St Mary's Church
Fairford

Choral Evensong

Charity of the Month:
The Royal School of Church Music, RSCM

Founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and granted Royal status in 1945, the RSCM is an international ecumenical Christian charity. The mission is to enable the best use of music to be available in worship, church life and the wider community. The RSCM has over 7000 active members and many volunteer groups and is an open, life-long learning organisation, offering face-to-face and distance learning through educational programmes, courses, festivals, workshops and published resources. Membership is invited and participation in support and the sustaining of church music through volunteers and generous charitable giving.

The activities of the charity range from ‘Voice for Life’ training programmes for choirs with opportunities for individual awards at bronze, silver and gold levels through to developing skills for organists, choir directors and music group leaders. There is also a foundation degree course in Church Music and a Young people’s singing course. All this and more is covered in more than 50 areas alone in the UK. There is more information shown in the literature to be found on the top shelf along the south wall.

Membership rates are also shown and can be as low as £15 a year for Student Membership and any membership can make an ideal gift too. Those who do not require membership but would like to support the mission are urged to make a gift towards the RSCM Annual Fund. If you can, please support this worthwhile cause.

If you need further details write to : The Royal School of Church Music, 19 The Close SALISBURY, SP1 2EB. Tel: 01722 424848. Our contact for Gloucestershire is Rebecca Coleman Tel: 01453 753041. Email rcoleman@tinyworld.co.uk.
Website.

Previous Charity Fundraising

Monies collected from the box in church for the March charity, Home Start, Cotswolds, amounted to £56.82 to which the PCC will add further amounts.

Youth Service Dates

1st June, 28th June (Barn Service), 28th September, 2nd November and 30th November.

Venue will be Lechlade Baptist Church (unless stated) starting at 7.15pm. See poster in porch for details.

News April 2014
News March 2014
News February 2014
News January 2014
St Mary's News Round-Up 2013
St Mary's News Round-Up 2012
St Mary's News Round-Up 2011

Funday Sundays in 2014

No need to book but it will help us with catering if you can let us know that you are coming. If not - just turn up on the day.

If you could help with of these events please talk to one of the LMT members about it or contact Sarah Bottomley( 712074) or Kathleen Hall ( 712583) or email stmaryslmt@gmail.com.

Joint Outing

The Friends of Fairford Church and the Flower Team are joining together for an outing on Tuesday 8th July to Ewelme Church nr Wallingford and Mary Berry’s garden nr High Wycombe.

If you would like more information please contact either Geoff (712053) or Heather (712428).

Jesus and Me Club, 11th May

10am St Mary’s Church, Fairford
Stories, craft,
fun and food
Every second Sunday

Foodbank News

The kindness and generosity of everyone who donates to the food box has not waned one bit, and the Cirencester Food Bank finds the amounts which we deliver on your behalf over-whelming. The monthly letter of acknowledgement gives an approximate weight of the donations, and occasionally will add a request for certain items that are in short supply.

I was told by Terry ( the volunteer who helps us unload the goods) that demand is heavier than supply most of the time, so the generous amounts of food given by St.Mary's and the local community, have been an enormous contribution over the past months.

You are also benefiting Beech View by way of little treats - soaps, a bar of chocolate etc. which I know is greatly appreciated by the residents, and it was so heartening to hear so many who thought this was the right thing to be doing.

As I know we all want to be helping our own folk as much as possible, bread sticks or sugar-free squash is occasionally given to the Little Lambs - to help stretch their pennies, and again this is most gratefully accepted.

All in all, our momentum is up and running and the system seems to be working well.  Hopefully the time will come when we are asked to stop giving, as it is no longer needed!  Shall we not hold our breath? I feel privileged to witness so much love being shown in this way - it never ceases to amaze. Every blessing and many thanks for your enthusiasm and goodness.
Wendy Graham