Stone Church, St Mary the Virgin
13th Century parish church of Stone-next-Dartford, Kent
A place of welcome, prayer, healing and peace.
Notices for the week beginning Sunday 7th December 2025
New Prayer Diary
To mark the beginning of the church year pick up your reissue of the prayer diary. This is how we put some system into our praying and is the basis for our Sunday intercessions.
Hamper Raffle
The hamper raffle is back for Advent with tickets at £2 each from Robin or Jeanne. Proceeds towards the Lantern Centre. In addition to a hamper of goodies each week there will be a second prize worth £5 for the lucky runner up.
Christmas Cards by Ox & Ass
The Ox and Ass return and you can pin to their blankets a greeting to your all your church friends.
Bluewater Chaplains & Friends Carol-Singing
Thursday 11th December from 6pm in the Ground Floor Star Court, where House of Fraser used to be. All welcome.
MCK Christmas Tree Festival -12th -14th December
This year running across all three churches at Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Stone - from 9.30 am to 5 pm each day.
Christian Initiation (Baptism & Confirmation)
As the beginning of the new year approaches, take time to consider your membership of the Church. If you are yet to receive these sacraments of initiation speak to the ministry team. Preparation will begin in January.
Volunteering
Consider again how you may get further involved in the life of St Mary’s church during 2026. Welcoming, reading lessons, helping at Gemstones, singing in the choir, pastoral visiting, churchyard maintenance, bell-ringing, organizing sponsored activities to raise funds, cleaning & polishing, arranging flowers; so many different ways to serve God alongside Sunday worship. Just speak up.
This Week at St Mary’s: -
Daily (except Tuesday)
9 am Mattins
5 pm Evensong
Monday 8th December
2 pm School Christingle (Yr 2)
Wednesday 10th December
1 pm Mothers’ Union (in church)
Thursday 11th December
11 am Service with Carol singing at Strawberry Hill
2-4 pm Open Church (ending with prayer at 3.45 pm)
Friday 12th December
9.30 am MCK CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL opens
7pm Choir Practice
Saturday 13th December
9 am – 5 pm MCK CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
3 pm “Carols amongst the trees”
Next Sunday is Advent 3
9 am – 5 pm MCK CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
9 am Mattins
10 am Family Communion & Parish Breakfast
5 pm Evensong
Hymns, Reflections & Prayers
Daily hope from the Church of England. Do share the following free phone number with anyone, especially those without access to the internet: 0800 804 8044
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
You are invited to give consent that we may contact you from time to time. To continue hearing from us or to join our contact list for the first time please complete the online form on our website or the sheet available in church. Our privacy notices are on the noticeboard in church and our website here www.stmarystone.org/gdpr.