St Mary’s Spring 2018 Good News Update

St Mary’s Spring 2018 Good News Update

This Easter 2018 edition of Good News, St Mary’s Parish Magazine, is reproduced below (together with additional material from various notices), use the links to the stories & news items.

Some Thoughts from Jo Jeffery, our new Families’ Worker

I have been invited to reflect on my favourite Bible passage for the magazine, but I would like to be greedy and reflect on 2! These have been of great importance to me for several years.

Matthew 26 v 6 and 7

6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

I love this passage because it is how I hope to live in my relationship with Jesus. I want to pour myself out for Him in response to the amazing love He pours out for me.

Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

For me, this passage combines beautifully with the first – pouring myself out for Jesus includes pouring my time out on Him. I love to just sit with God, at home, in the garden, in church, anywhere really. I enjoy spending time resting in His love and just being with Him. Life has got a lot busier with my new role as 3 Parishes Families’ worker, making this even more important. How can we pour out God’s love if we haven’t taken time to be filled up with it? We all have an open invitation to come and rest for a while….

Thank you for all the support I have had in my new role so far. It is my privilege to work for the 3 Parishes.

Jo Jeffery

Marcelin and his daughters © Christian Aid

Marcelin’s Story

In Haiti, Marcelin raised his three daughters alone. They’ve endured some of the worst natural disasters on earth. They’re not just survivors. They’re fighters. But they’re only so strong. They won’t survive the next hurricane without your help.

This Christian Aid Week, you can be in their corner. You can help them build a home that will weather the next storm, so they won’t need to fight to survive anymore.

Christian Aid Week unites people like you from all walks of life. We step out in mission for our neighbours like Marcelin, because we believe in life before death. We believe God’s kingdom is stronger than the storms.

Marcelin Abellard and his daughters Ketia, Linda and Keshna (left to right in the photo) still haven’t recovered from Hurricane Matthew. Marcelin doesn’t expect them to survive if another hurricane hits.

Christian Aid Week – 13 – 19 May

Together we’re stronger than the storms

We are very grateful to Rev Mandy Elmes’ husband Paul who has taken over the organising of the house-to-house collection from Richard Chadborn. Last year we raised an amazing £1,350 + gift aid and hope to match that this year!

There will be a house-to-house collection in West Bergholt during 13 – 19 May, or you can give online at caweek.org.

‘Praise on 4’ Café Church on 4th Sundays

We are trying something new in our 4th Sunday Services – a more informal relaxed style of worship with coffee and croissants on arrival, an interactive talk and a mix of contemporary worship songs and old favourites. There are also separate activities for children.

The first of these services took place on 25 February and was very much enjoyed by all who came along. As I write, we are looking forward to the next one in a few days’ time on Palm Sunday.

We have gathered together a team of people who plan and lead the 4th Sunday services and we would be grateful for feedback on what you have enjoyed and what you haven’t, and whether there are any topics you would particularly like to be covered. If you have any thoughts or comments, please feel free to speak to Ronnie Seymour, Sue Day, Richard Chadborn or myself (Liz Dixon).

The 4th Sunday service in April will be the St George’s Day scout parade service and café church will be back on 27 May @ 9.30am. We look forward to seeing you! Liz Dixon.

Ladies’ Breakfast – A Thank you from the Catherine Bullen Foundation

In February the ladies enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Queens Head and a very interesting talk given by Roger and Linda Bullen about their foundation, set up in memory of their daughter, to fund medical and educational projects in Namibia. We were able to donate £118 to their fund and Roger and Linda Bullen, who are based in West Mersea, wrote to thank us. Their current project is the refurbishment of a primary school hostel in the Omaheke region and you can find more information about their work on their website: www.namibia-aid.org.uk.

Heathlands School Link

A Report from the Worship Team

Did you know that Heathlands Primary School has a worship team made up of 12 pupils from Years 5 and 6 who lead a whole-school act of worship every Tuesday? Sioned (Year 6) explains how the team has developed over the past few months:

The worship team has improved since we started in September 2017. Mrs Gibson, our teacher, has helped us with our presentation skills, projecting our voices and becoming more confident. We have become more creative as the weeks have passed, incorporating lots of our own ideas in drama, music and sketches.

Other members of the worship team talk about some of the activities they have been involved in over the last few months:

Visit to Chelmsford Cathedral in March

When the worship team visited the Cathedral a few weeks ago, we did lots of activities such as learning the Lord’s Prayer in sign language, learning about the most well-known stories in the Bible in different and creative ways, drawing portraits of ourselves to learn how important we are to God, and learning about the different presents which the wise men gave to Jesus – Frankincense for Jesus as God, Gold for Jesus as King, and Myrrh for Jesus as healer. The day helped us understand more about the Christian faith while having fun at the same time.

Phoebe (Year 6).

The Prayer Space

This year we had an amazing opportunity when someone came to our school to set up our very own prayer space for the week in the computer room, for all the classes in the school to visit. After visiting the prayer space in classes we were allowed to show our parents and families around so that they could get the relaxing opportunity that we had. In the prayer space we could listen to calming music and shake a jar of glitter and watch the glitter falling softly to the ground.

There was also a friendship stop where you could share with your friend the good things about your friendship – often in life you get told the bad things about what your friend thinks about you so it was good to hear the nice things for a change – it made you and your friend feel happy about your friendship.

Holly and Luke (Year 5).

The Prayer Tree

We now have a tree in the hall (a real living tree) where we can come and hang our prayers on the branches.

The prayer tree helps us to share our thoughts with God, and let him know about things we are concerned about. It could be something personal, or it could be something happening in the world that you would like God to help with.

Every week the worship team hand out prayer leaves to each class then collect them in and hang them on the prayer tree.

Alex (Year 6).

Art Exhibition

St Mary’s was delighted to host the school’s art exhibition on 15 & 16 March. The art work was superb – well done to all the pupils and teachers who worked so hard on putting together the exhibition, and thank you to all the volunteers from the church who helped to provide refreshments.

A fun conundrum: We Panic in a Pew – answer after the notices!

Notices

Quiz Night

Taking place on Saturday 21 April – 6.30pm for 7pm in Langham Community Centre, School Road, Langham CO4 5PA.  This is for teams of 6 people: £6 per adult, £3 under 12s. Light refreshments provided, bring your own drinks.

Tickets available from John & Jos Carter 01206 272755 or Ian & Ann Hollands 01206 230525.

Being held in aid of Boxted & Langham Churches and the 3 Parishes Families’ Worker.

Annual Church Meeting

Taking place on Sunday 15th April after the 1:15am Service.  A chance to review the last year and look ahead to plans for the coming year. We will also be electing Church Wardens and new PCC members. There will be a soup lunch after—all are welcome to attend.

Thy Kingdom Come 11 Days of Prayer – 10 May-20 May 2018

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement which invites Christians around the world to pray throughout the 11 days between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer. The hope is that people will commit to pray with God’s worldwide family, either as a church or individually.

There are lots of ideas and free resources to download on how to pray as an individual or as a family, as well as ideas for activities in church. Check out the website: www.thykingdomcome.global.

Answer to the conundrum at the bottom of the Heathlands Link pages:

The phrase reads the same backwards as forwards!

Dates for Your Diary (Including Services)

Kids’ Church is our new form of Sunday school for children.  Services at St Mary’s unless stated otherwise.

Sunday 8 April 9.30am Messy Easter
Communion at St Mary’s, Langham;
11.15am Communion at All Saints’, Gt Horkesley
6.30pm Evening Prayer Service
Friday 13 April 7.45pm Wired Youth Group
Sunday 15 April 8.00am BCP Communion at St Mary’s, Langham
9.30am Family Service at St Peter’s, Boxted
11.15am Holy Communion led by Mandy Elmes, followed by APCM
Morning Praise at St John’s, GH
Sunday 22 April 8.00am BCP Communion at All Saints, GH
9.30am St George’s Day Parade (No Kids’ Church).  Praise on 4’ with the cubs, scouts and beavers.
Communion at St Mary’s, Langham
11.15am Service 4 All at All Saints, GH
Sunday 29 April 9.30am Joint Service at St Mary’s, Langham with guest speaker Steve Kersys (the Diocesan Children & Families Advisor)
Sunday 6 May 9.30am Holy Communion led by Mandy Elmes, with Kids’ Church
Sunday 13 May 9.30am Messy Church (no Kids’ Church)
Christian Aid Week until 19th May
Sunday 20 May 11.15am Holy Communion led by Mandy Elmes, with Kids’ Church
Sunday 27 May 9.30am Praise on 4 Café Church, with Kids’ Church
Saturday 2 June Church Garden Party

 

Sunday Gospel Readings

Our Bible readings for every Sunday are taken from the Lectionary, a table of psalms and readings authorised for use in public worship of the Church of England.

Date

Reading

Theme

Sunday 1 April Mark 16:1-8 Jesus rises from the dead.
Sunday 8 April John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples behind locked doors.
Sunday 15 April Luke 24:36-48 Jesus appears to the disciples in Jerusalem.
Sunday 22 April John 10:11-18  Jesus is the good shepherd.
Sunday 29 April John 15:1-8  Jesus teaches about the vine and the branches.
Sunday 6 May John 15:9-17 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
Sunday 13 May John 17:6-19 Jesus prays for his disciples.
Sunday 20 May John 15:26-27 & 16:4-15 Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit.
Sunday 27 May John 3:1-17 Nicodemus visits Jesus at night.

Regular Events

Please note that the Village Communion which used to be held at St Mary’s on the 2nd Tuesday of each month no longer takes place.

Thursdays at 9.00 am. Drop in for coffee during term time.

Thursdays at 2.30pm.  5Ts (Together for Tea on Thursdays at Two-Thirty) Weekly, including school holidays.

1st Sunday in the month 9.30am Holy Communion + Kids’ Church (St Mary’s Sunday School)
2nd Sunday in the month 9.30am Messy Church
No Evening Prayer in winter months
3rd Sunday in the month 11.15am Holy Communion + Kids’ Church
4th Sunday in the month 9.30am ‘Praise on 4’ Café Church + Kids’ Church
5th Sunday in the month
(when applicable)
Combined service with Methodist Church and the parishes of Great Horkesley and Langham with Boxted. The location and times of the service rotate between the 5 churches.

Home Groups

Our home groups continue after Easter on the following dates.

  • Tuesday 8pm 17/4, 1/5, 15/5, 29/5, 12/6
  • Monday 1.30pm fortnightly (Gill Partridge’s House): Starting from 23 April.

For more details, contact Michael Foster on 01206 241022.

Open House & 5T’s (Together on Thursdays for Tea @ Two Thirty)

  • Open House every Thursday morning at 9am in term times.
  • 5T’s – 2.30pm every Thursday, including school holidays.

Wired (our Youth Group for Secondary School Students)

Fridays @ 7.45pm in the church hall.

  • 13 April
  • 11 May,
  • 8 June,
  • 13 July.

For more details contact [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Contacts

  • Priest in charge: Rev Dr Mandy Elmes,
    The Rectory, 1 Church Close,
    West Bergholt CO6 3JZ
    Tel 01206 240906
    Mob 07872 649967
    [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
  • 3 Parishes Families Worker:
    Jo Jeffery – 07419 317854
  • Parish Office & Good News Editor
    Liz Dixon 01206 243683
    [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
  • Lay Readers:
    • Richard Chadborn – 01206 240541
    • Michael Foster- 01206 241022
  • Evangelist:
    Ronnie Seymour – 01206 273579
  • Church Wardens
    • Sue Day – 01206 241040
    • Peter Jeffery – 01206 548839
  • Pastoral Assistant
    • Dorothy Chadborn – 01206 240541
  • Home Groups: (Bible Study) Contact Michael Foster – 01206 241022
  • Hall Hire and Church Bookings: Contact Nicole on 01206 240443
  • Website and email
    www.sites.google.com/site/stmaryswbergholt/
    [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]
    Follow us on Twitter @stmarysbergholt or Facebook
  • Rainbows, Brownies and Guides
    Enquiries regarding Rainbows, Brownies & Guides to 07757 636446, [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] or www.girlguidingessexne.org.uk.
  • Cubs & Beavers contact: 241666;
  • Scouts contact: 240549
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