September promises to be a very busy month in the life of St. Mary's. We begin the month with our Patronal festival on the 9th September when the preacher at evening service will be Fr. Geoffrey Owen from St. James's Church Merton. At this service we invite all our brothers and sisters from other churches. There will be a reception in the church hall after the service. Do please come and meet our friends from the other churches.

On the Move

This evangelistic programme is taking place in the town centre of Morden from the 19^th - 21st September. There has been an encouraging response from people to participate in this event. It consists of music groups and a barbecue in front of the Civic Centre. There will be a coffee morning at the vicarage on Saturday 15 September in order to raise funds for this event.

P.C.C. Away day

On Saturday 8th September there will be a PCC away day when our church council will consider the life and ministry of the church at St. Mary's. Will you please remember us in your prayers and we will report back on the day's proceedings.

London Open House

The London Borough of Merton has for the first time joined in with the London Open House project. St. Mary’s is one of the buildings that has been chosen to be in the scheme. The church will be open for visits by groups and individuals on the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of September. If there are people who are willing to act as stewards and sit in the church and talk to visitors I would be most grateful if they would contact me.

Ordination

On Sunday 30th September John Hillier will be ordained Deacon in Southwark cathedral. John will serve his title as a deacon in the parish of St. Mary's where he is being ordained into the Local non-stipendiary ministry. John is well known to many of you. He has been in training over the past three years. After the evening Eucharist, in which John will deacon and assist, there will be a reception in hall for all his friends and family in order that they can meet with the people of St. Mary’s. At the time of writing, at the end of July, this reception is likely to be on a shared basis where people bring an offering to share with other people. There will be more details about this reception in the weekly pew sheets. Please pray for John and Audrey at this time.

TRIO Campaign

There has been a real collective will amongst members of the P.C.C. to put St. Mary’s finances in order. I have been really encouraged by the energy, commitment and the willingness to take responsibility for facing and overcoming the challenges that lie ahead by so many people.

These efforts will culminate in the TRIO (The Responsibility Is Ours) Presentation on Sunday October 7^th. All church members will receive an invitation to these services so do please help by replying to the invitations. There will be 2 presentations. One at 9-30am and the second one will take place at 11-15am. This also coincides with our Harvest Festival.

Elsewhere in the magazine is the text of a sermon which gives some theological reflections on Christian Giving. If the church does not receive the support it requires from those who receive the church’s ministry it is unlikely to get the support from elsewhere.

I trust you will reflect on these issues, come to one of the presentations and then make your response. We need to increase our giving by 35%. We live in one of the richest places on Earth.

Your priest and friend