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Tea and Coffee in the North Transept

Regular Events in Church (Jean Eversham & others):
Tea & Coffee: We continued our usual custom of tea, coffee, squash and biscuits after the main Service, and also provided tea and coffee (or wine and nibbles) after many of the 'socials' described below. (Return to top)

A Lent Lunch

Lent Lunches: These were served in church every week on a Wednesday (along with the Daffodil Teas) but also in various people's homes. (Return to top)

Daffodil Teas: These were again served in church in the spring, when tea, coffee and homemade cake were served to passers-by every day during the daffodil season for those walking the 'Daffodil Way' (and parishioners!).

The Lent Lunches and Daffodil Teas together raised £3,147 which this year was put towards our 'Loo Fund'. (Return to top)

Magazine Distributors' Party: In February we held a 'Thank You' event with tea and nibbles just for the volunteers who distribute our "Windcross Magazine" to the four parishes it serves. (There's another magazine for the five parishes in the 'other half' of our United Benefice). The distributors agreed to become 'look-outs' for newcomers and any with problems on their round as part of our new 'Care Group' initiative. (Return to top)

Glacier in the Mountains

New Zealand & Patagonia Evening: Our organist and his wife, Bob and Chris May, celebrated their retirement from teaching by visiting New Zealand and Patagonia (in South America). On their return they hosted a social evening in April with hot dinner, followed by a presentation of the spectacular pictures they took on route. The event raised £430 towards the Loo Fund. (Return to top)

Evergreens' Party: May saw the second of our occasional events for the over 60's. This time we showed the film "Passport to Pimlico" on an 8ft screen in church, before offering old-fashioned Afternoon Tea with sandwiches and cake. (Return to top)

The Concert Season! June saw the first of three concert in quick succession. First there was another of our occasional Community Concerts featuring the talented children and adults from Dymock village and its surrounds, followed in by a visit from the St Andrew's University Madrigal Society.
In July we jointly hosted with Kempley Church, a concert featuring the Midlands-based choir Tarantara which, although amateur, has a professional standard under their professional musician conductor. Together they raised £422. (Return to top)

Watchet Harbour

Minehead Coach Trip: In July we also had our second annual coach trip, this time to Minehead. The weather was cloudy but fortunately it remained mainly dry and reasonably warm. (Return to top)

'Thank You' Evening: Our second Thank You event was held in July for everyone who does anything to support and help St Mary's Church. Over 40 people gathered to share wine and nibbles and thanks for their ministry as part of our church. (Return to top)

Licensing of New Priest: In August we had a special Service with the Bishop of Tewkesbury to license our new 'House for Duty' priest, Rev'd Michael Bennett, when over 60 people came from his previous parish of Rhyl in North Wales to join the members of our own United Benefice of 9 churches. Beforehand we gathered in the parish hall - another excuse to eat and drink together! (Return to top)

Harvest Festival: Unfortunately circumstances last year meant that we didn't have a Harvest Lunch, but this September 40 people made up for it with a choice of hot meals and many home-made deserts in the Parish Hall. The event raised £145 towards the Loo Fund. (Return to top)

Concert -'The Songmen': October saw a second visit from this talented group of six men who sing 'A Cappella' (unaccompanied), with a programme of songs ranging from the 16th century to the present day. (Return to top)

Some in Character!

Gloucester Christian Choir: Another second visit, this time in November from the 50 strong Gloucester-based choir of enthusiastic and good amateurs who seem to specialise in musicals especially written by Roger Jones. Last year they performed "The Inn Crowd", the story of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. This time they gave us "Rock" - the story of the Apostle Peter, the rock on which Jesus build his church. £196 was raised towards the Loo Fund. (Return to top)

Carols in the Pub: This was the 14th successive year we met to sing carols in the village pub next to the church (The Beauchamp Arms). Around 60 people squeezed into the main bar, led by our church choir and organist. The collection raised £283 which was donated to "Help for Heroes". (Return to top)

10 x 10 Dinner: A major fund-raising event towards our Loo Fund. 6 hosts invited 10 people each into their home for a first course of their own choice, after which everyone went to the village school hall to share deserts. £602 was raised for the Loo Fund. (Return to top)

Men's Breakfasts: Every-other month several of the men met in the Beauchamp Arms pub next to the church for a Full English breakfast followed by a discussion on a topical subject, usually facilitated by a guest speaker - one of whom was the village bobby. We heard afterwards that a police car parked outside the pub for an hour and a half provoked speculation in the village! (Return to top)

Ladies' Coffee Morning: On a similar timeframe, several ladies met in the church for coffee and a chat on a topic of interest. One meeting included the sale of Christmas cards and gifts and raised £76 in support of "The Nationwide Christian Trust". (Return to top)

Special Services: Our monthly Family Services were part of our revised provision for a 'Variety of Vibrant Worship' and in most months they attracted significantly larger congregations than normal, partly due to the use of the Junior Choir and the informal nature of the Service (see Family Service). (Return to top)

We also provided special Services to reach out to the wider community at Palm Sunday, Easter, Harvest Christmas, All Souls and Remembrance Sundays, plus a Pets Service on the Village Green in July and our regular 'Carols in the Pub' just before Christmas. In addition, we welcomed Ann Cam school into the church for 4 School Festival Services and a Community Concert. (Return to top)

Children, Families and Young Adults: Our outreach in this area is covered in Section 5 of this review.