This Week's News: 14th December 2025

Sunday 14th December - 10am Holy Communion - The Third Sunday of Advent

Readings

• Isaiah 35.1–10
• Matthew 11.2–11

What's On This Week

Tuesday

• 11:00am to 1:00pm Mary and Isabel's Compassionate Cafe at the Parish Centre Hall Grove. All are welcome.

Wednesday

• 10:30am Midweek Communion, followed by refreshments

Sunday

• 6pm Nine Lessons & Carols

Christmas Services at St Mary Magdalene

Nine Lessons & Carols – Sunday 21st December, 6pm A traditional candlelight service with the carols you know and love, joined by members of the WGC Male Voice Choir, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

Nativity Service – Wednesday 24th December, 3pm* The Nativity story told in an imaginative way, with a special visit from Father Christmas with treats for boys and girls of every age.

Midnight Mass – Wednesday 24th December, 11:15pm A traditional Holy Communion service, welcoming in Christmas Day.

Christmas Day Family Service – Thursday 25th December, 10am* A service for all the family, celebrating the joy of Christmas Day.

Children are welcome at every service; those marked * are especially suitable.

Mince Pies Wanted!

We would really appreciate donations of mince pies, shop-bought or homemade, for our Carol Service on Sunday 21st December. If they're shop-bought, please just make sure they're in date. Any questions, please speak with Carol Capper.

Parish Mission Morning – Saturday 10th January, 9.45am–1pm

Kate Lomax (Diocesan Church Growth Officer) will lead us in a mission morning to discern our vision for our church's future. Everyone is warmly invited. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To register, please email ryan@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk.

Volunteer Needed for Parish Lettings

Jacqui will be stepping back from managing lettings for our Parish Centre and Upper Hall at Christmas. We are looking for a member of our community to take over this voluntary role. To learn more, please email jacqui.dickens@virginmedia.com. To volunteer, please email ryan@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk.

WGC Town Council Consultation – Deadline Today

The Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council consultation on creating a Town Council for Welwyn Garden City closes today. Make your voice heard by completing the WHBC survey before 14th December. More information at wgcsociety.org/news/wgc-needs-you and togetherforwgc.org.uk.

Foodbank Donations

New Zion Christian Fellowship food bank is open every Wednesday 9-11am. You may drop items in from 8am on Wednesdays at 140 Cole Green Lane AL7 3JE. Please use the food bank based at the back of church if you wish to give items.

Items that are particularly in need currently are:

• Long life milk
• Cereals
• Variety of tinned meat (meatballs, hotdogs, chicken curry or chicken in white sauce)
• Cleaning products
• Toiletries including sanitary products

For Your Prayers...

• For peace in the Holy Land.
• For The Reverend Dr Ryan Gilfeather and his wife The Reverend Dr Christie Gilfeather as they settle into our parish.
• 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.

Those who are unwell:

Brian, June, Heather, Martin, Penny, Craig, Mark, Peter, Anna, Azizeh, Victoria, Naomi, Lorna, Pamila.

Those who have died in recent weeks:

David.

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.