Wedding Fayre today

Today, Saturday 28th February is St Mary's Wedding Fayre, supported by our local businesses in East Leake. Why not come along to the church, have a look around, talk to the businesses, our Rector and have a cup of tea? It opens at 10.30am until 3.30pm.

Shrove Tuesday & the beginning of Lent

Today is Shrove Tuesday. The name derives from 'shriving' or confessing ones sins and being given absolution for them. This means all the pain and guilt is forgiven. The day is also a day of celebration, the last day of feasting before abstaining or fasting during the 40 days of Lent. This is why all the rich foods in the home are used up e.g. milk and eggs in pancakes. Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday is the regular service of Holy Communion at 10.00am, which will include the imposition of ashes, i.e. the marking on the communicant's forehead with a cross of ash to represent mortality and penitence. The ashes are made from burning the palm crosses used for Palm Sunday the previous year. The same evening, there will be a Cluster Service of Holy Communion at Gotham Church at 7.30pm.

Other events this week are:

• Acorns will be meeting in St Mary's Hall on Tuesday at 1.30pm
• Churches Together Banner Group meet at the Catholic Church at 1.30pm
• Confirmation - you are invited to the Rectory for more information and a pancake at 7.30pm!
• Friday 27th, 10.00-12noon - Coffee Morning in church. We have a lively group who come for refreshments and enjoy putting the world to rights! Come and join us.
• Saturday, 28th, 9.00am - Prayer group. Everyone is welcome.
• DON'T FORGET! St Mary's Wedding Fayre, Friday 28th Feb. 10.30am-3.30pm in church.

Baptisms and Weddings!

This Sunday we look forward to welcoming the families and celebrating two more baptisms! There must be Spring in the air.

It is also the time of year for Wedding Fayres. St Mary's will hold their first Wedding Fayre next Saturday, 28th Feb. from 10.30am-3.30pm in the church. This is an opportunity to consider a church wedding and ask about the music, bells, flowers etc. The Rector will be on hand for individual discussions. Many local businesses will be exhibiting including: photography, flowers, catering, hats, dresses, etc.

Next week is Shrove Tuesday, 24th Feb. - don't forget your pancakes and consider carefully what you will giving up for Lent!

Ash Wednesday, 25th Feb., is the first day of Lent ending with Maundy Thursday, which marks off Lent as a penitential time. There will be the usual 10.00am Holy Communion service with the invitation to receive the imposition of ashes. Traditionally, this is an external mark of penitence.

Half Term

The snow has gone and all the children are on Half Term holidays from school this week, so there are no Uniformed Organisations meeting in the Hall.

N.B. Please note that due to construction work, the Weightwatchers class, usually held at East Leake Methodist Church will be held at St Mary's Hall on Tuesday, 17th Feb. at 9.00am.

Over the weekend some of the members of Sunday Sanctuary attended 'Soul Sista', an all girl's conference organised by Soul Survivor, a Christian organisation that arranges events for young people.

Tuesday, 17th Feb. there will be a special peal of bells at St Mary's in memory of Ruth Curtis at 6.00pm.

Wednesday, 18th Feb will be the last session of 'Open your Bible' following 10.00am Holy Communion.

Love one another as He has loved us.

Today is Valentine's Day! No matter what the confusing history of Valentine is, the Day celebrates what Jesus taught us - to love one another. Take the time to tell those you love and care for, because sometimes it needs to be said, and not assumed.

As we get closer to Easter, we learn just how much God loves us all.

Lent details. The times and dates of the 'York Course' for Lent plus Reflective Worship at our Churches Together in Leake, can now be found on leaflets found at the back of church and on our website. Please pick one up tomorrow or during the week.

Monday, 16th Feb. at 8.00pm - St Mary's Church. St Mary's Women's Group will welcome Dr Colin Hyde from The Christian Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, on the Indian Pakistan border. Please note that the meeting is in the church and not the Hall this month.

We want to hear from YOU!

LENT

Planning is taking place for Lent and during this time, the Rector would like to hear from you about your thoughts and ideas on worship; what we already do and what you might like to see instead.

Now is your chance to put forward your thoughts, both pro and con, using the short Questionnaire at the back of church. If you haven't had a copy, please ask for one. Your thoughts and ideas are important to help our church grow and welcome others.

There will be plenty of opportunities to attend meetings during Lent in East Leake at our local Churches Together members' churches and around the S Notts. Cluster of churches. Details will be put on this blog and on our website closer to the time.

At St Mary's, services for Lent will start with the 10.00am celebration of Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday, 25th February. You are invited to join in a Cluster Service of Holy Communion at Gotham Parish Church that evening too.

Electoral Rolls Annual PCC meetings will be held in March and April (St Mary's is on 20th April) and the Electoral Rolls are being brought up-to-date before these meetings. If you attend services regularly in one of our Benefice churches and are not on the roll, please ask at your church for an application form.

Willersley Castle, Derbyshire. Bookings are now being taken for the weekend Fri 29th - Sun. 31st Jan. 2010. You can pick up a leaflet at the back of church and sign up to go. Costs will be £110 per adult (all inclusive) with reductions for children. A deposit of £10, payable to PCC East Leake is requested by Sunday 22nd March.

There are spaces for about 75, so sign up soon. This is a very popular weekend in a beautiful, warm and comfortable setting (and the food.... well it's so good you'll have to come and see for yourself). There is plenty to do, or not, as you choose.

Coffee, tea and biscuits and a chat.

In spite of the snowy weather, there were approximately ten people at the first Coffee morning in St Mary's church this morning. The chance to sit and chat in the warmth and the coffee, tea and biscuits, were very welcome on such a cold day. Please note that the following event is still on! Sat. 7th Feb. 7.30pm - Quiz Night, West Leake Village Hall. Tickets £5, refreshments available.

Cancellations due to bad weather!

Cancellations. If you are unsure if your group or meeting is going ahead during this snowy weather, please contact your leader by phone, rather than risk finding it cancelled. If you do not know their number you can contact Pat on 820094.

If leaders notify us in time, it can be placed on the Church and Church Hall Calendars on-line (see the link on the right) and this blog.

We look forward this weekend to having another Baptism at our 9.30am service on Sunday morning, and welcoming the extended family and friends, of the family and new baby in our congregation.

Candlemas Day

Today, February 2nd is known as Candlemas Day - it is half way through the winter season and marks the end of the season of Epiphany. There have been many traditions, some pagan, but yesterday, St Mary's commemorated the traditional presentation of baby Jesus in the Temple. If you are passing St Mary's Church on Friday morning, and it's been a long walk from the shops or home, why not call in to the first of our weekly Coffee Mornings, between 10.00-12noon. Everyone is welcome. The Mothers' Union will welcome Sue Banks, an ex Diocesan President to give a talk based on this year's theme 'The Cost of Relationships' on Monday, Feb 9th at 2.15pm. February 7-14th is National Marriage week and St Mary's will be holding a special event - a Wedding Fayre on Feb 28th 10.30am-3.30pm. If you're in Rempstone on Sunday 8th Feb 2.00-4.00pm, the Village Hall will be open to all children aged 12 and under, for activities, games, songs and food.