Important News

Festival of Mary, Mother of the Lord

At the time of the English Reformation, The Book of Common Prayer retained many festivals of Mary, Mother of the Lord. Many of these traditional festivals, however, are really feasts of the Lord. One obvious example is the Annunciation to Mary, or Lady Day, (25 March), which is more accuirately called the Annunciation of the Lord. In recent years most provinces of the Anglican Communion have sorted out this confusion, giving feasts of the Lord their proper designations and keeping a special festival in honour of our Lady on 15 August or the Sunday nearest to it. This brings the Anglican Church into line with Orthodox and Oriental churches as well as the Roman Catholic Church. We rejoice in celebrating Mary’s faith and courage, for she is first among the faithful, the first Christ-bearer all disciples love and imitate.

New Church Council

At last week’s Annual general Meeting, the following were appointed to form our new Church Council - Helen Matuzik and Ian Wilson (Churchwardens), Naomi Fitzgerald, Sandi Green, Allan Griffiths, David Marsh, Sharon Mythen, Diana Thompson, and Bob Whittle. We thank Michael Price and Breda Taylor who retired at this AGM for their valuable contribution. It is good to have a Council characterized by considerable experience and new energy. At next week’s meeting we will elect a secretary and a treasurer.

Winter Chocolates

We look to every member of the parish community to help us raise $2000 for church funds through the annual Winter Chocolate Drive. Chocolates will be available next Sunday.

Each winter our chocolate drive raises essential funds for parish ministry and mission, and we confidently rely on the enthusiasm and goodwill of every member of this faith community in making this fund-raiser a great success. In a world where chocolate is still too often produced through the oppression and cruelty of child slave labour, we are happy to note that Cadbury is a Fair Trade company.