Messy Church!

Messy Church comes to St Mary's Church next week starting on Sunday, September 4th at 4.00pm, in St Mary's Church. It will be held on the first Sunday on the month.For more details see www.messychurch.org.uk  or call Phil or Amanda on 856628 or Cora on 07885 635374.
Messy Church was originally one church's attempt to be church for families who might want to meet Jesus, belong to their local church and bring up their children as Christians but can't cope with traditional Sunday morning church services.

Watch out for notices about all the Harvest Thanksgiving Services going on in September in our Benefice!

Please note! St Mary's is on-line! While Revd Glynis is away some of our services have been changed.  You can check what's on and where on our on-line calendar - see the link on the right of the blog page or on our website. Or come along to the services and keep the pew sheet with details of the following week's services. See you there!

All ready to go!

Many thanks to all those who helped with the Church and Hall Annual Clean last weekend.  The hard work was so much easier with so many volunteers.  We can now enjoy the nice, clean facilities and all will be ready for the start of term which is coming fast.

Last Sunday, we welcomed our Area Dean, Revd Canon John Bentham who will be taking some of our services while Revd Glynis is away on Sabbatical/Study Leave for the next two months.  The service was followed by a very warm, sunny Bring and Share lunch in the Rectory garden enjoyed by approx. 30 members of the Benefice.
We wish Glynis every good wish for a beneficial break away from her very busy schedule, peace and quiet for reflection and study.

Please note:

Sun. 28th Aug, August Bank Holiday weekend services.

There is NO 8.00am Holy Communion,

There will still be: 

9.30am Encounters service and
11.00am Parish Communion.

Special weekend coming up on 20th and 21st August.

Saturday morning, 20th Aug. The Church Big Clean! This Saturday we are calling all volunteers to come and give a little of their time to give the church its annual clean.  If we have sufficient volunteers we would also like to give the Hall its annual clean too.  Please bring your rubber gloves and cleaning equipment.

Sun. 21st Aug. 10.00am. - At the Parish Communion United Service, the preacher will be Revd Canon John Bentham. This will be the last service Revd Glynis conducts before her sabbatical/study leave and we're taking the opportunity to get together. There will be a Bring and Share lunch in the Rectory garden starting at 12 noon.

As usual, if the weather doesn't behave the event will be held in St Mary's Hall.

THANK YOU! A big thank you to all those involved in the Landlubber's Children's Summer Club taking place in St Mary's Church and Hall.  It was the first time that Churches Together had combined efforts to provide the children from the community some fun during the summer holidays.  55 children were registered and had a wonderful time.

Taking care.

Riots. We pray for all those communities affected by the riots, arson and thefts - losing homes, businesses and their calm surroundings.  God wants us to care for each other not destroy everything. May all those involved search their conscience and make amends.


Sunday, 14th Aug. - Worship Together and baptisms.  This Sunday there will be a special Worship Together service including two baptisms.  Come along and welcome the new little ones. 

Annual Clean. Saturday, 20th August. 9.00am -12noon at St Mary's we will be giving the church and the hall their annual clean ready to welcome everyone.  If you can spare a little time we would appreciate all volunteers.  Having clean facilities makes them a safe and welcoming environment and we try to keep them that way.

Mini Music, Fridays 9.30-11.00am. Please note that Mini Music is continuing throughout August.

Fun in the sun!

We're on the second day of the Landlubbers Children's Summer Club at St Mary's and lots of youngsters are having fun in the church and the hall.  This is the first year that Churches Together in East Leake have organised a Summer Club and there has been lots of fun working together.

Petition to include R.E. in the new Baccalaureate  We regret to inform you that the Department for Education confirmed this week that Religious Education will not be included in the new English Baccalaureate for a second year. 

The decision to exclude Religious Education in favour of music, art and IT was made despite a nationwide campaign by Christian groups and objections from some MPs.

In a survey of nearly 2,000 state-maintained secondary schools, it found that a quarter were not providing statutory RE for 14 to 16-year-olds, and it expects this figure to rise. 
This is devastating for a country based on Christian principles and the faith. 
PLEASE write to your MP and ask that they reconsider!  It really is important!

Do you enjoy working on a computer? Then St Mary's 'Compass' needs YOU!
Ann Harris, our hardworking Editor of Compass feels it is time to step down after more years than most of us can remember in the job.
We are looking for one or more people with up-to-date IT skills e.g. Desk Top Publishing and who are creative and imaginative with a few hours to spare, to take over as Editor.
This change of editor offers an opportunity to enhance communications between our churches and our communities, potentially using on-line media as well as paper. 
If you interested in exploring what role you could play, please contact Conrad Oatey asap on 852549 or email: conrad@eastleake.net.