News
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Church Magazine – September 2023 to November 2023
The latest edition of the Church Magazine is available to view here.
St Mary’s Church Administrator Position
The job description is available here.
Church Magazine – June 2023 to August 2023
The latest edition of the Church Magazine is available to view here.
APCM – April 2023
The Meeting to appoint Churchwardens and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Thursday April 27th in Church at 7.30pm. The reports are available to view here.
Church Magazine – March 2023 to May 2023
The latest edition of the Church Magazine is available to view here.
Mission Committee News – January 2023
At a recent meeting of The Mission Committee, we agreed that we would dedicate all our fundraising for the first three months of 2023 to Water Aid. Their vision is of a world where everyone, everywhere has safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene. 1 in 10 people don’t have access to clean water and this stops people having an equal chance to be healthy, educated and financially secure. The climate crisis is making life ever harder for communities already struggling to get clean water.
We will be supporting Water Aid in three ways from 1 st January – 31 st March 2023:
1. Donations can be made weekly via our Mission Plate in St Mary’s until the end of March.
2. Water Aid will be our 2023 Lent Charity (Wednesday 22 nd February – Thursday 6 th April 2023).
We are asking our congregation to save whatever they can in their own recycled jam jar and
to bring their jam jars into St Mary’s at the end of Lent. We will do the counting and the
recycling of your jam jars, and we will let you know how much we collect.
3. We will hold a Water Aid fundraising Coffee Morning with a Tombola Stall on Saturday 11 th
February from 10 – 12 Noon in St Mary’s. All are very welcome to attend.
You are very welcome to donate direct to Water Aid on their website: www.wateraid.org/uk
Thank you very much for your support.
Church Magazine – December 2022 to February 2023
The latest edition of the Church Magazine is available to view here.
Church Magazine – September to November 2022
The latest edition of the Church Magazine is available to view here.
Church Magazine – June to August 2022
The latest edition of the Church Magazine is available to view here.
The Revd Petra Shakeshaft – May 2022
We are delighted to announce that the Revd Petra Shakeshaft is to be licensed as Associate Priest for the parishes of St Mary’s, Sawston and St Peter’s, Babraham. She will be licensed by the Archdeacon of Cambridge at the 9.15am service at St Mary’s on Sunday 12th June.
APCM – April 2022
The Meeting to appoint Churchwardens and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Thursday April 28th in Church and on Zoom at 7.30pm. The reports are available to view here.
March to May Church Magazine – March 2022
The latest edition of the Church Magazine including information on our Easter services can be found here.
December to February Church Magazine – December 2021
The latest edition of the Church Magazine including information on all our Christmas services can be found here.
Confirmation Service at St Mary’s – November 2021
On 30th November we invited Bishop Stephen of Ely to confirm three members of our congregation in a very special service. Thank you to all those who came to support the candidates and congratulations to those confirmed.
Welcoming the Revd Kathryn Waite – June 2021
It was a joy to welcome Revd Kathryn Waite as the new incumbent of St Mary’s Sawston and St Peter’s Babraham at a service of Institution and Induction on Tuesday 22nd June. Please pray for Kathryn and her family, as she begins her ministry with us.
APCM – April 2021
These meetings will be held on Thursday April 29th 2021, at 19.30 in Church and on Zoom as authorised by the bishop. Andy and Marian are willing to continue to serve as churchwardens and their appointment will form the first part of the meeting. Three PCC members will be elected to serve for three years. The retiring PCC members, who are eligible for re–election, are Andrew Beale, Rebecca Herrick, Anna Lovewell and Rosina Whitmell. The revised Electoral Roll will be accepted at the meeting and annual reports on finances and from various committees and other groups will be received. The booklets are now available in Church and online.
Refresh Relaunch – April 2021
Refresh will be returning to the church, every Tuesday from 13th April, 2.00pm – 3.00pm, for parents/carers of babies up to 12 months old. Do get in touch if you’d like to join us.
New Vicar for St Mary’s Sawston and St Peter’s Babraham – February 2021
The Bishop of Ely is pleased to announce that the Revd Kathryn Joy Waite, currently Assistant Curate in the Chesterton Benefice is to be Vicar of the Benefices of Sawston and Babraham. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Kathryn and her family to the parish later in the year.
Monday Evening House Group Advent Course – November/December 2020
You would be very welcome to join Monday Housegroup for a four-week Advent Bible Study entitled ‘Hope’ by John Birch. The first session will be Monday 23rd November 8pm to 9.30pm on Zoom. Please contact Sally and David Bard for more information: sally.bard2@gmail.com Tel. 01223 501165
Shoe Box Appeal – November 2020
A very big ‘thank you’ to everyone from St Mary’s who donated to this year’s Christmas Shoe Box appeal. The total number of Shoe Boxes collected by Sawston Free Church this year was 74, a wonderful amount in such a challenging year.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting – 15th October 2020
We have received instructions from the archdeacon about the APCM procedures for 2020. In accordance with these, the meeting to elect/appoint Churchwardens and the APCM will be held on 15 October 2020 at 19:30 in Church and on Zoom. The main purpose of the meeting is to elect representatives to the Deanery Synod and PCC, appoint an independent examiner and to receive reports. The accounts for 2019 and the Annual Report have already been accepted by the PCC and copies sent to the Diocesan Office. We are told the meetings should be short and to the point and the business transacted as swiftly as possible. The reports will all be available online, with paper copies for those who do not have internet access. Any questions should be raised with the authors before the meeting, so that reports can be accepted en bloc. It is anticipated at present that the next APCM will be in April/May 2021.
The Agenda, Minutes from the last meeting and Reports are available online.
Monday Evening Homegroup Restarting – September 2020
The Monday Evening Homegroup will restart on Zoom on Monday 7th September, 7.30pm. If you’d like to join us, please email welcome@stmaryssawston.org.uk.
News from the Mission Committee – August 2020
2020 Christmas Box Appeal
I’ve heard from Sawston Free Church that they will be supporting the shoebox collection this year. Blythswood Care will be officially launching their appeal in early September and it looks as if the same things will be asked for in the boxes as per last year. There was an excellent response from St Mary’s in 2019 and it would be wonderful if we could make a contribution this year too. I have requested some leaflets and these will be available to collect from St Mary’s in the near future – I will let you know when they are there. It is possible to access information on the Blythswood web site on blythswood.org/shoebox appeal which you may find helpful with regard to what to put in the boxes and details of the countries where the shoe boxes will be distributed.
Charity, July-September
Please may I add a reminder that we are currently supporting our overseas Charity, United Society Partners in the Gospel, to the end of September. USPG is an Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. USPG believes today’s major challenges cry out for words and actions that express a love and solidarity that goes beyond narrow self-interest and national boundaries. Further information can be found via their website uspg.org.uk and please do make a donation on line if you can. We will be making a donation from St Mary’s to USPG from the annual allowance we receive from the PCC. This means that we have been able to continue to support our chosen charities during this very challenging year and we are very grateful that we have been able to do this.
Thank you for your support.
Holiday at Home Club – August 2020
The usual Churches Together in Sawston Holiday Club can’t take place in person this year, but a virtual extravaganza will be taking place on the week of 17th August instead. If you’d like to sign up, please contact holidayclubcts@gmail.com by 10th August.
Goodbye to Alan and Liz – August 2020
Resuming Services in Church – July 2020
The guidelines for resuming services in church are complex, and as such, we will be starting small with a said Holy Communion on Sunday 26th July at 9.00am in Church and twice a month thereafter. All are welcome, but please be aware that social distancing will be required and the children’s area will be closed. This service will also be available on Zoom. Our main service provision will continue on Zoom for the time being, as we seek to explore other ways of being church together.
Alan and Liz’s Desert Island Discs Farewell – July 2020
If you would like to join us for a Zoom farewell to Alan and Liz on Saturday 25th July, 7.30pm on Zoom, please contact the church office by Friday 24th July (stmaryssawston@btinternet.com). Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We hope to host a “proper” farewell for Alan and Liz at a later date, pandemic allowing, as we know there are many who would wish to say goodbye.
Open Church – June 2020
The Church building will be open on Thursday from 10.00am until 2.00pm for private prayer. Everyone is welcome. Please observe the social distancing measures in place and use the hand washing facilities provided.
We are still here! – May 2020
Our Church Building may be shut, but the Church is still alive and active. If you’d like to join us online please contact welcome@stmaryssawston.org.uk. If you have a pastoral issue, please contact Alan Partridge (01223 832248), Petra Shakeshaft (07847 307416) or Sally Bard (01223 501165).
Services Suspended in the Church Building – March 2020
As recommended by the Church of England and in-line with government guidelines all services and activities will be suspended (except funerals) until further notice. We hope to provide resources for you to worship at home and these will be available on the services page. The Church is now shut, but we can still be contacted through the vicar, Alan Partridge on 01223 832248.
Notice – March 2020
We encourage everyone to care for their neighbours in Sawston at this time, particularly those who are vulnerable or isolated. If you live in Sawston and have no support, whether a church attendee or not, please do get in touch with the vicar Alan Partridge (01223 832248), or Sally Bard (01223 501165), or the Church Office (01223 837298) and we will do what we can to help you.
A Prayer for the time of Coronavirus – March 2020
Almighty and all-seeing God,
Be with us now in our time of need and hear our prayer.
Be with those who are sick or in pain, that they may know your healing.
Be with those who are fearful and anxious, that they may know your strength.
Be with those who mourn, that they may be comforted.
Be with those in authority, that they may know your wisdom.
Be with the healers and carers, that they may know your compassion.
We are the body of Christ;
may we be his hands, his eyes and ears, his mind and his heart
supporting those who are vulnerable and needy in our communities
and showing his love to the world.
Amen.
Group Cancellations – March 2020
We have taken the decision to cancel Refresh, our baby and toddler group, Soup and Sandwiches, our bimonthly lunch, and St Mary’s Craft Group for the time being to protect one another during the coronavirus outbreak. We will let you know as and when these activities can resume.
Friends of the Holy Land Appeal – March 2020
As we think of and pray for those in our own country and across the world affected by the coronavirus outbreak, the Friends of the Holy Land, one of the charities St Mary’s supports, has launched an appeal for those in Bethlehem, who’s lives are completely dependent on tourism. Read more about it here: https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/news/news/coronavirus-outbreak-bethlehem—an-appeal
Electoral Roll Update – March 2020
The revision process for the Church Electoral Roll will take place from 20 March to 4 April this year, following which a copy of the roll will be displayed in Church before the APCM on 23 April 2020. Please would you check the roll and let me know any errors. If you are not on the Electoral Roll, then forms of application with the eligibility criteria are available by the Church notice board, to be completed and returned to me. In order for a person to be entitled to attend the APCM and to take part in its proceedings, an application form for enrollment must be received by 4 April. Please let me know any queries.
Janet Martin, Church Electoral Roll Officer.
Recycling Box for Ellie’s Fund – March 2020
Our recycling box is back in church raising funds for Ellie’s Fund, part of Brain Tumour Research and Support. Clean and dry recycling only. Please check this webpage for more details before donating your recycling. https://www.btrs.org.uk/Support-Us/Recycling-in-Yorkshire
Save the Date – February 2020
St Mary’s Summer Fete will be held at Sawston Hall on Saturday 20th June. This year’s Fete will have an Eco Theme!
Announcement – January 2020
The Revd Alan Partridge has announced that he will be retiring as Vicar of St Mary’s and St Peter’s this summer. Alan and Liz’s last Sunday at St Peter’s will be Sunday 19th July and at St Mary’s will be Sunday 2nd August. On 18th July at Sawston Hall a farewell event for all the village will be held in their honour.