St Mary’s Update – 2nd May

St Mary’s Update – 2nd May

The following dates have been advised to us from St Mary’s, note italicised services are not at St Mary’s. Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 2nd May”

April 21, 2016May 4, 2016

St Mary’s Update – 18th April 2016

News from the Annual Church Meeting

Mandy gave her annual report and thanked the many people who contribute to the smooth running of the church and all its various activities and services. A copy of her report will be available on the church web site next week. Richard & Dorothy Chadborn were re-appointed as church wardens, and there are some new faces on the PCC Continue reading “St Mary’s Update – 18th April 2016”

April 12, 2016May 4, 2016

Churches Update – 11th April

Churches Update – 11th April

The following dates have been advised to us from St Mary’s, note italicised services are not at St Mary’s. Continue reading “Churches Update – 11th April”

April 5, 2016April 6, 2016

St Mary’s News Update – April 2016

The April & May edition of Good News, St Mary’s Parish Magazine, is reproduced below use the links to the various stories & news items:

The Story of Pentecost (Pentecost Sunday – 15th May)
Morsheda’s Story – Christian Aid Week,
Side Person’s Duties,
A New Beginning,
Gospel Readings,
Notices,
Dates for your diary,
Contacts,
Services.

The Story of Pentecost – the Birth of the Church

The word Pentecost comes from a Greek word meaning fiftieth and was the name of a Jewish Festival celebrating the completion of the grain harvest. This festival, also known as the Feast of Weeks, was observed on the 50th day, or 7 weeks, after Passover. However, the festival gained a new significance for the Christian Church when, 50 days after Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion (and 10 days after his ascension into heaven), the Holy Spirit descended in a dramatic fashion on the disciples gathered in Jerusalem for the festival of weeks.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (New International Bible, Acts 2: 1-6)

Peter then stood up and preached to the assembled crowd with a new confidence that God had raised Jesus back to life and urged people to “Repent and be baptised, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Some 3,000 people became followers that day, and thus the church was born.

So what does this mean for us today? I found the following quote online which really seemed to sum up the significance of Pentecost:

When you strip it of everything else, Pentecost stands for power and life. That’s what came into the church when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost. (David Wilkerson).

Best wishes, Liz Dixon

Christian Aid Week – 15-21 May

Be the answer to Morsheda’s prayer this Christian Aid week

Morsheda is a young mother of four living in Bangladesh. She has no land, few assets and no savings.

For Morsheda’s family living on low-lying islands in the Brahmaputra River, floods are a terrifying part of everyday life. Morsheda can’t even count on having a safe place to call home: the single-room, corrugated-iron house she shares with her children has been flooded four times.

I feel very scared of the river. When I look at it I keep thinking “it is coming”.

Dangers all around

One year, her humble house filled up to her knees with floodwater. To stay dry, and keep away from the dangerous snakes that now swam through her home she raised her bed up on bricks. But during the night she was woken by a loud splash. In the pitch black, her baby son had fallen into the inky water. He could have drowned in moments.

Race against time

In a bad year, huge waves crashed against her house, giving her less than an hour to uproot her home and scramble to safety. Racing against time, she gathered her terrified children together and hastily made a raft from a banana tree. At any moment, it could have tipped and plunged them into the swirling waters, but it was their only hope. She put her youngest daughter in a cooking pot and clung to it as it floated in the current.

My children were so scared. My sister was holding them very tightly and we were panicking because my neighbour’s child was washed away.

The floods are coming

Morsheda and her children live a precarious life. They know that the floods will come again, and soon. But we can lift our neighbours like Morsheda to safety.

Just £250 is enough for a Christian Aid Home Safety Package. It could flood-proof Morsheda’s home, raising it eight foot on an earth plinth, so that she has a safe place to rebuild, keep livestock and grow crops. It could also buy a goat, seeds and a wormery to help produce compost – all of which will give her a long-term income and a solid foundation for a new life.

If I could raise my house then I would feel much safer living here with my children.

The above story is an extract from the Christian Aid website.

Our Response

At the time of writing, it is uncertain as to whether there will be a house-to-house collection in West Bergholt this year. As reported in the December edition of Good News, Richard Chadborn is taking a well-earned rest as Christian Aid co-ordinator, having organised the collection at St Mary’s for the past 37 years. However, no-one has yet come forward to take his place, which means that there may not be a door-to-door collection this time. If you feel you could help, please contact Richard Chadborn as soon as possible (tel: 01206 240541).

There will, however, be a collection at St Mary’s during Christian Aid Week, or you can give online at caweek.org

Side Person Duties

We have a team of 8 people who take it in turns to act as sides person each week. The duties include welcoming people as they come into church on a Sunday morning and handing out service sheets and hymn books; guiding people to the altar during communion services; collecting the service sheets and hymn books at the end of the service and locking the front of the church. A full list of duties can be found on the notice board in church. You would be one of a pair, one Sunday a month.

For more information, please contact Dorothy Chadborn on 01206 240541.

A New Beginning

There are two things about Easter that I think are really important, and if we don’t get them right we don’t get Easter right. First of all the resurrection is not a happy ending tagged onto a sad story; and secondly, the church is not the Jesus Christ Appreciation Society.

Let me explain. Because those of us who are in the Church know the Easter story so well, we tend to think of the cross as the ‘sad bit of the story’ and the resurrection as the ‘happy ending’. Because we know what is coming, we are always seeing Good Friday through the lens of Easter Sunday. In many ways there is nothing wrong with this, but it can mean we are prevented from being shocked and surprised by the Resurrection. It can also mean that we leap frog over the cross and fail to stop and see the beautiful and painful reality of Christ’s death. So, in my view, it is much better to think of the Resurrection as a new beginning rather than a happy ending.

When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on that first Easter morning she went to anoint the dead body of Jesus. She was not expecting to find anything else. When the tomb was empty, she assumed it was because people had stolen the body away. The last thing she was expecting was Resurrection. In other words the Resurrection was a surprise: as much of a surprise for people then as it is for people now. It was unimaginable and inexplicable then. It is unimaginable and inexplicable now. It is outside our experience. It is beyond our imagining. But it is the beginning of Christian faith: Jesus really died on the cross, and God really raised Jesus to life on Easter day. Without this the Christian faith is nothing, and Jesus just another good person, and the Church, therefore, just the Jesus Christ Appreciation Society, remembering the good deeds and wise words of our long dead and much loved founder.

But the real story is different. What ended in defeat and death begins afresh with Resurrection. Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus in the garden not as a resuscitated corpse, brought back to resume the life he lost, but as the first piece of the new creation. And this is a new story that we are invited to be part of.

In the risen Jesus we see our destiny and are enlisted to share this with others. Jesus is present to us today as he was present to Mary Magdalene yesterday. We, the Church, are formed by the impact of God raising him from the dead and of his gift of the spirit. More than this, the Bible says that the church is Christ’s body. We are his presence in and for the world today, a new people with a new beginning and a new identity.

+ Stephen Chelmsford, Easter 2016

Sunday Gospel Readings – April & May

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 3rd April	John 20: 19-31	Jesus appears to his disciples
Sunday 10th April	John 21: 1-19	Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish
Sunday 17th April	John 10: 22-30	The unbelief of the Jews
Sunday 24th April	John 13: 31-35	Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
Sunday 1st May	John 14: 23-29	Jesus promises the Holy Spirit
Sunday 8th May	John 17: 20-26	Jesus prays for all believers
Sunday 15th May	John 14: 8-17, 25-27	Jesus the way to the Father
Sunday 22nd May	John 16: 12-15	The work of the Holy Spirit
Sunday 29th May	Luke 7: 1-10	The faith of the centurion

Other Notices

Easter Church Flowers

A big thank you to Fiona and her team of volunteers for decorating the church for Easter – the flowers are beautiful!

5Ts Now Weekly!

As a result of the closing of the Fellowship Club which met in the Orpen Hall, 5Ts is now taking place every week at St Mary’s. However, extra helpers to open up and serve refreshments would be welcome. If you can help, please contact Murray Harlow on 07989 720256.

Collection during Sunday Services

From 1 May onwards, the collection will be now be taken during the Sunday morning service. For those members of the congregation who give regularly by standing order, there will be little cards available which can be put into the collection bag instead of money.

Dates for Your Diary

Training Day

Don’t forget to sign up for the day of training here at St Mary’s with Rev John Ryeland from the Christian Healing Mission on Sat 16 April from 10.15am to 4pm. Please bring a packed lunch and a £5 donation.

The day is being organised by Janet Jones from St Luke’s Church, Highwoods. To book your place, please contact Janet on 01206855459 or via email – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Our Annual Church meeting will be held this year on Sunday 17 April at about 12.15pm, straight after the 11.15am Communion service.

The Annual Meeting gives us all an opportunity to review the past year and to thank those who have contributed to the life of the church. Churchwardens and members of the Parochial Church Council will be elected. We are delighted to announce that Pat Kinzett has volunteered to take over from Dorothy Chadborn as PCC secretary after the annual meeting. However, at least two more sides people are required. This is a very important job – there is a list of full duties on the noticeboard at the back of the church but some of the main tasks are listed below. We will also discuss ‘Where do we go from here?’ and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Everyone is welcome to the APCM, but only those on the Electoral Roll may vote.

Please stay for a soup lunch afterwards.

Home Groups

After Easter, our home groups will continue on the following dates:

Tuesday 8pm (Michael Foster): 12/4, 26/4, 10/5, 24/5 & 7/6
Thursday 10am (Rachel Hutchings): 21/4, 5/5, 19/5, 9/6, 23/6 & 7/7

Open House & 5T’s

Open House every Thursday morning at 9am in term times .

5T’s – 2.30pm – from 1 April, 5Ts will be held every week!

Wired (our Youth Group for Secondary School Students)

Fridays @ 7.45pm in the church on the following dates:

1 April – chocolate night
6 May
12 June – Boxted v Bergholt
8 July – Pool Party

Contact Mark for further details (241617).

Senior Citizens Lunch – Saturday 23 April at 12.45pm

Please contact Murray Harlow (07989 720256) if you would like to come or can help on the day.

Sunday 29 May @ 9.30am – Joint 3 Parishes Worship Service

Our next joint service with folk from the parishes of Great Horkesley and Langham with Boxted will take place on Sunday 29th May @ 9.30am at St Mary’s, West Bergholt with guest speaker Nicholas Henshall, Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral.

Regular Events

1st Sunday in the month 9.30am Holy Communion + BUGS*
2nd Sunday in the month
- 9.30am Messy Church
- 6.30pm (4.30pm in winter) Evening Prayer
4th Sunday in the month 9.30am Morning Worship + BUGS
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.
Thursdays at 9.00 am – Drop in for coffee during term time.
Thursdays at 2.30 pm – – 5Ts (Together for Tea on Thursdays at Two-Thirty) Weekly from 1 April 2016.

* BUGS = St Mary’s Sunday school.

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]”]

Parish Office & Good News Editor

Liz Dixon 01206 243683

[antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]

Licensed Readers:

Richard Chadborn – 01206 240541

Michael Foster- 01206 241022

Evangelist:

Ronnie Seymour – 01206 273579

Church Wardens:

Richard & Dorothy Chadborn – 01206 240541

Others

Home Groups: (Bible Study) Contact Michael Foster – 01206 241022
Hall Hire and Church Bookings: Contact Murray on 07989 720256
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

Services at a Glance

April

Sunday 3 April – 9:30am – Holy Communion Service led by Mandy Elmes (+ BUGS)
Sun 3 April – 9.30am Sung Communion, St Mary’s, Langham;
Sun 3 April – 11.15am Morning Praise Service, St John’s, Gt Horkesley;
Sunday 10 April – 9:30am – Messy Church (no BUGS)
Sun 10 – 9.30am Communion, St Mary’s, Langham;
Sun 10 April – 11.15am Communion & baptism, All Saints’, Gt Horkesley
Sunday 10 April – 6:30pm – Evening prayer service
Tuesday 12 April – 11:00am – Village Communion Service at St Mary’s, West Bergholt
Sun 17 April – 8am said Communion, St Mary’s, Langham;
Sun 17 April – 9.30am Family Service, St Peter’s, Boxted;
Sunday 17 April – 11:15am – Holy Communion Service led by Mandy Elmes (+ BUGS)
Sun 17 April – 11.15am Morning Praise, St John’s, Gt Horkesley
Sunday 24 April – 9:30am – Parade Service led by Ronnie Seymour

May

Sunday 1 May – 9:30am – Holy Communion Service led by Rev Christine Shillaker (+ BUGS)
Sunday 8 May – 9:30am – Messy Church (no BUGS)
Sunday 8 May – 6:30pm – Evening prayer service
Tuesday 10 May – 11:00am – Village Communion Servcie at St Mary’s, West Bergholt
Sunday 15 May (Pentecost) – 11:15am – Holy Communion Service led by Mandy Elmes (+ BUGS)
Sunday 22 May – 9:30am – Morning Worship led by Richard Chadbourne (+ BUGS)
Sunday 29 May – 9:30am – Joint Service at St Mary’s, West Bergholt led by the Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral (+ BUGS)

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.

February 23, 2016February 29, 2016

Winter Bird Walk 2016

The first guided walk of the year at Hillhouse Wood takes place this coming weekend (Saturday 27th February), when Steve Hallam leads the Winter Bird Walk 2016. Walkers, who should meet at the Old Church at 10am (weather permitting), wearing stout footwear and warm clothing, can expect to see a range of resident woodland and meadow species as well as some winter visitors. You are also advised to bring a flask of hot drink with you.

Dawn Chorus walks in previous years have seen as many as 20 species registered, most being native, so who knows how many you might see with the added ‘winter visitors’?

[See the report of the walk here.]

February 10, 2016March 9, 2016

St Mary’s News update – February 2016

The February & March edition of Good News, St Mary’s Parish Magazine, is reproduced below:

He is not here; He is risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:6) Easter Sunday – 27 March 2016 — He is not here; He is risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:6)
Easter Sunday – 27 March 2016

For quick access to different articles please make use of the following list:

The Missing Piece – article on faith,
For All the Saints – experiences of radiotherapy,
Lent Group,
Annual Parochial Church Meeting,
Senior Citizens Lunch,
River of God – Heathlands Display
Notices,
Dates for your diary,
Sunday Gospel readings,
Regular Events,
Church Services,
Contacts.

The Missing Piece

I used to love doing jigsaw puzzles when I had the time (before I became a parent and a working Mum!) but isn’t it frustrating when you realise that there is a vital piece of the puzzle missing?

Information published by a Christian group called ‘Journey into Wholeness’^* indicates that although the percentage of the population who would describe themselves as Christians is in decline, the percentage of people who claim to have had a ‘spiritual’ experience is on the rise. These spiritual experiences may include seeing a pattern in events, being aware of the presence of God, answers to prayer and being aware of a sacred presence in nature. Apparently, over 90% of people in Britain believe in something.

Many people search in all sorts of places for that elusive feeling of inner peace, or purpose in their lives, not realising that Jesus could in fact be the vital missing piece which makes sense of their lives.

If you are curious to know more, you are very welcome to come to the Lent course on Tuesday evenings starting on 16 February, when we will be looking at personal prayer (see page 5 for more details). You will also be very welcome at the Good Friday service on 25 March at 10am, which is a time for quiet reflection amidst the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, or at our Easter Sunday service on 27 March at 9.30am, which is a livelier occasion!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Best wishes, Liz Dixon

* Journey into Wholeness, Essex Group, is a Christian group which seeks to connect with Spiritual Seekers who come to Mind, Body and Soul exhibitions.

For all the Saints

Yes – I know I’ve missed All Saints’ Day (November 1^st), but I had other things on my mind during the autumn. The main source of distraction for me was a course of radiotherapy for prostate cancer which took place from Mondays to Fridays for nearly two months. Although I wouldn’t have chosen this lifestyle for the relevant period, nevertheless it wasn’t a negative experience. For a start, I received the treatment in the radiotherapy department at Colchester General Hospital. This environment has been well-planned and is pleasant, relaxing and sociable. The equipment there is state-of-the-art and represents some of the most modern in Europe. If you want to know what £25 million looks like, then pop your head round the door! The staff were friendly, professional and efficient. It’s the sort of place that makes me feel pleased that I’ve been conscientious in paying my taxes throughout my life, as well as making me proud to be a supporter (and ex-employee) of the National Health Service.

But what particularly made my experience a positive one was the range of wonderful people I met there – people I wouldn’t otherwise have encountered. There were the members of staff, fulfilling various roles, all of whom were conscientious and caring. And there were my fellow-patients (and their families and friends), some of whom were facing difficult situations – but were getting on with their lives as best they could with a cheerful and positive outlook. There was a great deal of good-humoured support given to each other, without which I for one would not have completed the course of treatment as well as I did. When I needed some quiet time on my own, I could retreat to the chapel which is an oasis of calm and peace in the middle of a busy hospital – and which is maintained by another band of saints.

So although this wasn’t an experience that I would have chosen, I do give thanks to God for all the saints I met in this process – many of whom would be very surprised (and possibly offended) to hear themselves referred to as such! If you’re faced with the prospect of radiotherapy treatment then there really is no cause for alarm – and be prepared to encounter a number of living saints!

Michael

Lent Group 2016

St. Mary’s will be holding a series of 5 Lent studies in the church hall on the following dates:

Tuesday evenings @ 8pm in the church hall:

February 16th & 23rd
March 1st, 8th & 15th

The sessions will start with refreshments at 8pm and will finish by 9.15pm. The studies will be looking at the topic of personal prayer (this is in response to a need identified in the church survey). All are welcome – you do not have to attend each session – just come to what you can – you will be made very welcome.

As with last year’s Lent Group, folk from West Bergholt Methodist Church and Great Horkesley, Langham and Boxted parish churches will be joining us.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Sunday 17 April 2015 at 12.15pm in the church

Our Annual Church meeting will be held this year on Sunday 17 April at about 12.15pm, straight after the 11.15am Communion service. More details will follow in the April Good News.

Senior Citizens Lunches

We would like to hold our popular Senior Citizens lunches more frequently, perhaps every 2 months instead of only once a term. The lunches are a much valued opportunity for the older members of our village to enjoy some company and a home cooked meal, particularly for those who live alone. If you can help with the organisation of the additional lunches, please contact Kate Penrose (210225) or Murray Harlow (07989 720256).

The River of God – Heathlands School Worship Display

In October last year, Heathlands School unveiled their new Worship Display for the school hall. The display focuses on a river and was lovingly created by Jo Jeffery from various shades of blue material. The photograph opposite gives an idea of what it looks like, although it’s a shame we can’t show it in colour!

In a whole school assembly, Jo explained to the children the key features of the river:

The River has been deliberately handmade to reflect the uniqueness of each of us and how we are carefully thought of and created with time, care and attention with our own mix of unique personalities and abilities.
The sides of the River are deliberately not stitched to reflect the fact that we are capable of big dreams and visions for an unlimited life.
The River is all stitched with a triple gold thread to reflect Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s matt gold to show the humility of Jesus who came as a servant.
The back of the River is all in gold to reflect how God’s love never leaves us throughout the whole of our life, even when we can’t see it (just as we can’t see the gold background).
Inside the river all the threads have been left loose rather than cut off or stitched in. This demonstrates that sometimes we have regrets, things we’re sorry for, things we wish we hadn’t said or done. When we give these loose threads to God, He can weave them back into our lives as something beautiful, even if this is painful and may require us to say sorry, or to work hard to finish something we’ve started.

The plan is for all pupils, and staff, to add to the display so that eventually all pupils are represented on it. This term, each class has been asked to design a fish to reflect one of the school’s Christian values, such as hope, forgiveness and thankfulness. Every pupil and member of staff will then contribute in some way to the making of the fishes, so that the whole school will be represented in the Worship Display.

I look forward to seeing the fishes in due course and am grateful to Jo Jeffrey and head teacher Jeremy Hallum for allowing me to reproduce the article which appeared in the school newsletter last October.

Liz Dixon

Noticeboard

Easter Flowers

Easter is rapidly approaching!

This year Lent begins on Wednesday 10 February so we will soon be thinking about flowers for our church for Easter Sunday on 27 March. Hopefully by then, after our topsy turvey winter, there will be lots of bright spring flowers to choose from.

Please put Easter Saturday 26 March in your diaries now and come along to help from 9.45am on that day. Ideas and suggestions gratefully received at any time. Thank you.

Fiona.
[antibot mailto=”[email protected]”] , mob: 07866 485269

Women’s World Day of Prayer – Friday 4 March – 4pm at St Mary’s Church, West Bergholt

This year we are doing something different for Women’s World Day of Prayer: we will be having afternoon tea here at St Mary’s at 4pm, followed by the service at 4.45pm. The service has been written by Christian Women from Cuba and the theme is ‘Receive children, receive me’.

Everyone is welcome, including men and children! So that we have an idea of numbers for catering, please contact Kate Penrose:

tel: 01206 210225, email: [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]; or Judith Fletcher: tel: 01206 241969.

Many thanks, on behalf of Kate Penrose.

The Month Newspaper

The next edition of the monthly Diocesan newspaper is now available – please do pick one up from the back of the church – it’s well worth a read!

Vocations Day – Saturday 5 March

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]”].

Christian Aid co-ordinators needed!

A reminder that Richard Chadborn is stepping down from his role as co-ordinator for the village Christian Aid collection and is looking for a team of 2 or 3 people to take over from him. If you feel you could help out in any way, please contact Richard on 01206 240541.

It is a very worthwhile cause and raises around £2000 a year to help people in need all over the world.