Dear friends,

This week’s mailing begins with the sad news of the unexpected death of our friend and brother Peter Coe – a stalwart of St Mary’s, and especially of our choir: there are not yet any details as to his funeral service, but we nevertheless pray for the repose of his soul, and for the consolation of his family. Well done, good and faithful servant…

Peter was very much part of our parish “family” – and this is the beautiful image which Jesus also uses to describe the Church in this Sunday’s Gospel reading, where he says that ‘[a]nyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother‘: let us therefore seek to make this symbol a reality, in our care and concern for one another, and by our hard work together, sharing our common responsibilities, in God’s name.

This Sunday, please be sure to purchase or reserve your tickets for our forthcoming Parish Barbecue on Saturday, 6 July – and please be sure to invite family and friends! A publicity flier is attached to this mailing: tickets are £12.50/£5 (under-18s), and those attending from St Mary’s are also asked to bring a side, salad or dessert to share. Each ticket includes a glass of rum punch or non-alcoholic punch on arrival: thereafter, please provide your own drinks. There will be a raffle, for which we now invite donations of prizes; we would also be glad of any further offers of help or resources. The final planning meeting for this event will be after Mass on Sunday, 30 June.

Please also this Sunday return your Additional Curates Society donations boxes, as we would like to count and return your offerings. A reminder that there is also a basket in church each Sunday this month, for the work of the West London Kidney Patients’ Association.

All are welcome to take part in this Sunday evening’s parish outing to All Saints, Margaret Street for Choral Evensong and Benediction (please sign up in church): after the service, the Vicar will give a short talk about All Saints – before we are invited to the parish bar for a drink! Those who wish to travel together from Harrow should meet on the platform at Harrow-on-the-Hill station at 5pm.

We look forward to welcoming Fr Luke Dobson as the new Vicar of our neighbouring parish of St George, Headstone: his Collation will be on Monday, 15 July at 7pm – to which all are invited.

Please note that there will be no public Morning Prayer on Tuesday next week, 11 June. Please also find attached to this mailing a flier for a forthcoming evening at Kenton Baptist Church, with Christian comedian and magician (and 2019 “Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist) John Archer, on Saturday, 29 June at 7.30pm. (Please disregard the location on the pew sheet, erroneously listed as Harrow Baptist Church.) Tickets (£10) are available from the church office (020 8907 7494).

May the Lord, with whom there is mercy and fullness of redemption, rain down blessings upon you all this week,

Fr Richard