News relating to St Mary's Church, Eaton Bray.

News Archive

St Mary's Eaton Bray: November 2006

Dagnall Church Extension

The congregations at Dagnall invite members of St Mary's to join at the Dedication of the extension to All Saints' Church on Saturday, 16 December at 2.30pm.

Confirmation Preparation

Confirmation Preparation will begin early in the New Year - anyone interested is asked to let the Vicar know as soon as possible.

St Mary's Parochial Church Council Meeting, 9th November 2006

Lunch Club: Eighteen people attended the first St Mary's lunch club on 17th September and a very positive response has been received. The next lunch will be on Sunday, November 19th; it is planned in the near future to issue invitations to people outside St Mary's congregation.

Eaton Bray Hall: Ways in which the PCC could support Eaton Bray Village Hall by continuing to discount the rent were discussed.

Leaves: Quotations were received for collecting and bagging the leaves from the many trees in the churchyard.

Christmas: It has been decided this year, to hold an "After Christmas Party" for Sunday School children as the pre-Christmas period is so busy with activities.

All Souls Day: This service was very well attended with over 70 worshippers and many people made appreciative comments.

Harvest arrangements: Attendance at the Harvest Lunch has been declining in recent years. It was thought that a new format should be considered; a Harvest Supper the previous evening with barn dance will be considered for next year.

Parish Project 2007: As usual, the PCC will invite the congregation to nominate charities to be considered for support in 2007. As this year's project is overseas, next year's will be a UK based charity.

Church Trails: Thanks were expressed to Barbara Marriage who for the last 3 years has organised St Mary's participation in the Church Trails project; this has included music, tours, records and photos and a very successful Jazz evening. A successor is being sought to organise next year's events.

All Saints Dagnall: We were pleased to hear that the new building is nearing completion; the dedication service will be at 2.30pm on December 16th.

Church Mouse

Christmas fayre at St Mary's

St Mary's Christmas Fayre takes place this Saturday, November 18, between midday and 2pm at Eaton Bray Village Hall, Church Lane.

There is a 50p admission fee which includes a cup of tea or coffee or a soft drink. Ploughmans' lunches will be available. Stalls will include the chocolate tombola, raffle, cake stall, crafts stall, good-as-new toy stall and others.

The proceeds from the fayre will be shared between the St Mary's Roof Fund and the Kagando Hospital Appeal.

Front Row

Front Row are performing Peter Gordon's comedy "Third Week in August" on Thursday 23rd to Satruday 25th November at 8.00pm in the Village Hall.

This hilarious play is set in a holiday caravan site and all the characters and events will be instantly recognised by anyone who's ever been camping!

Tickets are available at £6 from the Box Office on 01525 222283.

For full details, please see Front Row Present: Third Week In August.

Travelling Crib

The rota for the Travelling Crib is on the notice board. Please try to find time to welcome Mary and Joseph into your homes this Advent.

Christmas Services

As a result of the preferences expressed over the past two Sundays, it has been decided that there will be an 8.00am service on Sunday 24th December (4th Sunday of Advent) but not on Christmas Morning.

It is hoped that those who would normally have worshipped at 8.00 on Christmas morning will be able to attend either the Midnight Mass or the 10.00 service (or else the 9.00 service at Dagnall).

For full details of services over the Christmas period, please see Christmas Services at St Mary's, Eaton Bray.

Becca's letter from Uganda - November 2006

I want to say to the readers of Focus "Thank you so very much". We have received a cheque for £2,000 from St Mary's Eaton Bray raised through various events, including the Open Gardens in June and, as a result, we are purchasing two vital pieces of equipment - a pulse oximeter and a blood pressure monitor.

Continue reading this month's Letter from Uganda.

Ashton Middle School

Parents who may be considering applying for places at Ashton Middle School in future years are advised that the Governors of the School have revised their definition of practising members of the Church of England.

In future they will require to be assured that those claiming preferential consideration in the admissions procedure have attended public worship on at least one Sunday each calendar month during the twelve months preceding the application. This will apply for admissions in September 2008, for which application has to be made by 1 November 2007. In order to qualify, therefore, parents must be able to show that their qualifying attendance covers each month from November 2006 (i.e. from now).

As in previous years, the local clergy will countersign such applications only when given documentary proof that the Governors' requirements have been satisfied, and anyone who will be making such an application should ask for an attendance card at the church, and ensure that they have it signed by the Vicar or a Churchwarden each time they attend.

I want to make it clear that, because being a practising member of the Church of England confers such a significant advantage in the admissions procedure, I shall decline to sign any application given to me without clear proof that the Governors' conditions have been fulfilled - I cannot reasonably be expected to remember everyone's pattern of church attendance over the space of a year.

MALCOLM E. GRANT (Vicar)

Remembrance Sunday

Next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday - The Sung Eucharist will begin at 9.30am and the Parish Act of Remembrance will take place at Eaton Bray War Memorial at 10.50am.

Music Group

We want to reconstitute the Young People's Music Group to help in our worship, so would all those who would like to be included speak to Katrina Grant as soon as possible.

Church Diaries

Church diaries for 2007 are now available. They are free, so pleas take one - but we ask you to put an appropriate donation in the jar for Kagando Hospital for each diary.

The jar is available every Sunday for anyone who wishes to make a donation to this year's Parish Project.

Vicar's Letter - November 2006

Again we come round to November, the month of Remembrance. On All Souls' Day (2 November) the Church gathers to remember the faithful departed, and the families of all those whose funerals have been conducted by the clergy of this parish in the past year have been invited to our special Requiem Eucharist at 8.00pm on that day. We shall be delighted to welcome anyone who wishes to come and remember a loved one and to join in our prayers.

Continue reading this month's Vicar's Letter.

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Church of St Mary the Virgin, Eaton Bray with Edlesborough