Notes from St. Mary’s

St. Mary’s Christmas Appeal

I am delighted that, with prompting from Fiona Melvin, St. Mary’s PCC have decided that our Christmas charity this year will be the Uzuakoli Support Group (Reg. Charity No. 1101386) which supports welfare projects run by the Methodist Church in the Uzuakoli area of Abia State in SE Nigeria . Projects include a Leprosy Centre, a Motherless Babies Home, St. Christopher’s Secondary School and Royal Cross Hospital . In the five years of its existence, the charity has already assisted these projects in making significant progress but much remains to be done in this very poor area of the country and our support is needed. The charity has a local connection with us too. Its founders Bob and Marilyn Jarrett, who now live in Shere, are related to Jarrett Fencing and Marilyn used to run a dancing school in Stevenage . There will be opportunities to give to USG at the 4pm Crib Service and 11.30pm Communion on Christmas Eve and the All-age Communion at 10am on Christmas Morning.

 Robert Riley-Braley

Aston Praise Services
Some of these services will be presented using modern Christian music, played on PC's and midi keyboard.  Sound and light shows and drama may also form a part of these services when numbers attending increase.

We already have a library of over 300 traditional hymns and over 100 modern Christian songs and choruses in midi format.  It is hoped that these services will encourage more people from all denominations to come and praise God through songs and worship.