It is good to welcome you to this website of the dynamic and vibrant community that worships in the two parish churches here in Moseley - St Anne’s and St Mary’s. We are an open and inclusive, wide-ranging group of people of Christian faith and those exploring faith, who meet together to worship God and encourage one another. The Eucharist is central to our worship and through it we receive empowerment to share God’s love to the people in the village and beyond. Our congregations regularly contain multiple generations worshipping together and in both churches you will receive a warm welcome, experience the opportunity to worship God, to learn about faith in creative ways and to be challenged and encouraged to make new friends. We always need people to help but its also fine to ‘just be’! Some of St Mary’s services are live-streamed. Please see our weekly bulletin for details of how to access these if you are not able to join us in person. With a range of ‘services’ there is something on offer for most people – please have a look. We offer Breakfast Church, as well as worship in traditional, contemporary, Celtic and Taizé traditions - something for most people.
We begin Lent on the evening of 5th March with our special Ash Wednesday service. Of all the services I do in a year, this remains one of the most poignant for me. It’s a service of word, of sacrament but also symbolism. Receiving the sign of the cross in the form of burned ashes, remains a powerful image of humility. As we hear the words, “from dust you came and to dust you shall return” we are implored to live a holy life, recognising our need for God in these difficult days.
Recognising our need for humility is something we are currently exploring through our 2025 Parish Motto. Ephesians 4:2 tells us to be “completely humble” in the way we live and interact with others and we are thinking this through together, and in our various different ministries. With that in mind, we will be exploring the Beatitudes together in Lent, those counter-cultural values of Jesus, found in Matthew and Luke’s gospels. Our Lent Study will be based on Will Donaldson’s book, Living Differently to Make a Difference. We’ll be meeting on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings to talk about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in this way, and how God might be speaking to us. We welcome all who want to come along, even if just for a session or two.
Our first three weeks of study will be held at St Paul’s Church, 100 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, B12 9JU. As we are forming an Oversight Partnership with St Paul’s and Rea Church, it seems right therefore to include our friends at Balsall Heath in our study. If transport is an issue for you, do let us know. We are also holding a Quiet Day on Saturday 5th April where Will Donaldson will be our main speaker. All details to sign up are on our website.
Lent is a wonderful time to slow down, consider our own spirituality and draw closer to God. I am reminded of the words of Jesus, that “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst” (John 4:13-14). This Lent, may you be spiritually refreshed through the waters that Jesus offers you.
With warm best wishes,
Revd Angela Hannafin, Vicar of Moseley Parish (St Mary’s and St Anne’s churches)
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The parish of Moseley: St Mary is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer(s), PSOs. The Diocese of Birmingham’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our PSOs. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services
Contact details for the Parish Safeguarding Officer: Janet Thorne, T: 07817 775 202, E: [email protected]
Contact details for the Bishop's Safeguarding Adviser T: 07342 993 844 E: [email protected]
