kids activities Archives

March 4, 2025March 4, 2025

St Mary’s News – The Spring Cleaning Edition

St Mary’s News – Spiritual Spring Cleaning

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

Pancakes,
Soup & World Day of Prayer,
Lent Lunches,
Mothering Sunday,
Easter Flowers, and

… 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.

January 31, 2025February 1, 2025

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 King’s Ridge Parishes Big Breakfast,
A Wedding Celebration Service,
News of Lent Lunches,
A Thank You from the FiSH Team,
World Day of Prayer, and

… 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.

November 8, 2024November 9, 2024

Autumn Flowers and Fungi

Join the Friends of Hillhouse Wood to Hunt for Fungi

Wrinkled Peach fungi — Wrinkled Peach Fungi seen last year

The Friends will be going on a “fungus hunt” to seek out elusive fungi next Saturday 16th. They will aim to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. They will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.

Nearly 20 hunters scoured the woods, hedgerows and fields last year and were rewarded with some stunning finds. You can see the report, including a video slideshow of their finds, here.

The walk will start at the Old Church, leaving at 10am on Saturday 16th November. The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. You should wear strong boots or wellies, as you may encounter wet conditions underfoot !

Read on for a report from the last guided walk on 28th September.

Autumn Fruits Walk 2024 did better with flowers! – Steve Hallam Reports

Nearly 50 Species!

Eight of us scoured Hillhouse Wood and surrounding fields for evidence of nature’s bounty. We were rewarded by finding nearly fifty species of plants showing fruits or flowers. However, I believe that this walk is arguably mis-named, in that we usually see more flowers than fruits. This proved to be the case again this year.

October 3, 2024October 7, 2024

St Mary’s News – The Change in the Seasons Edition

St Mary’s News – Change in the Seasons, Harvest & Halloween

We start with Revd. Anne’s message this month which reflects on the Change in the Seasons. This is followed by:

Bible Study Home Groups,
Vision Study Away Day follow-up,
Big Breakfast and the Shepherd & Dog,
Harvest Festival & Halloween Events, and

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

Enjoying the Change in the Seasons

It’s that time of year again – a sense of slowing down, of conserving energy – a pause perhaps in the busyness of life.

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024

Cycling ‘Join a Ride’ Leader & Route Announced

Following a recent meeting with Zoe Swainston, British Cycling Community Coach based at Northern Gateway, we are delighted that she has volunteered her services to lead our proposed ride around the West Bergholt area.

A suggested route is shown below. This would potentially consist of two rides, including a shorter route for families, depending on demand. More information will be available in a few weeks, so please sign up below if you are interested in joining us.

June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

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:

Cèilidh,
Café @ St. Mary’s,
Afternoon Tea at the Rectory,
FiSH (Food in School Holidays) Club, and

… 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:

June 1, 2024June 1, 2024

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:

Eco Matters – Bee Kind,
Midsummer Songs of Praise at the Old Church,
July events including Cèilidh, Afternoon Tea and others,
Other, regular, events, and

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Heather Wilcox

Thy Kingdom Come

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.

April 30, 2024May 31, 2024

St Mary’s News – The Walking Edition

St Mary’s News – Walking Rogation & Prayer

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.

April 1, 2024April 2, 2024

St Mary’s News – The Oaks & Acorns Edition

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.

March 11, 2024March 22, 2024

Winter 2023-4 Photography Competition

Results of the Winter ’24 Photography Competition

Banksy style AI Generated Image Photography competition

Our Winter Themed Photography Competition for under 18’s and under 12’s, ran from the 5th December 2023 to the 16th January 2024. This is one of what the Parish Council hopes to establish as regular village events. The competition had a number of themed categories and, although multiple entries could be made, an individual could only win one prize in each category.

We were delighted with the quality of the entries and it made the judging challenging! Fortunately the panel was led by Tony Morris (our local Photographer) who provided expertise supported by Cllrs Butcher and Cullis. Much deliberating took place before the judging was concluded and the winners selected.

Tony said that