St. Mary's Church
News 2010

News Articles:

Usual Services At St Mary's

First Sunday of the Month, 8am, Holy Communion in Church:
No hymns, a short sermon and about 25-30 attending for a 30 minute service using the beautiful words of the 17th century.

Every Sunday, 9.30am, Morning Service in Church: a modern service & family friendly with a ‘Stay & Play’ crèche area. The service varies between Communion, Baptisms and simple informal worship. Hymns, prayer & sermon and lasts about 1 hour for the 50 – 60 who attend.

Every Sunday at 6.30pm Evening Service: with about 30 people with a full robed 4-part Choir where parts of the Traditional Book of Common Prayer service are sung, either Evening Prayer or Holy Communion. This gives the non-singers chance to hear sung worship in a traditional form. Hymns, Canticles & Psalm together with prayer & a Sermon lasts about 1 hour.

Once a month we have the following:

Quiet Time in Church. First Monday in the month from 6.30pm A short half hour time for reflection and mediation with extended times of silence in the context of worship & prayer.
Praise Evening. Fourth Monday of the month, giving us a chance for an hours worship in church using the newer hymns of the church in a more relaxed and less formal structure.
Wednesday Afternoon Christian Fellowship on the first Wednesday of the month gathers together a group who help the church support family life through talks, demonstrations and practical service.

Every year:
Alpha Course run as an introduction to the Christian faith especially for those who have little or no church connections. It provides an opportunity to ask all those questions you have of faith and raise your own thoughts in an accepting atmosphere.
SHAPE is a discipleship course we run each year taking us deeper into the Christian faith and offering us a chance to look at our God-given gifts & skills.
Confirmation happens each year [or sometimes bi-yearly] for those who want to commit themselves to the Christian faith and to the Church of England. It is the usual way to come to share in the bread and wine of Communion.

(Back to News Articles)

Winter 2010 News

Rector’s Message

For the church the approach of Christmas brings us to the season of Advent. Not just a time for opening calendars filled with chocolates but also a time of preparation for the Advent [or coming] of Jesus, which we celebrate at Christmas.

Don’t complain that the shops started weeks ago the church has already the monopoly on that with the season of Advent. The church is the past master of getting prepared for Christmas we’ve been doing it for centuries. We do it because Christmas is IMPORTANT.

The importance of Christmas is in the coming of Jesus into the world. But just because we are including Jesus doesn’t mean that everything runs smoothly though!

The coming of the Christmas season reminds us that in Christmas shopping we nearly always find just the right present after we have bought something else. We worry that we have enough for the Christmas meals and afterwards wonder why we brought so much. Hindsight can be a wonderful thing.

The Christmas story we will hear once again in St Mary’s church over the season will speak to us of the ‘if only’s’ of Christmas.

If only God had chosen another way for us to get to know him then Mary would not have been pregnant.
If only they hadn’t had to travel to Bethlehem then the baby could have been born in better conditions and there would have been no need for a stable.
If only the Angels had appeared to a better class of worker there would have been no need for ‘common’ shepherds to be at the stable.
If only the wise men had not gone to Herod first then perhaps they would have found Jesus in the stable rather than in a house.
If only it could have happened at another time of the year we could have a good Bar-B-Q for Christmas Dinner….and better weather!

In reality God chose the best way possible for Jesus to become part of his creation, a baby born in obscurity, knowing the danger of life from day one, becoming a figure of question and derision for many. All this so that we would have a chance to hear first hand what God has planned for us his creation.

May you all have a joyful and enjoyable Christmas. St Mary’s Church will be celebrating the Christmas Story in many different ways look out for more details.

Rev Ian Whitehead.

(Back to News Articles)

Pews Here to Stay at St Mary's!

Despite the modern introduction of church pews that replaced the bare floor and 'the sick going to the wall' to lean there in church during long services, it has been found that people are still dropping off to sleep. The introduction of Churchwardens staves to poke people awake hasn't helped either. Neither has the PA system and projector & screen stopped people falling asleep.

Therefore I am sorry to say that, at St Mary's. we have given into the demands of many that more comfortable sleeping arrangements be installed. Now wherever you come to sit in church you can be assured that your sleeping arrangements will now be better with thanks to Beryl Toon and others in their support and funding for Pew Cushions.

It has often been observed in churches that if all those who slept during sermons were laid end to end...they'd be a lot more comfortable!

Thank you Beryl and others who have made St Mary's a more comfortable experience.

Ian Whitehead

(Back to News Articles)

St Mary’s Fund Raising

By the time you read this “Advent Bright” will be over, so a big thank you to all who supported this event. The willing participation of so many organisations and individuals is very welcome, and is plain to all our visitors who often tell us how lucky we are to live somewhere with such good community spirit.

Next year, in conjunction with Transport Day, we shall again be organising the Grand Garage Sale Tour, so remember to keep all those unwanted items somewhere safe until next May 30th!

Another early warning – July 3rd is Gardens Sunday! No scarecrows on this occasion, although maybe look out at a future date! However, we are to introduce a new feature, Gardens Sunday – “Blooming Feet”, and hope that this will give everyone, young and old, the chance to take part. The idea is to produce a flowering (or edible!) planting in an old wellie, boot, shoe, pump, croc, or even a hanging sock! It would be great if we could have a whole row of feet leading up to the Old Grammar school.

New gardens wanted! Any offers welcome. Please contact the Rector, or Sylvia (Tel: 813320)

(Back to News Articles)

St Mary’s 5th Annual Advent Festival “Advent Bright”, St Mary’s Church
Friday 26 November – Monday 29 November, 2.00pm – 7.00pm daily, St Mary’s Church

Photographs of this event can be seen here.

(Back to News Articles)

Autumn 2010 News

Rector’s Message

Dear Friends,

Following the last Rollestonian I really need to bring you up to date with the situation of the walls of St Mary’s. A new grant application has gone in with a new architect and we should hear by the time this Rollestonian comes out if we have that English Heritage Grant or not. Without it we will not be able to afford, by ourselves, the £150,000 repair bill that we estimate may be the price of repairing these 14th century walls. If we do get this grant then we hope repairs may begin by the summer of 2011, only a couple years later than planned.

Wednesday 15th Sept at 6pm sees the start of a new Rolleston Youth Club in the Old School Room of the Church. This is starting with the 8-13 age group but there hopes that this can expand in time. No need to register just turn up and join in. This is being organised by the Staffs Youth Service with qualified Youth Workers and volunteers from the village. So...fancy doming along as a 'youth' or a 'volunteer'? Contact the Rector, Ian Whitehead for more details revirwhite@aol.com or 01283 810151

Soon will be arrival of the Autumn months and there is lots happening in the life of the community & church. Please see the Dates for your Diary. The diversity and unity in our village, through its different events, never ceases to amaze me, something for which we should be suitably proud and thankful.

Ian Whitehead, Rector

(Back to News Articles)

Diary Dates for St Mary’s Church

26th September 9.30am & 6.30pm Harvest Festival to be followed by auction of produce for donation to Charity.
17th October Please note evening service at the earlier time of 6pm for the arrival of Anne Hathaway at the Club for 7.30pm
Friday 22nd October the Pampered Chef comes to the Old School Room
7th November 10.30am a chance to hear our Archbishop of Canterbury at Lichfield Cathedral no service that morning to enable us to go to the Cathedral.
11th November 11am the Armistice Service at the Lych gate War Memorial
14th November 10am Remembrance Parade Service
14th November 6.30pm our Annual Memorial Service for those bereaved over the past year
26th – 29th November “Advent Bright”
28th November 6.30pm Advent Hymns & Carols for “Advent Bright”
19th December 9.30am Christingle Service
19th December 6.30pm United Carols by Candlelight
20th December 6.30pm Carol Singing around the Parish starting from the Lych Gate outside church.
Christmas Eve 3pm Nativity Service come along dressed for the Christmas Story
Christmas Eve 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 8am Holy Communion & 10am Family Communion

(Back to News Articles)

St Mary’s Fund Raising

Gardens Sunday

You will read elsewhere about the success of the Scarecrow Trail, but a big thank you is also due to all who opened their gardens, made teas, served on the stalls etc. or just bought programmes and enjoyed the day - £3,000 was raised for St Mary’s Fabric Fund, and an excellent day was had by all!

“Advent Bright”

Our Advent Festival which started out as a “one-off” is now well established in the village calendar. This year we are again inviting all interested organisations and individuals to take part and decorate the church with trees and garlands. We are calling the event “Advent Bright” and our idea is for the decorations to be in white or silver with as many lights as we can muster to make a real impact in the dark November days. To this end we are considering changing our opening hours to afternoon and early evening for the best experience. The Festival will run from Friday November 26th to Monday November 29th with a concert as usual on the opening evening.

Anyone interested in taking part is invited to a meeting in St Mary’s at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8th September. If you are unable to make the meeting, but would like to know more please give Sylvia Martin a ring on 813320.

(Back to News Articles)

St Mary's Gardens Sunday & Scarecrow Festival
Sunday 4 July

A report and photos of the event can be seen here.

(Back to News Articles)

Summer 2010 News

Diary Dates

Monday 31st May Transport day II & Grand Garage Sale Tour
Friday 4th June The Four Spires Steeplechase Fun Run & Cycle Run
Kidz Club 9.30am – 10.30am in Church and the Old School Room. June 20th & July 18th
Sunday 4th July Garden Sunday & Sunday Scarecrows Festival
Sat 11th September Ride & Stride with Open Churches day throughout the area

(Back to News Articles)

Rector’s Message

For all the best laid plans and hopes with dreams, sometimes there is only so much you can do and complete. The South Wall & Tower of the church in need of repair since the 1960’s and which we thought would finally be started this year has ground to a halt. The illness of our Architect has meant that we lost the funding from English Heritage and now have to start all over again in our Planning & Grant Applications with a new Architect. It at least gives us a chance to proceed with fundraising some of the £150,000 required.

We celebrate though with the Pre-School their successful bid for funding to build new facilities and we have been happy to support them in that. We want to continue with our support so in September & October the recently re-decorated Old School Room will be available to them, if required, for their use. This will mean that the regular Thursday Coffee Morning will be transferring to the Rolleston Club with the permission of the Committee.

How’s that for a wonderful image of our village in which different groups are willing and able to help another to benefit a third.

In a new development for the Church we hope that by the autumn a new Youth Group may be started in the venue of the Old School Room. With the assistance of East Staffs and the Neighbourhood Forum we hope to see a youth club started for the under 12’s. Table Tennis, Crafts, Computers and other stuff. We are grateful to Councillor John Morris in his success in providing for us a Laptop Computer from the Borough Council.

Half way through the year and there are disappointments but also wonderful news and a promise for the future. So like the Good News of Jesus & our Christian faith; disappointments but also a promise of God that works to make sure that we can be new in him.

Ian Whitehead, Rector

(Back to News Articles)

2nd Transport Day & Grand Garage Sale Tour
Monday 31 May

St Mary’s provided refreshments (teas/coffees/cakes) in the Old School Room and proceeds from this were for the church. Other monies from the day were divided between St Mary’s, Methodist Church and Pre-School. Photos can be seen here.

(Back to News Articles)

* * * * * * *

A Christening with a Difference

"We married at our son's christening" - read the full story here.

(Back to News Articles)

Spring 2010 News

Diary Dates

Sunday 14th March Mothering Sunday
Sunday 28th March Palm Sunday & St Mary’s Choir present Stainer’s Crucifixion
Thursday 1st April Maundy Thursday - Holy Communion at 7.00pm in St Mary’s
Friday 2nd April Good Friday Services: 11.00am Methodist Church, 2.00pm St Mary’s Church
Sunday 4th April Easter Day Services
Monday 12th April 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Annual general Meeting
Friday 7th May Pudding Party [how many can you eat? – the record’s 13!]
Sunday 4th July Garden Sunday & Scarecrows Festival

(Back to News Articles)

Rector’s Message

After the long wet winter we have had it’s great to see the resurgence of life again. The work we put into our garden for the ‘woodland spring area’ is now showing through. Sometimes it is not easy waiting for the effects of your work to become a reality.

After 10 years here, there are definitely effects that we are seeing and celebrating. Not just the proliferation of Snowdrops and Bluebells [did you give us a small clump all those years ago?] but more importantly our church congregation continues to grow with new faces regularly joining us in worship and ‘blossoming’ amongst us for God.

Looking to the future, the church’s season of Lent is already with us and a Lent course is running at Church on Wednesday evenings as well as mid-week communion services. We are also raising money as a Church towards a project in Rwanda. In 2001, following the genocide, the Church there was working amongst the many families by giving a Cow. Today the local church is still at work rebuilding a country with a lost generation and through Mid Africa Ministry we are helping them to do that.

Nearer to home, work may start on the South Wall & Tower of the church, which has been suffering from simple weather wearing for the past 400 years but now seriously needs repair for the next 400 years. With an ancient building, like any house, work is always required and although there is NO central money for repairs we are gratefully supported by English Heritage for some of the repair bill. If you would like to help towards raising the remainder please speak to the Rector.

Later in the year July 4th will our Garden Sunday and if anyone would like to open their Garden with us please get in touch with the Rector. This event coupled with the Advent Festival raises the majority of our Fabric Fund each year, whilst regular monthly bills such as Heating, Lighting, Insurance and Ian remain the responsibility of the Congregation with again NO central funding. Your local church, like many households, lives financially very much from month to month and you being a part of the Local Church helps with that – thank you for your faithful support.

Ian Whitehead, Rector

(Back to News Articles)

St Mary's Fund Raising

Many thanks to all who took part in “Deck the Halls” at Advent. Over £3,000 was raised for Church funds during this festival and once again Rolleston received many compliments on the community involvement and ingenuity of the displays. Look out later in the year for the next challenge!

(Back to News Articles)

St Mary’s Garden Sunday & Scarecrow Trail July 4th

Could you open your garden in aid of St Mary’s?

We welcome all offers, and always enjoy a great variety of gardens – large or small, traditional or modern, or simply a well loved family garden, visitors to Rolleston enjoy them all!

Garden Sunday will again be supplemented with the Scarecrow Trail, watch out for details of how to enter in the next Rollestonian

We are considering a Spring Garden Sunday next year and may be asking for volunteers to open late April/early May. This year is the time to look at your garden and see if you would like to take part in 2011 – do please let me know so that we can judge whether there would be enough support to try this new date.

Sylvia Martin (813320)

(Back to News Articles)

“Rolleston Reviewed”

An exhibition of pastel drawings of the village completed in 2009 by John Underhill was held in the Old Grammar School Hall on Saturday Feb 27th to Monday Mar 1st with the proceeds going to support and further improve the hall. Further details including pictures can be seen here.

(Back to News Articles)

Back to St Mary's Home Page

Home Page, establishments

© Richard Bush

Last updated: 3 April 2011