Harriet Leefe

So what have the young people and children of St Mary’s been up to recently?

We had a busy time over Christmas at St Mary’s… with two Christingle services, a candle lit carol service, midnight mass and the Christmas service it’s no wonder everyone needed a rest afterwards!  It was a great time though; St Mary’s definitely throws good parties! 

Dad’s Saturday Morning Cinema

Calling all dads and kids…

Come and join us for tea & coffee, bacon butties and cartoons.

Saturday, 9am – 12pm

25^th Feb, 24^th Mar, 21^st Apr, 26^th May

For more information call Neil on 07761191060 or email revneil@me.com

Everyone is a Contemplative

It is curious how for centuries the universal teaching of Jesus was restricted to the few. Jesus called everyone to ‘be perfect’ in love and compassion like his Father, to leave self behind, to shed materialistic stress and anxiety,

The Ashes Good Neighbours NEED YOU!

We are a group of volunteers who wish to offer our time to assist residents in Ash and Ash Vale by helping with transport to the Doctors or the Hospital, shopping or we could pop in for a cup of tea and a chat.

CTAAT Lent Series – 2012

This year, Christians together in Ash, Ash Vale and Tongham will be following a Lent video course is entitled “Jesus, the wounded healer”. Each of the five sessions will open with a 15 minute video, followed by a discussion led by one of the local parish priests, and close with a short time of worship.

You are warmly invited to the ‘Easter Café’

In St Mary’s Small Hall

Thursday 29th March, 10.30 am – 12.30pm

Hot Cross Buns and Easter Eggs, Books and Greetings Cards

This will be the last Thursday Café before Easter.

We start up again on Thursday 19th April.

Women’s Day Of Prayer – 2012

On Friday 2nd of March 2012 a tide of prayer will sweep around the world, starting as the day dawns in Tonga and continuing around the world until the sun sets on the Pacific. Over three million people around the world will be praying together for world peace and improved conditions for all people, using a special service prepared by the Christian women of Malaysia, on the theme “Let Justice Prevail”.

Harriet Leefe

St. Augustine once prayed, ‘I am seeking. I am hesitant and uncertain but will you, O God, watch over every step of mine and guide me in your way’.  This is certainly a prayer I can relate to as I move into the third month of my new job as youth and children’s worker at St Mary’s Ash Vale.  After two months of settling in (and eating lots of cake) I now have a lot of work to be getting on with!

Meet the local … Barbara Stevens

How did you come to live in Ash Vale?

We moved here in 1985 though we hadn’t really intended to choose Ash Vale. A strong reason was the presence of the train station which provided good access to work for my husband.

What about your family?

Knavery – Part 3

At this time of year we think of Nativity plays and other seasonal “happenings”.  We think of this as being “normal” but it wasn’t always so…

In medieval times books were all hand written and most were in Latin.  Some were highly decorated with gold leaf and other costly materials.  Books were very expensive and only the rich could afford to commission a book let alone learn to read and write.