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Alpha Super Saturday Prayer meetings Small groups Little Lights SCoFF
Alpha
Do you have big questions about what life is all about? Or about the Christian faith and who Jesus is and whether it’s relevant to you today? If so, then Alpha might be for you.
At St Mary’s we run Alpha over 8 weeks, usually on a midweek evening. The format is to watch a video together and then have opportunity to discuss what you’ve seen and heard and to ask your own questions. We often have a group of about 10 – 12 people.
For more information about Alpha go to https://alpha.org.uk/
For more inforamtion on the next course here at St. Mary's, click here.
Alpha is used all over the world, if you’d like to try Alpha at St Mary’s or want to find out more email alpha@wythallchurch.net.
Super Saturday
In 2021 the Leadership of St Mary’s Church felt God’s prompt to provide events for families which include adults or children with additional needs. Following times of prayer and discussion we launched in December 2021 aiming to offer 5 events a year – Christmas, Pancakes, Easter, Summer and Harvest. After the first 3 events one family told us how much they loved these ‘Super Saturdays’ and the name has stuck.
Each event has a café style area, a range of crafts and a sensory area. There is also often a video and a time of singing. We aim to accompany all aspects with Makaton symbols and Makaton signing.
We have a fabulous team of volunteers who are passionate about Super Saturdays. The group includes a number of people with experience in the area of additional needs either through personal contacts or through their health care professions.
One parent has commented on Super Saturdays ‘There’s no other place like this’.
You are most welcome to come along and try it out.
Prayer meetings
We have 2 regular prayer meetings each week. The first is on a Monday evening, 7.30pm at 18 Ann Road.
The second takes place on Thursday mornings, in church at 9.15am - 10am.
You are more than welcome to join us at either of these meetings, just come along.
We also hold special prayer events throughout the year, so keep an eye on out calendar to see when these are.
Small groups
At St Mary’s we love to encourage one another in our journey of faith. Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, is wonderful but it’s not always easy. One way in which we support each other is through small groups, often called ‘Homegroups’ as many meet in someone’s home.
One key part of these groups is reading the Bible together. We believe that the Bible is the living word of God, that God speaks to us today through the Bible and that we get to know Jesus better through the Bible.
Other aspects of the groups include getting to know one another better, praying together and also having fun together.
There is a range of different groups meeting at different times and in different places. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more.
Little Lights
Little Lights is our Stay and Play group for babies and pre-school children. It first opened after the pandemic lockdowns in November 2021.
It runs every Friday morning during term time from 9am-10:30am. Each session starts with some free play. There is tea & coffee for the adults and we have snack time for the children which is followed by songs and story time.
The sessions are £3 per family. For more inforamtion, please contact the church office.
SCoFF
Crafts, Games, ‘make your own pudding’, video time and a hot meal.
These are the basic ingredients of SCoFF – St Mary’s Church offers Fun and Food.
This takes place in the church building (part of which is also the school hall) on Wednesday evenings after school ie 3pm – 5pm. It was launched in October 2022 as St Mary’s sought to respond to the cost of living crisis. We are able to offer not only lots of fun in a warm space but also a very tasty hot meal for the whole family. There is no charge and everyone is welcome.
SCoFF is run by a team from the church, plus staff from The Coppice Primary School and student volunteers and staff from Woodrush Secondary School – it is an amazing joint venture serving the people and community of Hollywood and Wythall.
‘SCoFF is the best thing ever’ – quote from a pupil in Year 3. Book in via Eventbrite and come along and then let us know how you would describe SCoFF.
DATES FOR THE REST OF 2024 - 6th Nov, 27th Nov, 4th Dec, 11th Dec. More dates to follow in the New Year.