March 2026 - E-Magazine
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Please click below for a printable copy of the magazine:
Licensing Service Wednesday 4th March 2026 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church Our new Rector, Revd Peter Huxtable
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New beginnings
As your new Rector allow me to introduce myself
It’s a great pleasure to write my first article for the Magazine just as I arrive in post here. Ruth and I are very much looking forward to settling in and putting our roots down here in Yate and getting to know lots of you amongst the churches and the wider town and villages.
Apart from me spending a gap year in Bath, and Ruth living the first 2 years of her life in Bristol, we don’t yet know the local area very well. But we’re so delighted to be here and ready to enjoy all the town has to offer and to discover the countryside around and places to visit.
As many of you will know by now, we have moved from Nottingham, where we’ve spent much of our married life. As our children, Kate, Will and Emma have grown up (now in their 20’s) and moved away, Ruth and I have wondered for a while about what this next part of life could look like. Both of us have been established in jobs and ministry in our previous settings: Ruth as a maths teacher and me in parish and diocesan roles, but we together sensed a call from God to step out and do a new thing. I was immediately interested in the Rector post here at Yate, with so much opportunity and variety across the parish to lead the churches forward with creativity and faith towards a new chapter of growth.
All through my ministry, I’ve tried to remember that first I am a disciple, a follower of Jesus, and then a priest/church leader. That means I start at Yate very much with my ‘L’ plates on, with lots to take in and learn from you who have held the work of the gospel here faithfully and with much love. Yes, I
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will be able to draw on previous church leadership in town, estate and village settings, and the joy of seeing people come alive in their faith in God, but please do pray for me to take hold of the new gifts God has for me to lead in this new season here. Together we have the best news to offer to the parish.
When Nottingham is mentioned, it’s hard not to think about Robin Hood and his merry men. The Robin Hood statue is proudly displayed outside the castle. Unlike Brian Clough who was a real person, whose statue stands a few streets away, Robin Hood is a figure of legend. No-one knows if he existed, whether he lived in a forest, whether he wore green, or robbed the rich to give to the poor.
I think some people view Jesus a bit like Robin Hood – a sort of mysterious person, who may or may not have lived, but when we think of him, he provides us with some comfort, a sense of moral goodness, and a bit of light in the darkness. At certain times of year or points of need, we can think about Jesus and find some inspiration and hope.
I think my primary task as Rector and our task together as parish churches is to tell the full story: that Jesus is real – he lived, died and rose again and now knocks on the door of each of our lives to come in as a living presence to transform us and make our hearts beat passionately with God’s love. Not a distant legend, but a living reality, a treasure for anyone to stumble on and discover. As our country becomes more spiritually open and people are more interested in exploring faith once again, we have a wonderful opportunity to bring the reality of the living Jesus to many more people. I look forward to praying and working with you towards this.
As I sign off, a big note of thanks to all those who have been leading the ministry across the churches here: Sue, Wanda, Dave, Norma and Paul along with the wardens and Pam in the office, all the musicians and all those working hard in the background. May God refresh you all and give to all of us his Spirit of love, peace and joy as we look forwards to this new season. |
Services throughout the Parish
Sunday 1st March 2nd Sunday of Lent—Purple Genesis 12: 1-4a Romans 4: 1-5, 13-17 John 3: 1-17
St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Morning Worship 6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix 9.30am Communion
St James 11.00am Communion
St Peter 4.00pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 8th March 3rd Sunday of Lent—Purple Exodus 17: 1-7 Romans 5: 1-11 John 4: 5-42
St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Communion St Nix 9.30am Morning Worship
St James 11.00am Morning Worship
St Peter 4.00pm Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
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Sunday 15th March—Mothering Sunday 4th Sunday of Lent—Purple 1 Samuel 1: 20-end 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7 John 19: 25b-27 St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am All Age Service 6.30pm 630 Praise St Nix 9.30am Communion St James 11.00am Communion St Peter 4.00pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 22nd March 5th Sunday of Lent—Purple Ezekiel 37: 1-14 Romans 8: 6-11 John 11: 1-45 St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Communion St Nix 9.30am Morning Worship St James 11.00am Morning Worship St Peter 4.00pm Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 29th March Palm Sunday—Red Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-9a Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew 27:11-54 St Mary 8.15am Communion 10.30am Morning Worship St Nix 9.30am Communion St James 11.00am Communion St Peter 6.30pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
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The Mothers’ Union Meetings for 2026 are: -
They will begin at 2pm and all will feature a short time of worship and will finish with refreshments.
Thurs 19th March - St Mary's - Deanery Leader Gill Beer speaker Thurs 16th April Visit to CHSW Thurs 21st May - St Mary's—Spring of Hope Shelter speaker Thurs 18th June - Anniversary outing tbc Thurs 16th July - St Mary's Cream tea Sat 8th August - 150 yrs Celebration Service at Bristol Cathedral Thurs 17th September - St Mary's - Chris Farrell speaker Thurs 15th October - St Nix - Desert Island Discs/books Thurs 19th November - St Nix - 6 days reflection Thurs 17th December - St Mary's - Christmas Gathering
All visitors are very welcome to all our meetings.
Contact: Jacky Fredrickson 07501670265 for more info. Website: muyate.org.uk
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Enter into the Presence of God at 630 Praise At St Mary’s Yate
First and third Sunday of the month 6.30-7.30pm Refreshments from 6pm
Contemporary Worship Songs Applying Faith to Everyday Life |
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The Thursday House Group
In 2026, The Thursday House Group will meet from 2pm every 1st, 2nd and 4th Thursday afternoon for fellowship, study, and prayer.
(Not meeting on the 3rd Thursday enables people to attend the Mothers’ Union meetings.)
Cake and coffee are always provided.
For more info, please contact Beverley or Ian 0791 339 7478. |
A Rocha UK’s Easy Eco Tips
March 2026
Take part in a local litter pick or beach clean during The Great British Spring Clean (Friday 13-Sunday 29 March), the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. Litter picking benefits the environment by removing rubbish that can be hazardous for wildlife and helps bring people together. See if there’s a litter pick in your local area or consider organising your own - after church on Sunday or with a youth group for example. Pray for your local area as you do the litter pick and ask God for opportunities to share why you are doing it. Find out more and pledge to pick up a bag at
keepbritaintidy.org/our-work/eliminating-litter/great-british-spring-clean
For through the year information from A Rocha UK use the following link:
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Readings for Morning and Evening Prayer The Table below has the readings for Morning and Evening prayer. Prayer books are available from the Parish Office. |
Weekly at St Mary’s
Thursday Communion at 10.00am
Compline @8pm
Before the lockdown happened, we had recorded the saying of Compline. We ask that each evening at 8pm we light a candle in our window and pray together for our nation using the words of the Compline service - it takes just over 5 minutes.
Visit the parish website and click on the recordings to listen; you will find the words of the service there too.
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