This edition of St Mary’s News starts with Liz Dixon reflecting on Jesus being “the bread of life”, and continues with other news including:
- The Christmas Shoebox Appeal,
- Food in School Holidays (FISH),
- Halloween Hot Chocolate,
- Children during morning services, and
- the usual listings of services and contacts.
The Bread of Life
Then Jesus declared ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
John 6:35
More Sustainable
In an effort to live more sustainably, I decided to try and grow some vegetables in my garden for the first time this year. I made lots of mistakes so the results were very mixed. The broad beans were covered in black fly, the dwarf pea plants produced about 6 peas from 20 plants, and the carrots were very tiny. But I did manage to grow some passable red peppers!
I have learned a lot from my mistakes and hope to do a bit better next year. But it has made me thankful that I don’t depend on the food I have grown to live. If I did, I would go hungry!
Foodbanks
There are many places in the world where people are going hungry today. Sadly, there are now many in the UK who do not have enough to eat and we know from reports in the media that the numbers of people relying on foodbanks has seen a sharp increase.
John records in his Gospel that Jesus fed the hungry crowds and afterwards declared that he is the Bread of Life.
“As Christians we can follow Christ by bringing both practical and spiritual support to others. Let us be sustained by Jesus the Bread of Life as we enable others to have bread to meet their hunger and receive life.”
From “Green Reflections” by Martin & Margot Hodson
Blessings
Liz Dixon
The Christmas Shoebox Appeal
A simple heartfelt gift, packed with love can mean so much to a child in need.
The Samaritan’s Purse Project Operation Christmas Child collects shoeboxes – filled with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items – and delivers them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way.
Ukraine
As the anguish of the Ukrainian people continues, Operation Christmas Child will be continuing their 20+ year partnership with over 3,200 churches across Ukraine in delivering the hope and light that comes through the giving of shoebox gifts. In 2022 they will be sending two-thirds of their shoeboxes to Ukraine or the neighbouring countries like Moldova and Romania.
St Mary’s will be joining with Boxted Church for this year’s shoebox appeal. As well as filling a whole shoebox, there will be a collection box in the church office where you can donate individual items to be used at the packing party at Boxted Church on 20 November. NB Please do not include toothpaste, liquids, sweets or chocolate, war-related items or sharp or fragile items.
Deadline Day
Please bring your completed shoe box or individual items to the Church Office by Monday 14 November.
For more information, including a list of suitable items to put in your shoebox, please visit the Samaritans Purse website, or email [email protected].
Thank you on behalf of the children who will receive shoebox gifts this year. You’ll bring a big smile to a child’s face, and let them know that they are loved and not forgotten.
Food in School Holidays (FISH)
All families welcome to our next Food in School Holidays club on 24th October between 11.30am-2pm.
Games, craft activities and a hot meal are provided free of charge! Open to all families but children must be accompanied by an adult please.
To book your place, please phone or email the church office:
- [email protected] or
- 01206 243683.
Halloween Hot Chocolate
We are planning to open the church on Halloween evening between approximately 6.00pm and 8.00pm to serve hot chocolate and snacks and provide a safe space for trick or treaters to come in and chill out.
If you can spare an hour to help with serving the refreshments, please contact Liz Dixon on
- 07914 001212 or
- [email protected]
Children during morning services
We are now able to offer activities for children in all of our Sunday morning services. Our Messy Church on the second Sunday in the month is of course very much focused on activities for all ages. In addition, however, there will be an activity table for children at our café church service on the fourth Sunday in the month, and at our two communion services on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.
Plans are also in progress to create a more welcoming children’s area in the church and we look forward to sharing more details soon.
Services & Other Dates
| 1st October | 2pm – 5 pm | Open Church |
| 2nd October | 9:30 am | Harvest Celebration Service for all ages |
| 2pm – 5pm | Open Church | |
| 9th October | 9:30 am | Messy Church |
| 16th October | 9:30 am | Holy Communion |
| 23rd October | 9:30 am | Café Church |
| 24th October | 11:30 am – 2 pm | Food in School Holidays Club |
| 30th October | 10:00 am | Joint 6 Parishes Service at St Peter & St Paul, Little Horkesley |
| 31st October | 6 pm – 8 pm | Halloween Hot Chocolate |
| 6th November | 9:30 am | Holy Communion |
| 14th November | Operation Shoebox Deadline |
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 - Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs):
Richard Chadborn—01206 240541;
Michael Foster—01206 241022;
Joy Budden—01206 241871;
Liz Dixon—07914 001212. - Parish Evangelist
Ron Seymour—01206 272579. - Church Administrator:
Donna Luxton — 01206 243683,
email: [email protected].
Church Office Hours — Monday – Friday 10 am – midday. - Hall Bookings:
Nicole Long—01206 240443. - Newsletter Editor:
Liz Dixon
tel: 07914 001212
email: [email protected]. - Website: Stmaryswestbergholt.co.uk
- Follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/stmaryswestbergholt.