Dear Friends

I hope that you have had a good summer and that if you have been on holiday you are back and refreshed.

September brings us back to normal with the school holidays over. After relaxing over the summer we move up a gear. September sees our Sunday School (S. Mary's Club) back under the new leadership of Suzy Vernon and Tatiana with an Open Day on Sunday morning 11 September 10.15am-11.15am. If you are thinking of sending your child to our Sunday School please come and try this morning. Thanks to Janet Kelly for her work for S. Mary's Club, she continues as our Child Protection officer.

On Sunday 11th September is our Churches Together Ecumenical Service at the Wharf at 10.15am with our guest Preacher the new Archdeacon of Salop The Ven Paul Thomas.

The various Home Communions also resume with Trimpley Court on Monday 5th Sept 11am, Ellesmere House 7th Sept 11.15am and Levi Court Monday 12th Sept 11am and also the Nursing Home.

Our Church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate her birthday on the 8th September as our church's birthday and Patronal Festival. Please do join us at 7.30pm for a Sung Eucharist and refreshments afterwards on this special day for our church.

Last year we had a Stewardship Campaign when we asked everyone to be generous in their giving for the work of the church. Our Treasurer had predicted a large deficit last year but this was ameliorated by your generosity and we balanced the books. This year we are having a Legacy Campaign when we are asking you to remember the Church in your Will. Everyone will soon be getting a letter and a leaflet about this, but please do remember the church when you come to make or remake your Will.

Our church will be open all day on Saturday 10th September for the Churches Cycle Ride. Do come and look round your Parish Church. I am very grateful to Anne Harris and her helpers who kept our Church open on Sunday afternoons in August and served afternoon teas.

Finally our Harvest Supper is on Friday 30th Sept 7.30pm in S. John's Room. Tickets £8. They will be available soon.

My prayers and best wishes,

Fr. Philip Edge - Vicar