St Mary's Church
Fairford

Special Lent Study Group

The Rev'd Caroline Symcox will be leading a special group to spend more time reading God’s word and thinking about it.

Please contact Caroline on 01285 712467 if you wish to join in - regular church attender or not, you are most welcome.

The Fairford Gospels

Thursdays in Lent at St. Thomas' Church, Horcott starting at 12:30.

We shall be reading a whole gospel each week. You can listen to all or part of the reading and perhaps try a new craft or enjoy a soup lunch as you listen.

March 5th Mark's gospel and Embroidery
March 12th Luke's gospel and Quilling (paper curling)
March 19th John's gospel and Illuminated lettering

Churches Together Around Fairford – Word and art in Lent

Welcome to Fairford

The Pastoral Care team at St Mary’s Church Fairford is planning an event to welcome the new residents in Fairford and to introduce them to the various clubs and societies that we have in the town.

We would like to deliver an invitation to every new build property, especially those at the Bloor and Linden sites. The date suggested at present is sometime in May 2015.

We plan to offer a drink/cup of tea and a bun/sandwich when guests arrive at the venue where there will be stalls offering information about the ‘happenings’ in the town.

If your organisation would like to take part in any way, please contact Mary Mawle by telephone 01285 712174 or Email.

Charity of the Month:
Middle East Church Association (JMECA).

Amidst the turmoil and uprisings across the Middle East the situation of Churches and Christians has become increasingly difficult and in need of support. JMECA is the largest charity with the specific purpose of supporting life, witness and social engagement of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church across North Africa, the Middle East and Iran.

Established in 1889 by the first Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, JMECA today raise £250.000 pa from donations and other sources to support many areas of the Church’s engagement with the wider life of the Middle East – schools, hospitals and clinics, social welfare programmes – there are at least 33 such programmes in the Diocese of Jerusalem alone (covering Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria).

Through its twice yearly magazine ‘Bible Lands’ JMECA provides information and thoughtful comment on issues affecting Christians in the region, along with prayer requests for the four dioceses, while its new website : www.jmeca.org.uk contains regularly updated news and stories.

In response to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent call to support Christians in the Middle East during the Easter period the charity is encouraging parishes to give their Good Friday Offering to the Church in the Middle East and to pray for Christians and all peoples of the region.

There is literature on the shelf along the south wall of the Church. Please give a donation if you can. If you would like further information write to JMECA, 1 Hart House, The Hart FARNHAM Surrey GU9 7HJ. Tel: 01252 726994. Email.
Website.

Previous Charity Fundraising

When the monies were counted from the box in the Church for the January charity “Ordination Candidates Training Fund’’ the amount came to £13.45 to which the PCC will add further amounts.

Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 6 March

Jesus said to them: “Do you know what I have done to you?”

The service this year has been prepared by Christian women of the Bahamas

In Fairford there will be a service based on this theme at 2pm in St Mary’s Church followed by some refreshments.

All are welcome – even men!

For more details contact Sarah Bottomley: 01285 712074

Jesus and Me Club

1st March
10am St Mary’s Church, Fairford
Stories, craft, fun and food
JAM club is on the FIRST Sunday of the month.

Funday Sunday

No need to book but it will help us with catering if you can let us know that you are coming. If not - just turn up on the day.

If you could help with of these events please talk to one of the LMT members about it or contact Kathleen (01285 712583) or email stmaryslmt@gmail.com.

Messy Space, Sat 21st March

2.00 – 4.00 p.m. Fairford Community Centre
Crafts and Coffee Bar for families

This month's theme : Imagine!

Adults and Children (recommended 4 years upwards)
£2 per child (max. £5 per family)
Concessions available

A project of Churches Together Around Fairford.

Contact Maureen Partington 01285 712480.

SUNDAY NIGHT AT PRAISE

For further information please contact:
Chris Saunders - Email or 01452 301042

Thirst

Bible Study and discussion for those in secondary school
6:30 to 8:00 each Wednesday in term time
Quenington Village Hall

For more information contact Chris Saunders 01452 301042

Music in Country Churches

Music in Country Churches was set up as a Charitable Trust twenty five years ago, with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as its active and very enthusiastic Patron. In that time it has distributed just short of half a million pounds to rural churches to assist with repairs and the maintenance of their fabric.

In the South Cotswolds Team Ministry we have been fortunate to have had two weekends of music here in Fairford; the first in aid of our own church and the other to assist St Mary’s Driffield. This year a further weekend of the highest quality music will take place on 22nd and 23rd May to support the church of St Michael and All Angels Harnhill.

Further details and how to book tickets will follow later, but for more information please ring Alison or Mike on 713101.

News February 2015
News January 2015
St Mary's News Round-Up 2014
St Mary's News Round-Up 2013
St Mary's News Round-Up 2012
St Mary's News Round-Up 2011