Church Hill Area – Parking Restrictions and Traffic Management

From 12.30pm on Sunday 8th February, there will be limited (and perhaps no) parking on Church Hill between the School and the start of the ‘D’ pull-in outside the Old Rectory. Cars may park in the D, but must not block access to the house.

The works are expected to continue well into March. Temporary traffic lights will be in place from lunchtime on 8th February and will move as work progresses up the hill.

Work will also take place on Church Lane at some point during this period.

We appreciate this will be inconvenient, but the work is important needs to be carried out. Thank you for your patience.

St Mary's will not be open for private prayer today, unfortunately.
The Church will reopen on Wednesday, 4th March, for our 10.30am service of Holy Communion.

St Mary's is open for private prayer everyday from 9.30 am to 4.00pm, except when there is a service or event in the Church.

This is a shorter (said) version of a Eucharist service, without the hymns or a sermon.

St Mary's has an enthusiastic robed choir who lead the congregation in worship, accompanied by the organ.

They also perform anthems for special services, and are particularly busy over Easter and Christmas, with both Advent and Christmas carol services.

Choir practice is in St Mary's Church on Wednesdays at 7:00pm. Newcomers, ideally with a basic ability to read music, are always welcome.

Find out more from Angela North

A service of Holy Communion which usually includes a sermon and four hymns. The term "Sung" means that, in addition to the hymns, some parts of the service are sung by the congregation. The words and music are in the service booklet and are easy to sing!

Evensong is a service that’s traditionally held - as the name suggests - in the evening, marking the passing of another day in faith. It’s fairly short, usually around 40 minutes, and features choral music, readings and prayers.

For more information, contact Sue.
https://plumtree.church/profile/sue-manley

Today we give thanks for our Mums and those who nurture, care and inspire. Do bring something along to the service which makes you think of your Mum. During today's service a small posy of flowers will be presented to all women in our congregation.

This service is taken from the Book of Common Prayer and includes hymns, a sermon and Holy Communion.

Our morning service on 22nd March will take the form of a devotion for congregation and choir. In format, the service will be a little like a 9 lessons and carols, but with the focus on the period of and before the crucifixion.

There will be a mix of well-known congregational favourite hymns, a number of choir anthems, scripture readings and prayers and will provide for a reflective start to the Passion and Palm leading up through Holy week into Easter.

In the Lenten season, Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday.
This Sunday observes Jesus's triumphant and joyful entrance into Jerusalem, marked by jubilant crowds waving palm branches, which symbolize victory over sin, peace, and eternal life.
(see Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19).
The choir hold palm branches as they process into the chancel.
The Gospel of the Passion will be read.

Because Thursday night of Holy Week corresponds to the Last Supper, it includes Jesus saying, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” This is the night of that New Commandment, in other words, it is New Commandment Thursday. The word 'Maundy' is derived from 'Commandment'.

A quiet time of reflection. Drop in and out at any time during this hour to listen to devotional music.

A service of hymns, readings, prayer and reflection on Jesus's last hour.

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate because Jesus died for our sins and then rose again.
Throughout Lent, St Mary's is kept stark and bare but on Easter Sunday, the church is decorated with flowers and the sombre purple of Lent is replaced with celebratory white or gold.
There is a joyful feel to our Easter Sunday service with uplifting music and repeated alleluias (an exclamation of joyful praise).

Please note that there will be
NO EVENING SERVICE ON EASTER DAY.

“ The Ancient Ways”

What were the roots and beginnings of our faith?
What kind of culture did Abraham leave behind?
From what background did the Wise Men come?

Join us as we explore the most ancient civilisations of the Bible.
We’ll build a moon pyramid, investigate the food and
the languages of those times, research their medicines and
finish with singing and storytelling by the fire.
If we’re lucky, the moon and the stars will be out
We invite you to wear something RED
Warm clothing and sensible footwear (not your best outfit).