Church Wardens Report February 2019

It seems a long time since Christmas but we cannot let the season go without thanking everyone who joined in with our Angel Festival. Well over 100 angels decorated the church. The Brownies and Rainbows filled a window with nearly 30 angels on a bed of clouds. Several ladies including Brenda Lindesay and Jill Fenn knitted over 20 angels (Many following Jean Crew’s pattern) which were displayed on the Christmas Tree. The craft group created a host of 21 angels under the direction of Jean Wells, which were arranged as a heavenly choir. Mark Jones and Don Coates provided several wooden angels. Each Class in the school provided a range of amazing angels in different media and form. Rev Rana and Trevor created a full sized angel which watched over the stable. Jean Bowles used her artistic talent to create an artistic display. Credenhill Court provided an angel that was displayed in the chancel. Paula Fitch used her angels to decorate the children’s window and Barbara Brown used a willow wreath to display her knitted angels. These were all brought together with a range of angels in many forms and the prayer table for December continued the angel theme.

These were all on display for the Carol Service with the Angels, when we were thrilled to have a full church to join in with a group of school children and the Brownies and Rainbows who sang carols for us and Leon and Emily who entertained us on the Saxaphone and with angelic singing. This was rounded off with a seasonal supper provided by the ladies of the church.

Thank you all.

The Hamper Draw was a huge success this year raising just short of £400. Thank you to everyone who donated prizes, sold and/or bought tickets and to Mike and Fiona for putting it all together.

Jean Bowles has raised £500 towards the decoration of the church through her calendar sales. The estimate is over £2,000. If anyone would like to contribute please let me know.

Messy Church was very well supported. We had over 30 children and their parents who took part in various craft activities and a Christingle Service followed by a Christmas tea. Please look out for posters for our next event as we have 3 of our team who have/are quite ill so we cannot as yet arrange the next meeting.

Lots of Toys and Gifts were donated to the Hereford Salvation Army Appeal and a large amount of Christmas treats were given for the Food Bank at the All Age Toy Service.

The church was full again for the Pop Up Nativity held at the Crib Service on Christmas Eve. It was lovely to see the youth of the community join in with such enthusiasm.Thank you to Donna who organised and led both of these services.

Many people have commented positively on the Angel Trail which gave families a focus for a walk through the village. The trail ended in church where the words collected were made into a sentence. 33 people entered the competition and were awarded a small prize for completing the sentence. Thank you to Mark Jones for providing the angels. We were lucky to be awarded a grant towards the cost of the festival from the Diocese which made this possible.

Congratulations to Mike Wilkinson who has been commisioned as Police Chaplain. Mike and his wife Maggie have been members of St Mary’s congregation for many years and are well known for their work with Street Pastors and many other groups. Mike is a governor at St Mary’s School.

Thank you Dorrie Coates and Jean Bowles,