St Mary’s Update – 4th July 2016

St Mary’s Church update for 4th July provides listings of services, bible readings and other events and appeals for support for their stall at Heathlands School Fayre.

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who made the Senior Citizen’s Lunch on Saturday 23rd June such a success. Murray & Kate really appreciate all your hard work and generous donations of food.

Messy Church – Sunday 10th July

This coming Sunday the theme for Messy Church will be ‘Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest’. Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 4th July 2016”

June 23, 2016

St Mary’s Update – 21st June 2016

St Mary’s Church update for 21st June provides listings of services, bible readings and other events and appeals for support for their stall at Heathlands School Fayre.

Heathlands School Fayre – Friday 1 July – Sweets needed!

St Mary’s will be running a stall at the school Fayre on Fri 1 July and have decided to offer 2 activities Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 21st June 2016”

March 9, 2016March 9, 2016

St Mary’s Notices – 7th March 2016

Issued on 7th March 2016 this lists notices, dates, services and other events for the upcoming fortnight.

Christian Events in Colchester

As advertised in more detail in the previous news update:

Production of ‘Amazing Grace’ by Oddments Theatre Company at Christ Church, Colchester 7.30pm on Friday 11th March, tickets from tel: 542307.
Good Friday at the Mercury Theatre – Hope Undefeated – 25 March @ 7.30pm – free admission.

Messy Church

Our next Messy Church is this Sunday @ 9.30am when the theme will be the events leading up to Easter. There will be something for all ages so everyone is welcome. Don’t forget the pre-Messy Church prayer meeting on Thursday @ 7pm in church.

Other Diary Dates

All the following are at St Mary’s, West Bergholt unless otherwise stated:

Tues 8 March – 11am Village Communion at St Mary’s
Tues 8 March – Lent Group – refreshments at 8pm and end at 9.30pm. This year’s theme is personal prayer.
Weds 9 March – 11.45am Funeral for Don Turner
Thurs 10 March – 9am Coffee morning;
Thurs 10 March – Messy Church Prayer meeting @ 7pm
Sun 13 March – 9.30am Messy Church; 4.30pm Evening Prayer
Sun 13 March – 9.30am Communion, St Peter’s, Boxted;
Sun 13 March – 11.15am Communion, All Saints’, Gt Horkesley;
Sun 13 March – 6pm Storytime Club @ New Village Hall, Gt Horkesley
Tues 15 March – Lent Group – refreshments at 8pm and end at 9.30pm. This year’s theme is personal prayer.
Thurs 17 March – 9am coffee morning; 2.30pm 5T’s
Sun 20 March – 11.15am Palm Sunday Communion Service
Sun 20 March – 8am said Communion
Sun 20 March – 9.30am Sung Communion, St Mary’s, Langham;
Sun 20 March – 11.15am Palm Sunday Praise Service, St John’s, Gt Horkesley;
Sun 20 March – 4.30pm Evensong, St Peter’s, Boxted.
Maundy Thursday – 24 March – 8pm Fellowship Meal at St John’s, Great Horkesley
Good Friday – 25 March – 10am service at St Mary’s, West Bergholt
Easter Sunday – 27 March – 9.30am Communion, St Mary’s, West Bergholt
Sat 16 April – training day at West Bergholt on prayer & healing ministry
Annual Parochial Church Meeting – Sun 17 April after 11.15am Communion
Senior Citizen’s Lunch – Sat 23 April

Women’s World Day of Prayer – Friday 4 March @ 4pm at St Mary’s

Thank you to Kate Penrose and Judith Fletcher for organising this years’ service and to all who baked cakes and served refreshments for the afternoon team beforehand. It was a lovely service and very well attended.

Sunday Bible Readings

Sun 13 March – John 12:1-8 – A woman anoints Jesus with perfume.
Sun 20 March – Luke 19:28-44 – the events of Palm Sunday.

February 25, 2016March 9, 2016

St Mary’s – Preparing for Easter

This news update includes notices of upcoming services and other events of interest both in the Easter period and after.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace is being performed by the Oddments Theatre Company on Friday 11th March at Christ Church, Ireton Road, Colchester. Starting at 7:30pm tickets are £7.50 booked in advance (call the Church office on 01206 542307) or £10 on the door.

Amazing Grace is the incredible true story of John Newton: a sailor who turned his back on God, a man of no morals and a trader of slaves. Set in the height of the slave trade in the 18th century, a cast of five take the audience on a dramatic journey of discovery as John finds out about God’s infinite love and saving grace. The production is an hour and a half long plus an interval and will be an enjoyable and moving evening of entertainment. It is suitable for ages 14+ and features music, an exciting set and period costumes.

Good Friday at the Mercury Theatre

Being led by Seeking God’s Blessing for Colchester, this event is themed on “Hope undefeated” and it takes place on Friday 25th March commencing at 7:30pm, the Speaker will be Rev Mark Ambrose, admission is free – retiring offering. Seeking God’s Blessing for Colchester works to enable Christian Churches and Agencies in the Borough of Colchester to work together so that the world may believe in Jesus. The group is also planning a ‘Walk of Witness’ through the town centre on Good Friday with further details being announced once agreed with the various statutory bodies.

Other Diary Dates

All the following are at St Mary’s, West Bergholt unless otherwise stated:

Tue 23 Feb – 8pm – Lent Group
Thu 25 Feb – 9am – Coffee Morning
Sun 28 Feb – 9:30am – Morning Worship
Sun 28 Feb – 8am – BCP Communion, All Saints
Sun 28 Feb – 9:30am – Communion, St Mary’s, Langham
Sun 28 Feb – 11:15am – Communion, All Saints’, Gt Horkesley
Tue 01 Mar – 8pm – Lent Group
Thu 03 Mar – 9am – Coffee Morning
Thu 03 Mar – 2:30pm – 5T’s
Fri 04 Mar – 4pm – Women’s World Day of Prayer (see below)
Fri 04 Mar – 7:45pm – Wired
Sat 05 Mar – Vocations Day, Christ Church, Ireton Road (see below)
Sun 06 Mar – 9:30am – Mothering Sunday Communion Service
Sun 06 Mar – 9:30am – Communion, St Mary’s, Langham
Sun 06 Mar – 11:15am – Mothering Sunday Parade Service, All Saints’, Gt Horkesley
Sun 20 Mar – 11:15am – Palm Sunday – Communion
Thu 24 Mar – 8pm – Maundy Thursday – Fellowship Meal at St John’s, Great Horkesley
Fri 25 Mar – 10am – Good Friday – Service
Sun 27 Mar – 9:30am – Easter Sunday – Communion
Sat 16 Apr – Training day at West Bergholt on prayer & healing ministry
Sun 17 Apr – 11:15am – Communion
Sun 17 Apr – Annual Parochial Church Meeting – after communion service

Women’s World Day of Prayer

This year we will be having afternoon tea at 4pm followed by the service at 4.45pm. The service has been written by Christian women from Cuba on the theme ‘Receive children, receive me.’ Children & men welcome!

Vocations Day

Being held at Christ Church, Ireton Road, Colchester this is a day’s course to think about your discipleship in the church and the world. For further details please phone 01245 294453 or email Geoff Read – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Sunday Bible Readings

Sun 28 Feb – Luke 13:1-9 – Jesus calls the people to repent.
Sun 06 March – Luke 2:33-35 – Mary & Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple.

January 12, 2016

St Mary’s Appeal & News Update

This update includes a number of items including Messy Church report, notice of a funding appeal, being launched to avoid running into a deficit in coming years, and news of upcoming events.

Messy Church

Last weekend’s Messy Church was great fun and featured a mini pantomime with the story of the Three Wise Men, together with lots of fun activities for children and grown-ups alike! Thank you to our Messy Church team who put so much effort into preparing the services.

The next Messy Church will be on Sunday 14 February.

Upcoming Events

Senior Citizens Lunch – Satrday 16th January

Our next Senior Citizens’ Lunch will be on 16 January @ 12.45pm. If you would like to come or can help with food etc. please contact Murray Harlow on 07989 720256.

Joint 3 Parishes Sunday Worship Service – Sunday 31st January – 9.30am @ St Mary’s, Langham

St Mary’s will be joining folk from the churches from Great Horkesley, Langham & Boxted on Sunday 31 January to worship together at a joint service @ St Mary’s Church in Langham. If you would like a lift, please contact the parish office on 243683.

Wings for Worship Workshop – Saturday 6th February 9.45am-4.00pm @ St Mary’s

St Mary’s is hosting a deanery wide course designed to equip lay people to take a more active role in public worship. The course is open to everyone at St Mary’s as well as other churches in the Colchester area. Please let Dorothy Chadborn have your contact details if you would like to attend: [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Other Diary Dates

At St Mary’s

Tuesday 12 Jan – 11am village Communion
Tuesday 12 Jan – 8pm Home Group @ Richard & Dorothy’s House
Thursday 14 Jan – 9am coffee morning; 8pm PCC meeting
Saturday 16 Jan – 12.45pm Senior Citizens’ Lunch
Sunday 17 Jan – 11.15am Communion service with baptism of Ruby Tomlinson
Thursday 21 Jan – 9am coffee morning; 10am Rachel’s Home Group
Saturday 23 Jan – Marriage Preparation Day in the church hall
Sunday 24 Jan – 9.30am Morning worship
Wednesday 10 Feb – 8pm Ash Wednesday Communion Service
Tuesday 16 Feb – 8pm Lent Group in the church hall, then 23/2, 1/3, 8/3 & 15/3
Sunday 27 Mar – 9.30am Easter Sunday Communion Service led by Geoff Read

Elsewhere

Sunday 17 Jan – 8am & 9.30am Communion, St Mary’s, Langham; 11.15am Morning Praise, St John’s, Great Horkesley
Sunday 24 Jan – 8am HC @ All Saints, 9.30am HC @ Boxted, 11.15am Family service @ All Saints GH

Sunday Bible Readings

Sunday 17 Jan – Luke 4:14-21 – Jesus preaches in Galilee.
Sunday 24 Jan – John 4: 19-29a – Jesus talks to a women at the well.
Sunday 31 Jan – Luke 2:22-40 – Mary & Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple

Funding Appeal

The following appeal has been issued by the St Mary’s Parochial Church Council.

What gives?

St Mary’s is dependent on regular giving and donations from its members and supporters. We do not receive any external financial support and we are spending more than we receive.

Our main expense is the contribution we make to the costs of our Diocese. In recent years, St Mary’s has benefitted from a reduced “parish share” as we have not had our own vicar. This year, we expect to pay our full share. The PCC also wants to support Mandy’s ministry to help grow our church and we are planning to fund a new administrator position to help her focus on her ministry.

This means we expect to spend nearly £10,000 more this year than we received in 2014!

We have approved changes to the use of our reserves which mean we don’t expect to run out of general funds until 2017….but that’s just two years from now!

We will be talking a lot about giving over the next 2 years and explaining how we receive and spend God’s gifts. The PCC wants to encourage an £8,000 increase in annual regular giving by 2017. So, whether you’re a long-time member, new member, village resident or visitor, we are asking you to prayerfully consider your personal financial commitment to the continued, healthy life of this church in West Bergholt.

Thank you.

St Mary the Virgin PCC

Ways to give?

St Mary’s is dependent on regular giving and donations from its members and supporters. We do not receive any external financial support.

Regular giving

Most members of the Church give by standing order.

Gift-Aid allows us to claim back tax already paid on the gift. This means that every £1 gift-aided is worth £1.25 to the Church. If you already give by standing order or want to do so, please consider regularly the amount you give. Standing order forms are available in the Church.

If you are a UK taxpayer, please gift-aid your donation.

Sunday collections and donations

There is a plate, a donations box and white gift aid envelopes in the church for one-off donations. If you pay tax, please complete and sign one of these envelopes and put your donation inside – then we can claim tax back on these gifts too. Please don’t use these envelopes without signing them – it means you haven’t understood what they’re for!

Non-taxpayers

Even if you don’t pay tax, we can claim tax back from the Government! There’s just no need to fill any forms. Please don’t give £50 notes! We cannot claim the tax on a single gift of more than £20.

Other

Perhaps you can help with fund-raising, helping to explain church finances or with book-keeping. Your help does not need to be just financial. For further information, speak to our Treasurer, Jon Wilson, or a member of the PCC.