St Mary's Church
Fairford

The Cotswold Churches Festival

This month sees a major new event in the church Calendar: The Cotswold Churches Festival. The aim of the Festival is to have every church in the Dioceses of Gloucester and Oxford open to visitors. We at St Mary’s are used to our church being open daily but many churches, particularly in rural areas, are not. The idea is to have all churches open for all or some of the week 14-22 May and to stage something as a focus for visitors, eg a Flower Festival, concert, art display etc.

At St Mary's, on Saturday 14 May there will be two free, expertly guided tours of the windows at 11am and 2.30pm. This, of course, does not preclude visitors from Fairford!

Stop Press - Extra Tours added for:
Monday May 16th 2.30pm
Tuesday May 17th 2.30pm
Wednesday May 18th 10.30am
Thursday May 19th 2.30pm
Friday May 20th 12 noon

Anyone wishing to join these tours, or who need further information, should contact the Parish Office on 01285 712611, or e-mail.

Fairford Men’s Society

Day Out to Malmesbury Abbey Monday 16th May 2011, departing at 10am from St Marys Church.

On arrival in Malmesbury we will have coffee at Jackdaws in the Information Centre. Next, a short walk to the Abbey, where we will have a Guided Tour(£2.50). Lunch will be at one of the many eateries with the option, weather permitting, to visit the Famous Abbey House Gardens(£6.00 Senior Citizens).

Members will be using their cars for transport; anyone requiring a lift please contact our Chairman Jim Warren (01285 713502).

Charity of the Month: May

The aim of the Society is to be an advocate for the Bible in contemporary cultures, resourcing and influencing those who shape society, making the Bible heard by all.

The Society began over 200 years ago in 1804 because a group of Christians realised the importance of people all over the world having the opportunity to encounter God’s word. Since then their world wide work, to make the Bible heard everywhere, continues through the global alliances of supporters, churches and other organisations, plus a network of over 130 Bible Societies operating in 200 countries including the UK.

As well as funding the provision of Bibles, the Society arranges their distribution by all manner of means. Some people belong to the popular Bible a Month Club. There are ever growing media outlets to read, see and hear the Bible. It is important to have a voice in the key areas of communication throughout politics, the arts, the media and education. All the work of the Bible Society needs our help especially through donations. There is literature on the shelf along the south wall and gift aid envelopes opposite. Please help if you can. Their address for further information is: The Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea SWINDON SN5 7DG. Tel: 01793 418000. www.biblesociety.org.uk.

Previous Charity Fundraising

Monies collected from the box for the February charity, The Church Mission Society (CMS), amounted to £19.35 to which the PCC have added further amounts.

The charity for March, The Elizabeth Foundation, raised through the soup lunch the amazing sum of £141. Many thanks to all those who supported the event. Monies from the box for the same charity amounted to £41.52, to which the PCC will add again further amounts.

Parish retreat 2nd to 4th September 2011

Our parish retreat is taking place at Nympsfield again this year, a delightful Cotswold village between Tetbury and Stroud. We have been returning here for several years, as the accommodation and facilities are so good, and it is very near to us. We leave Fairford between 4:00-5:00 on the Friday and return after lunch on Sunday. We all have our own rooms; and the cost of all this with excellent home cooking is £96.

This will be a time of quiet reflection and consideration about our devotional lives in our busy timetables. If you would like to join us, please let Joanne Roberts know as soon as possible.

Special Team Ministry Service

On Sunday 15 May there will be a very special service at 6pm, led by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt. Rev’d Michael Perham. The service is to celebrate the development of the Team Ministry over the last two years and to introduce a team name and identity that unites all 22 churches (see below) of the Team. This may sound a little dull - it won’t be!!

Many morning services across the Team are being cancelled to allow as many people as possible to attend this service. AND there will be a choir of 80, drawn from choirs across the Team, to lead the singing and treat us to two choir anthems.

As this is a non-Eucharistic service there will be a Said Service of Holy Communion (BCP) at 9.30am (please note - NO 8am or 10am service!).

Churches of the Team:
Ampney Crucis, Ampney St Mary, Ampney St Peter, Barnsley, Bibury, Castle Eaton, Coln St Aldwyn, Down Ampney, Driffield, Eastleach, Fairford, Harnhill, Hatherop, Kempsford, Lechlade, Marston Meysey, Meysey Hampton, Poulton, Quenington, Southrop, Whelford, Winson.

Mothers Union

Our next meeting will be a week earlier than normal, on Wednesday 18th May, 2.00 p.m. in The Barker Room. John and Rachael Willard will be coming to speak to us.

Please bring items to this meeting for the White Elephant Stall for the Africa Fun Day to be held in June at Gloucester Cathedral.

The Deanery Quiet Day will take place on Thursday 12th May. Please see Pew Sheet for further details.

Fairford W.I

At our last meeting we were wonderfully entertained by Anne Ellis, who dressed as an Edwardian lady to illustrate her talk, on the life of her old Auntie Maud. The stories she told really brought Auntie Maud and her husband to life. Our competition was well supported too with a record number of entries, all on an Edwardian theme.

Our next meeting is on May 4th when our speaker will be Lynda Warren who will speak on the Music of Cameron Mcintosh. The competition is for a Musical Poster or Programme. All visitors are very welcome.

Café Church

Sunday 1st May & Sunday 5th June 4.00 to 5.30 pm in the United Church, Milton Street.

Please join us and meet friends, do crafts, listen to a story, play games, informal worship, share food.

Open to all - ages 0 to 100+!

For more information contact Joanne Roberts on 07881 903045

Organised by Churches Together Around Fairford with support from an Extended Services Grant from Gloucestershire County Council.