Don’t they look fabulous!

The wreaths replace the Christmas trees which traditionally grace St Mary Magdalene Church during Advent, but which in line with current Covid-19 restrictions are this year missing.

Thank you to all contributed

We said prayers using our fingers, and the craft activity was to create animal pictures from hand prints.

Below are a selection of Samuel Goddard’s creations and don’t they look fantastic – which is your favourite?

Thank you for sharing these with us, Samuel

2026 COVID guidelines for STMM with STJE:

COVID is still with us. Please treat others with respect. Hand sanitiser is available.

2026 COVID guidelines for STMM with STJE:

COVID is still with us. Please treat others with respect. Hand sanitiser is available.

2026 COVID guidelines for STMM with STJE:

COVID is still with us. Please treat others with respect. Hand sanitiser is available.

Dear Friend,

I’m looking forward to meeting more of the church family –I’m enjoying being in Hucknall but belonging to a community is about worshipping together too – but safely of course.

I’m writing to update you on what we hope will happen in the next few weeks.

Because things change quickly Martin, Jane and I have put together a short term plan beginning to open for worship on a Sunday morning at both our churches. This is an experiment as there is still so much uncertainty.

For each service you need to book in via the Parish Office 07538 735103 as we have a limited number of places to make sure we can maintain social distancing.

For everyone’s safety: You will need a face mask and will be asked to sit in certain seats. There will be music but sadly no singing yet. The service will be conducted with all Covid precautions.

Each Thursday at St Mary Magdalene
10.15am Service of Holy Communion

Sunday 23rd August
10am Worship on Zoom
11am Service of Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene
4-5pm St Mary Magdalene Open for Private prayer

Sunday 30th August
9.30am Service of Holy Communion St John the Evangelist
11am Service of Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene – also on Facebook live

Sunday 6th September
9.30am Service of Holy Communion St John the Evangelist
11am Service of Holy Communion St Mary Magdalene – also on Facebook live
4pm Picnic Service in the church yard – byo picnic!

For some people coming to a service will be a difficult thing after months of following guidelines – but we are following the guidelines in the worship.

Yours,

Helen Chantry

Vicar of St Mary Magdalene with St John the Evangelist
on behalf of Martin Kowalski and Jane Haywood Church Wardens

Some suggestions on managing self-isolation
On Wednesday on BBC Breakfast Dr. Rajan Chatterjee gave some general and helpful advice for those who are self-isolating. He suggested three exercises, each for 5 minutes:

1. For the Mind: these are worrying times and one of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to write it down, as expressing your fears helps to cut them down a bit. So five minutes writing them, or “journaling” them can help a lot, then put what you have written away.
Breathing exercises also cut anxiety because they stop the adrenalin being released: Breathe in for the count of 3; hold your breath for the count of 4; release breathe slow to the count of 5.

2. For the Body: again for 5 minutes – any physical exercise of any kind. Breakfast also had Diana Moran giving demonstrations of gentle exercises which should be on the BBC website

3. For the “Heart”: – the “Heart” being the connections we have with other people so phone a friend, use Skype if you are able, email or write letters.

In addition, don’t forget to pray and read the Bible. Remember, (to paraphrase St. Paul): nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (See Romans 8: 38-39)

The daily Gospel readings for this week are:
Sunday 22nd: Luke 2.33-35; Monday 23rd: John 4: 43-end; Tuesday 24th: John 5: 1-3, 5-16; Wednesday 25th: Luke 1: 26 – 38; Thursday 26th: John 5: 31-end; Friday 27th: John 7: 1 – 2, 10, 25 -30; Saturday 28th: John 7: 40 – 52.

Join in with worship on the radio, TV, Internet or Apps on SmartPhones:
Here are a few ideas to be going on with:-
#LiveLent: Care for God’s Creation – the Church of England’s Lent App..
BBC’s Daily Service or Premier Christian Radio or UCB radio
Sundays: 8am Radio Nottm. 8.10 Radio 4 Worship. 1.15 BBC1 Songs of Praise
WorshipLive streaming services If you’re a Facebook user, James Pacey is live streaming Morning Prayer and Compline from St John’s, Carrington.
Prayasyougo – a smartphone app
YouTube – for hymns, songs and Bible stories. (Please ask if you need help!)