St Mary’s update – 18th February 2018
St Mary’s Church update for 18th February provides listings of services and other events and news. This update includes Lent Group, Women’s World Day of Prayer, Table Top Sale, a new format for 4th Sunday services and a vacancy for a Church Treasurer.
3 Parishes Lent Group – ‘We Shall Be Changed’
You are warmly invited to join this series of Lent groups on 20th and 27th February, 6th, 13th & 20th March at 8.00pm in St Mary’s Church Hall, West Bergholt. Lent is more than simply giving up something for a month; it is an opportunity to encounter Christ in a wholly new way.
Using a study booklet called ‘We shall be changed’ by Keith Duke, we will be thinking about the things which may prevent us from truly transforming on an emotional and spiritual level. We will reflect on our experiences of rebirth, and examine the deserts of our lives and how to find God in that wilderness.
Each session starts with tea/coffee and biscuits and will include a time for worship, silence, and discussion, alongside prayers and liturgies from the Celtic tradition.
The study booklets will be provided but donations towards the cost would be much appreciated. For more information, please contact Liz Dixon, 01206 243683.
3 Parishes Women’s Breakfast
Calling all ladies! You are warmly invited to join us for breakfast at the Queens Head on Saturday 24 February at 8.30am. There will be a speaker (details to be confirmed) and a full continental breakfast. The cost will be £10.00.
It would help with arrangements if you could let Sue Hart know in advance if you would like to come. Sue can be contacted on 01206 241666 or [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
Church Treasurer Vacancy
St Mary’s current treasurer is stepping down after the annual meeting in April so the Church is looking for someone to take on this role. If you are good with figures and would like to do something worthwhile for the local community, they would love to hear from you! For more details on what the job entails, please contact Liz Dixon on [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
‘Praise on 4’ Café Church
St Mary’s are trying out a new informal style of Worship for the 4th Sunday services. The theme for Sunday 25th Feb is a personal relationship with God. Coffee and croissants will be served at the beginning of the service and there will be modern worship songs and some ‘food for thought’. All welcome!
Women’s World Day of Prayer
As in previous years, we join the Methodist Church to celebrate Women’s World Day of Prayer; this year on FRIDAY 2nd MARCH. The service will be held at St Mary’s Church. There will be a Soup’n Snack Lunch at 12.30pm in the Hall followed by the Service in the Church at 1.30pm.
This years’ service has been written by the Christian women of Suriname (a country which borders Brazil and Guyana); the theme will be “All God’s Creation is Very Good”.
Caring for God’s creation is hugely important and highly relevant to people of all ages and beliefs. With its vast rainforest and wealth of resources, Suriname asks us to pray for conservation and the protection of wildlife, through an awareness of pollution, misuse and abuse, as well as for the situation in Suriname and concerns for the future.
ALL ARE WELCOME – Children & gentlemen welcome!
To help with catering arrangements, could you please let Kate Penrose know if you would like to come to the soup lunch: [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] – by Friday 23rd February.
Table To
p Sale
Do you enjoy tracking down a bargain or need to find a home for good condition children’s books, toys, games and DVDs? On Saturday 17th March, 2:00-4: 30 pm, our WIRED youth group are holding a table top sale in the Church Hall; this is part of our Families Worker Fundraising.
We will be selling toys, games, children’s books and DVDs but not general bric-a-brac; we will also be selling tea, coffee, cake etc.
We will be taking donations of toys, games, books & DVDs on Thursday 15 March between 9-11am in the church office and from 1pm on Saturday 17th in the hall. The sale will start at 2pm, for more information, contact Rachel via [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
Services & Other Dates
All events are at St Mary’s unless stated otherwise. Kids’ Church is our new form of Sunday school for children. Services at St Mary’s unless stated otherwise.
| Tuesday 20 February | 8.00pm | Lent Group |
| Saturday 24 February | 8.30am | Ladies Breakfast at the Queens Head |
| Sunday 25 February | 8.00am | Communion at All Saints’, Great Horkesley |
| 9.30am | Morning Worship, with Kids’ Church | |
| Communion at St Mary’s, Langham | ||
| 11.15am | Service 4 All at All Saints’, Great Horkesley | |
| Tuesday 27 February | 8.00pm | Lent Group |
| Sunday 4 March | 9.30am | Holy Communion led by Mandy Elmes, with Kids’ Church |
| Communion at St Mary’s, Langham | ||
| 11.15am | Morning Praise at St John’s, Gt Horkesley | |
| Tuesday 6 March | 8.00pm | Lent Group |
| Friday 9 March | 7.45pm | Wired |
| Sunday 11 March | 9.30am | Mothering Sunday Messy Church (no Kids’ Church) |
| Communion at St Peter’s, Boxted | ||
| 11.15am | Mothering Sunday Parade Service at St John’s, Gt Horkesley | |
| Tuesday 13 March | 8.00pm | Lent Group |
| Thursday 15 March | Heathlands School Art Exhibition in the Church | |
| Friday 16 March | Heathlands School Art Exhibition in the Church | |
| Sunday 18 March | 11.15am | Holy Communion led by Mandy Elmes, with Kids’ Church |
| Tuesday 20 March | 8.00pm | Lent Group |
| Thursday 22 March | 7.45pm | PCC Meeting |
| Sunday 25 March | 9.30am | Palm Sunday Morning Worship, with Kids’ Church |
| Thursday 29 March | 8.00pm | Maundy Thursday Communion at St John’s, Great Horkesley |
| Friday 30 March | 12 noon | Good Friday Devotional Service |
| Sunday 1 April | 9.30am | Easter Sunday Communion |
| Sunday 1 April | 9.30am | Easter Sunday Communion Service |
| Sunday 29 April | 9.30am | Joint 3 Parishes Service at St Mary’s, Langham |