Did you know that St Mary’s has a 100 club and that you could win a prize of £70 (or £20 / £10) when it’s drawn every 4 weeks.
The next draw is on New Year’s Day, so there’s still time to join the scheme and be in the draw. It costs just £1 per week.
Better still, just email memark@rossparishes.uk in the next 48 hours and you’ll be included in the January draw (Sunday 1st January) for free – you’ll begin paying your £1 per week from February. All money raised goes to St Mary’s Church
By the way, we now have three cats in the club – Marco, Socks and Monty! In fact, we had 21 new members last month! But we still need 32 more to make it a true 100 Club!
Go on – just email me now, don’t leave it until later!
The crib figures are here but one is missing. Join us at our Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve to find him. Come dressed up as a character from the Christmas Story to help us make a HUGE nativity scene!
Or if you live in Walford, there’s a similar service there too at the same time.
The crib figures are here but one is missing. Join us at our Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve to find him. Come dressed up as a character from the Christmas Story to help us make a HUGE nativity scene!
A wonderful carol service to kick off our Christmas week at St Mary’s. Big thanks to all the musicians: choirs (both of them, and the Youth Choir parents), bell ringers, handbell ringers and coaches, soloists and especially to Adrian and Alex for their digital organ building work over the weekend to provide a replacement, at the last minute, for our ailing pipe organ.
Thanks also to all those who helped with candles, to readers, mince pie and mulled wine makers and servers, and to the many people who came along to the service.
Full details of what’s on in and around all three of our churches (Ross, Walford and Brampton Abbotts) over the coming week can be found on our website – https://rossparishes.uk/christmas-2022
Don’t miss our candlelit carol service at St Mary’s at 6pm on Sunday 18th. Walford also have carols in their communion service at 9.30.
On Monday 19th there’s a Messy Church Drop-in from 11.30 at St Mary’s
Our annual candlelit service of Nine Lessons and Carols is at 6pm on Sunday 18th December. We look forward to welcoming you then for one of the most poignant services of the year. Mulled wine and mince pies after the service.
What a wonderful Christingle service this morning. One of the stars of the show was St Mary’s Youth Choir, looking amazing in their brand new ruffs. Not forgetting Bryan in his giant orange suit.
Thanks to Adrian, Rachel and Rosie for the pictures.
Coffee@St Mary’s – Church flower arrangers are hosting this morning (Saturday 3rd December, 10-30 – 12). There are also also jams and chutney up for grabs.
Learning about Advent with Caroline.Savannah has made two Advent Wreathes – one to use each Sunday at home and one edible one to eat today!Singing with Tiffany and trying to get the actions right.God bless the tree. We all have cards to take home so we can bless our own Christmas trees.
Did you know that St Mary’s has a 100 club and that you could win a prize of £70 (or £20 / £10) when it’s drawn every 4 weeks.
The next draw is on Sunday (4th December), so there’s still time to join the scheme and. be in the draw. It costs just £1 per week.
We have just reached 50 people in our 100 club and we’re on a mission to increase it further. Don’t worry if you’re already in it, lots of people buy in for their family and friends too – perhaps a Christmas present idea!
If we get a further 10 members by 10.45 on Sunday I promise to enroll our new cat, Marco (pictured – to grab your attention) in the scheme. We don’t have a cat on the books yet.
Just email mark@rossparishes.uk with your name, to join, and we’ll do the rest later. I’m standing by!
St Mary’s is pleased to be a part of WARM ROSS and has a number of events you might like this winter. Particularly, St Mary’s Hall is open on Tuesdays (9-12). Refreshments and activities are on offer, all free of charge, throughout. See https://rossparishes.uk/warm-spaces for more detail.
Don’t miss this wonderful weekend in St Mary’s. There’s no entry charge. Just come along and enjoy some wonderful art and craft.
Great coffee and home made cakes will be on offer all weekend, soup and rolls at lunch time, cakes and preserves to buy on Saturday morning. Plenty of art and crafts on sale across the whole weekend as Christmas presents. Drop in and take a look. Tell all your friends!
Don’t miss Sue’s Christmas wreath making workshop on Wednesday 23rd November, 1.30 – 4 pm, in St Mary’s Hall. There is a charge of £22 (which covers materials) which you can pay on the day.
We are hosting a service for St Michael’s Hospice next Sunday (27th November) at 6pm in St Mary’s.
Lighting a candle to commemorate a loved one is a very special thing to do, particularly at Christmas time. We invite you to join with others who have also lost someone that they love, as part of our Light up a Life celebrations this year.
There are several ways in which you can get involved in our Light up a Life activities. You can dedicate a virtual light that shines on, watch a live-streamed service at home or even hold your own event.
You’ll find more information on the service generally (though not this one specifically) on their website.
St Mary’s is pleased to be a part of WARM ROSS and has a number of events you might like this winter. Particularly, St Mary’s Hall is open on Tuesdays (9-12). Refreshments and activities are on offer, all free of charge, throughout. See https://rossparishes.uk/warm-spaces for more detail.
This year’s Remembrance Week events were put together by a partnership which included Ross Town Council, Ross & District Branch of Royal British Legion and St Mary’s Church. On behalf of these organisations, we would wish thank everyone that helped to make Remembrance 2022 so very special.
During the week a number of events were held. These including a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial in St Mary’s Churchyard, to mark the 22 Chelsea Pensioners that died in Ross during their evacuation from London during WW2. A wreath laying and commemoration led by Deputy May Cllr Bev Pope, to remember the fallen of both the Korean and Falklands Conflict, an especially poignant moment 40 years on. At this service a wonderful choir from St Joseph’s School helped to make the event especially moving. On Friday 11th November, the Armistice was marked with a short service at the Market Hall attended by Paul Deneen OBE, JP DL and Mayor Cllr Ed O’Driscoll together with Chairman and members of Ross RBL and many townspeople who stood in respectful silence as the Silence was sounded by both Bugle and Maroon.
On Remembrance Sunday, we were blessed with beautiful weather and a fantastic turnout of Serving Personnel, Veterans, Cadets from all three Services. The Prospect was filled and it was hugely moving to see so many people having a chance for a moment of silence to reflect and remember the sacrifice made by so many. This was followed by a Service in St Mary’s which included Readings and Poetry and beautiful music provided by St Mary’s Choir.
Paul Deneen OBE JP DL, said:
“As we all stand here in the Market House in the town of Ross-on-Wye, we do so in peace and safety. Can I also ask you to reflect and think about our friends in the Ukraine at this difficult time.
As part of this Remembrance day we thank all those who currently serve this country. We also remember and thank those who served and had given their ultimate sacrifice of their lives – We will always remember them.
Can I take this opportunity to also thank the Royal British Legion, The Mayor, the Ross-on-Wye Town Council, Town Clerk and staff, together with the Rector and the team at St Mary’s Church and particularly Inspiring Hope for their great support today.
Also to thank all involved with the poppy appeal, as well as thanking those responsible for the excellent display of the poppies on the Market House and around the town.
Above all – Huge thanks to the members of this community who have joined us here today, or who will be joining the remembrance events locally this Sunday at the Prospect and at the Church Service. – much appreciated“
There are many services on offer for you over the course of the next few days. These are:
Sunday 13th November 10.50 am – Remembrance Service – Ross Prospect, continuing in St Mary’s Church at 11.15 am
Sunday 13th November, 10.50 am – Remembrance Service at Walford Church
Saturday 12th November, 10.00 am – Brampton Abbotts
Friday 11th November, 10.55 am – Armistice Day Parade – Ross Market House
What will happen on Sunday in Ross?
The parade steps off from Old Maid’s Walk Police Station at 10.30 am – all Serving Personnel and Veterans are invited to form up at the Police Station by 10.15. To be followed by Act of Commemoration and Wreath Laying at the War Memorial on The Prospect at 10.50 am and ecumenical Remembrance Day Service at St Mary’s at 11.15 am. Refreshments will be served following the Service.
The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts 