Would you like to be baptised?

Would you like to be baptised? We are baptising one of our young people by full immersion on Easter Sunday 21 April. Easter Sunday is a traditional day for baptism and it will be a fantastic celebration – if you are an adult or young person who has never been baptised, why not take the opportunity this year? Please talk to Mark as soon as possible if you’re interested.

Easter flyers

We would like to put a flyer through as many doors as we can in our parish to advertise our Holy Week and Easter services. These will be available soon – please pray in the streets around our parish and pray about whether you could deliver some flyers, particularly in streets further away from the church.

Simon Bond and Anita Wilson

Simon Bond and Anita Wilson would like to invite everyone to their wedding at SMOB at 12:00 on Saturday 6th April and to stay for the wedding cake and drinks which will be served immediately after the service.

Electoral roll

If you are 16 years old and over, a regular worshipper at St Mary’s and wish your name to be added to the Electoral Roll then please sign up, even if you have done so before you need to resign this year.
Follow the links on the church website to complete your electoral roll form online (you will need to be logged in or to register) or go to this webpage: www.stmaryofbethany.org.uk/Groups/264145/Electoral_roll.aspx or complete a form available from the Electoral Roll Officer Richard Langtree

New Wine 2019 Peterborough

The Super Early Bird price bracket for New Wine 2019 closes on 3 April. More details at the New Wine website or please speak to Clare Mall if you have any questions or if you are thinking of going.

Is God calling you to join the leadership of our church?

We have vacancies on our church council from April, including our Deanery reps, who will be working with our new Associate Vicar on relationships with other churches - it's the key body thinking through the vision and mission of our church. Over the next year, we plan to make big decisions about our mission and our building. Speak to any PCC member and see the church website for nomination forms.

Eva Cheeseman

Eva Cheeseman (Lynne Holder’s mum)’s funeral is 2pm Monday 25 March at Woking Crematorium. Please keep Lynne and all the family in your prayers at this sad time.

APCM 28 April 2019

Our APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) will be held on Sunday 28 April as part of the 11am service. Children and young people will be with us for the first part of the meeting, where there will be prayer and worship, and a DVD will run in the hall during the business part of the meeting. Please do join us as we celebrate God's gracious provision and blessing over the last year and as we seek His blessing for the coming year.

If you would like to stand for PCC, you will need to be a member of the church electoral roll and submit a completed nomination form with 2 proposers. Forms should be given to PCC Secretary, Becca Rowland before the meeting, please. Nomination forms can be found at https://stmaryofbethany.org.uk/APCM.
If you are unable to attend the APCM, please email the church office or ask someone to add your name to the apologies for absence sheet which is available at the front of the worship area.

Meeting papers and reports are will be available at https://stmaryofbethany.org.uk/APCM and it would be helpful for you to read these before the meeting. Please request a printed copy (via the sign-up sheet) only if you cannot access them via the website.

If possible, any questions should be submitted in advance, please, to the Office manager & Vicar's PA, Jess McNutt via email at jess.mcnutt@stmaryofbethany.org.uk by 1 pm on Wednesday 24th April. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the meeting.

Central Prayer Meeting

The next Central Prayer Meeting is THIS Wednesday at 8.00 pm in the Church. Do join us!

Easter at SMoB

Maundy Thursday 18 April	6.00pm Community bring and share dinner: A shared meal and an informal act of worship as we think about the night before Jesus died. Sign up at the back of Church or via our Office and bring a baked potato filling, salad or dessert.
Good Friday 19 April	9.30am Fellowship Breakfast: Get together with the church family and we’ll all walk down to the combined service in town. Sign up at the back of Church or via our office. 11.00am Combined Churches Act of Witness: in Jubilee Square, Woking: A fantastic opportunity to witness to Jesus’ work in Woking with the wider Christian community. 2.00, 2.30pm Meditations at the cross: A chance for quiet reflection on Jesus’ death. Followed by tea and hot cross buns.
Easter Eve 20 April	10.00–11.30am Easter Family Drop-in: Crafts, activities and refreshments for all.
Easter Sunday 21 April	8.00am Holy Communion (1662): Start the most important celebration of the Christian year with our Book of Common Prayer service. 9.15am Traditional Holy Communion: Join in the Easter celebrations at our more traditional service followed by refreshments. 11.00am Contemporary Celebration with Communion: An all-age Easter service with christenings, suitable for everyone, followed by refreshments.

Local elections Thursday 2 May

We love to offer hospitality to local people coming to vote at elections, and this has led to many good conversations in recent years. Could you give an hour (or more!) of your time between 7am-10pm to welcome people, chat to people or serve coffee, tea and cake? Would you be able to coordinate the team for the day? Could you make a cake? Please contact Jess in the Office if you are able to help.

Culture of Invitation Training – 26 March 2019 10am or 7.30pm

All are welcome to this event led by Michael Harvey, Chief Executive for the National Weekend of Invitation, building on Thy Kingdom Come. Michael takes a comedic look at the life of the modern Christian. His hilarious seminar releases people to become invitational. It is not to be missed. Prepare to laugh and be challenged! Refreshments and lunch provided!! To Book: go to Eventbrite UK and search for Culture of Invitation for a free ticket!

Do something new for Lent!

Sign up to Bishop Andrew's Lent Challenge at www.cofeguildford.org.uk/lent-challenge for daily reflections during Lent. Pick up a leaflet from the porch.

Keep up with news from St Mary of Bethany

Keep up with news from St Mary of Bethany by signing up to our weekly email list via our website, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter & Instagram.

Zumba Gold

Saturdays at 10.30 to 11.15am - a fitness programme with Latin and international rhythms suitable for all ages. Join us for fun! Suggested contribution £1. To sign up contact Marta on 07930 407081 or via church office.
There will not be classes on the 23 March or 6 April and 20 April.

Easyfundraising

Take a look at Easy Fundraising. You could be collecting FREE donations for us every time you shop online! If you’re planning to go on holiday, you can raise FREE funds for SMoB if you book via easyfundraising on most travel provider websites, you’ll raise free funds for us at no extra cost to you.
It’s a really easy way to help us raise funds and we’d really appreciate your help so please register to support us at: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stmaryofbethany/ – It’s fundraising for FREE! You can download the app here.

Want to know what Mark is thinking?

Read his blog on the church website, normally updated at the beginning of the month.

Dates for your diary


25 March	Ladies coffee morning - enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, a slice of cake and a chat, 10.30 – 11.30 at New Life Church. Sign up by replying to administrator@wpof.org.uk
15 June	Reasons to Believe - Amy Orr-Ewing and team will cover how to talk confidently to others outside the church and helping us to answer tough questions. You can book free places at www.cofeguildford.org.uk/reasonstobelieve. The conference will take place from 10am to 1pm at St Paul’s Howell Hill, SM2 7HS and be followed by an optional networking lunch.

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