St. Mary Magdalene Westoning

LATEST NEWS

Weekly Update for the second Sunday of Advent (7 December 2025)

This weekend sees the first of our many additional celebrations in church with the Tree Festival on Saturday and Sunday at St Mary's Church Harlington. Do please consider going along to see the magnificently trees and perhaps enjoying a cup of tea and a piece of cake / mince pie! The event ends with a short service featuring the children at 5:15 on Sunday. As time hurries along to Christmas, please do take the time to connect with God in whatever way you find helpful - He is waiting for you to call on Him. Please do remember that Father Mark and Reverend Steve are available to talk to you, in confidence, about anything you may wish to discuss. Their contact details are on this website. God's blessing to you all.

Weekly Update for the First Sunday of Advent (30 November 2025)

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND STOP PRESS! 60 minutes with God will be taking place on Monday 1 December 2025 at the parish church of St Mary Magdalene Westoning at 7:30pm. All are welcome to come along either for the full 60 minutes or any time you can spare to pray for our benefice, our parishes and churches and our friends, families and ourselves. Don't worry if you don't feel comfortable praying aloud in a group - God hears the prayers of our hearts and no-one will put any pressure on you to say a word if you'd rather not. I haven't lost the plot - this week marks the first Sunday of the new church year as we enter the season of Advent looking ahead to Christmas. Advent is a season which is all too easy to let slip by in the business of preparing for Christmas. But we do so at our peril. Advent not only looks forward to the celebration of Christ's birth, but also focuses our thoughts on when Christ will come again to set in place God's rule for the rest of eternity. When He does come, we must be ready to meet with Him and give an account of our lives. Advent is the time to take stock and consider if we are living our lives in the way Christ taught us to. If we are not, then now is the time to make the changes. No-one knows when Christ will come again - that's been conjectured over the millennia. So the message is - be ready NOW! And as we celebrate Christmas with the joy of God's gift of His Son, we look ahead to when we will meet with Him in person. If anyone would like to talk through any of the themes of Advent or Christmas, or faith in general, please do contact Father Mark or Reverend Steve who will be delighted to talk and pray with you.

CALENDAR

Tuesday 9th December

10:00am - 12:00pm -

Westcaf at the Village Hall

1:00pm - 3:30pm -

Craft and Sewing Bee at Westoning Village Hall

1:30pm - 2:45pm -

Little Stars (baby/toddler) meets @ the Village Hall)

Friday 12th December

2:00pm - 3:00pm -

Friday Fellowship

5:45pm - 7:15pm -

Lighthouse (Youth Group) at the Village Hall

Sunday 14th December

11:00am - 12:00pm -

All Age service "Christingle"

ST MARY MAGDALENE WESTONING SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

St Mary Magdalene Westoning is proud to be a part of the Church of England in the Diocese of St. Albans, who’s Archbishops, Bishops, clergy and leaders are absolutely committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church.

Safeguarding means the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. This means we will promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that have been abused. We will take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks.

The Church of England affirms the ‘Whole Church’ approach to safeguarding. This approach encompasses a commitment to consistent policy and practice across all Church bodies, Church Officers and that everyone associated with the Church, who comes into contact with children, young people and adults, has a role to play.

The Church will take appropriate steps to maintain a safer environment for all and to practice fully and positively Christ’s Ministry towards children, young people and adults; to respond sensitively and compassionately to their needs in order to help keep them safe from harm.

Although safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone here at St Mary Magdalene; Jane Steer is our designated Safeguarding Lead and can be contacted about any safeguarding matter on 07800862124 or email jmsteer.jms@gmail.com

You can also speak to our priest-in-charge: Father Mark Edwards on 07305822186 or email revmarkedwards@outlook.com

Two very useful links:

More information on the Church of England’s National Safeguarding can be found here: www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding

More information about Safeguarding in the Diocese of St. Albans can be found here: https://www.stalbans.anglican.org/diocese/safeguarding

The diocesan safeguarding advisor contact details are:

Jez Hirst Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser

Diocese of St Albans, Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 1HE 01727 818107 | 07867 350886 | safeguarding@stalbans.anglican.org

Central Bedfordshire Social Services can be contacted on 03003008303