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Category: Churches

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Resonate Choir at St Mary’s Old Church 6th July

Free Concert at St Mary’s Old Church with Resonate

Resonate Choir

Once again, following their visit last July, The Resonate Choir will be performing at St. Mary’s Old Church on Sunday, July 6th at 4 pm. This free event, hosted by the Friends of St. Mary’s Old Church, promises a truly unique and enjoyable musical experience for all ages.

💳 Admission is free – Donations (cash or card) are warmly welcome and will go directly toward preserving this historic church.

🥂 Complimentary refreshments and free parking available on-site.

Resonate Choir

RESONATE is a passionate collective of singers originally formed within a world music choir in Colchester. With over 15 years of shared musical experience, they’ve branched out to embrace a richly varied repertoire that spans continents and cultures:

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St Mary’s News – The Summer Edition

AI generated abstract image to reflect the idea of the Taste of Summer in a church context.

The Taste of Summer & Other News From St Mary’s

This month’s news starts with Revd Heather’s ‘Taste of Summer’ message.  Following this, you can find out about events including:

… the usual listings of services & contacts.

The Taste of Summer

Popping into the supermarkets at this time of the year, we are often met by signs which say something along the lines of ‘The taste of summer’, which have all been hung strategically in aisles full of foods suitable for picnics on the beach and BBQ’s in our gardens, outdoor, social gatherings with friends and family.

What is it?

So what is the taste of summer? I guess it’s fresh salads, ice cream, BBQ with the hint of charcoal as an added extra, all washed down with our favourite ice-cold drinks. These are the foods that the supermarkets hope will evoke the image of long hot summer days.

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St Mary’s News – The Joyful June Edition

Joyful June & Other News From St Mary’s

Joyful June Butterfly

This month’s news starts with Revd Emma’s Joyful June message.  Following this, you can find out about events including:

… the usual listings of services & contacts.

Joyful June

Joyful June

June has a way of lifting our spirits. The days stretch out like a cat in the sun, flowers burst into colour, and the scent of BBQs and freshly cut grass fills the air. It’s the month where nature seems to throw a garden party—and we’re all invited.

There’s something wonderfully hopeful about June. The Bible tells us:

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St Mary’s News – The May Day or Mayday Edition

St Mary’s News – May Day or Mayday?

This month’s news starts with Revd Heather’s May Day message.  Following this, you can find out about events including:

May Blossom for May Day

… the usual listings of services & contacts.

May Day versus Mayday

Revd Heather’s message this month:

An AI generated image of Maypole Dancers.

May begins and ends with a bank holiday, which is always rather nice, and with the spring well established now, and as we look towards the summer, we might hope that the bank holidays won’t disappoint us and will produce some good weather, perhaps even giving us the opportunity for a BBQ or family picnic.

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St Mary’s News – The Touch Wood Edition

St Mary’s News –Touch Wood for Good Luck

Happy Easter

This month’s news starts with Revd Anne’s (farewell) themed on the call for good luck – “Touch Wood”.  Following this, you can find out about events including:

… the usual listings of services & contacts.

Message from Rev Anne Mason

‘Touch wood’

“April showers bring May flowers” 🥀 is a saying we may have heard, and it is usually true. The wet, dreary weather we tend to experience in early spring gives way to a beautiful array of flowers in vibrant colours as time passes. The flowers bloom, or vegetables and trees bear fruit later in the season, because of the rain that falls on them – or in very dry periods the water that we give them.

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Volunteer of the Year Award 2025

The West Bergholt Volunteer of the Year 2024/25 Award!

Volunteer image for decoration

Do you know a volunteer who deserves to be celebrated for their outstanding contribution to West Bergholt?

Whether they’ve

  • spearheaded a local community project,
  • organised impactful events,
  • raised charitable funds, or
  • been a supportive mentor through their volunteer work,

… we want to hear about them.

Nominees must reside in West Bergholt or have carried out their volunteer work within the community.  Age is no barrier – we welcome nominations for volunteers of all ages! Form & details are below.

Last Years’ Winner

Announcing the result at the Annual Parish Meeting, Cllr Butcher noted that having had a number of nominations to be the recipients for this year’s award one person stood out:

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St Mary’s News – The Spring Cleaning Edition

St Mary’s News – Spiritual Spring Cleaning

Daffodils

This month’s news starts with Revd Heathers Message on Spring Cleaning.  Following this you can find out about events including:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

 Message from Rev Heather Wilcox

Time for a spring clean?

As the days are drawing out, and there is a sense that spring in the air, it seems to awaken the need to do a bit of a spring clean, even in the Rectory. Don’t get me wrong, I am not particularly house proud, and any cleaning would be a bonus most of the time, but in the spring, I seem to suddenly find myself wanting to organise even the most disorganised cupboards. 

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St Mary’s News – The Month of Light Edition

St Mary’s News – A Month of Light, Love and New Beginnings

A month of light reflecting the John 1:5 quote

This month’s news with Revd Emma’s Message on the a Month of Light, Love & New Beginnings.  Following this you can find out about:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Revd Emma – February: A Month of Light, Love, and New Beginnings

As February unfolds, we find ourselves moving further into the promise of lighter days and the hope of new growth.  Winter may still hold a chill in the air, but beneath the surface, life is stirring.  Snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils are beginning to pierce through the earth, their delicate heads reaching for the sun.  It’s a reminder that even in the coldest of seasons, new life is emerging, and God’s creative power is at work in the world around us.

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St Mary’s News – The Light Edition

St Mary’s News – The Light of the World

A lit candle

This month’s news with Revd Anne’s New Years Message on the Light of the World.  Following this you can find out about:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

Christmas Message from Revd Anne – The Light of the World

Snowdrops

The shortest day in 2024 was 21st December and since then the days have been getting longer and we’ll get more daylight each day until we reach the longest day in June.  During these sometimes gloomy months bulbs that start flowering early, such as snowdrops, crocus and hyacinths, grow away in the dark, pushing their way through the cold soil, until they reach the light and give us the joy of seeing their flowers.

Keep warm together

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Candlelight Carol Service at the Old Church

Join the Friends of St Mary’s at their Candlelight Carol Service

Once again the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are holding a Candlelight Carol Service in the Old Church. The Friends look forward to welcoming you back on Sunday 15th December at 2:30 pm.

The service is free and open to all and there’s now dedicated car parking opposite the church.  One of St Mary’s ministers will lead the service.

The Friends are also looking for someone to pump the church organ during the service, so if anyone is interested please contact Nicole Long on 01206 240443.

Dress for the weather!

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