This Week's News: 8th March 2026

Sunday 8th March - Third Sunday of Lent

• 8.30am Holy Communion – a quiet service without hymns (Lady Chapel)
• 10–11am Holy Communion with Junior Church, followed by refreshments

What's On This Week

Tuesday 10th March

• 11am–1pm Mary and Isabel's Compassionate Cafe at the Parish Centre Hall Grove. All are welcome.
• 7.30–9pm Fellowship Group, meeting at Joan's house. See below for details.

Wednesday 11th March

• 10.30am Midweek Communion, followed by refreshments

Thursday 12th March

• 7.30–9pm Fellowship Group, meeting in Ryan's office in church. See below for details.

Sunday 15th March – Mothering Sunday

• 8.30am Holy Communion – a quiet service without hymns
• 10–11am Holy Communion with Junior Church, followed by refreshments

Holy Week & Easter Services in Church

Maundy Thursday – 2nd April, 7.30pm Eucharist of the Last Supper with Washing of Feet and Watch in the Garden of Remembrance.

Good Friday – 3rd April, 2–3pm Liturgy of the Passion.

Holy Saturday – 4th April, 8–9pm Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter, with baptism.

Easter Sunday – 5th April, 10–11am All Age Communion with baptism, followed by refreshments and Easter Egg Hunt.

Easter Day Egg Hunt – Sunday 5th April, 11.30am

We are inviting our local community to join us for an Easter Egg Hunt after our 10am Easter Day service on 5th April. Please do stick around after the Easter Day service to welcome people into the church and join in the Easter Egg Hunt! Invite your family, friends and neighbours. Feel free to take away flyers at the back of church to hand out to others.

Parish Lunch – Sunday 29th March, 12pm at The Chieftain

Join us for lunch at The Chieftain after the service on the last Sunday of each month - a relaxed opportunity to spend time together and get to know one another better. Everyone is warmly welcome.

To sign up, please add your name to the sheet at the back of church. There's no obligation to attend, but please note that if more than 15 people sign up, we'll need to pre-order meals - and those who pre-order will be asked to commit to paying for theirs.

If you'd like a lift or can offer one, or if cost is a concern, please have a word with Caroline.

Lent Fellowship Groups – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7.30–9pm

Tuesday Group, 7.30–9pm - Rowan Williams' Being Disciples:

• 10 Mar – Chapter 3: Forgiveness – Joan and Tony's, Welwyn
• 17 Mar – Chapter 4: Holiness – Danny and Clare's, Welwyn
• 31 Mar – Chapter 5: Faith in Society – Ryan's office in church

If you would like a lift please speak with Ryan.

Thursday Group, 7.30–9pm - Rowan Williams' Being Christian and Being Disciples. We meet in Ryan's office in church:

• 12 Mar – Being Christian, Chapter 3: Eucharist
• 19 Mar – Being Christian, Chapter 4: Prayer
• 26 Mar – Being Disciples, Chapter 1: Being Disciples

To join, please add your name to the sign-up sheet at the back of church, speak to Ryan, or email ryan@st-mary-magdalene.org.uk.

Beware of Email Scams!

Sadly there is an increase of email scams targeting members of church congregations. If you receive an email that appears to be from Ryan or anyone else in the church asking you to buy them a gift card, please don't do it because it will be a scam.

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.
• 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:

Mehrangiz, Tyler, Jean, Sam, Brett, Daisy, Noah, Martin, Brian, June, Heather, Penny, Craig, Peter, Anna, Azizeh, Victoria, Naomi, and Lorna.

Those who have died in recent weeks:

Fred Wise.

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.