First baptism in the reordered church

On Sunday, we were pleased to welcome the families and friends of our first baptismal candidate in the 'new' nave. As part of the re-ordering work, the font was moved from the south entrance to the front of the nave. Consequently, everyone could see what was happening much easier. Or we hope they could, because the church was full once again.

Comings and goings!

A lot has happened in the past month beside the completion of our newly re-ordered church. Our new extra chairs have just arrived, so sit yourself down and catch up with our news.

Revd Mary Essex, Associate Priest is taking up a new post as Priest in charge of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Kirkby Woodhouse. We will all miss Mary without a doubt. Her final Sunday with us in the Benefice will be 10th February. There will be an 8am Service of Holy Communion and at 9.30am there will be Parish Communion with singing led by the Music Group. Mary's farewell service will be Songs of Praise at 4pm, and the Benefice choirs have been invited to lead the singing and there will be a tea party after the service. Everyone is invited to come and wish Mary well. Her licensing will be at 3pm on Sunday 9th March at Kirkby Woodhouse and you are invited along.

Revd Julia Palmer, from Sutton Bonington has also left to take up a post in Sutton in Ashfield, and her licensing is on Monday 28th January at 7pm.

Claire Goode, is to be full time Assistant Curate to the South Notts Cluster of Parishes. She will be based in East Leake and Gotham as the two biggest villages but will have a curacy over the 12 parishes in the Cluster. Claire is still in the middle of her training and will join us in the summer. Her ordination will be announced when it is known.

Father John Kyne (RC Priest) is to take up a new appointment in Lincoln. His last Sunday will be on 27th January at Our Lady's, East Leake. His successor will Father Peter Vellacott.

A successful evening of Advent Magic was held in in St Mary's Hall in December for the families and members of the Youth groups organised by our Youth Worker, Lydia. Entertainment was provided by professional comedian, magician and a Christian, John Archer who has appeared on television. The evening concluded with a buffet and Christmas songs.

If anyone is interested in finding out what Lydia and her groups have to offer, please see St Mary's website: www.stmarys-eastleake.org.uk/ or notices are on St Mary's main board outside the church. These are especially for secondary school young people.

A time for being entertained and a time to be quiet and still.

Trio Musicale gave us a wonderful insight into the role of women in opera from the 17th-20th century on Saturday night. They treated us to examples of all kinds of opera - some well known and some not so well known, first explaining the story of the opera and its history, and the character singing. The church acoustics proved to be a wonderful facility for their beautiful voices. Approximately 85 people attended and thoroughly enjoyed the concert and refreshments in the interval.

If you would like to join us for our next concert, please put Saturday, 27th September for 'Music of the Night' in your diaries. Further details to follow.

The first of 'The Quiet Hour' is being held in church today, Monday, 21st Jan. for those who want to just stop and be still. It begins at 2.00 pm with a cup of tea, followed by a quiet hour at 2.30-3.30 pm. You can leave when you like - no talking is required. However, if you feel the need to speak to someone, there will be someone to listen in a separate area.

Have you got your tickets for Trio Musicale?

If you haven't got your tickets yet for the concert tomorrow, Saturday, 19th January for Trio Musicale at 7.30pm, you can purchase them 'at the door' if you come a little early. See you there!

'Back to church Sunday' & 'Opera Unmasked'

It was good to welcome so many in the congregation in our 'Back to Church Sunday' services yesterday, and to worship in a new seating layout facing the north wall, which felt very different. There was also an opportunity for those returning, to share refreshments and to see the new facilities.

The seating will be returned to a more traditional layout following our first concert on Saturday, 19th January of 'Opera Unmasked' by the professional group, Trio Musicale. Tickets have been selling steadily, so if you would like to be musically entertained this Saturday, please contact R Barrow - 01509 856202. Refreshments will be available. We look forward to seeing you there.

Christingle service.

If you've never seen or heard of a Christingle, it's a symbol of the love of Jesus and what Christmas means, and the service brings families and friends of all ages together into the church.

The candle is Jesus Christ, the Light of the world; the orange is the world; the red ribbon is the blood or love of Christ; the sweets and dried fruits on sticks are the fruits of the earth and the four seasons.

Over 40 children and their families attended the service last Sunday at St Mary's and experimented with the new layout. The service was held in an oval, while the Christingles were made in the adjacent Lady Chapel area by all those attending.

Monday, 7th January - Christingle and 'Back to Church Sunday'

On yesterday's sunny afternoon, the church was filled with young children, babies and their parents who had come to St Mary's for the annual Christingle Service, which is always held during the Christmas Season and to make their own Christingle. This year it was held at Epiphany, when we remember the Wise Men who came seeking the baby Jesus.

Further details to follow.

Haven't been to church lately? Don't forget that this Sunday is 'Back to Church Sunday'!
This event took place at churches across the country during our re-ordering, so St Mary's is having it next Sunday, 13th January at 9.30am and there will be tea and cakes at 5.00pm. There is always tea and biscuits after the 9.30am service too.

Come and have a look around, make some new friends, or even meet up with some old ones.
If you haven't been for a while, or would like to come for the first time, consider this a personal invitation to come and join us. You will find St Mary's interior has changed, but the welcome hasn't. If you need transport, let us know and we'll bring you!

Happy New Year, Tuesday, January 1st 2008!

We are looking forward to welcoming you all to St Mary's in 2008, and wish you a very Happy, Blessed New Year.