This Week's News: 20th July 2025

Sunday 20th July

Readings

• Song of Solomon 3:1-4
• John 20:1-2,11-18

This will be Emma's last service as parish priest.

We will be unveiling a new commission of a painting of St Mary Magdalene by Ghazal, to be hung in the church porch as an icon of welcome as you enter the church. There will also be a chance to pray farewell to Emma, Chris and Rupert.

In order that friends of St Mary Magdalene from across all our partnerships and other churches in the garden city are able to attend, we will be holding our service at the later time of 2pm. This will be followed by afternoon tea.

You are all most warmly invited to attend.

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 Morning Eucharist, followed by refreshments

Welcomers Needed

Could you be a friendly, welcoming face at our front door?

We are in need of a few more people to join our team of people who welcome us to church each Sunday. This is a really important ministry, setting new and visiting people at ease, answering practical questions (like" do you have a loo?"), and being the first impression that new people have of the church.

Welcomers need to be able to be at church by 9.30am when they are 'on duty' - the more of us that are able to help, the less often everyone is called on.

Please speak to Emma or a churchwarden if you think this might be a role that you'd like to explore.

Wondering what all the work is about behind church?

Work began this week on a new path which will lead from the car park to the memorial garden, enabling visitors to the churchyard much better access, including for wheelchair users. The path will link with the new ramp emergency exit outside the south east door, enabling a much safer evacuation plan in the event of an emergency. This path replaces the old stepping stones, some of which had sunk into the mud and cracked, and is the latest stage in the ongoing churchyard renovations. Please bear with us as this important work is carried out - we hope you will enjoy the results when it's finished!

Bike and Hike - Saturday 13th September 9am-5pm

Have fun visiting over 600 churches and chapels Raise funds for your local church Help save other churches in Beds and Herts

There are two ways to take part: Get sponsored to visit churches on the day (by any means you fancy!) Offer hospitality to those visiting St Mary Magdalene

For more information: https://bedshertshct.org.uk/bike-n-hike/ Or speak to Janice Fowler.

Dates for your diary

• 13th July - Baptism of Ada Wright during the Parish Eucharist
• 20th July - 2pm Patronal Festival (no service at 10am)

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 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:

Heather, Martin, Penny, Craig, Sue, Wendy, Angie, Val, Mark, Naomi, Carol, Peter, Anna, Elsie, Tim, Roger, Azizeh, Anna.

Those who have died in recent weeks:

Daphne Humber, Cynthia Day, Shirley Wise, Matthew Fell, Karen Fallon.

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, Janice and Godfrey.