This edition starts with Bank Holidays and covers much more
This edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Heather’s “Bank Holidays” message and then continues with:
- See the Coronation at the Church,
- Eco Church,
- Drop in Café,
- Christian Aid Coffee Morning,
- Successful Soup Lent Lunches, and
- the usual listings of services and contacts.
Bank Holidays
Bank holidays. May is normally blessed with two of them. This year we get an additional one for the Coronation of King Charles III.
For a large percentage of the population, this will be the first time any of us will have seen a Coronation in this country and having a king on the throne is still somewhat strange. So aside from giving us an additional Bank Holiday, which is of course always very welcome, this will be a momentous occasion, whether we choose to recognise it as such or not.
But what about the other two bank holidays?
On the first of May, we celebrate May Day, which has been a Bank holiday since 1978, although it has been marked and celebrated since ancient times with events such as Morris dancing, maypole dancing, crowning the Queen of May, dawn flower picking and picnic.
At the end of May, this year on the 29th we have the Whitsun Bank holiday. Which is linked to our Pentecost celebrations in the church. 50 days after Easter, we remember the Holy Spirit descending on the church, transforming those first disciples and in effect giving birth to the church as we know it today, which is why Pentecost is often thought about in terms of being the churches birthday.
Ascension
Three very special Bank holidays this year to look forward to in May. And nestled in amongst them all, in danger of being overlooked sits, a very special Thursday, Thursday 18th May, Ascension Day, when 10 days before Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we remember Jesus ascending into heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of God, the King of kings.
Thy Kingdom Come
8 years ago, ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ was launched, a time of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost, encouraging us to pray for our communities, country and the world, praying that we will be shaped by Gods kingdom and Gods values.
As we prepare this May to celebrate and pray for King Charles III on his Coronation, we are reminded too, that we worship the King of kings, and we pray, for his Kingdom to come.
May God bless you
Heather
See the Coronation at the Church
Coronation Live Streaming Event at St Mary’s
Come together to Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6 May from 10.15am
The Coronation Service will be live-streamed from St Mary’s Church
Join us as we share this momentous occasion together, whilst enjoying plenty of tea, coffee and cake!
All are welcome
Eco Church
As part of our work towards becoming an Eco Church, we will be including some Eco tips in the newsletter on a regular basis. Why not join in with:-
No Mow May—a national campaign by conservation charity Plantlife encouraging gardeners not to mow their lawns in May so that wild flowers can get a foothold, enabling them to feed bees, butterflies and other pollinators throughout the summer.
Drop in Café
We’re excited to be launching a drop in café on the first Saturday of every month, starting on 3 June, from 10am to noon. Alongside tea, coffee and cake and bacon butties there will be games, a craft activity and newspapers. Do come along. All are welcome!
Christian Aid Coffee Morning
At the Rectory 1 Church Close, West Bergholt
Alongside tea, coffee, cake and plants there will be a cake stall, books, bric-a-brac and a raffle.
Donations of plants, cakes (ingredients listed), good quality books and games welcome in advance. Please drop off at the Rectory.
Successful Soup Lent Lunches
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make our 6 parish Soup Lent Lunches such a success. Not only did it get us out and about sharing fellowship across the churches, but a fantastic £800 was raised for Mary’s Meals alongside all the food donated to the Colchester Food bank. Well done to everyone!
A big thank you also to everyone who made a donation towards the cost of material for the new curtains in the church hall!
Services & Other Dates
| 6th May | 10:15 am | Live Streaming of Coronation at St Mary’s |
| 7th May | 9:30 am | Holy Communion |
| 14th May | 9:30 am | Messy Church |
| 18th May | Ascension Day Service – details TBC | |
| 19th May | 10:00 am | Christian Aid Coffee Morning & Plant Sale |
| 21st May | 9:30 pm | Morning Worship with Baptism |
| 28th May | 9:30 am | Pentecost – Café Church with Baptism |
| 3rd June | 10:00 am | Drop in Café |
Our Team at St Mary’s
- Priest in Charge: Revd. Heather Wilcox
email: [email protected]
tel: 01206 240906 or 07503 151715 - Assistant Priest: 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.