Time to book your tickets for this great book talk.
Wednesday 29th March 2023 – 7pm. The Story of the Quakers in Ross – In telling this story, John Powell manages to relate not just their story but also a social history of Britain from the time of the Civil Wars to the present day: of attitudes to religion, of social networking, of people standing up for what they saw as their rights, of attitudes to the well-off, of the mores of society at any given period and of petty mindedness, often amongst people of whom one would hope for greater things.
John will give a talk in St Mary’s which will centre on the subject of his book but cover other aspects of church life, especially with reference to St Mary’s.
Well, maybe not real dragons, but don’t miss the opportunity to hear St Mary’s very own, Janet Cooper on this fascinating topic. Her talk will be richly illustrated with dragons across the country. There be at least 3 living in St Mary’s!
This is Janet’s response to the 2023 Lent Talents appeal. Please support it generously and bring your friends.
Saturday 18th March at 6pm in St Mary’s. There will be tickets available at the door, or you can reserve one now.
This week we’ve had the sad news of the death of Dick Brice. He will be well known to so many local residents, as one time head teacher of Llangrove and Brampton Abbotts CE Primary School, musician and entertainer or personally. Dick will be much missed and we extend our sincere condolences to Di and all of Dick’s family at this time.
Here he is in 2021 when he came to record his “Song of the River Wye” for the Gilpin 2020+ project. Rest in peace, Dick and thank you!
Everyone enjoys a quiz! Sharn has created an Eggcellent Easter Quiz to raise funds for St Mary’s Church as part of the Lenten talents challenge. Each entry costs £1 and quiz sheets are available from Sharn, or the church office. The three prize-winners will be announced after the closing date of Sunday 2 April.
Just over two weeks, now, to book for this event (singinging and supper) bookings will close on Sunday 26th March, before that if we reach the numbers we are able to cater for. The last one sold out so please don’t delay.
The response to our Lenten talent appeal keeps growing.
An Italian Supper – Andrew and Anne Morris will host an Italian supper on Saturday 25th March 7pm at Cider Cottage, Archenfield Road, Ross. Aperitivi, three course meal, wine, water and coffee included. Pay what you think you should at the time. Book by email with Anne: aemorris63@gmail.com. Limited numbers so booking essential. They’re also hosing a Sunday lunch but that’s already full up.
Sunday Lunch – Bryan and Sue Jones will host a three course meal on Sunday 12th March. £15, limited space. Contact Sue – 07442 163291
St Mary’s Pens – are on sale at the back of the church, this is Jeff Wallace’s initiative. £1 – please put money in the donations safe by the door or use the card machine to pay.
And there’s more to come. If you haven’t yet risen to the challenge, there is still time. More information here
Book of prayer for the coronation of King Charles III published. The Church of England is calling for a period of prayer leading up to the Coronation and has released a book of Daily Prayers for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Running from Easter Day (April 9) for 28 days, up to the day of the Coronation on May 6, the book provides daily themes, reflections and prayers for use by individuals, churches or groups.
The booklet is designed to help people pray for The King, The Queen Consort and the Royal Family and their calling to a life of public service; to pray for our nation and the world at this special time; to learn about the spiritual significance of the Coronation Service and contemplate the person of Jesus – the servant King.
How wonderful to see Izzy and Noah, two members of St Mary’s Youth Choir, on BBC’s Blue Peter last week. They were a part of a trip from St Joseph’s RC Primary School to the BBC studios in Salford for a recording session.
BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong on St David’s Day comes live from St Davids Cathedral (Wednesday 1st March at 4pm). The service will be accompanied our very own Laurence John.
Time to book your tickets for this great book talk.
Wednesday 29th March 2023 – 7pm. The Story of the Quakers in Ross – In telling this story, John Powell manages to relate not just their story but also a social history of Britain from the time of the Civil Wars to the present day: of attitudes to religion, of social networking, of people standing up for what they saw as their rights, of attitudes to the well-off, of the mores of society at any given period and of petty mindedness, often amongst people of whom one would hope for greater things.
John will give a talk in St Mary’s which will centre on the subject of his book but cover other aspects of church life, especially with reference to St Mary’s.
You will see the Castle, the Parish Church of St. Ethelbert the Martyr, the Market House, the Royal Castle Hotel, and lots of local businesses such as Anna’s Cakes, Andrew Morris Solicitors, Colin Smith, Callwoods Butchers, the Silver Tabby, the Duke of Edinburgh pub and the Archenfield Gazette offices.
Below the town you will see Archenfield Wharf on the Wye Navigation, with Wilton Deep Lock connecting to the river.
Then passing the I.K. Brunel Hotel (known to locals as the Ike), we reach Archenfield Junction Station, where we can jump on a train to Marcle St Bartholomew and visit Eastons Cider Works. In the other direction, we can travel to Dancing Green and maybe change for Phocle Bottom.
Please note that the tour takes place about 100 years ago so disabled access has not been invented. You need to be able to step up about 18 inches onto a viewing platform.
Tours £5 0s 0d per person, which includes refreshment.
Please contact Janet and Nick Nelson to book your personal tour during lent. Phone: 07887 997932
The Revd Canon Professor David Thomas is Emeritus Professor of Christianity and Islam at The University of Birmingham, and now a regular member of our community at St Mary’s. Wednesday in Holy week is an entirely appropriate time to come and hear David’s talk.
Christians and Muslims both hold Jesus in the highest regard
They differ greatly in their reverence of him
Can Christians learn anything from Muslims about Jesus?
This is one of several events at St Mary’s that celebrates and uses the talents of individuals to raise money for St Mary’s this Lent.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear St Mary’s very own, Janet Cooper on this fascinating topic. Her talk will be richly illustrated with dragons across the country. There be at least 3 living in St Mary’s!
This is Janet’s response to the 2023 Lent Talents appeal. Please support it generously and bring your friends.
It’s Coffee @ St Mary’s, next Saturday (4th March). And …
Ross Welsh Speakers & Learners ‘Sgwrs’ Group will meet for coffee, cake and a chat at
Coffee @ St Marys – Saturday 4th March, anytime from 10:30 to noon at St Mary’s ChurchRoss-on-Wye
We are planning to meet on the first Saturday of each month at St Mary’s. An opportunity for Welsh speakers and learners to come along and have a ‘sgwrs’ (chat) with each other, in Welsh. It is free and informal, you can purchase a coffee and some delicious cake and come and go as you please. No need to book, just come along.
Do you remember the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) – The master entrusted his servants, to look after his money while he was away from home – different amounts were given to each according to their ability. Two worked hard to increase their share while the third hid his share away until the master returned. Two were rewarded while the other was shunned. The parable was of course not just about money, it also drew attention to the need to make good use of all our God given gifts and talents.
As our Rector says, “There is no life experience or ability that you have, that God cannot use!”
During Lent we are inviting you to reflect on this parable and consider how you might make use of your talents to help further the church’s mission.
We have two ways you can use the talents with which God has trusted you.
One
The church has a variety of “things” which need doing, either occasionally or on a regular basis.
It is lovely to come to a warm, welcoming, clean and tidy church. We have music to listen to and to join in with, we have flowers to enjoy, we are read to and we are provided with coffee.
Who makes it like this—or does it happen all by itself? People like you and me make it happen. People with talents who use them for God.
You may have talents which you might never have thought God could use. For example:-
Do you like to sing ……… Why not join the choir?
Are you good with children ……….. Help with our children’s work.
Can you arrange flowers ……… Join the flower rota.
Are you happy to speak in public ………. Help with reading lessons or intercessions.
How about mopping, sweeping or dusting ………. Join the church cleaners.
Do you like “tech” and have a good eye ……….. Help stream our services
Like gardening ………. Become a churchyard angel.
Maybe you are a good listener ………… Help us with our Pastoral Care.
Do you like meeting visitors ……… Join our church welcome team.
Are you good at baking ………… Help us with refreshments.
And last but not least, do you have ideas for fundraising …….. If so, we really want to hear from you.
Two
Just like the master in the parable, we would like to give you £10 to look after. We invite you to see how you can “grow it” just like the first two servants did. We have a few suggestions on ways of doing this but hope you will come up with some innovative ideas.
You could use it to:-
Buy the ingredients to bake cakes to sell (you can advertise them on the newsletter the week before)
Fund a coffee morning or a tea party for friends
Buy car shampoo to offer to wash your neighbour’s car for a fee
Organise a games evening and persuade your friends to buy tickets
Buy materials such as flowers, paints or wool and get creative and then sell the results
Plant cress seeds and then sell ready to eat cress.
We don’t recommend buying Lottery Tickets—you might lose all your money, Similarly, don’t just put it in the bank (or even dig a hole and bury it). While interest rates may at last be creeping up, we are sure you could do much better by using your God given talents!
To get your £10, complete the form below then collect your £10 after any of the services on Sundays 19th or 26th February, Ash Wednesday or Thursday 23rd February.
If you would like to know more about using your talents to help our church, fill in the form and we will get back to you.
St Mary’s Adult Choir is delighted to be singing Choral Evensong in Hereford Cathedral tomorrow (Saturday 18th February) at 5.30 (we’ll be there rehearsing from 4). It’s always good to see a few familiar faces in the congregation so if you happen to find yourself anywhere near, supporters are always most welcome.
For those who like to know about these things: Smith Responses, Psalms 93 & 94, Sumsion in G, O Radiant Dawn by James MacMillan.
Advanced notice: Our summer cathedral weekend this year will be in Chichester, where we’ll be singing service on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September. A lovely part of the world and a great cathedral.
The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts 