roots down walls down
A lot of us this lent have been enjoying the Lectio 365 app that was recommended in the weekly notices. If you havent tried it yet, do give it a go! https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource_cat/apps/ is the link and once you have the app you are offered morning, midday and evening options or why not try all 3. If you need help setting it up on your phone, come to Friday Cafe and we can assist!
Here’s What’s happening at St Mary’s this week. All Welcome!
Palm Sunday Service 13th April at 10:30am. Following the service, you can receive prayer from the ministry team at the front of the church. Join us after the service for coffee in the Large Hall – everyone is welcome.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting is Sunday Evening on 13th April 2025 at 6pm in Church.
Easter Flowers: If you would like to make a donation for Easter flowers in memory of a loved one please speak to Steph or contact us via the parish office email. parishoffice@ash-vale.org.uk
Maundy Thursday Supper: Thursday 17 April 6pm for a 6.30pm start. Join us for a bring and share supper as we remember the Last Supper. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend.
Friday 18 April Good Friday:
9.45am Walk of Witness. We start our walk at 10.00am from St Mary’s and reach Ash Wharf for an open air service with Churches Together at 10.30am, followed by a cuppa and hot cross buns at the Chapel.
Good Friday Prayer and Meditation: The Church will be open in the afternoon for anyone who would like a quiet time for prayer and meditation.
Easter Saturday 19 April
10.00am Decorating the Church for Easter: All are welcome to come and help with flowers – no experience necessary! There’s plenty to get involved with and anyone can have a go. Donations of garden blooms or greenery on the day would also be much appreciated. Speak to Steph Farry for more information, and to join the Flower Team WhatsApp group.
20.00pm Easter Saturday Vigil: In the Vicarage garden. We will share the story of the resurrection of Jesus. Meeting and sharing around the bonfire.
Easter Sunday 20 April 2025
10.30am Sunday Service – come and celebrate, Jesus Christ our Savour is risen indeed,
Easter Collection: This year the collection from the Easter Service will go to Amaha We Uganda in support of their Tree Project and their work with the Women of Hope.
Alpha course coming soon:
We’re starting a new alpha course after Easter. The first introductory session will be on Monday 28th April meeting in the Small Hall from 7.30pm. Then sessions will generally be weekly from 12th May. They will involve a light meal and should last a couple of hours each evening.
What is Alpha?
A 10 week course using videos and discussion to find out more about our faith, who Jesus is, what he’s done for us and how we respond.
If you’re interested have a chat with Jackie on Sundays, call for a chat on 07890 471062, or come along to the introductory session to find out more.
Contemplative Prayer These are the upcoming dates for the contemplative prayer meetings. They will be held Sunday evenings once a month in the Church from 18.30pm to 19.30pm on: April 27, May 18, June 22 and July 20
We wish you every blessing this Easter. All are welcome, whether you are a lifelong Christian or just exploring. See you soon at St Mary’s!
St Mary’s Church, Vale Road, Ash Vale, GU12 5AY
Join us on Maundy Thursday 17th April 2025 for a bring & share supper as we remember the Last Supper. Doors open from 6pm for a 6:30pm start. All are welcome, bring a friend!
Join us to celebrate Easter at St Mary’s. We are having a Sunday 10:30am service, all are welcome whether you are a lifelong Christian or just exploring.
Sundayschool is available for families attending the service. Children can join us for fun Easter activities in the small hall during the service. (Under 3’s must be accompanied please)
We wish you every blessing this Easter as we celebration our salvation in Jesus Christ!
Alleluia! Christ our Saviour is risen indeed!
PS – Would you like to help decorate the Church for Easter Sunday? Come and join us on Saturday Morning and pitch in!
On Good Friday we gather at St Mary’s church on Vale Road at 9:45am, start the Walk of Witness at 10am, and reach Ash Wharf for our Churches Together Open Air Service with Churches Together at 10:30am.
After the service everyone is invited to The Chapel (Methodist Church on Wharf Rd) for a cuppa and a hot cross bun!
St Mary’s will be open for prayer and meditation in the afternoon.
You can join us for all or any of these, all are welcome. See you on Good Friday!
(There is no Community Cafe at St Mary’s on Good Friday but you are welcome to join in the activities and/or come to the Chapel from 11:30 onwards for a cuppa and a hot cross bun instead!)
Special events this week for Easter 2024:
Wednesday 7:30pm at St Mary’s: Neil’s talk – Reflection on the way of tea – “why I do what I do”
Thursday 6pm at st Mary’s: Maundy Thursday bring and share meal
Good Friday:
10:00 walk of witness sets off from st Mary’s
10:30 service with Churches Together at Ash Wharf outside by the canal bridge
11:30 hot cross buns at the Chapel on wharf rd, all welcome
Afternoon – st Mary’s open for prayer, craft and meditation
Saturday: st Mary’s open all day, come and help with church decoration, flowers team will be in 10:00-12:00 come and join in!
Easter Sunday: special Easter celebration service 10:30am at St Mary’s
(Remember the clock go forward!)
On as usual this week:
Chapel cafe 9:30-12:30
Little lambs 10:00-11:30
Chapelkids 11:00-14:00
(Friday cafe will be at chapel this week, not at st Mary’s)
All free to attend, all welcome, see you there!
Chapel Kids and friends will be going to visit Forest Kids Ash on 10th April. Text for more info! 07730609446
Local Easter Appeal: Would you like to add something special to our food parcels next week? We would welcome donations of Easter treats for the #AshVillagesFoodParcelsProject any time before 28th March. Thank you for your support!
You can donate at St Mary’s or at The Chapel when we are open, or message us to arrange a time with our project team. 07730609446
Happy Easter!
It’s time to say thank you! We have had lots of lovely comments and feedback about the Churches Together Good Friday event yesterday. Huge thanks to everyone who took part and all who helped to make it such a lovely opportunity for worship and fellowship.
What happens on Good Friday?
The walk: We all set off from our churches, in Ash and Ash Vale, walking together and carrying the cross. This reminds us of Jesus carrying his own cross, through the streets of Jerusalem, on the day of his crucifixion. Thank you to everyone who took part in this very special walk of witness.
The service: We all arrive at Ash Wharf, welcomed by the worship team, and the open air service begins. This is a very special day for us all, as we gather together churches of different denominations and remember our Saviour, Jesus, giving up His life to save all of us. The clergy share the service, taking it in turns to lead, preach, and pray each year, so it is a real team effort. We would like to thank Luke, Natalie and the team for the music and PA system, and also to thank Bridges for powering the sound system for us. We always enjoy welcoming passers by to join in too – all are welcome.
Hot Cross Buns: After the service… the fellowship! What a joy to have a sunny day for this. Everyone gathers at The Chapel on Wharf Rd for hot cross buns and a cuppa, and a lovely opportunity to chat to friends old and new. We love welcoming the whole community to this, people of all faiths and none, and what a great opportunity to enjoy the Community Garden. Thank you to the hospitality team of volunteers from all the churches, who prepared and served the drinks and hot cross buns – and for doing all the washing up! We would also like to thank Co-op for donating 100 delicious hot cross buns. It’s a great community moment in our Easter calendar.
As we contemplate the Cross and look forward to the joy of Easter, may God bless you and keep you in His love and peace. We look forward to welcoming you on Easter Sunday for the 10:30 service!
#GoodFriday #CTAAT #ChurchesTogether #AshValeChapel #StPetersAsh #StMarysAshVale #HolyAngelsAsh #NWCLF #CoOpAsh #ItsWhatWeDo #BridgesAsh #Community #HotCrossBuns #AllWelcome
Parishioner letter—Rev neil
Easter 2022
The Cover Image this Easter is inspired by a new song “Come to the Table” by Matt Weeks which you can hear most Sunday’s at St Mary’s.
If you use social media, you may enjoy the ‘anniversaries’ that pop up every now and then, reminding you of what happened on this day in previous years. My timeline recently has been full of images from our early lockdown – our first Evensong in the carpark 2 years ago, ringing the bell, pancakes on the astroturf… It makes me realise that the last time we ‘did Easter’ the ‘normal’ way was 3 years ago! We had a few socially distanced people in church in 2021, but finally this year we are allowed to gather in greater numbers and celebrate with a shared feast.
Continue reading “Letter from The Vicarage – Easter 2022”