August already!

Before the hot, sunny weather disappears, take a walk and enjoy God's world - the flowers, butterflies and birds. The church is a welcome place to be still and be cool too. You might even find someone there to talk to and become friends.

Our Garden of Rest in the churchyard is a lovely, peaceful place to sit and meditate too.

If you can't get out and about, sit outside in the shade and be still for a while.

Or you might like to call on the Befriending Group and you can have a visitor who will be willing to call and chat. Contact Community Care on 01509 856 202 for details.

Staying home for the Summer? Come and join us.

There are lots of things happening at St Mary's and the other churches in East Leake this summer. The Summer Fayre was a great success at West Leake on Sunday and the weather was sunny, hot and glorious, topped off by Songs of Praise in the evening with the Benefices choir.

The Open Gardens sunny, but windy day in June raised £220 divided between S African AIDS Orphans and the Tearfund's Emanuel project for Calcutta's street children.

There are services every Sunday morning in August at 8.00am and 9.30am (and 6.00pm on 10th Aug). If you're not going away for the Bank Holiday come and join us for the special Cluster Service at 11.00am (instead of 9.30am) & picnic on Sunday, 24th August.

The teams of 'behind the scenes' workers are busy as the bees in your garden planning more events, services and Christian courses.

However, if you're looking for a place to pray or just be, the church is open each day. There is a service of Holy Communion at 10.00am every Wednesday and the 'Lift Off' prayer group which meets each Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Summer Fayre, picnic & camp

This Sunday, West Leake church is having its Summer Fayre and we hope that the weather stays warm and sunny. They will also have a United 'Songs of Praise' service at 6.00pm, which will include the Benefice Choirs. Please go along and give them your support.

The 'Songs of Praise' service in August will be held in Stanford Church on 31st at 6.00pm.

This year's Cluster Event will be on 24th August at 11.00am, when there will be a special service at St Mary's followed by a 'Bring and Share' picnic in the Rectory garden. This event includes members of all the 12 churches in the South Nottinghamshire Cluster and gives everyone an opportunity to meet and greet each other.

Everyone is welcome to these events whether you are a resident or on holiday.

Sat 26th July - Fri 1st Aug NEW WINE – Christian holiday week for all ages, Newark Showground. This weekend our young people are off to the camp. Day visitors are welcome too.

St Mary's Hall continues to be hired for children's parties throughout the summer. Please see our website for details: http://www.stmarys-eastleake.org.uk/
Many of our regular groups do not meet over the summer, so if you would like to make a booking for any event, please call the Booking Secretary on 01509 820094.

The Hall can cater for up to 100 people and is also accessible for those with disabilities.

St Mary's Calendar: If you'd like to see what's going on at St Mary's check out the calender on our website, or go direct from the link on the right.

The Abbot Club Barbecue -3rd July

For its monthly meeting in July, the Abbot Club held a barbecue and invited a group of men from the Gotham Church to join with them. There were about 16 men at the barbecue and they were able to avoid some of the rain we have had recently.

Their special guest was the Rev. Moses from the Southwell Diocese link with the diocese of Natal in South Africa and who is in England for the month of July. Moses shared with them how much he has enjoyed meeting people in our diocese and how the meeting face-to-face is so beneficial. Moses had come to a previous Abbot Club event back in 2006 when he last came to the Diocese and was pleased to see some familiar faces on the evening.

This is the first time that the Abbot Club have met with the Men's group from Gotham and they now plan some more events together in the future. Everyone hopes that Moses enjoys the rest of his time in England with his wife and family.

Summer wedding

Congratulations to Abi and Chris on their marriage. Abi, our choir mistress was married on Saturday, 19th to Chris at All Saints' Church, Sawley. Members of the congregation were invited to the happy event and the weather even managed to be breezy and sunny for such a happy day.

Everyone wishes them both a very happy future together.

End of term - Here comes Summer!

School might have ended but the events and planning for future events goes on. September and October look to be very exciting months, so keep watching.

St Mary's Women's Group will have their Annual Dinner on Monday 21st July at The Oaks in Loughborough.

The Mothers Union July 24th evening meeting will be hosted by St Paul's West Bridgford. Please contact Pauline on 218614 if you would like to go.
West Leake Country Fayre will be held on the 'Green' at 2.00pm on 27th July. Enjoy an English Summer afternoon, preferably without any rain! Any help will be gratefully received at 10.30am to set up the stalls.

Last Sunday, Lydia, Youth Worker for the Cluster gave a short presentation and video on the trip to Uganda last year. Plans are being made to start a young people's service, 'Sunday Sanctuary' at St Mary's on Sunday evenings, for young people from different churches and denominations, starting in September. Keep watch for more information in September's Compass and here on the blog.

If you've passed the park in East Leake on Thursday evenings, 6.30-9.30pm and seen young people gathering, it could be Lydia and some of the young people who meet there informally.

N.B. You can now see our website on www.east-leake.co.uk/stmarys.html including some new features.

Progress on the Bley tomb

Phase I is now completed in the restoration of the 250 yr old Bley Tomb in St Mary's churchyard. The supporting ties for the tomb sides have been replaced, and the reconstruction is finished. The stonework around the tomb has also been refitted where needed and prepared for the new metal railings, including a gate as before. This will complete the second Phase.






The Pet Service was held in St John The Baptist Church, Stanford on Soar on Sunday, by Rev Glynis accompanied by Claire, the new Curate. I wonder if any unusual animals were brought to the service?

Is anyone growing the tallest sunflower or the largest marrow? Stanford children have been given the seeds and are competing against each other. We look forward to hearing in September at a special service who has won.

We wish Abi, our Choirmistress and Chris our best wishes on their marriage on Saturday, 19th at All Saints' Church, Sawley. Let's hope the weather is fine for them.

Summer fun

Approximately 15 toddlers, plus the adults, attended the Acorns' Teddy Bear's Picnic, which was held in St Mary's Hall, instead of the Rectory garden because of the inclement weather. Everyone had lots of fun and so did the teddies, I'm told.

The Big Toddle last week had much better weather and was a beautiful day for toddling around the village. Acorns walked all the way from the Hall, around Brookside School to Potters Lane and back down Salisbury Road to Main St. The money raised for Barnardos is still being counted at this time.

St Mary's Women's Group will be having their Annual Dinner on Monday 21st July at The Oaks in Loughborough. Anyone wishing to go must give their names to Carole on 820598 and return their menu choice before then.
N.B. There is no meeting in August and the first meeting of the new programme will be on 15th September, so please put this in your diary now.

Don't forget it's Rempstone Steam Rally this weekend, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July, all being well. If you have a contribution for the stalls or the Tombola.

See future events in the column on the right.

Ringing the handbells

A BBQ was held in Normanton on Soar on Saturday in aid of church funds and was attended by St Mary's Handbell Ringers. However, there were sunny spells and showers and those who braved the weather were rewarded with burgers, sausages and chicken expertly cooked. The Handbell Ringers played their repertoire, then allowed the audience to participate.
It certainly takes a lot of concentration to be a handbell ringer.

Acorns events

Mothers and toddlers from Acorns - did you go on the 'Big Toddle'? Follow the blog for more information and how much money was raised for Barnados.

And there's more... on Tues 8th July at 1.30pm Acorns will have their annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the Rectory Garden (weather permitting). Don't forget to bring your teddy bear!

Claire's Ordination at Southwell Minster

Many of the congregation attended Claire Goode's Ordination on Sunday, and even the weather was sunny and warm.

It was a great opportunity for everyone to meet Claire and her family.