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ST. MARY'S MATTERS

The youth weekend away is underway!

Dear Friends

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who are helping with the youth weekend away at Viney Hill Christian Centre in Lydney (just the other side of the river Severn) this weekend. The coach is packed and the young people are on their way to what will hopefully be a memorable and fun weekend of activities and worship together.

Please pray for the young people, leaders and volunteers - that relationships are built, faith is deepened and a good time is had by everyone!

For those of us not going on the weekend away, this Sunday marks the start of our new sermon series on "The Branch and Beyond", which promises to be exciting and thought-provoking, including guest speakers from some of our Mission Partners.

Praying that wherever you are this weekend you know Jesus' light, which the darkness can never overcome (John 1:5), and his peace, which passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7

Setting a Watch

continues daily at 6am and 6pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88489690256?pwd=RG85M1pPbGRnbkhEaFVlKytCZmhTdz09

Meeting ID: 884 8969 0256
Passcode: SetAWatch

NEW SERMON SERIES

The Branch and Beyond -

A Vision of God and his global church

Our new five week sermon series is designed to expand our horizons on what being part of God’s church really means. Looking at local and global mission, it's a chance to get back in touch with our Mission Partners, and explore the idea that the church, far from being rigid and static, is meant to grow and live.

We'll be looking at the biblical concept of The Branch - going beyond our own Branch and the work going on here, to investigate how The Branch is used in the Bible as a metaphor for Jesus.

We'll also look forward to welcoming guest speakers from Open Doors and Rafiki Thabo, to inspire us with stories of how the church is growing and living even in difficult situations and places.

Click below to find out more week by week.

Sermon Series

VOLUNTEERS' UPDATE

If you’re a volunteer at St. Mary's we’d love to see you after church at 12.30pm on Sunday 7th November in the Parish Rooms for essential updates, for food, and so that we can say a big thank you!

Your team leader should be in touch with you, but please do contact the office if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you!

CHURCH CLEANING

Brooms and ladders at the ready!

Church cleaning will take place on Saturday 6th November, and everyone is welcome!

The day will kick off at 8.30am (a bit more civilised than the time previously advertised!) for Men's Breakfast, followed by "high-level" cleaning - the sort that involves climbing around on ladders.

At 11.00am the "low-level" team will meet for coffee and then move in to clean the parts of the church nearer the floor.

For more information contact the office or talk to Linda Carpenter or David Bishop.

WELCOME TEA

If you're new to church (or you still feel new) then you'd be very welcome to sign up for our Welcome Tea. We'll be meeting at 3pm at the Parish Rooms on Sunday 21st November.

We'd be grateful if you let the office know that you're coming so that we have enough cake for you!

Telephone: 01608 646202, Email: office@stmaryscnorton.com

CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL

Don't forget that it's time to put together our Christmas shoeboxes which will be collected on the 15th November to begin their long journey, eventually to arrive in the hands of a child to celebrate Christmas.

Do watch the video to see the joy that these bring, and some examples of the crazy journeys that the boxes take! (Click and scroll down for the video.) You will get all the advice you need on what to include - (and what not to include!)

Operation Christmas Child (samaritans-purse.org.uk)

You can use your own box and decorate it yourself, or pick up a box from church to fill.

Once it's packed and you have either donated £5 online and included the bar code, or enclosed a £5 note, then please drop it off at the Parish Centre.

If you are unable to pack a box yourself, you can always either pack one online or send a contribution and we will pack a box on your behalf.

-Judith

YOUTH ALPHA

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK

Evangelist and author of Reading Between the Lines, Glen Scrivener, takes an unlikely opportunity to communicate the good news of Jesus.

Whether or not you agree with his unique approach to Halloween, you can't help but be inspired by his creativity, his ability to see Jesus in unusual places, and his incredible retelling of the hope that the Bible gives us, of light having the last word over darkness.

Glen Scrivener poem

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Connect Café	Tue 9th Dec	The Branch, Market Place	More info
Minis	Wed 10th Dec	The Branch, Market Place	More info
Thursday Worship	Thu 11th Dec	Parish Rooms	More info
View the full calendar