St Mary Abbots is open for private prayer, Monday - Saturday from 10am - 2pm
and on Sunday from 8 am to 1pm
Please join us for Sunday services in the church HERE
Dear all
We at St Mary Abbots, together with everyone else across the country, eagerly await the newest relaxation of the Covid restrictions from Monday 17th May! It may take a little time for the Church of England to release all their relevant guidelines, once they have seen the full details, but one or two hopeful steps are already known. I am, for example, delighted to announce that from Sunday 23rd, our bellringers are permitted to return (though in the first instance ringing only six, rather than all ten bells) and we shall once again be “summoned by bells” to our worship. We shall let you know as soon as we possibly can about each and every stage of the unlocking, but we are so pleased to welcome many of you back week by week to the church. It was lovely to baptize Jemiah and Oliver during the Eucharist last Sunday, and we are looking forward to our first wedding in the church since the start of Covid, towards the end of June. In response to many hopeful enquiries, I am very pleased and thankful to be able to share with you the news that Simon Fitter, our Head Virger, will be returning to work at St Mary Abbots four days a week from the middle of June. This will also more or less coincide with the arrival of Fr Christopher as our new Associate Vicar on 10th June, so with this renewed capacity in our staff team, together with the possible unlocking of restrictions from 21st June, we hope to be able to resume at least a few more of our traditional services. Whilst we can’t promise to do everything at once, please do let me know if there is a particular service you have been missing. A quick reminder that today (Thursday 13th) is the Feast of the Ascension, and we shall be holding a Holy Eucharist with organist and cantor at 12.15 pm, following Midday Prayer. This is the fourth most important day in the Christian calendar, after Easter, Christmas and Pentecost, and we are encouraged to mark it if we possibly can. During the ten days of Ascensiontide, until the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday 23rd May, we are asked to pray earnestly that we may receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, to renew and inspire God’s church. Please do join your prayers to ours as we seek to move forward together. An exciting new event which will be taking place at St Mary Abbots Centre and in the Vicarage garden, socially distanced and with staggered entry, is the Pre-Loved Children’s Clothes, Toys and Book Sale on Saturday 22nd May from 10am to 12am. Please book in advance on our website 'whats on' page. Funds raised from the event will help to enhance our children’s resources, both for Children on Sundays and for the new Mini Abbots Baby and Toddler group. As Christ was raised by your glory, O Father, so may we be raised to new life and rejoice to be called your children, now and forever. Amen [Common Worship, response to Psalm 47] With my love and prayers Mother Emma 13th May 2021 |
Virtual Donation Plate
If you would like to make a donation during our services, or at any time, we have set up an online virtual collection plate below. Click here for this week's Newsletter
Please click on the half visible grey 'subscribe' button to register
|
