St. Mary's Church, Grassendale, Liverpool L19 0NE

Thanks to all who were involved in the fantastic Nativity at St. Mary's !

Celebrating international Messy Sunday St Mary’s brought two congregations together – uniformed organisations Praise Service and L19: Messy Church – for Messy Creation. Everyone was invited to pray, make crafts, sing old songs and new and hear the Messy Message, all on God’s Creation theme. Afterwards they spilled out onto the church gardens for a BBQ and summer plant sale.

Congratulations to four more St Mary’s Beaver Scouts who have worked very hard to receive the Chief Scout Bronze Award, the highest Beaver Scout award. They look forward to a Merseyside County Awards ceremony in the autumn.

Beaver Scouts all over the world are celebrating their 25th birthday this year. St Mary’s Beaver Scouts enjoy a ramble at Clarke Gardens.

Children receiving certificates having completed a Children & Holy Communion course on 24th April

Well done to KFJ leaders and children who made the St Mary’s Nativity Service so special.

Congratulations to 8 of St Mary’s Beaver Scouts who have all achieved the highest Beaver Scout award this year – The Chief Scout Bronze Award. They were invited to St Peter & St Paul Church, Crosby, with other Merseyside high achievers, on 20th November, for a very special Awards Day with an entertainer and Bear Gryls film. Mums, dads, grandmas and granddads all turned up for this very proud moment.

Sue Mitchell, Diocese of Liverpool Child Friendly Church Award Adviser, re awards St Mary’s for a further 3 years

St Mary’s Cub Scout Louie receives certificate of excellence for Booker Prize for creative writing.

Adoring angels and surprised shepherds helped bring the Nativity story to life at St Mary’s 11 am service with KFJ leading the whole service and young George on the keyboard. Well done KFJ!

St Mary’s Tots Team began when Rev Michael Greenwood was incumbent and a focus on welcoming parent/carers with young children became a priority. Over the last 10 years St Mary’s has invited and welcomed all ages and made a fellowship area at the back of church which especially welcomes the very young. A team of 16 now rota a welcome which focuses on young children and resources for their needs as they absorb the whole atmosphere of worship during the service at 11 am. St Mary’s is a ‘Child Friendly Church’ Awarded church which takes provision of the children & young people seriously.

On 20th September Rt Rev James Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, preached at St Mary’s Praise Service and commissioned children’s leaders in a service which declared St Mary’s as a Children’s Resource Church for the Diocese of Liverpool. Linda Jones, Team Leader of the Church Growth & Ecumenism Team, described to the congregation, of all ages, what a Resource Church is. Children’s and youth leaders, past and present, were presented with long service certificates by the Bishop of Liverpool in recognition of their ministry at St Mary’s and for God. Bishop James invited every child to come forward for a special blessing and over 100 children were blessed by him during a very special time in this all-age service. St Mary’s has a story to share and would like to encourage other parishes by sharing their story so far.

You only have to look at the joy on these children's faces to understand how they all felt on Easter Day when they took their first Holy Communion before Confirmation! Between 40 and 50 children & young people have been on a six week course with all-ages through Lent, lead by Rev Paul Ellis, at each 11 am service. This interactive and visual teaching allowed all ages to ask questions and experience the awe, wonder and grace of being invited to the Lord's Table. In accordance with the Diocesan Policy and authorisation of Bishop James, St Mary's is now one of many parishes in the diocese who admit children to Communion before Confirmation. St Mary's operates an open age policy. After the service the children invited everyone to have cake to celebrate this wonderful occasion.

St Mary's Cubs walked nearly 5 miles along the river front from the Coburg Dock to Otterspool Promenade in order to achieve their Stage 1 Hike Badge.The weather was perfect and badges were awarded by the Sitting Bull. Congratulations to the Cub Scouts and leaders.

4 of St Mary's Beaver Scouts have recently been presented with the Chief Scout Bronze Award. Congratulations on all of your hard work boys!