Where are we going? What are we doing? How do we do it?

There are so many decisions to make when you're planning the future, in your personal life, your work or in your church.  In the past year, we have been busy gathering information, ideas, planning and praying for the future of St Mary's and our role in the community.  Part of the church development will be explained at two  Presentations planned for October 3rd and 10th after the 9.30am services.  All members of the congregation and supporters have been invited and we look forward to seeing you at one of these important meetings.

Our events are open to the East Leake Community - see below and we'd love to see you at any of them.  We have something for every age and are looking for YOU to join us, especially if you are looking for companionship, new friends, new activities or just someone to talk to if you need help or need to share a problem.  Christians are just like you - our lives are no different EXCEPT we have God's love to help and support us, and that enables us to do the same for others.

Harvest Thanksgiving Service this Sunday.

St Mary's Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be held this Sunday, 26th September at 9.30am.

All harvest gifts may be presented at the service.
We shall especially be pleased to receive non-perishable foods and toiletries, which will be donated to the Friary Drop-In Centre at West Bridgford, helping homeless people.

Harvest Walk, 2.30pm. Something new this year for the whole community!

There is a circular walk for all ages of about 3 miles, finishing at St Mary's for tea, sandwiches and cake at 4.00pm. If you can come and/or contribute towards the refreshments please sign the form at the back of church to give an idea of numbers.

We're nearing the end of September already and there's lots of things happening in October. See our website for details.

• Sat. Oct 2nd 10.00-3.30pm there is 'God's Word in Movement', a Liturgical Dance Workshop at St Mary's Church.
• Churches Together One World Week is 17th - 24th Oct.
• ‘Seasons of Giving’ at Rectory, Tues 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Oct. 7.30pm - Study group.
•  Deanery Synod - Open Meeting Wed. 6th at 7.30 at St. Lawrence Church, Gotham.
• Jewellery-Making Evening at St Mary's Church. Tuesday, 12th, 7.30pm - £5 fee. Please contact Cora to book your place on 856435.

Incidents in Church and Churchyard

If you have tried to visit St. Mary’s Church and found the door locked on a few occasions recently, this is because there have been reports of people acting suspiciously in and around the church. There has also been some petty theft and vandalism in the church and in the Garden of Remembrance. Many people, reading this, will be upset and even outraged to think of the distress caused to bereaved persons. It is also upsetting to learn of people causing damage in a church building and not treating God’s house with respect. I hope that we can resume our practice of keeping the church open during the daytime, so that those who wish to slip into church to pray or just to sit quietly can continue to do so. To help us to achieve that aim, I should be grateful if people who visit or go past the church and churchyard would be vigilant and report anything suspicious.

                                       Glynis Hetherington

EAST LEAKE AND DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
The society is always on the lookout for photographs and documents, memorabilia relating to the history and people in our parish, for example the current form of the parish magazine ‘Compass’ started in 1979 but there was another format prior to that one. Are there any copies hidden away anywhere? There were over 200 editions – if there was one printed each month that is nearly twenty years so does anyone know anything about them?? Or anything even older. If so please contact Tony Grundy on 820646.

Young People's Service this weekend!

On Sunday, 19th Sept there is to be a special Cluster service for and by our young people at St Lawrence Church, Gotham at 10.30am.  Please come along and support them in this newly re-ordered church.  The theme of the service is 'Come Celebrate - We are Family'.

Please note that there will only be a said service on the 19th Sept. at St Mary's Church at 9.00am.

Acorns. Tuesday afternoons every two weeks on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in St Mary's Hall, E Leake from 1.45-2.45pm.  This group is for pre-schoolers, Mums and Carers.  Do come along and enjoy crafts, songs, stories, chat and a cup of coffee/tea.  The group will be meeting today, 14th Sept for the new session - the theme is 'Lost Sheep'.

Harvest. The season of Harvest is upon us and St Mary's Harvest Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday, 26th Sept.  All harvest gifts may be presented at the service.  We shall especially be pleased to receive non-perishable foods and toiletries, which will be donated to the Friary Drop-In Centre at West Bridgford, helping homeless people.

If you would like to go on the Harvest Walk at 2.30pm afterwards, you will be pleased to know that it will be followed by tea, sandwiches and cake.  If you can help provide some refreshments, please sign the list at the back of church to give an idea of numbers. Everyone from the community is welcome to join us.

What have the young people been up to over the summer?

Our young people came together recently to meet up after the summer, share news and to give some ideas about what they would like to do in the future. For some it has been the summer of exam results and they’ve done well so we offer them our congratulations. One person even managed to score 100% in her A S Level politics exam!

Some of our young people went to Soul Survivor for a week and apart from all of them saying, “It was wet!” they saw some amazing things and grew in their faith. 'Awesome' seemed to be the favourite comment.

One of our young people spent three weeks in London working and performing with The National Youth Theatre in a mega street performance that travelled along the South Bank.

We have been struggling to decide what would be best to offer our young people in terms of a replacement for Sunday Sanctuary, which is no longer meeting on a Sunday night at St Mary's, East Leake.  Watch out for more information on the when and where they're going next.

If you would like to join them or have some good ideas of your own, contact Colin or Brenda Knight for further details.

We regret to announce that St Mary's Church is locked temporarily while not in use during the day.  If you need access, please contact the Churchwardens.

Back to School!

School is back in and St Mary's Hall is busy again.  The usual uniformed organisations are starting back this week, and we have other groups starting too.

• Mondays, starting on 13th Sept. Street Dance classes will begin at 1.00pm.  This a continuation of the classes which ran at the Leisure Centre some time ago.
• Tuesdays - Twinkle Tots are back at 9.15am-11.15am.
• Tuesdays - Acorns are back every two weeks starting today, 7th Sept at 1.30-3.30pm
• Tuesdays - Slimming World at 6.00pm which runs year round.
• Wednesdays - EL & District Local History Group are back monthly, starting on 15th Sept at 7.30pm
• Fridays - Craft Class at 9.00-11.00am is starting again.

Cora Fryer, our Outreach Worker also has some plans up her sleeve.  Watch the blog and website for further details.

The leaking roof has been patched up on the outside.  Once we know it is weatherproof, work will being on the inside of the Gents toilet ceiling.

Don't forget the Ride and Stride Event on Saturday 11th Sept.  See the website for further details.

An enlightening visit.

On Sunday, we were pleased to welcome Sam and Violette Beeton for a special United Benefice Service at 10.00am, along with two representatives of the Church Mission Society (CMS).  We were treated to a presentation of photographs showing what Madasgascar is like, where Sam and Violette live and work and what they do there.  We were even invited to visit Madagascar for our holidays!

We were especially pleased to hear that the funds St Mary's gives to CMS have indeed made their work possible. One of Violette's roles is to teach some of the women to sew; there is training for farmers on how to take care of their crops and Sam's role is in education, training people for the ministry.  Some of those recently ordained have a tough life ahead of them, working in remote places.

After the service and talking to the congregation during refreshments, about 20 people went to the Rectory for a Bring and Share lunch. It was a good opportunity to find out more about Violette and Sam's life in Madagascar. The inclement weather made it difficult to decide where to hold it, but inside the Rectory was the favourite.  Many thanks to everyone who helped provide the banquet and to the Rector for the use of the Rectory at VERY short notice.  We thank Violette and Sam for a wonderful visit and send them our best wishes and prayers.