Author: MarkSanderson

Dear Friend.

As Sean outlined in yesterday morning’s sermon, St Mary’s has found itself in difficult financial circumstances for several years and we are committing ourselves, from today, to do something about this.

Particularly we are asking every member of our regular congregation to consider what they may be able to give to the work of their church.

You may receive a letter from us in the next few day (if not there are generic ones by the main door of the church); we ask you to consider the content seriously and to act if you are able. Be assured that the most precious gift you can give us is that of yourselves and if, after considering our appeal, you are unable to help you are still very welcome at St Mary’s. All giving details are known only to the treasurer and the giving secretary.

You’ll find all you need at https://rossparishes.uk/giving2022.

We are delighted to be welcoming back to St Mary’s the Gwent Chamber Orchestra, following their excellent concert last year. They have a wonderful programme again this time.

Saturday 22nd October – 7.30pm

Book tickets (just £10 and if you’re under 25, £5) at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/createross/t-qjjgxqm

Come and listen to Dame Kate Bingham talk about her new book The Long Shot.

The unmissable inside story of how the Vaccine Taskforce beat the odds and enabled the biggest vaccination campaign in Britain’s history – by the woman who made it happen. 

Thursday 27th October at 7pm in St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye

Tickets are £9 and are available online https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/vIxwkuzonEXW, from Rossiter Books or by calling 01989 654464

This event is the first in a series of book talks that is being organised jointly by The Friends of St Mary’s and Rossiter Books. Proceeds will be split between those two organisations and NMITE (Hereford’s University)

Come and hear Brian Jackson in St Mary’s as he reads his poetry. Saturday 8th October, 7pm.

Tickets are available online, from church or on the night.

Saturday 1st October, 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye.

Tickets £12

A choir consisting of military wives, Service women, veterans, mums and girlfriends.

The Military Wives Choirs Foundation is a network of choirs set up to bring women within the military communities closer together – through singing.

Join us for a guided walk around the Museum Without Walls. You may have noticed the signs around the town. Here’s your chance for a free guided walk. Come with a smartphone and the app installed if you can, if not we’ll have plenty available. The session will last about 90 minutes and will involve a short gentle walk around the top of the town.

Saturday 17th September at 2.00 pm – This is a free event. The walk begins in St Mary’s Parish Church.

No need to book, just come along to St Mary’s Church at 2pm. Plenty of kit available for you to use.

We’re thinking of having a harvest supper on Saturday 24th September at 6.30 pm for 7 pm. It will cost you £7.50 but we don’t need your money now we just need to know who would come. Please let us know (ideally here via Eventbrite) if you think you’d like to come. We need to know by this coming Sunday 18th September please. If it’s easier please email mark@rossparishes.uk if you haven’t told us you’d like to come.

Join us at St Mary’s on Sunday at 7pm for the town’s commemoration of our late Queen. Many of the towns organisations will be present and the service will end at 8pm in silence with the National Moment of Reflection.

The book of condolence remains available in church for those wishing to sign it. Prayers are being said each day at noon.

We’re thinking of having a harvest supper on Saturday 24th September at 6.30 pm for 7 pm. It will cost you £7.50 but we don’t need your money now we just need to know who would come. Please let us know (ideally here via Eventbrite) if you think you’d like to come. We need to know by this coming Sunday please.

Join us tomorrow at St Mary’s, at 9.30 for a service of commemoration for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

If you can’t join us in person, you can join us online.

While you’re with us you might like to sign the Book of Condolence.

We have one of the official books of condolences, (the other is a the Larruperz Centre) for Ross-on-Wye available by the candle stand in St Mary’s Church. It will remain there for the next two weeks. The church is open every day from 9-6.

A bell will be tolled today (Friday) from noon until 1pm. There will also be a short session of prayers for Her Majesty at noon in church.

Flowers can be left at the base of the tower.

Services on Sunday (at 8am, 9.30am and 6pm) are being modified to reflect the solemnity of this time of mourning.

We are saddened and concerned to hear the news of the health of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this time.

Gracious God,
we give you thanks for your servant Elizabeth our Queen.

Grant her and every member of her family The comfort and strength of your presence;

And may your peace that surpasses all understanding

Sustain and guard anxious hearts and minds; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Join us for a guided walk around the Museum Without Walls. You may have noticed the signs around the town. Here’s your chance for a free guided walk. Come with a smartphone and the app installed if you can, if not we’ll have plenty available. The session will last about 90 minutes and will involve a short gentle walk around the top of the town.

Saturday 10th and 17th September at 2.00 pm – This is a free event. The walk begins in St Mary’s Parish Church where you will also be able to enjoy h.Art if you come on 10th September.

Please book your free place as places are limited: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/museum-without-walls-heritage-open-day-guided-walks-tickets-328927760787

A four day long festival that took place at St Mary’s over the August bank holiday weekend.

Here are some memories (photographs by Paul Cummings):

Saturday 1st October, 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye.

Tickets £12

A choir consisting of military wives, Service women, veterans, mums and girlfriends.

The Military Wives Choirs Foundation is a network of choirs set up to bring women within the military communities closer together – through singing.

It’s all go! The flowers are now being cleared away and on Saturday we begin our nine day long season of h.Art. We have nine artists lined up and St Mary’s will again be a hive of activity from Thursday afternoon as they begin the big setup. The church is open every day of the festival from 10am to 5pm (please note slightly later opening time from usual).

Homemade cake, biscuits, tea, coffee and lunches will be available throughout. The church will be a magnet for hundreds of visitors. What’s not to like?

Don’t miss the other h.Art venues around the town, especially the other big one, and out closest neighbour, Made in Ross at the Market House. The whole thing is a great day out.

Pop into church and pick up a brochure, or check it all out online – https://h-art.org.uk

The preview evening for this weekend’s flower festival at St Mary’s is on Friday from 7.30 pm. Tickets are just £10 which gives you:

• Entry on the night
• A glass of wine and canapes
• Musical entertainment
• Free entry back into the festival at any point over the weekend

Full details and booking at https://rossparishes.uk/flowers