Holy Week

As we approach Easter, St Mary's is celebrating with a service and the Seder meal, as a representation of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday at 7.00pm.

Services for Easter weekend are:

Good Friday:

10.00am Family Service

2.00-3.00pm - Hour at the Cross

8.00pm - Churches Together at the Methodist Church

Good Friday Walk around the Benefice. Bring a packed lunch and probably your waterproofs given our changeable weather!

Holy Saturday

8.00pm Vigil at Holy Cross Convent, Rempstone.

Easter Day

8.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's

9.30am Parish Communion.

Our prayers are with Revd Claire, who is working under supervision from Revd Steve Osman in preparation for leading the Gotham group during the forthcoming vacancy.

We also wish Lydia Todd good luck for her future and those who are continuing the Youth Work.

We also pray for Revds David and Janet Gorick. David has been in hospital recently and is recovering slowly.

DID YOU KNOW...........

"as a church we face an imminent financial crisis. Reserves will be totally exhausted by the end of the year - 2010 - and without significant additional income we will have no choice but to reduce ministry, direct costs of which represent approximately 75% of total expenditure." re: Treasurer's review in the Annual Report Year ending December 2009

• Ministry costs are the contribution the church makes to the Diocese for the clergy and their housing.
• We also pay the day to day costs of our clergy carrying out their duties in the parish of East Leake, duties and services for which we are all very grateful whether on a regular basis or occasionally, in our lives.
• Without sufficient finances, St Mary's Parish Church will be unable to fulfil its Mission to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to others.

Please think about how we might strengthen the financial basis of the church and how you can help in doing so. For further information, come to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on Monday 12th April, 7.30pm in church.

Remember that if you want to have a say and vote at the meeting you must be registered on the Church Electoral Roll - forms in church.

News update!

David and Dawn Curran write to us again to tell us of a double suicide bomb attack in Lahore this morning, one kilometer from where they live. They are all fine and unaffected but it was a bad attack targeting Friday prayers at the mosque and in a crowded bazaar. They ask that we remember those affected in our prayers and pray for peace to reign in Pakistan.

Easter programme

Please note the remaining Lent Services and that all Easter Services are listed on our website. See the link on the right. We hope to welcome everyone to the special Mothering Day Sunday Service at 9.30am. The following week on Sunday, 21st March will also be a special service at St Mary's by the young people of the S. Notts. Cluster of Anglican Churches to say goodbye to Lydia, our Youth Worker, followed by refreshments. Other special events can be viewed on the Events in March page on the website.

Your prayers are needed.

David and Dawn Curran have let us know that they are all fine and unaffected, following a large explosion in Lahore, which is thought to have been a car bomb targeting the Pakistani Intelligence Service. It was a good number of miles away but sounded very close. They ask that we pray for those who have been affected and lost loved ones. We also pray for David, Dawn and their young family of Faye, Sian and Boaz. Coming up this week:

• Mothers Union meets in the church this afternoon, Monday at 2.15pm
• Acorns meet in the Hall on Tuesday, 9th March at 1.30pm
• Churches Together Banner Group meet in the Catholic Church at 2.00pm on Tuesday.
• Churches Together Lent Worship meets in the Catholic Church at 7.30pm, also on Tuesday
• Churchyard teams made a good start on the Churchyard last Saturday and will be meeting again next Saturday morning about 9.30am. All helpers very welcome.
• Don't Forget! It's Mothering Sunday this Sunday too. St Mary's will be having a special service for them of course at 9.30am.

Important Health meeting.

There will be an opportunity for both men and women to find out more about Prostate Cancer Awareness on Monday, 8th March at St Mary's Hall. The meeting will start at 8.15pm, following the Brownies session and Chris Forde will take your questions.

Feel free to come and discover more about this important health issue.

Tonight, there is a Service for the Women's World Day of Prayer at the Baptist Church at 7.30pm. Come and join the Churches Together of East Leake.

No doubt many of you will have seen our new Bishop, Paul at his investiture on the TV recently. Now is your chance to attend a service open to all at St Ann's Nottingham to welcome him on Sunday 7th at 4.00pm.

A reminder for members of St Mary's PCC, Monday 8th March is the next meeting at 7.30pm in church.

St David's Day

Today is St David's Day and is being celebrated in Wales, being their patron saint. He was a monk, abbot and bishop who helped spread Christianity throughout the pagan Celtic tribes in western Britain. Thankfully, we don't have to live such a frugal life as he did to spread the Word ourselves. Unfortunately, we won't be seeing the daffodils at St Mary's for several weeks yet, due to our extremely cold winter this year. A big thank you to all those who helped raise £235 towards church funds from the Celebrations and Wedding Fair recently. Events this week are:

• Christian Aid Lunch on Wed. 3rd at 12noon - contact Judith.
• Cubs are visiting the church on Thursday 4th at 6.30pm.
• Abbot Club are meeting at the Nag's Head the same day at 8.00pm.
• Coffee Morning on Friday 5th at 10.00am.
• Women's World Day of Prayer will be celebrated at the Baptist Church, East Leake on Friday 5th March at 7.30pm.

Hopefully, the weather will hold and all the Churchyard teams will be meeting on Saturday at 9.30am to start work on the Churchyard. New members are most welcome as we're all getting older!