need to be delivered to all the houses in the parish as soon as possible. Please take some and help to deliver them if you can.

Readings for this Sunday

9.30am Holy Communion
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 3:1-6

11.00am Eleven - Informal Worship

6.00pm Advent Carol Service

To have items included in next week's Pew Sheet contact Peter Yardley
Phone 01454 319749
or email pewsheet@stmarys-berkeley.co.uk

If you send items to Peter Yardley for the printed Pew Sheet, they should make it into this newsletter.

More stuff on the website: www.stmarys-berkeley.co.uk

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