March Enewsletter 2026

March E-newsletter

Dear Subscriber First Name

It is a joy to write to you all as we witness the bursting forth of spring around us. Doesn’t it truly lift the spirit? We are so deeply connected to the seasons and the cycle of the year, yet we often forget. A similar rhythm exists in the liturgies of the church, reminding us of God’s presence in all we see and experience. As we continue our Lenten journey, we prepare for the dawn of new life in Christ at Easter. Do come and let your faith be moved and shaped by these sacred services.

Our hearts are surely weary and worried by the troubles in the world, so we want to remind you that St Mary’s remains open every day - especially for anyone seeking a moment of peace and solace from life’s overwhelm. It is remarkable how a quiet prayer, the lighting of a candle, or a few minutes of stillness can ground us and help us find ourselves and the still small voice of God again.

Below, you’ll find notices for March and April, and we do hope to see you. St Mary’s may be beautifully ancient, but she is also wonderfully alive.

God Bless you all

Mthr. Arwen & all at St Mary’s

PS. Please do check our website for details of our special and regular services which do hop about a little during March.
~ Lent Services
~ Holy Week Services
~ Regular Service calendar

MOTHERING SUNDAY ~
15th March
Services: 9.45am, 12.15pm & Sung Evensong & Benediction at 6pm

MOTHERING SUNDAY POSIES The MU will be preparing posies on
Saturday 14th March and need greenery to enhance the flowers given on Sunday 15th March. If you have greenery we could use please contact Elaine F on 645225 to arrange collection. Thank you.

What’s new

We now have a new Whatsapp channel for bitesize updates and news. This will be especially helpful for those who don’t do other social media. You can simply follow St Mary's Whatsapp Channel
We have moved our Enewsletter onto this new secure platform hosted within our Squarespace website. Your email address has been transferred and deleted from Mailchimp, but if you’d prefer to unsubscribe, there is a link at the bottom of this email.
The Thursday Coffee Morning will pause for Easter, two Thursdays dated 26th March & 2nd April.
There are two more Lent Talks to take place:
Fr Tony: Religious Honesty ~ March 14th at 5.30pm
Dcn Hilary: Stations of the Cross, a History ~ March 28th at 5.30pm
Both in The Old Parsonage, all are welcome.
Mthr. Arwen’s Lent Book Group: ‘The Screwtape Letters’ by CS Lewis. You can come to discuss either on Tuesday 24th March at 2pm or Wednesday 25th March at 5.30pm (please read the book beforehand and let the office know which you’d like to attend).
The next Parish Magazine will soon be with you all, we are aiming to have it published electronically by 22nd March by email and printed copies in the Church soon after.

For your prayers…

Our Pre-Easter Family Workshop & Service ~ March 22nd Book here
Michael & Olive being married ~ March 25th.
Our young people being admitted to Holy Communion ~ 9.45 April 5th.
Our candidates for baptism & confirmation ~ 7.30pm April 13th.
Nicola and Michael being married ~ April 18th
All church teams & members who work so hard at this time of year
Our churchwardens, treasurer, PCC secretary & safeguarding officer
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) ~ 11.30am April 26th

Notices

MOTHERS’ UNION MEETING All are welcome to attend the MU meeting on Thursday 12 March 2pm in the Old Parsonage. Our speaker will be Richard Bickersteth on The Ashburnham Family’s Story. Refreshments will follow with a donation of £2 for visitors and £1 for members. We hope to see you there.

ELECTORAL ROLL ANNUAL UPDATE The annual revision of the electoral
roll is taking place between March 15 th and 2nd April 2026. Please let Mary Peck know if any details have changed in the last year such as change of address. After 2nd April 2026 no further names can be added to the electoral roll until after the closure of the APCM on 26th April 2026. Please request a form if you are not at present on the electoral roll and would like to apply. Telephone 01323 642593 or email maryandbrianpeck@googlemail.com

EASTER LILIES AND FLOWERS If you would like to give an Easter lily or Flowers in remembrance of a loved one, please write their name(s) in theRemembrance Book that can be found on the table in the South Open Spaceand give your donation to Vanessa Jeffries, Gillian Cant, Wayne or one of the Church Wardens. Many thanks, Vanessa Jeffries.

Upcoming Services & Events

An Easter Prayer for Peace

Almighty God,
we call upon the prince of peace, the Lord Jesus Christ to keep the whole world in a place of peace despite all the challenges we see. We know that we find peace in you. A peace beyond understanding, a peace that at times doesn’t make sense to others. This Easter, O King of glory, let peace overtake our fears and our worries. Let peace and faith arise in us anew, and draw us ever close to the prince of peace.
Amen