A year in the life of St. Mary Magdalen, Sheet

Visitors Group:
Jenny Parkes - Co-ordinator

The group continues to meet twice a year. The membership of about 20 remains static.

In May of last year we had a talk from Daphne Elsom who works in the Older Persons Section of Social Services.

Once again we organised the Invitation Evensong and tea in June.
We always like to hear of anyone who would like to visit or be visited.

Home Groups:
Ken Tottle

A Developing Vision
There continued to be a diversity of small groups. These included ecumenical groups, particularly during Lent, and study groups tackling subjects promoted by St Mary’s. An increasing number of groups are finding benefits in meeting together longer-term so that subjects can be explored in greater depth as members get to know one another better. Developing closer relations with other Christians also promotes discipleship as each member draws closer to God and works out how to relate the kingdom of heaven with everyday life on earth.

Activities
The year began with a course on “Science and the Spirit” led by Gary Stanley and Susan Judd. This promoted lively and constructive discussions on a wide range of issues. Ecumenical Lent groups followed where many found the material difficult, but where the contact with others from different denominations was appreciated.

After Easter, eight groups were set up to discuss the sermon series on “Streams of Living Water”. This promoted a better understanding of all the major strands of Christian spirituality. Most of those groups continued in the Autumn and followed the discussion material provided by the Kairos programme.

Four of the groups chose to continue with material relevant to their own members, and one of those groups multiplied at the end of the year to form an additional group. Two further groups are expected to start up in Lent.

2004/5 Group Leaders
Monday pm	Jeannine Davies & Ruth Snelson
Monday eve	Anderson Marsh & Sandy Ingram
Tuesday	Ken Tottle & Sylvia Bovinton
Wednesday	Jean Dowdeswell & Dave Dowdeswell, with Ian McCulloch (Occasionally)
Thursday	David Strutt
Friday am	Hilary Bonney with Helen Morris & Debbie Williams & Jean Dowdeswell