The North Chilterns Group AGM will be on Tuesday 12th June at The Old Hunters Lodge, Whipsnade.

The meeting will take a look at the many activities of the NCG over the past 12 months as well as plans for the coming year.

Refreshments and a warm welcome from 7.30pm, please advise Chris Banks if you will be attending.

DIAMOND JUBILEE
CELEBRATION SERVICE

St Mary's, Eaton Bray

Sunday 3^rd June at 10.00am Come and celebrate this unique day with us.

Prayer for the Queen

God of time and eternity,
whose Son reigns as servant, not master;
we give you thanks and praise
that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories
with ELIZABETH,
our beloved and glorious Queen.
In this year of Jubilee,
grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace
as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord and God
and in devoted service to her lands and peoples,
and those of the Commonwealth,
now and all the days of her life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

We are looking for local acoustic musicians to take part in the Music Festival which is again to be a part of the St Mary's Open Gardens Day on Sunday 13 June 2012.

There will be a PA system and keyboard provided if necessary. All music must be live - no backing tracks allowed!

If you would like to be considered for a half hour slot, please contact Barbara Morton.

A welcome was extended to members and a new member at the monthly meeting on Wednesday 11th April. There were birthday cards for Linda Potton, Peggy Beerton, Jean Thorne, Gillian Hunter and Celia French. Deirdrea commented on the excellent presentation given at last month's meeting by Maggie Lines on reflexology and gave details of forthcoming events which include a corporate Communion at 10.00am on the last Wednesday of every month in St.Mary's Church for those who wish to attend:

• Saturday 5th May Guild Coffee Morning at St.Mary's Church 10-12.
• Wednesday 9th May 2pm – Guild Jubilee Street Party in Church with bring and share tea. Speaker Christine Farrington "Royal Reflections".
• Thursday 7th June 3.30pm Cream tea, at World's End.
• Wednesday 22nd August – Guild outing to Henley, cost £16.

Devotions were led by Christine.

Deardrea introduced Hilary Percival who gave a very interesting talk on her Nursing career. This covered her time as a Student nurse to her voluntary retirement as a Sister. This included some very humorous experiences together with the very tiring events on the wards and in clinics dealing with patients and sometimes irate Consultants.

June thanked Maggie on behalf of members.

After the closing prayer it was time for members to socialise and enjoy refreshments and the raffle was drawn.

Christian Aid Week: 13-19 May 2012

Let's give the tools to help people in poverty out of poverty Christian Aid Week this year tells the story of a community in Sierra Leone that has seen remarkable change. Tenneh Keimbay's life turned around when the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone started to work in her town, distributing tools and teaching farmers simple food production techniques. She talks enthusiastically about the difference this has made: 'Now the children eat two meals a day all year round, whereas before it was one. They are growing well; they don't cry around me because of hunger. They are happy to go to school because something is in their stomach.'

Continue reading the May 2012 Vicar's Letter.

The family of St Mary's is very sad to announce the death of Tom Heffer, whom we all knew as a dear friend, a compassionate man and truly spiritual priest.  The strength of his passion for his work for the Mission to Seafarers of which he was Secretary General,  was so clear to us all.  He gave a wonderful example of Christianity in practice, showing Christian love to all around him and striving for social justice for the oppressed. 

Please pray for Roz, Abi, Sheila and John and for their wider family and friends with whom we grieve at this time.

Tom's funeral is on Wednesday 9 May 2012 at 1pm in Norwich Cathedral.

Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For as by man came death:
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15.20-22

Please see The Mission to Seafarers for more information.