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St Mary’s News – The Season of Creation Edition

St Mary’s News –Creation, Ride & Stride & More

Season of Creation Logo

Lay Minister Liz Dixon starts off this Season of Creation edition of St Mary’s News by introducing the Season of Creation. This is followed by:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

Season of Creation @ St Mary’s

St Mary’s is taking part in this year’s Season of Creation during the month of September, and details of our events can be found below.

The Season of Creation is a global and ecumenical Christian movement, established in 1989, to celebrate and care for God’s gift of Creation. Each year, from 1st September through to St Francis Day on  4th October, Christian Communities from all over the world come together to pray and act for our common home.

The First Fruits of Hope

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Resonate Choir at St Mary’s Old Church 14th July

Free Concert at St Mary’s Old Church with Resonate

Resonate Choir who will be performing "Sacred Harp" & other a cappella music.

The Resonate Choir will be performing at St. Mary’s Old Church on Sunday, July 14th at 4 pm. This free event, hosted by the Friends of St. Mary’s Old Church, promises an enjoyable and unusual concert.

All cash and card donations made on the day will go towards the upkeep of the church.  Free parking.

Resonate Choir

RESONATE, a group of singers originally from a world music choir in Colchester, has embarked on a unique musical journey. After spending approximately 15 years in the choir, these vocalists decided to explore a distinct repertoire. Their main focus includes the Sacred Harp, a musical tradition originating in the southern United States during the late eighteenth century. Additionally, they delve into traditional Slavic songs (including Bulgarian, Croatian, and Georgian melodies) and the rich musical heritage of South Africa and other African countries.

Listen to an example of Sacred Harp music below:

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St Mary’s News – The “Summer Vibe” Edition

St Mary’s News – Summer Vibes, Cèilidh & More

Summer Vibe image, happy people with musical imagery

This Summer Vibe edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Emma Barr reflecting on the joy that music can bring.  It then continues with a number of events:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

 Message from Revd. Emma Barr

What’s your Summer Vibe?

The wedding season is most definitely in full swing. What a privilege it is as a member of the clergy to walk alongside a couple as they make their preparations to marry and then be front line and centre to witness their big day.

There is so much that makes the service bespoke but for me it all starts literally with the first piece of music. We have had allsorts whether it is super traditional:

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St Mary’s News – The Cèilidh Edition

St Mary’s News – Thy Kingdom Come, Cèilidh & More

This Cèilidh edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Heather looking at how ten years of Archbishop Welby’s call to prayer through his ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ message has fared.  It then continues with:

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Heather Wilcox

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Kingdom Come - logo of Church of England annual event

As I write this, in the churches we are in the 10 days between Ascension, when we remember Jesus returning back to heaven after the resurrection and Pentecost, when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit.

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St Mary’s News – The Walking Edition

St Mary’s News – Walking Rogation & Prayer

Rogation May Day Walk map

This Walking edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Anne’s message considering her recent hospital experience and relating it to how Jesus looked after his disciples on the first Easter.  It then continues with:

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Anne Mason

Peace be with you

A few weeks ago, Easter was joyfully celebrated in Christian churches around the world with a message of hope, and life in abundance in this world and in the next.  And Jesus’ appearing to his disciples, and to many hundreds of others, after his death and resurrection, gave me extra cause for reflection this year.

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St Mary’s News – The Oaks & Acorns Edition

Oaks & Acorns

St Mary’s News – Mighty Oaks & Acorns

This Oaks & Acorns edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Heather’s message about sowing seeds and the relation that has with the Resurrection; it then continues with:

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Heather Wilcox

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

It’s that time of year once again, when I, along with many other amateur gardeners, disappear for short periods of time into the sanctuary of my greenhouse and in faith set out row upon row of pots, fill them with compost and then place little tiny seeds into the soil, water them, and then patiently, or not so patiently, wait in anticipation that something will happen.  That by some small miracle, the seed, which to all appearances was lifeless, will spring into life, and ultimately produce a plant, which will go on to produce enough tomatoes, courgettes, butternut squashes, cucumbers, or whatever else has been sown, to keep us well fed with fresh vegetables for several months to come.

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St Mary’s News – The Lambing Edition

Revd. Emma Barr is used to lambing - seen here with one of her lambs
Revd. Emma Barr & Lamb

St Mary’s News – Lambing & Flocks

This Lambing edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Emma Bar’s seasonal message about God’s Beloved Flock and then continues with:

Message from Revd. Emma Barr

God’s Beloved Flock

Spring is making an attack on winter with the now lighter mornings and drawn out evenings, something I always rejoice at as we are in the middle of lambing and it makes it so much easier and cheerier having light.

This year with 103 ewes scanned in lamb we were set for a busy time. It is always a time of waiting and watching, with excitement and anticipation knowing there will be the amazing success stories of lambs being adopted to other mothers and little ones making it against all the odds, but as with all things there are also the sad stories of loss.

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St Mary’s News – The Wake-up Edition

St Mary’s News – A Spiritual Wake-up

After Revd. Heather’s reflections around her personal Wake-Up call, this editions includes:

A Spiritual ‘Wake-up call’.

Back in September, I was sent a letter from my GP. Following some routine blood tests, I was being encouraged to sign up for a pre-diabetes course, which would run over 9 months, a course, which I knew, as my father was already 6 months into it, took up a lot of time. Mindful of the time commitment, I was reluctant at first to even attempt to join a course, but having logged in to sign up, I found I could opt for a virtual course via an app, meaning I could fit it around my other commitments.

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West Bergholt’s Methodist Church Sold

Methodist Church Sold

The Methodist Church site was sold on Friday September 15th 2023 after a protracted and complex sale.  This was not helped by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

The final service in the West Bergholt Methodist Church as it was sold

Many villagers will recall the Methodist fellowship ceased to worship in West Bergholt in September 2018 some 139 years after the first service!  Membership had been declining for some time leading to the difficult decision to cease holding services in the Chapel.  The final service took place at the end of a weekend of activities and reminiscence.  The remaining members now worship at “The Well Methodist Church“, in Mile End.

Change of control

From this point, the site became the responsibility of the Methodist Church.  The Colchester Methodist Circuit handled the sale of the site..

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St Mary’s News – The Great Expectations Edition

St Mary’s News – Great Expectations

After Revd. Heather’s reflections around ‘Great Expectations’, this editions includes:

Great Expectations - Pip starting his journey to Germany - AI generated

A New Year Reflection from Revd. Heather

Great expectations

For those that enjoy Christmas movies, the season for watching them, which appears to span anytime from the end of October to December is finally over. One book, which seems to feature over and over again in Christmas films, albeit under many different guises, is that great Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol.

Another novel of Charles Dickens is Great Expectations.

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