This Week's News: 17th May 2026

Sunday 17th May - Seventh Sunday of Easter

• 10–11am Holy Communion with Junior Church, followed by refreshments

What's On This Week

Tuesday 19th May

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

Wednesday 20th May

• 10.30am Midweek Communion, followed by refreshments
• 7.30–9pm Fellowship Group. This week the Tuesday and Wednesday groups meet together. See below for details.

Sunday 24th May

• 10–11am Holy Communion with Junior Church, followed by refreshments

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.

This week only (week beginning 18 May), the Tuesday and Wednesday groups are combining and meeting together on Wednesday 20 May at 7.30pm.

Tuesdays, 7.30–9pm: 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, so please keep us in mind whenever you're having a clear-out or browsing a charity shop. 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.