This Week's News: 24th August 2025
St Mary Magdalene WGC this week: news of our new Priest in Charge and the Festival of Bartholomew in Welwyn Garden City.
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Help us maintain this wonderful community church — £263 a day keeps the doors open. Find out more about giving.
Tuesdays 11am – 1pm · Parish Centre, Hall Grove
Refreshments, friendly faces, and companionship. A warm welcome awaits everyone.
Revd Nicky Jackson will be leading our Sunday and Wednesday service this week.
It is with deepest regret that we must inform you of the death of Val Sparks, following a brief period of illness. Val was a long-time member of the congregation at St Mary Magdalene and very much loved. Many of you will remember Val for her charitable work, raising money for excellent causes with her art-a-thons. We entrust Val into the care of the God who she loved, and who has always loved her, trusting in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection. Details of Val's funeral will be shared when we know more. May Val rest in peace & rise in glory.
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.
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!
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.
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:
Heather, Martin, Penny, Craig, Sue, Wendy, Angie, Val, Mark, Naomi, Carol, Peter, Anna, Elsie, Tim, Roger, Azizeh, Anna.
Daphne Humber, Cynthia Day, Shirley Wise, Matthew Fell, Karen Fallon.
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.
St Mary Magdalene WGC this week: news of our new Priest in Charge and the Festival of Bartholomew in Welwyn Garden City.
Bishop Rob Gillion joins us this Sunday at St Mary Magdalene WGC, with continuing news of our new Priest in Charge.
This week at St Mary Magdalene WGC: details of our new Priest in Charge, and the funeral arrangements for Val Sparks.
St Mary Magdalene Welwyn Garden City joyfully announces the appointment of The Revd Dr Ryan Gilfeather as our new Priest in Charge.
St Mary Magdalene Welwyn Garden City mourns the passing of Val Sparks, with further news on our new memorial path.
Revd Emma's final service as Priest in Charge today at St Mary Magdalene WGC, with the unveiling of a new painting for our Patronal Festival.
Ada Wright's baptism this Sunday at St Mary Magdalene WGC, with Revd Emma's farewell service one week away.
St Mary Magdalene WGC: Revd Emma's farewell on 20 July is just two weeks away, and work begins on our new memorial path.
This Sunday at St Mary Magdalene WGC: a joint Eucharist with Ludwick Way Methodists, plus details of Revd Emma's last service.