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Zoom Visit from Cambodia – St Mary’s News Update

The McCann's work in Cambodia

OMF - missions in CambodiaZoom Visit from Cambodia

This coming weekend, St Mary’s congregation will be joined by the McCann family on a home visit from Cambodia. They have been serving as missionaries there for 3 years.

This update starts with a message from Revd. Mandy Elmes and also includes details of how to access Zoom services,  listings of services and contacts.  There is also a sprinkle of humour.

Message from Revd Mandy

Jesus ascended

On Ascension Day, I received a post on the West Bergholt WhatsApp chat group which said

“Ascension Day is when Jesus started working from home!” Continue reading “Zoom Visit from Cambodia – St Mary’s News Update”

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Day 63 of (un?) Lockdown – the Old Church edition

Old Church circa 1880

Tower of JewelsDay 63 of (un?) Lockdown

The main news item for day 63 is an update on the Old Church renovations followed by a few updates from our government, and some fun at the end.  But first, we have a tall story from Annie Neish.

For those of you who are unable to cruise the village she thought you would like to see the Echium Pininana Tower of Jewels flowering beside the fence of the allotment on New Church Road.  Several years ago John had one on the plot next to her so she knew it might be possible.

A quick search on Wikipedia reveals this plant is native to La Palma in the Canaries where it is endangered due to habitat loss (Laurel forests).  Fortunately, it is being cultivated quite widely in the British Isles and Northern California so should have some resilience.

St Mary’s Old Church

Agreement about the best way forward following the discovery of the wall paintings was reached just as the Coronavirus put us all into lockdown. The work can now continue. Continue reading “Day 63 of (un?) Lockdown – the Old Church edition”

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Day 49 of Lockdown – the Christian Aid edition

Hand washing on day 49Day 49 of Lockdown

Day 49 and we hark back to 7 weeks ago when we were first taught to wash our hands frequently whilst singing happy birthday twice.  Who’d have thought that Christian Aid uses the money donated for such things as teaching folks how to wash their hands?  The picture right is of a hand-washing clinic run by Judith Lassie in the village of Sawula, Sierra Leone.  There are some links to some videos from VE-Day 75 celebrations & also here a bit of comedy and some music. Continue reading “Day 49 of Lockdown – the Christian Aid edition”

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Day 39 of Lockdown – the St Mary’s May edition

VE-Day 75th Anniversary Stamp

Clowns humour by Manny Francisco in ManilaDay 39 of Lockdown

Our day 39 update starts with St Mary’s May edition of their news which includes a message from Revd Mandy Elmes and details of how to access services online.  Other updates include:

St Mary’s Update

This update starts with a message from Revd. Mandy Elmes and also includes details of how to access Zoom services,  Continue reading “Day 39 of Lockdown – the St Mary’s May edition”

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Day 18 of Lockdown – What to do for Easter Edition

Coloured in Easter Eggs

Coloured in Easter EggsDay 18 of Lockdown

Given that we can’t meet up with friends or travel for pleasure, day 18 focusses quite a bit on Easter activities.  There are also a few more serious bits.  As usual, we start with the serious bits with the fun stuff at the end.

Cllr David FinchEaster message from Cllr David Finch

Thank you for staying home and saving lives.

The last few weeks have been challenging for everyone. Whether you are a key worker, or staying at home juggling work, childcare and home-schooling, I want to thank every single person who is complying with the current restrictions and social distancing guidelines. You really are helping to protect our NHS and save lives. Continue reading “Day 18 of Lockdown – What to do for Easter Edition”

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Day 9 of Lockdown – The Spiritual Edition

Day 9 of Lockdown

Day 9 and, with nearly 600 UK COVID-19 deaths in the past day, we start off this update in a thoughtful mood.  We start with the latest news from St Mary’s which has an appropriate Easter Message from Revd Mandy Elmes.  As well as that there is a bulletin from Colchester Police.

St Mary’s Update

This update focusses on the COVID-19 crisis with online services and a message from Revd Mandy Elmes.  Some prayer suggestions are offered and also some spiritual one-liners!  It also provides listings of services and contacts but first the Easter Message:

Easter Message from Revd Mandy Elmes

The Coronavirus Pandemic is something none of us anticipated or imagined. It is Continue reading “Day 9 of Lockdown – The Spiritual Edition”

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Candle for Hope and other Church News

Light a candle for hopeCandle for Hope

Presidents of Churches Together in England have issued a call to prayer in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic, read their letter below for more details. This is for all churches and people of prayer to join on Sunday 22nd March, Mothering Sunday.  In other news, the Methodist Church is cancelling activities.  First, the Candle for Hope though:

Churches Together in EnglandLight a Candle of Hope on Mothering Sunday

This Mothering Sunday, 22nd March, Churches Together are calling all churches to a National Day of Prayer and Action.  At such a time as this, when so many are Continue reading “Candle for Hope and other Church News”

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Blame the Plantagenets for delays reopening Old Church

Woodturning

Mediaeval wall painting of a lady's head from Plantagenets eraBlame the Plantagenets

If the Old Church mediaeval paintings are, as believed, around 700 years old, then we can blame the Plantagenets for its delayed reopening.  Apparently, deciding how best to preserve them has become a bit of a headache which is delaying the internal redecoration.  Accordingly, the Friends of St Mary’s have revised their event plans for 2020 as follows: Continue reading “Blame the Plantagenets for delays reopening Old Church”

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Rise! World Day of Prayer – St Mary’s News Update

Rise

Rise! Take your mat & walk

Rise! World Day of Prayer

Rise! is the topic of the World Day of Prayer this year as discussed in St Mary’s latest edition of their News Update.  Other topics addressed include:

It also provides listings of services and contacts but first, “Rise! Take your mat & walk”. Continue reading “Rise! World Day of Prayer – St Mary’s News Update”

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Coffee & Craft focus on our Seas

Picture of our seas complete with rubbish

Picture of our seas complete with rubbishCoffee & Craft focus on our Seas

This wonderful picture (click for larger view), exhorting us to Save Our Seas was a product of the recent Methodist Coffee & Craft morning.

Last Monday 45 children descended on the Methodist Church Hall, together with 28 parents/grandparents, to enjoy coffee & crafts.  There were six different craft tables to try out and coffee, tea, squash, cakes and biscuits were available, all for £2.50 per family.

Save Our Seas Poster

On one table the children helped to paint and produce a large poster of the sea, featuring sea creatures and boats but also some of the rubbish that is blighting our seas.

More Reading

We all know that despite Green Flag beaches, our seas are in a perilous state due to pollution.  In the UK, the Marine Conservation Society is leading campaigns to clean our seas and establish sustainable fishing.  You can find out much more about their campaigns at https://www.mcsuk.org/what-we-do/.

Next Coffee & Craft Event

The next Coffee & Craft Morning is planned for the Easter Holidays on Monday, April 6th, from 10:30 to 12:00 in the Methodist Church Hall.  All families with children from 0-11 are welcome, but children must bring an adult with them, sorry no unaccompanied children. Cost £2.50 per family. For further details phone Andrew (01206 242511).