Sunday Services, Election Day & Inspirational Women 

Dear St Mary’s, 

It was a joy to worship with you last week as Revd Jacintha Danaswamy and two of St Mary’s children beautifully led us in our intergenerational service, which also included a baptism. This Sunday (5th May), we’ll celebrate Holy Communion at 9am and again at 10.30am, with Revd Tim Scott leading and Revd Alan Moss preaching. 

There will be supervised children’s groups in the Welcome Centre at the 10.30am service, with a Baby Lounge in the South Vestry. This Sunday’s readings are Acts 10:44-end, and John 15:9-17, where Jesus, in what is sometimes referred to as the ‘Farewell Discourse’, says, ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love’ – later saying: ‘I no longer call you servants…I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.’ 

There will be Evening Prayer at St Mary’s at 6pm. 

Join us at this important time in the Church calendar as we approach Ascension Day and look towards Pentecost (19th May) and the birth of the Church. 

Voting at St Mary’s Today, Thursday 2nd May 

We’re excited that St Mary’s will be a polling station today, 2nd May. Our cafe will remain open with seating in the Exhibition Space, though our Play Area will be closed. Please pray for the election and for all those visiting St Mary’s to vote. 

No Morning Prayer on Monday 6th May and Thursday 9th May 

There will be no Morning Prayer on Monday 6th May, which is a Bank Holiday, or on Thursday 9th May, which is Ascension Day; however, please note that we will have a morning Ascension Day Holy Communion service at 7.30am. 

Ascension Day at St Mary’s and in the Parish: Thursday 9th May

On Ascension Day (Thursday 9th May), there will be an early morning 7.30am service of Holy Communion at St Mary’s as well as a 10.30am Holy Communion at St Gabriel’s Church (Havant Road, E17 3JF). You are invited to join us in the Parish as we mark this significant day. There will be no Morning Prayer on Ascension Day.

St Mary’s Big Community Quiz Night: Saturday 18th May, 7.30-10.30pm

All are welcome to come along to our big quiz night on Saturday 18th May at 7.30pm. It promises to be a fun night for all, whatever your quizzing ability! Our Big Community Quiz is aiming to raise funds for St Mary’s, but it will also be a great opportunity to get together, have fun and meet new people – or get to know those you already know a bit better. We will be running a bar where you can purchase drinks and you can also bring your own nibbles. Get a team of six together and join us! Tickets are £10 per person and available here: https://tinyurl.com/smwqz

St Mary’s 20th July Summer Festival: Save the Date and Sign up to Volunteer 

On Saturday 20th July, St Mary’s will host an all-day Summer Festival with activities, talks, food, tours and performances across all of our sites, including the Welcome Centre, Welcome Garden, courtyard, churchyard and in the church itself. Our activity programme has not yet been finalised, but we’re looking for volunteers to sign up now to help us greet people, clean and offer support on the day. This will be a wonderful way to engage with each other and with the wider community as we bring our version of a church fête to Walthamstow! You can sign up to volunteer here or email Dan Copperwheat, Operations Manager, at . 

Worth Unlimited Quiz Night: Saturday 11th May, 7.30-9.30pm

Worth Unlimited is a local Christian youth charity with longstanding links to St Mary’s and our parish. The Worth Unlimited Quiz Night will be held in the Welcome Centre on Saturday 11th May, 7.30-9.30pm. Cheese and crackers will be provided but bring your own drinks. There’s a prize for the winners, and a raffle on the night. Tickets are £10 per person and can be purchased here: www.worthunlimited.co.uk/quiznight

Spaces for Hire in St Mary’s Church and Welcome Centre 

In order to fund our ministries and cover our operating costs, we have been working hard to increase the number of hires in both the Welcome Centre and the church itself. We are currently in the process of renovating the Welcome Centre, and are encouraging anyone looking for a venue to run an after-school club, exercise class, baby group or other regular event to get in touch with our team. We are also taking bookings for Sunday afternoon children’s parties in the church (with access to the soft play and cafe space) as well as hiring out the vestries for away-days and meetings in the week. For details, email Louise at . 

EcoTip 

One of the best things you can do for nature this month is…nothing! The ‘No Mow May’ movement has grown in popularity over the last several years and is now widely recognised as a great way to encourage biodiversity. The charity Plantlife writes, ‘With over 23 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities, and the climate.’ Learn more about why you might want to put the lawn mower away this month at www.plantlife.org.uk. 

Please pray this week for: 

• Local elections around England, including here in London  
• All those who are unwell in body, mind or spirit 
• Victims of war and violence in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel and around the world 
• The safety and wellbeing of young people in London and around the UK 
• The ministry and witness of the Church
• For politicians to take bold action on the climate crisis 
• All those who are searching for work 
• Those striving to bring diverse communities together  
• A commitment across all political parties to tackle poverty in the UK 
• Lay and ordained leaders at St Mary’s and across the Parish and Diocese 

Reflection 

Revd Alan Moss writes:  

This week marks 30 years since the first women were ordained priests at Chelmsford Cathedral. On Tuesday – which is the official anniversary of those ordinations –  the Diocese of Chelmsford shared a video of some reflections from those who were at the Cathedral on that day. As I watched the video, it led me to reflect on the many ordained women who have inspired me and who have opened my eyes to new ways to see God.

Revd Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran priest, is a true role model to so many people around the world. Born and based in America, Nadia spent much of her early life in the grip of drug and alcohol addiction until entering rehab, rediscovering faith and getting ordained. Nadia is the founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, Colorado, USA, and her ministry has reached thousands of recovering addicts and marginalised people, helping to lead them back to God. I highly recommended all of her books and giving her a watch on YouTube.

Revd Vanessa Conant has been an inspiration to me since we first met back in November 2020 and has continued to inspire me everyday since. Vanessa’s leadership, wisdom and care has led our church through some of the most significant and exciting changes in St Mary’s 900-year history, including a massive renovation project, introducing the people-empowering framework of community organising, joining the Inclusive Church network so everyone can feel welcome, overseeing a large and constantly changing staff team and so much more. All whilst breaking down barriers and setting history by being St Mary’s first female priest. What a legend and how lucky we are!

Revd Sarah Moss is my wife and co-conspirator in life. Sarah’s heart for justice and passion for people has long left me in awe. When our culture has told women to sit down and shut up, Sarah is the first to stand up and speak proudly. Sarah’s journey towards ordination began in the midst of a global pandemic, and when so many were losing hope, Sarah was asking God how she can serve others, the Church, and God’s kingdom. Sarah is among the first women to serve as a priest at St Andrew;s Church in Leytonstone and has spent the past 18 months running food shares, community events, church services, chaplaincy roles, and pastoral care for the parish, all whilst training and navigating those who may not agree with her calling.

This is not to say that I’ve only been inspired by three female priests. However, I think it’s important to name those who inspire us, to honour those who may have stepped out in faith and led the way for others by ensuring that the platform they have is used to create a path for those who are systematically silenced or not appreciated. As Jo wisely and passionately reminded us last Sunday, the love and grace of God is equally inclusive and available to every person no matter our background, gender, sexuality, age, theology, life circumstances or any other barrier people may try to put in our way. 

In this season of Easter, as we continue to marvel at the resurrected Christ, may we be reminded of the women who were the first to share the Good News with the other disciples, and the women over the subsequent generations who gave their lives that we might know the transformation of the risen Christ in our own hearts today.

I encourage you, this week, to reach out to all and any who have inspired you and encouraged your faith, so that we can continue the narrative of honouring one another.