This Week's News: 10th May 2026

Sunday 10th May - Sixth Sunday of Easter

• 10–11am All Age Communion, followed by refreshments
• 11.30am Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)

What's On This Week

Tuesday 12th May

• 11am–1pm Mary and Isabel's Compassionate Cafe at the Parish Centre Hall Grove. All are welcome.

Wednesday 13th May

• 10.30am Midweek Communion, followed by refreshments

Sunday 17th May

• 10–11am All Age Communion, followed by refreshments

Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) – Today, 11.30am

The Annual Meeting of Parishioners and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting take place straight after the main service this morning. Do grab a tea or coffee and stay for it - it's a chance to hear what the parish has been up to over the past 12 months, and there is some important business to get through.

All parishioners (anyone living within the parish boundaries) and anyone on the electoral roll can vote for churchwardens. If you're on the electoral roll, you can also vote on PCC membership and other APCM matters.

Pattern of Sunday Services

From this month, our 8.30am Holy Communion service is happening on the first Sunday of the month only, and our All Age Services have returned to a Eucharist. Several people asked for the 8.30am quiet service to remain, and many said the Eucharist felt missing from the All Age Services and is central to who we are as a congregation.

Fellowship Groups – Bible Course continuing

Our Fellowship Groups continue this term, going through the Bible Course produced by the Bible Society. Both groups meet in Ryan's office at church.

Tuesdays, 7.30–9pm: 19 May, 2 Jun, 16 Jun, 30 Jun, 14 Jul and 21 Jul.

Wednesdays, 7.30–9pm: 20 May, 3 Jun, 17 Jun, 1 Jul, 15 Jul and 22 Jul.

To join, please speak to Ryan or email ryan@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk.

New CD from Paul Gateshill – 'Time and Tide'

Paul Gateshill has just produced a new CD called Time and Tide. You can listen to it on Spotify and YouTube. If you'd like to purchase a copy for £10, Paul will donate £5 to church funds! See Paul if you'd like a copy.

Caring For Our Neighbours

Clothes for Creswick Primary School

Not every family can easily afford school uniform, and the cost of replacing worn-out shoes or a lost coat can be a real pressure. Creswick, our local primary school, keeps a stock of good second-hand items to offer families who need them, and we want to support that by collecting clothes for them.

This is an ongoing collection. To save the school having to sort through things they can't use, we can only accept the following:

• Coats (ages 5–11)
• Black school shoes (up to size 5)
• Navy PE shorts (ages 5–11)
• Trainers for PE (up to size 5)
• Socks and underwear (ages 5–11)

Items should be clean and in good condition. Bring donations on a Sunday and hand them to Ryan or one of the churchwardens, who will deliver them to the school.

Helping to Feed our Neighbours

For a growing number of families in our area, putting food on the table is a genuine struggle. New Zion Christian Fellowship's foodbank is one practical way we can help, and your donations make a real difference.

The foodbank is open every Wednesday 9–11am. To donate, please drop off items from 9am on Wednesdays at 140 Cole Green Lane AL7 3JE, or leave them at the foodbank point at the back of church. Items particularly needed at the moment include long life milk, cereals, tinned meat, cleaning products, toiletries, and sanitary products.

For Your Prayers...

• For peace in the Holy Land.
• For Mary and Isabel's Compassionate Cafe, and Isabel Hospice as we work in partnership together.
• For all refugees and those fleeing their homes, especially those now living in our parish. For those persecuted for their faith. For refugees facing homelessness after receiving permission to reside in the UK.
• For people in Iran, for their protection and freedom.
• For growth in the mission, ministry and worship of St Mary Magdalene Church.

Those who are unwell:

Nicholas, Mark, Angie, Gareth, Mehrangiz, Jean, Sam, Brett, Daisy, Noah, Martin, Brian, June, Heather, Penny, Paul, Craig, Peter, Anna, Azizeh, Victoria, Naomi, and Lorna.

Those who have died in recent weeks:

Elizabeth and Karen.

For the growth of St Mary Magdalene Church

God of Mission, Who alone brings growth to your Church of St Mary Magdalene, Send your Holy Spirit to give Vision to our planning, Wisdom to our actions, And power to our witness. Help our church to grow in numbers, In spiritual commitment to you, And in service to our local community, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you would like to request that we pray as a church for someone known to you, please first make every attempt to ensure that they would like to be prayed for by those at St Mary Magdalene. We will be conducting a monthly review of our Prayer List. If there is anyone who should come off the list or go on the list, please notify the churchwardens, Nick and Godfrey.