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 5th July
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Next Saturday 11th July from 2 pm till 4pm. Come to our popular event for teddies and their owners in the church and churchyard. With zip wire and parachute drops from the church tower for the really brave ones! (Teddies only.) We ask your support once again with some games and sideshows: bash-a-rat, lucky ducks, hoopla…and more.
Charity of the Month
Home-Start North West Kent offers free, confidential support, friendship and practical help to parents of children under five in Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and surrounding villages; who are going through a difficult time.
Special collection today.
Healing Service
The summer Healing Service takes place on Sunday 19th July where prayer will be focussed on the needs of the sick and the strengthening and restoration of body, mind and spirit.
Cemetery Blessing
The Sunday nearest St James’ Day is Sunday 26th July and at a 3 pm as is our tradition we go to the parish cemetery in St James’ Lane for a short service to visit and bless the graves therein.
St Mary’s Day
The church’s patronal festival is on Saturday 15th August. Join the service in church at 12 noon followed by a bring-and-share picnic in the rectory garden.
Labyrinth of Life
Explore life’s twists and turns by walking the labyrinth in the churchyard. A simple path, no false turns, but with no apparent meaning until viewed from above. Use it for your prayers when traversing the churchyard.
Sponsor-a-Floorboard
Please encourage all your friends to sponsor a floorboard in the main hall of the new Lantern Centre. We have many floorboards to lay in the final phase of the building fit-out. Boards are about a metre in length and can be sponsored for a donation which you can then Gift Aid (we suggest £25 each but it’s up to you) and, when available, you will be able to sign the underside of them and be part of the new centre for ever.
This Week at St Mary’s
Daily (except Tuesday)
9 am Mattins (not Friday)
5 pm Evensong
Thursday 9th July
2-4 pm Open Church (ending with prayer at 3.45 pm)
7.30 pm Bell-ringing practice
Friday 10th July
7 pm Choir practice
Next Sunday is Trinity 6
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.