ST MARY’S PEWS NEWS

A first for St Mary’s Church was a visit by Laura McAdam at our Family Service last month. Laura is Christian Aid’s Regional Coordinator for Devon and Plymouth. We used this as an opportunity to ‘bump start’ our main effort during Christian Aid week this month (13th to 19th May). Laura amused us with her experiences of living on £1 per day for 5 days (£1 per day is all that 1.4 billion people have to live by). This is a challenge you might like to consider signing up to if you are quick! Details may be found at www.livebelowtheline.org.uk/christianaid. The focus for 2012 is Sierra Leone. To this end a special Christian Aid event presented by Jeanne Kamara is to take place at the Barnstaple Hotel on 15th May from 7.30 pm. Jeanne is the country manager for Sierra Leone (contact Christian Aid South West Team on 01395 222304). See below for details of Christian Aid Week collections this month.

On Sunday the 22nd of April we were joined by Mac Bridger the director of Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT). He gave us a very interesting if not sobering look at what his charity does and how it supports people in our local community.

CHAT does lots of different things and has several areas it can help but puts a lot of work into homelessness prevention this includes having access to experts who can help people who are struggling get control of their finances. CHAT also has a food store (not a bank) that they help people who can't afford to feed themselves, the difference between a store and a bank is that CHAT help people so they don't need to come back time after time to the food store.

This is an idea that St Mary’s is going to support as at each family service (next one is Sunday 20th May) there will be a box available for people to leave goods for the food Store. This could be food but it could also be home or personal cleaning products as these are equally needed.

Listening to Mac this is an increasing issue within our community and is not just an urban issue and so deserves our support. See also their web site http://www.chatmid.org/ for much more detail on their good work.

Mary Vearncombe, our senior Churchwarden, organised a very successful ‘Mile of Coins’ on Easter Monday inside St Mary’s, as it was wet and cold outside. One family brought a tin of coins worth £20! In all including Mary’s generous donation of doubling the proceeds taken on the day and earlier, a total of £222.00 was raised for St Mary’s.

A special day for Years 5 & 6 is Ascension Day on Thursday 17th. We offer a simple form of Communion Service to both classes and anyone who has the inclination to attend at 2.30 pm. This service helps to explain the importance of the sacrament of Holy Communion in the Christian tradition following which Year 6 get the opportunity of ascending the stairs to the top of the tower.

The PCC meets on Friday 3rd May at 7.30 pm in the Parish Rooms.

Thom Thompson

Detail of St Mary’s Sunday Services for May 2012

with principal readings (Year B Lectionary)