St Mary's Eaton Bray

Christian Aid Concert - Wednesday 10 June 2009 7pm

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:31:35 GMT

Tickets are now on sale for a concert in St Mary's in aid of Christian Aid which is to be performed by the Edlesborough school choir together with selected soloists. They will be joined by some talented past pupils and young musicians from St Mary's.

We are hoping for a large audience for the concert supporting this excellent charity which helps the world's poorest communities. Please come along and ask your friends and family to come too. Light refreshments are included.

Tickets £3.00 from Catherine Hayden, or on the door.

Church Fabic

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:27:51 GMT

The Pulpit has been ordered - we hope for delivery by the end of July.

Open Gardens 2009 - Sunday 14 June

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:13:05 GMT

We have 12 gardens on display, most of which are opening for the first time. Do encourage friends and relatives to come and join in this lovely social event.

To make the day a success we do need your help, especially in Eaton Bray Village Hall to sell tickets, help with refreshments, sell plants and raffle rickets. Donations of plants would be gratefully received.

If you can help, please contact Gordon Gray or Kay Griffiths. If you do help, you needn't miss the gardens - a tour will be arranged for early evening, Tuesday 16 June, for helpers and those who have opened their gardens.

Flower Group

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:07:50 GMT

Many thanks must go to the flower arranging Team for a beautiful display of Lilies over Easter. Thanks also to those generous donors who gave money in memory of loved ones.

Please note that following the APCM, the PCC representatives for the Flower Group are now Catherine Hayden and Barbara Morton.

Life2theMax

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:04:11 GMT

We had a fantastic time at Life2theMax on Sunday 26 April.

There was a good turnout of people of all ages to listen to Matt Summerfield and a band from Hitchin Christian Centre (who were extremely good).

We played some interesting games (balloon tennis!) as well as seeing some very entertaining YouTube clips, all to illustrate the point that whatever happens in life, we can rely on God to be with us always.

We hope very much to have another evening later in the year. Watch this space! For more information, contact Barbara Morton.

Coffee Mornings

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:26:24 GMT

The monthly Coffee Mornings continue and are an excellent way for us, the members of the St Mary's Family, to meet other members of the Villages Community.

There will be Coffee Mornings in Church every first Saturday and we are always looking for helpers. If you are interested in volunteering for 2 hours 'work' on a particular first Saturday, please contact either of the Churchwardens.

Organist

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:59:00 GMT

The search for an organist - or Director of Music as he/she should more properly be called - goes on. Having been unable to proceed to the interview stage after first advertising the post owing to the withdrawal of both candidates, we have decided to re-advertise, with a closing date for applications of 25 May.

Hopefully by the time you read this we will be en-route to a new appointment, but only time will tell!

In the meantime, we remain very grateful to Stephen Axford, to Donald Howson and, additionally during the month of May, to Theo Gray, Jenny Hoare and Craig Nathan for all their assistance.

The Vacancy

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Vacancy was advertised nationally in the Church Times on 1 & 15 May and it is our hope that on 3 June we will be in a position to meet the Bishop of Bedford & other interested parties in order to draw up a short list. All we can say is that we promise to keep you posted.

You may have seen a notice on the church door earlier this month concerning the 'suspension of the benefice'. This confirms a technical change affecting the parish whereby the new appointment will be a 'Priest-in-Charge' rather than an incumbent enjoying what is known as the freehold of the parish.

This move, which was proposed by the Bishop in March and agreed the following month by the PCC will not, we have been assured, affect the appeal of the post to prospective applicants.

Edlesbray Players Colour Me Happy

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Players held another very successful review on 16th May.

Called "Colour Me Happy" it featured the usual troupe of entertainers who entertained the enthusiastic audience with comedy, drama and song.

Our thanks go to Val Trantum and her Team who prepared and served Supper. The event raised over £400 to help to buy new stage curtains for the Village Hall.

The 2010 Pantomime is booked for Wednesday 20 January to Saturday 23 January. Put it in your diaries now.

The Church Mouse

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This was the first meeting of the P.C.C. since the A.P.C.M. Our Churchwarden welcomed each member and especially Eileen Bennett back for a further term of office.

The Parish Profile, a document that has been produced to send to potential candidates to replace Malcolm Grant, is now complete and has been printed and will appear on our website.

A new advert has been placed for a new Organist and Choirmaster the closing date is 25th May.

A letter from the Bishop of Bedford informed us that a Priest in Charge will be appointed instead of a Vicar.

The Parish Council have agreed to take over the care of the flower beds outside the church.

Plans are in hand for Christian Aid Week 10-16th May. There will be a concert in Church on the 10th June at 7.00p.m. in aid of Christian Aid.

A rota is to be arranged to man the Parish Office on a Friday afternoon between 2-4.00p.m.

A flower arrangement on behalf of St. Mary's will be done by Mrs Edna Moore at the Whipsnade Flower Festival.

If you know of anyone who is sick and would like a home visit from a church member please contact Chris Hewitt.

The meeting ended with the Grace.

St Marys Village Carnival 2009

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The theme of this year's Carnival on Saturday July 4th is 'Books' which gives us all fantastic scope for dressing up and getting into the spirit of things. From 'Three Men in a Boat', through 'Ballet Shoes', 'Oliver Twist' and the 'Chronicles of Narnia', there's any number of themes to pick up on. Why not join in the Carnival Procession - it's not just for the younger element! Some of the most successful floats in recent years have come from local businesses such as Janes or The Bell PH. Alternatively, why not get your neighbours involved and enter a float in the procession manned by people in your road? Lack of a vehicle is no barrier -a 'walking float' is the green alternative.

If you'd prefer to watch the Procession rather than be in it, don't forget our competition for the best dressed houses in Eaton Bray and Edlesborough, plus the best dressed business, with cups for the winners generously provided by Edlesborough Autos.

Can you help with Carnival in any other way? Our Carnival is an event for everyone in the village and everyone can contribute to its success. We're in need of:

Offers of help for the day before and Carnival day itself - manning a stand, setting up the stalls, clearing up, you name it, we can use your help! Whether you can spare just half an hour or the whole day, we'll be very glad of your help.
Donations of supplies - we need plants for the plant stall, bottles of wine, cakes for the cake stall, old crockery for the plate-smashing - can you help?
Offers of transport to get equipment to and from Edlesborough Green or to take part in the Procession
Donations of prizes for the Grand Draw
Donations of items for the silent auction

For any of the above please contact us via the Carnival website - www.stmarysvillagecarnival.com.

We look forward to seeing you - in the procession or on the Green - on 4th July!

Lay Readers Letter - May 2009

news@stmaryseatonbray.org.uk (Theo Gray) — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following Malcolm Grant's retirement, our Lay Reader Gordon Gray will continue the tradition of the Vicar's Letter each month.

One of the things we do in our church services is to say we are sorry for the wrong things we have done. Saying 'Sorry', as we do when we say the Confession, is generally a positive thing - it helps us to recognise our shortcomings and spurs us on to try to do better. However, I can remember wondering, when I was younger, why it was that week after week I would have to say 'Sorry' when, whilst not necessarily leading a totally blameless life, I was doing what I felt was the best I could to 'love my neighbour'.

Continue reading this month's Lay Reader's Letter.