The APCM is an important moment in our church year — a chance for us to look back with gratitude, hear updates on our ministry, mission, and finances, and look ahead to the year to come. It’s also a valuable opportunity for parishioners to share in the life and direction of our church community.You are very warmly invited to attend.The annual accounts and reports are available under the APCM tab if you would like to read them beforehand.We would be delighted to see you there.With every blessing, St Mary’s Church, Leigh
Our Church is a community of people who worship and meet in important buildings. These need ongoing attention to maintain them for our worship and fellowship. While large and complex tasks must be undertaken by professionals, there are many other aspects of Church life that can and should be done by volunteers.Volunteers are such a wonderful resource for our church and are so valued in whatever role they undertake. This could include joining the cleaning rota (or St. James’ Guild) where teams of one, two or three keep the Church swept and dusted on a weekly basis. Obviously, the more people available means that cleaning duties could occur perhaps every other month. All our services are welcoming and inclusive, whether the Family Service or our traditional services/communion. Would you consider welcoming visitors or our services in the first instance? Perhaps you would like to read a lesson at our regular services, or maybe leading prayers? Or maybe your skills lie in areas of social media, marketing and/or websites. This might lead on to fund raising or community events. All these are suggestions and the team at St. Mary’s would be happy to talk to you about any of these or other ideas you may have for some level of involvement. If you are new to Leigh and are looking for some social activities, we have community groups such as Totzone, Strollers & Striders, flower arranging, Home Groups and a monthly Film Club. Details of all these events are in this monthly Parish Magazine so please come and say Hello and see what we do - you would be most welcome. Why not just come to Coffee Stop between 10 and 12 noon on a Wednesday morning in the Genner Rooms - attached to the Church - for coffee, cake and a chat without any pressure to do anything other be social! For more information, contact Gill Bennie, our office administrator. Tel: 07485 445716 Email: admin @stmaryschurchleigh.org
WARDEN’S BRIEF What does Easter mean to you? One of the exercises in the course “ Hearing God’s Word”, which we hosted in the Genner Rooms, was to tell a well-known bible story from the perspective of one of the lesser characters. Which of the characters in the Easter story do you most identify with; perhaps Judas, Peter, Thomas, Pilate, the thieves executed with Jesus, Simon from Cyrene, the soldiers, the crowd, Barabbas or another? Some part of these characters is in every one of us.Easter is almost with us now, starting with Palm Sunday on 29th March 9.25am outside Jessica's Hall - Rev Fiona hopes this will be with a donkey! Tenebrae Service on Maundy Thursday 6.30pm in the Genner RoomWalk of Witness on Good Friday 10am on the greenEaster Egg Hunt on Holy Saturday 10.30am outside Jessica's HallEaster Day Services an 8am BCP with Revd. Ray Skinner and our 9.30 Choir Service and Holy Communion with Revd. Richard Arding. This is an opportunity for us to thank the Rev'ds Fiona Haskett, Ray Skinner and Richard Arding for everything they have done and continue to do for St. Mary's. We are truly blessed to have them give so generously of their time and support to everything as we try to maintain a service structure for everyone here in the village. We also look forward to hearing from Chris, Helen and Madeleine along with Roy, Richard & Linda who will be leading Worship Services now we have completed the courses mentioned above. Do remember if you can’t get to the Church services on 2nd and 4th Sundays are live streamed and recorded. Just search YouTube for “St Mary’s Leigh Tonbridge” and why not follow us too? We will have the School pupils in Key Stage 1 and 2 having services in the Church, and we welcome them and their parents and staff. These will be on the 1st and 2nd April at 2pm.The APCM will e held on Monday 13th April in the church. This is your opportunity to come and hear what the PCC has been doing over the past year, ask questions and if necessary vote on new members or the coming year. We will also thank Linda as she steps down as Churchwarden. We are still looking or a new Churchwarden and deputy Churchwardens. Our intention is that deputy Churchwardens will be responsible or the smooth running of services in the Church. We have some volunteers already but could do with another for the 9.30am services to share the workload. We also need someone to co-ordinate the Churchyard working party - which meets on the last Saturday of each month from March to October to help clear and tidy the Churchyard. This person will encourage volunteers to come along and prioritise the tasks that need to be done. Despite not having raised all the funds yet the PCC agreed to proceed with the repairs needed to the tower so expect to see this scaffolded during April. Are you one of the 18 people we need to donate 1000 each to pay or this work? Last month we were surprised to find a family carrying out a DIY interment of ashes in the churchyard. The spreading or placing of ashes and memorials must be authorised in accordance with church law. If you know of anyone how would like a baptism, confirmation, wedding, funeral or placing of ashes in our church please contact Gill Bennie admin@stmarys-leigh.org or the Church wardens. We are delighted to encourage everyone to make greater use of the church, if you have any ideas do ask. Last month, our church became the setting for a school film project. Richard & Linda
