News & Events

Join Peter and Marilyn for this talk about their recent trip of a lifetime. In St Mary’s Church on Thursday 19th March at 2.30pm. This is all a part of the fundraising for Ross Spire in Peril.

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There’s a choice of focus for our Sunday services this week. At Walford the theme will be St David, at St Mary’s we’ll be following the theme for the Second Sunday in Lent in an All Age Eucharist. We hope to see you at one of these.

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Curious about faith? Join us for 10 weeks of unpacking the big questions of life, faith and purpose.

Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explore the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha is for anyone who’s curious to explore the big questions of life, faith and meaning. The talks are designed to encourage conversations and explore the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment without pressure or judgement.

We come together to meet new people and explore the christian faith but most importantly a meal!

Please email emily@rossparishes.uk for any dietary requirements

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Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Join us in St Mary’s this eveining for a special service at 7.00pm.

You might like to come along to our Lent Course which starts this Sunday at 3.00pm in St Mary’s Hall. The first session will examine different kinds of prayer.

Or join us on Sunday for our usual services, including a Lenten Evensong at 6.00pm.

We look forward to seeing you this Lent.

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Join us at St Mary’s on Saturday 7th February when Suzy St Clair returns for another recital.

Programme

1. Alfred Hollins: A Trumpet Minuet.

2. Bach: Prelude & Fugue in B minor BWV 544

3. CHH Parry Chorale Preludes:  Rockingham, Eventide

4. E. Lemare: Andantino in D flat

5. Henry Smart: Postlude in D major

INTERVAL

6. J. Rheinberger, Sonata No 4 – Tempo moderato, Intermezzo, Chromatic Fugue

7. L. Vierne: Carillon de Westminster

There’s a special Eucharist at St Mary’s this evening at 7.00pm to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.

The party continues on Sunday evening when we have a Come, Sing & Sup Epiphany Carol Service. All are welcome to join the special choir when it rehearses at 4.00pm or to come along to the service which starts at 6.00pm. Unfortunately the supper is now fully booked. It will be a great service, featuring Ruth Cartledge (harp) for some of the accompaniments. Full details at https://rossparishes.uk/come-sing

Services on Sunday 21st December, in the Ross Parishes are:

• 8.00am – said communion @ St Mary’s, Ross
• 9.30am – Sung Eucharist bringing the season of Advent to a splendid conclusion – St Mary’s, Ross
• 12.00 Noon – A carol service at Brampton Abbotts Church
• 4.00pm – Nine Lessons & Carols with St Mary’s Choir, by candlelight – St Mary’s Ross
• 4.00pm – Candlelit Carols – Walford Church

For many, this is where Christmas begins. Join us at 4pm on Sunday 21st December in St Mary’s for our most popular Christmas service, all by candlelight.

You can download the order of service to your phone at rossparishes.uk/oos

Before we get too deep into Christmas, here’s a bit of forward planning for you with an opportunity to think of Epiphany and Candlemas in The Ross Parishes. Perhaps you’d like to Come, Sing & Sup with us on Sunday 11th January?

Save the dates!

Please be aware that the office at the Rectory is closed this week on Tuesday and Friday. It is open as usual on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9.00am to 2.00pm

Have you lost your glasses? They were found in the churchyard and you can retrieve them from the welcome desk in church.

Michael Lunts will be performing at the Christmas Tree Festival today.

It’s really two for the price of one: a great concert and the tree festival. The concert begins at 1.30. There are tickets to be had on the door (just £10). We look forward to seeing you.

It is with deep sadness that we have to report the death of Gerald Altree. Gerald has been in our thoughts and prayers for some time and died yesterday, following a heart attack (Sunday 16th November). We continue to pray for Gerald and for Pam, Kate and Glen and their families at this sad time.

Gerald has been a very active member of the community at St Mary’s and around the town for many decades. He has served on the Deanery Synod for some time and was churchwarden in the 1990s. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to him and to Pam.

Details of Gerald’s funeral will be shared here in due course.

Tracey Jane Bell, a member of our congregation, is collecting teddy bears and soft toys to send to children with special needs in Zimbabwe (Community Action Trust UK reg charity no. 1183951). She needs them by next Sunday, 23rd November to be shipped on 24th. If you have any new teddies or soft toys you would like to donate, please bring them to St Mary’s on Sunday or leave them at the Welcome Desk. Thank you. www.communact.org.

The Four Last Things – Heaven, Hell, Death and Judgement – Advent is a time of waiting. We wait for Jesus the infant, coming to live a human life, but we also wait for Christ the Judge, 

coming to reward and punish. On the Sundays in and around Advent, Kelvin Price, Emily Goy and John Davies will help us to explore these ancient beliefs in our modern world. Come to listen, ponder, ask questions if you wish. All meetings take place in St Mary’s Church Hall from 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm – tea from 3.30 pm. 

• Sunday 23 November: Old beliefs in a new world 
• Sunday 30 November: Hell and Purgatory, a traveller’s guide 
• Sunday 7 December: Heaven and how to get there 
• Sunday 14 December: Is death the end? 

More information from David.