Dear St Mary’s,
On Sunday 11th May – the Third Sunday After Easter – we’ll share Holy Communion at 9am followed by Morning Worship at 10.30am. Revd Vanessa Conant will lead and Revd Tim Scott will preach at both services, with a baptism at 9am and another baptism at 10.30am.
There will be supervised children’s groups at 10.30am and a Baby Lounge in the South Vestry at both services. For those unable to join us in person, we’ll livestream the 9am Holy Communion service to our Facebook page (facebook.com/StMarysE17).
We are still in the season of Eastertide – the 50 days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost – and one of this Sunday’s lectionary readings (Acts 9:36-end) picks up on the Easter theme of resurrection as it recounts the story of Peter raising Tabitha from the dead.
On Sunday afternoon at 3pm, we will gather at St Gabriel’s Church (near the corner of Wood Street and Havant Road) for the Parish of Walthamstow’s annual meeting (more details below), and all are welcome to join us. We hope to see you this Sunday!
New to Faith or Considering Baptism? ‘Discovering Christianity’ Starts Tonight
We are offering a four-week course starting tonight, Thursday 8th May, and running for four consecutive Thursdays, 7.30pm-9pm, for people who are looking to explore faith or who are considering getting baptised. We will be discussing the new book, ‘Discovering Christianity: A Guide For The Curious’ by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Sign up for the course here or email Revd Vanessa Conant at .
Parish of Walthamstow Annual Meeting on Sunday 11th May at St Gabriel’s
Every year, the churches which make up the Parish of Walthamstow gather to give thanks for the year that has passed and for the service of others, to elect and confirm members to roles in the church, and to pray for the future (read our Annual Report, ask a question at this year’s Annual Meeting, review last year’s notes, and see this year’s meeting agenda here – you can also find all of these items at stmaryswalthamstow.org/AnnualMeeting2025). This year, we will meet on Sunday 11th May at 3pm at St Gabriel’s Church (Wood Street and Havant Road). The Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to connect with others and to get a sense of the bigger picture. It is also an opportunity to stand for Parochial Church Council (PCC) which is the Board of Trustees for our parish. If you are interested in joining the PCC, please contact a member of the clergy or email .
Newcomers’ Breakfast on Saturday 10th May in the Welcome Centre
Are you new (or relatively new) to St Mary’s and looking to get more connected? If so, join us for our Newcomers’ Breakfast in the St Mary’s Welcome Centre (our church hall, located just across the churchyard from the church) this Saturday 10th May, 9.30am-11am. Clergy will be in attendance to share more about St Mary’s and answer your questions. We’ll have free tea, coffee, juice, fruit and pastries, and children are very welcome. RSVP by signing up here or by emailing Revd Vanessa Conant at .
Play Area Donations
Since being introduced last year, our Play Area has been a huge success, and has helped us to attract many parents, carers and young children into the church throughout the week – something which has also been appreciated by our cafe partners! However, we have noticed a significant decrease in donations to the Play Area over these past few months. While the Play Area is free, we rely on a certain percentage of users to make the recommended £3 donation on our tap-and-go donation points, as donations help us fund cleaning of the Play Area and keep it in good repair. We are keen to keep this important space open to everyone, and would encourage any parents/carers who use the Play Area to donate if they are able.
‘Cuppa with a Copper’ on Saturday 10th May at St Mary’s
The Hoe Street Safer Neighbourhood Team is holding a ‘Cuppa with a Copper’ event at St Mary’s on Saturday 10th May at 9am. Any member of the public who has a public safety concern or question is encouraged to pop in for an informal discussion. The event will be held in the cafe area. For more information, email .
‘Rooted in Community’ Gardening Event at St Mary’s on Saturday 17th May
Don’t miss our ‘Rooted in Community’ gardening event on Saturday 17th May, 11am to 2pm, which will be held in and around St Mary’s Churchyard. The day will include free churchyard tours led by our head gardener Tim Hewitt (11:15am-12:00pm, 12:30pm-13:15pm), with bee expert Tony Madgwick giving free talks throughout the event about the types of bees that can be found in the churchyard. There will also be plant stalls and a number of ticketed workshops which we are encouraging people to book in advance, including a newt-themed art workshop led by our very own Fiona Fouhy, a professional artist, and a willow-weaving workshop. To book, click here, or visit stmaryswalthamstow.org/RootedInCommunity.
‘Ground Level’ Gardening Event at St Mary’s on 20th May
Be inspired by some of the UK’s foremost wildlife gardeners at ‘Ground Level’ – a ticketed 20th May event at St Mary’s featuring talks by TV presenters Kate Bradbury and Errol Reuben Fernandes, with everything you need to know to garden better for wildlife. Wherever your plot is – balcony, ground or pot – you can help biodiversity. The 6.30pm talks will be followed by a panel discussion with gardener and writer Susanna Grant and Wild City Studio’s Jon Davis and Steve Williams, all chaired by our head gardener Tim Hewitt with a Q&A to follow. There will also be a paid bar and a chance to tour St Mary’s Churchyard. Tickets are £13.70 and available here or by searching ‘Ground Level’ at eventbrite.co.uk.
Funeral for Desmond Wade on Wednesday 21st May at 11am
All are welcome to join us at St Mary’s on Wednesday 21st May at 11am for the funeral of Desmond Wade. Desmond was a much-loved member of our 9am congregation. Please pray for Desmond’s wife, Heather, and for his son, Marlon, at this time. The family has asked that any donations given in memory of Desmond be made to St Mary’s Church. You can make a one-time donation to St Mary’s via our website: stmaryswalthamstow.org/donate.
Ascension Day on 29th May at 7.30am
We will mark Ascension Day at 7.30am on Thursday 29th May – an early morning service which will also include Holy Communion. Join us as we celebrate this significant day in the Church calendar. Due to the service, there will be no Morning Prayer on 29th May.
Saturday 7th June ‘Gentle Craftivism’ Morning in St Mary’s Welcome Centre
Our Eco Church team will host award-winning activist and maker Sarah Corbett in the St Mary’s Welcome Centre on Saturday 7th June. Sarah will give a free talk (recommended £3 donation) from 10am-11am about her ‘Gentle Protest’ methodology which combines neuroscience, positive psychology, campaign strategy and beautiful handicrafts. After her talk, Sarah will lead a two-hour ticketed workshop (£20 per person) from 11.30am-1.30pm inviting participants to practice gentle craftivism under her supervision. To book tickets to either event, click here, or visit stmaryswalthamstow.org/Craftivism.
EcoTip: From ‘No Mow May’ to ‘Slow Mow May’
‘No Mow May’ is an attempt to get people to reevaluate their relationship with their gardens for the benefit of pollinators and other insects – a movement which is especially important in the UK given that we are one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Making lawns look like golf courses may be tempting, but it’s not beneficial for insects or wildlife. That said, some may find the thought of not mowing their lawn for an entire month unhelpful or overwhelming; if that’s the case for you, why not try to mow your lawn less frequently in May, or perhaps (depending on the size of your garden) leave longer patches, something which you may choose to make a permanent feature? If you don’t have a garden/ lawn, consider planting up a pot with bee-friendly flowers. For more ideas, visit plantlife.org.uk.
Please pray this week for:
- The Catholic Church as it elects a new Pope
- The people of Gaza and for those still being held hostage, for an end to violence
- A de-escalation in the tension between Pakistan and India
- Places in the world where human rights are being violated
- Peacemakers in our community and around the world
- Anyone seeking safety and a place to call home
- Churches around the world to stand with those who are marginalised or in need
- The challenges we face in the UK, praying for wise leadership and engaged citizens
- Global heating and nature loss, for collective action to address these issues
- Journalists who face danger or oppression in attempting to cover the news
- St Mary’s and our Parish as we reflect on the past year and pray about the future
- All in our church and parish who are unwell in any way – for hope and healing
Next Week in St Mary’s Church and Welcome Centre (12th–17th May)
Monday 12th May
Morning Prayer, St Mary’s Church, 8.30am
Daphne & Friends (baby and child loss community), Welcome Centre, 10-11am
Waltham Forest Community Choir, Welcome Centre, 7.30-9.30pm
Tuesday 13th May
Morning Prayer, St Mary’s Church, 8.30am
HulaFit, Welcome Centre, 6.30pm
Tai Chi, Welcome Centre, 7.30pm
Wednesday 14th May
Morning Prayer, St Mary’s Church, 8.30am
Walthamstow Welcomes Cafe (free help with confusing paperwork), Welcome Centre, 10am-Noon (stmaryswalthamstow.org/WalthamstowWelcomes)
Ninja School, Welcome Centre, 4-7pm
Thursday 15th May
Morning Prayer, St Mary’s Church, 8.30am
Baby Massage, Welcome Centre, 10.30am
FoodCycle (free community meal), Welcome Centre, 6.30pm
Singing Room, Welcome Centre, 7.30pm
Discovering Christianity, St Mary’s Church, 7.30pm
Friday 16th May
Sing and Sign, Welcome Centre, 10am
Ninja School, Welcome Centre, 6pm
Saturday 17th May
Crochet and Knitting Group, St Mary’s Church, 10am-Noon
Reflection: ‘Eastertide’
Revd Jacintha Danaswamy writes:
It’s always lovely to have a bank holiday – an extra day that stretches out the weekend.
It’s often a little gift of time to rest, be with family and friends, or a moment to reset and prepare for the week ahead. There is something particularly lovely about a May bank holiday, a time when traditionally we would mark the coming of summer. Many cultures have traditions of gathering flowers or celebrating the new season with dancing and enjoying good food. In Walthamstow on Monday, we had the Friends of Lloyd Park Mayfair with all the elements we might expect – Maypole, crafts, dancers, food – as well as a few extras, including a skate jam and even a William Morris-themed dog show! It was a lovely celebration of the beginning of summer and of our wonderful local community. Enjoying the fair with family and friends, I was reminded, yet again, of everything that I love about our community: its energy, its creativity, its openness to mix old traditions with the new, and its quirkiness in bringing the diversity of our local area to the Mayfair celebrations.
In the Church calendar, we continue through this season of Eastertide, which is a special time of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and reflecting on how, reconciled with God through Christ, we are invited into the resurrection story. This week in Morning Prayer, we read these beautiful words from St Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians:
‘God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.’ (Ephesians 1:20-23)
We are reminded in this Eastertide of who we are as the body, as the Church, as a Christian community filled with the fullness of Christ and called to be people of mercy and justice. Through the resurrection, this fullness is a never-ending source of life and spiritual abundance, and as we are filled, we in turn, are called to share Christ’s fullness with all.
Yesterday morning, we welcomed over ninety primary school children into St Mary’s Church to learn about our beautiful building, the oldest in Walthamstow. As we shared the story of St Mary’s and the layers of history that moulded and changed our building, I was reminded of all the people who have worshipped here, celebrated Jesus’ resurrection, and have known the fullness of Christ. From gathering around a wooden preaching cross – which we think may have happened on the site of St Mary’s in the 10th Century – through the reformation and two world wars to the diverse and growing Christian community that we have today. Through history, our beloved St Mary’s Church has been shaped by the world around it and, in turn, has greatly transformed our energetic and creative community of Walthamstow.
This week, I pray that in this Eastertide, as you gather at St Mary’s, you will experience the joy and celebration of this season, and that you will know, as many who have celebrated here before, the presence and fullness of the resurrected Christ.
