Revd Heather Wilcox starts by discussing New Year Resolutions; there is also an appreciation of Jo Jeffery and thank you for Advent Windows. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services and contacts.
New Year Message from Revd Heather Wilcox
New Year resolutions, I suspect that at some point in our lives, we have all made them.
As a new year dawns, we wake up determined that somehow this year we will make better choices. Maybe we want to lose weight or exercise more, learn a new hobby, or find ways of connecting with our friends more effectively throughout the year and not just with the annual Christmas card and round robin letter.
And then as we get to the end of January and realised we aren’t really making any headway or have forgotten what our resolutions were in the first place, we can feel frustrated with ourselves.
But do we have to wait another year, until we can try again?
I love these verses in Lamentations
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
God’s mercies are new every morning, every morning, we wake up with a fresh new start, with all the new opportunities that might entail.
So this New year, I hope that you will remember that there are always opportunities for a fresh start and perhaps one of those this year might be to connect or reconnect with God, and learn more of his great compassion and faithfulness.
Happy New Year and May God Bless you all,
Reverend Heather
Farewell and Thank You to Jo Jeffery – your Children and Families’ Worker
On 31st December, Jo Jeffery will be leaving her position as our 3 Parishes Children and Families’ Worker to take on a new role with the ‘Church Without Walls’, Stanway Pioneering team. We are hugely grateful for everything she has done during the past four years and she will be greatly missed.
Since Jo joined us in January 2017 she has introduced many new initiatives throughout the parishes of West Bergholt, Great Horkesley and Langham and Boxted. These include leading the annual 2-day retreats for the Year 6 pupils in all four of the parish schools, including Heathlands. The retreats consist of a program of activities designed to help the transition from junior to senior school and the children love them, especially the chocolate fountain!
Jo has also been involved in Introducing new, interactive all age services at Great Horkesley and Boxted Churches; and supporting the Heathlands School worship team with several projects. Another important project Jo has been instrumental in setting up and running is the Larder scheme, based at St Mary’s, West Bergholt, which supports families in West Bergholt and Great Horkesley with weekly meal kit parcels.
Jo is always enthusiastic and positive and is so good at encouraging and inspiring others. Her love for God shines through in everything she does and it has been a great pleasure to work with her over the last four years. She has left an amazing legacy and we will do our best to continue the work! We will miss her very much but know that she will be fantastic in her new job.
There will be a special service to say goodbye to Jo on 30th January at St Mary’s, Langham @ 10am. All are welcome!
May God bless you richly Jo xxx
Thank you for the windows
A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to create a window for the Village Advent Windows Trail. All the windows were beautiful and there was some great feedback on the Church and Village Hub Facebook pages.
A special thank you to Heathlands School who created an amazing display of stars along the whole front of the school!
Services & Other Dates
| 2nd January | 10:00 am | Holy Communion (also on Zoom) |
| 9th January | 10:00 pm | Messy Church |
| 16th January | 11:15 am | Holy Communion (also on Zoom) |
| 23rd January | 10:00 am | Praise on 4 Service |
| 30th January | 10:00 am | Joint Service at St Mary’s Langham Leaving service for Jo Jeffery |
Our Team at St Mary’s
- Priest in Charge: Revd. Heather Wilcox
email: [email protected]
tel: 01206 240906 or 07503 151715 - Assistant Curate: Revd Anne Mason
email: [email protected].
tel: 07895 970834 (Sunday & Tuesday – Thursday). - Church Wardens:
Peter & Caroline Finlay, — [email protected] or 07926 387551 and
Kate & Stephen Penrose, — 07973 421306 - Lay Readers:
Richard Chadborn—01206 240541;
Michael Foster—01206 241022;
Joy Budden—01206 241871. - Parish Evangelist
Ron Seymour—01206 272579. - Church Administrator:
Jo Rassell — 01206 243683,
email: [email protected].
Church Office Hours — Monday 9 am—12:30 pm, Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 1 pm. - Hall Bookings:
Nicole Long—01206 240443. - Newsletter Editor:
email: [email protected]. - Website: Stmaryswestbergholt.co.uk
- Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/stmaryswestbergholt.