Sunday 26th May – Trinity Sunday— the day when we explore what it means to worship a Trinitarian God.
A classic definition of the Trinity is:
The Trinity defines God as three divine persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; “one God in three persons”. The three persons are distinct, yet are one ”substance, essence or nature”.
A nature is what one is, while a person is who one is.
Join us as we explore this further.
Last weekend was very special indeed. Starting on Saturday 18th May, the PCC Away Day at the Mill House was encouraging. We basked in the sunshine in beautiful surroundings. In the afternoon, the PCC discussed updating the Coffee Shop area and several suggestions were put forward.
At our 10:00am service on Sunday, Fr. Frank preached powerfully on “The Holy Spirit”. If you missed his sermon you can hear it again on our Sermons page. He has now returned to The Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka taking with him our warm greetings.
At 5.30pm Margaret Caddick and her hard working team produced a cream tea to greet Bishop Peter Price as he came to preach at the service held to commemorate the centenary of the Taunton & Somerset Music, Drama & Dance. The worship which followed was rich and spiritually uplifting. We pray for Peter and Dee that they adjust comfortably to a well earned retirement in June.
Highlights of these and other activities of this special weekend can be seen in our ‘Bumper Pentecost Weekend’ video!
Meets in St Mary Magdalene Church on the first Wednesday of every month at 2.00pm and all are welcome.
More details from Marlene Phillips 01823 282486 (please contact Rosemary Sage 01823 276797 during June and July).
Every week St Mary’s Weekly Word looks into the Bible to find what God is saying to us today. We find Bible passages to read and questions to ponder.
We have just started a new series based around the theme of Pentecost.
For seven weeks (from Penecost Sunday to end of June) we will be looking at encouraging aspects of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Weekly Word can be found under Quick Links on the Home Page.
Your very generous donations continue to be most welcome, and really fill a need at this difficult time.
There is a particular shortage of 1lb bags of sugar (as opposed to the normal 2lb bags).
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Saturday 1st June will be the date of the next of our Summer Stalls.
There will be a Bric a Brac Stall
an Accessories Stall,
and a Tombola Stall.
Anything you can contribute towards any of these will be gratefully received.
Beginning on 30th October we are planning to run a discipleship course called ‘Christianity Explored’.
This will be an exciting opportunity to refresh or renew your faith and this course covers all the basics.
Interested?
Why not have a chat with Rod and find out more?
On Saturday 22nd June, in support of the Bells of St Mary’s Bell Project, our bellringers are going to be at Nynehead Court for a fun…, fun…, fund-raising time. Cream teas, a raffle and all that Nynehead Court has to offer.
The Project plan is to melt down and recast all fifteen bells, to re-hang them in a lower chamber, and to replace the old carillon system.
The Project goal is to provide St Mary’s with a tuneful ring of bells on which the younger generation can learn to ring and a Carillon which will serve St Mary’s church and Taunton for many generations to come.
To learn more about this Project there is a leaflet available or go to our web site www.bellsofstmarys.org.uk but in the meantime join us at Nynehead Court. Bells start ringing at 2:30pm!
The Evangelical Alliance together with Care for the Family and the Churches Child Protection Advisory have been working together to respond to the huge challenge presented by increasing numbers of children coming into care. The Home for Good initiative has been launched after extensive consultation with National Fostering and Adoption agencies and the government.
There is an information evening planned by Somerset County Council on Thurs July 11th at the Holiday Inn, Taunton at 7 pm. Krish Kandiah from the Home for Good campaign will be speaking.
It is right that the churches should be at the forefront of responding to this challenge. If one foster/adoptive family came from every church in the country then the existing short fall would easily be solved.
Please see the leaflet at the back of church for more details.
NOTICE FROM CHURCH WATCH ON SECURITY OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS :
There have been a number of thefts of handbags/purses from church premises lately. Police would encourage members of congregations not to leave any personal property unattended at church services, even when going up for Communion as there was a recent serious incident in which a handbag was stolen.
Sad though this seems, please be extra vigilant and report anything suspicious to one of the wardens.
As a welcoming church we need welcomers! Do you feel able to offer your help on a team – just once every six weeks? It would be lovely to have you. Thank you.
Please speak to Shirley Gurnham if you are interested.
Pentecost (Whit Sunday) is when we remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem just as Jesus had promised.
It is a delight to see the Pentecost banner once more looking so splendid.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:1-4