Church News

25/9/26

Dear Friends

Hello.

A variety of notices this week, some of which you've had before:

Tomorrow (Saturday) Pumpkin Fair will be on the rec from 1-5pm. If you've not been before, it's a fantastic event, well worth visiting...

On Sunday (27th) there'll be the usual 8am service, followed by an All Age Communion at 10am. Rather than the set readings for 10am (Ezekiel 18; Philippians 2: 1-13; Matthew 21: 23-32), and since it is an All Age service and 'open season' when it comes to readings, I've decided we will read Matthew's account of the call of Matthew (Matthew 9: 9-13). Everyone is welcome, as always.

Next week, the 'A Falklands Experience' talk will be on Tues 29th in church at 7.30pm.

Sunday 4 Oct. will be both Harvest Sunday (at 10am, tinned and packaged goods including toiletries are very welcome for the Foodbank) and - at 3.30pm - a short, low key, relaxed and cheerful Pet Service. All welcome - even humans. Please spread the word amongst your friends and neighbours. Thank you! Thank you too to the flower-arrangers for all you'll do to make the church look beautiful that week.

Finally, I received the message below regarding an upcoming baby loss support service happening in Ely next month, so I'm sharing it with you now.

With warmest good wishes, and my prayers - perhaps see you Sunday

Eleanor

Saying Goodbye, (part of Mariposa International (SG)) are coming to Ely  next month with a very special Baby loss remembrance and support service (part of an international chain of events).  

Mariposa International (SG)'s  core objective is to support people who have lost babies at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in infancy. It was founded in 2012, by Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates, who saw a critical lack of support for people like them, who had gone through baby loss. With over 258,000 babies being lost yearly in the UK alone, the charity needed to be able to offer not only a comprehensive package of befriending and support but also national baby loss remembrance services (called Saying Goodbye Services), for people to join together and remember the children they had lost. 

Since 2012, almost 300 services have taken place at Cathedrals and Minsters across the UK, US, and France, and 2026 will see 20+ services across Ireland, the UK and the US. 

On the 15th October at 7.30pm in Ely Cathedral, we will be hosting one of our Saying Goodbye Services and as this is a local service we wanted to share this information with you.

So who is the service for?

Anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members' or friends' loss.  Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend. We have also extended the services, and gladly welcome anyone who is grieving the fact that they haven't had children. This may be due to circumstance, infertility, or for other reasons - but all are welcome. Babies and children are also invited to come with their families, as the Saying Goodbye service is truly a family event for all.

We know that as 1 in 4 women suffer miscarriage and baby loss, you will have contact with a significant number of people who have either personally suffered baby loss, or who have a partner or family member that has, so we wanted to ask if you would help us in promoting the service.

To read more on the charity, please see the Saying Goodbye website, which you can find at: www.sayinggoodbye.org