St Mary's Church
Fairford

Special Services

Sunday 8 Sept. our Patronal Festival, when we celebrate the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The 10am service will be led by The Rt. Rev’d Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester, and the other clergy and congregations of the South Cotswold Team have been invited to attend. It should be a splendid occasion, especially as one third of the churches in the Team are dedicated to St Mary!

Sunday 22nd September our Harvest Thanksgiving. Given the vagaries of the British weather, farmers have had a tough time in recent years and deserve our thanks for their labours. At all the services that day we will give thanks to God for all that we are given to sustain and enrich our lives. At a material level we have so much, even in these financially straitened times, yet at a spiritual level we have even more for which to be thankful. As Christians we can know and experience the love of God in every aspect of our lives.

Charity of the Month:
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)

The Institution is a grant making charity which helps farming people in financial difficulty. Tailored to individual needs, confidential support is given to Farmers and Farm-workers of all ages, including state benefit’s advice and are one off or regular, as well as funding for things like disability equipment, essential household goods and hospital travel costs.

Through RABI does not pay business bills, it can pay for relief farm staff if, for example, someone is unable to work through their own illness or that of a close member of their family. The charity can help with home care fees and home-help costs, and runs two residential homes of its own. It can also pay for training to allow people develop skills they can use to get off farm work to supplement their income.

Please support RABI with a donation and use a gift aid envelope if you can. There is literature on the shelf on the bookcase along the south wall. For further information write to RABI, Shaw House, 27 West Way, OXFORD OX2 0QH. Tel: 01865 724931. RABI Helpline (Freephone) 0300 303 7373.
Website.

Parish Retreat

This year the Parish retreat will be the 1st - 3rd November 2013. The Retreat will again be held at the Marist Centre in Nympsfield, a place of peace and tranquillity. See photo below.

It will be led by The Rev’d Dr. Mike Tucker, a priest and former nuclear physicist. After retirement from Berkeley Power Station he became vicar of Amberley and also Gloucester Diocesan Officer for Ordinands.

The cost of the weekend is £100.

Please contact Denny Rawlinson, 01285 711009 for further details.

Family Harvest Supper

Saturday 14th September
10 am to 6 pm

This is an annual fund raising event for Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust. Ride+Stride is a nationwide sponsored bike ride or walk in which people from all over the country walk or cycle between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside. The money they raise helps to preserve some of Britain’s 47,000 churches, chapels and meeting houses which are at risk of falling into serious disrepair.

Sponsor forms are available from the Parish Office. So why not get on your bike or dust off your walking boots and raise some money for this important cause. If you have any questions about this event please contact Geoff Hawkes 712053. See also the website.

Messy Space, Sat 21st September

2.00 – 4.00 p.m. Fairford Community Centre
Crafts and Coffee Bar for families
Start of the new season
Come and see what we will be doing this time!

Adults and Children (recommended 4 years upwards) - £2 per child (max. £5 per family)
Concessions available.
A project of Churches Together Around Fairford.

Jesus and Me Club, 8th September

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

X:site, Saturday 14th September

6-8pm
Kempsford Primary School

X:site is a fast moving, high energy event for anyone who is 7-11 years old. Each event combines silly games, live music with a great band, videos, creative prayer, craft, drama, Bible stories and lots more so that everyone can have a good time and learn about Jesus and have fun at the same time!

Visit the website for more information and photos. It is organised in each area by a partnership of local churches and Scripture Union.

For further details contact Joanne Roberts - Tel 01285 711386

News August 2013
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News January 2013
St Mary's News Round-Up 2012
St Mary's News Round-Up 2011