1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
I’ve heard it said that as Christians we should exemplify:
Graciousness
Generosity
Gratitude
Well, this week I want to express my gratitude to you, the church of SMB. Throughout this pandemic season, you the church, have shown tremendous graciousness to one another and the community outside our four walls; you have continued to be generous with your time, finances and care of one another; you have continued to encourage the team and those serving over past weeks whilst we try to navigate our way through the fog of 2020.
So, this week, I simply want to say THANK YOU!
Thank you for your graciousness, generosity and gratitude; Thank you to all those who are serving week-in-week-out to make everything we do possible;
Thank you to those who are praying fervently in secret for us and the community;
Thank you to those who continue to give financially;
Thank you for being the bridge for others;
Thank you for holding the line...
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Let’s continue to Be the Bridge, holding the line for each other and the community in our Graciousness, Generosity and Gratitude!
The film tells the story of a boy who rather spends his time indoors playing videogames instead of discovering what’s waiting outside. One day his Mum decides to get a little surprise for her son, which makes it hard for him to concentrate on his video game.
Sunday 15th November
6pm
The Youth and Young People of St Mary's invite you to connect with them
for a virtual service over Zoom.
Connect with us for a 40-minute session led by the youth and young adults of St Mary's. While we cannot meet in the church building we can meet virtually!
Please bring a mug filled with a hot drink to the session.
Supporting our Community this Christmas
St. Mary's is working with 10 local schools to bring hope to their families struggling for Christmas. Let us all as Church family, if we are able, help to spread the Light of Christ.
Are you able to donate a present, or two? (new gifts, no second-hand please)
Can you buy for a Baby? Can you buy for a Girl? Can you buy for a Boy? Can you buy for a Mummy? Can you buy for a Daddy? Can you buy for a Grandparent?
Presents to come already wrapped this year, with a tag attached reading this information:
Who for - Boy/ Girl
If for a child, add age range.
Write what it is.
This will greatly assist us with distributing your gifts amongst the community.
Example: Boy, Aged 6-8 years, Dinosaur Lego
Wrapped gifts need to be ready for between 6th and 12th December. Details of dropoff points and time will be released once the situation in December is clearer.
Please also think about adding to your trolley a few extra items over the next 5 weeks to help provide a family with some support over Christmas.
Are you able to donate:
Boxed stuffing
Gravy granules
Cranberry sauce
Mince pies
Chocolate log
Chocolate coins
Christmas biscuits
Thank you for all your help. Let's work together to bring some light and joy to struggling families this Christmas.
X Maryann
Christian Vision for Men Group
Hi Everybody
My name's Robin Gandy and I am a 59-years-young married Wellbeing Adviser with a heart to reach men for Christ. I attend St Mary's, Bletchley, and David, our Rector, has asked me to write this open letter to you all asking if any men of the church would like to meet up under the umbrella of a CVM group/chapter.
Two years ago I went to a CVM (Christian Vision for Men) Autumn Conference. CVM is a Christian charity devoted to bringing men to Jesus.
This would include all men of Milton Keynes from all of the churches. We could start off with a Zoom meeting and go from there. CVM have got some great resources and ideas in doing men's stuff, their website is cvm.org.uk
They have over 400 partnered men's groups in the UK. The nearest to us would be the Northampton group. I have emailed Paul Gask Regional Director, England (North) about me wanting to start an MK CVM group/chapter.
There are plenty of women's groups out there but very little for the men to be connected to. My hope and prayer would be that it would become a Brotherhood. Things that we could do would be Curry nights, breakfasts and lots of other men stuff.
If you would like to know more my contact details are below,
Robin Gandy ( robingandy47@gmail.com )
Mobile : 07960 988795
Landline : 01908 804607
Facebook : Robin Gandy
LAST CALL FOR ADVENT WINDOWS:
We are still short of the 23 windows we need to do this project.
Thank you to those who have contacted us about this already, and have signed up to take part. We will be contacting you soon with more information.
Please consider if you are able to light up a window for advent.
We hope to have a trail of 23 decorated windows in MK3, with one 'revealed' each day in December leading up to Christmas, finishing with a final display in the churchyard on Christmas Eve. A leaflet will be produced to show where the windows can be found each day and people from the community can visit the locations to see the displays, which will stay up until 3rd January.
Online Vocations Breakfast
Saturday 21st November Led by Rev Catherine Butt, Vocations Advisor for Milton Keynes.
Do you find yourself asking:
How can I serve God's purposes with the gifts I have?
Who can help me find my way?
Now I have committed to following Christ, where is he leading me?
Can I sense a call to leadership or ordination?
Is anyone else asking themselves the same questions?
Then why not sign up to a morning of online workshops, stories, equipping and prayer which may stir your sense of call and will provide space to hear from God.
St Joseph's, Newton Leys, is the pioneer church linked to St Mary's in our parish. It is headed by Rev Ben Thorpe and is currently continuing online. You can follow what they are doing on Facebook here.
A service provide by Oxford Diocese
Giving To St Mary's
In these times when we are unable to meet in the Church building together, your donations are just as important to us as they have always been. Your offerings mean we can continue to serve our community both practically and spiritually, worship, and connect with each other and maintain our buildings ready for when we can open again.
Virtual Church is a real blessing, but it does mean physically making your offering interesting if you make your offering via the collection plate. The Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) has responded to this need and it is now possible to sign up to the scheme over the phone. Please call them on 0333 002 1271, remembering to have to hand St Mary’s Bletchley Parish Code which is 270627709 and know that we are in the Diocese of Oxford. If you would like further information you can have a look on their website https://www.parishgivingscheme.org.uk/for-donors/
Or if you would prefer to make a one-off donation then please email me and I can tell you how to do this. nicky.whitmore@stmarysbletchley.org
Thank you.
