This edition of St Mary’s News starts with a message saying “All You Need is Love” and then addresses Easter Services and the usual listings of services and contacts.
All You Need is Love – an Easter Message from Revd Anne
We moved house last year, to Great Horkesley, into a house that is smaller. This, of course, meant some sorting out, and giving or throwing things away. We all accumulate ‘stuff’ – things that might come in handy one day, or perhaps have a sentimental attachment. And now, a year later, we can’t even remember the things that we thought were important and that we were so reluctant to get rid of!
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has tested us all, now you can be tested in a special charity quiz for Ukraine. This quiz will follow the normal Village Quiz format with 10 rounds of ten questions; all profits will go directly to the DEC Red Cross Ukraine Appeal.
This edition starts with thoughts on recent storm damage and then addresses Lent matters and the usual listings of services and contacts.
Storm Damage
Dudley, Eunice and then Franklin. In the space of just a few days, storms wreaked havoc in the UK. Power lines were cut, properties damaged, trees fell down, some were injured and tragically a few lost their lives.
On the Sunday after Storm Eunice, and as Storm Franklin gained momentum again, across the six parishes we worshipped in churches which had lost window panes and trees, all whilst hearing the reading from the bible of Jesus calming the storm from Luke’s gospel.
As the storm builds, Jesus is asleep in the boat, the disciples become frantic and eventually wake Jesus up saying ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown.’ In Marks gospel, it says the disciples said ‘don’t you care if we drown?’
Jesus Cares
Of course Jesus cares, he cares deeply for all of his children, and he gets up rebukes the wind and the raging waters and the storm subsides.
But that doesn’t mean that storms still don’t occur, whether that is the aforementioned physical storms, or the emotional or mental storms that might assail us throughout our lives.
And sometimes, we like the disciples may feel in a place where we want to call out and say ‘Jesus, don’t you care that we are drowning?’ and the answer for us is that of course he cares, he is indeed, as he was for the disciples, in the same boat with them and us. He is always with us. He can’t protect us from every storm, but he is with us through them all.
Lent Journey
This month we begin our journey through Lent, as we travel with Jesus to the cross. A stark reminder that Jesus himself had to suffer both spiritual and physical storms in his life. We see his pain and torment in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he cried out, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.’
Jesus travelled through his own storms, and is with us through ours too. May we trust in him and may God bless you. Reverend Heather
Lent Carbon Fast, Groups & Prayer
There are three Lent-specific activities taking place during Lent, a Carbon Fast, Lent Groups and Prayers.
Lent Carbon Fast Challenge
In the Bible, caring for Creation is God’s first instruction to humans. During Lent, an organisation called Climate Stewards is encouraging us to take up the challenge to find new ways to reduce our impact on the natural world and our global neighbours.
You can sign up through the link below to receive weekly emails suggesting easy, medium and harder challenges to try related to the seven weekly themes of:
Rev Heather Wilcox has written a Bible Study Course which be focusing on our Sunday readings for Lent. Our regular Bible Study Groups will meet weekly, from 8th March to 5th April, to study this material and you are very welcome to join the following groups:
Tuesday afternoons @ 2pm at Sue Day’s house. (please contact [email protected] for details)
Tuesday evenings on zoom @ 7.45pm: Meeting ID: 852 5818 3545, passcode: 814244 (please contact: [email protected] for more details).
Lent Prayer Activities in Church
Throughout Lent (from Saturday 4th March until Easter) there will be prayer space activities in the Church, changing weekly, to reflect the set Gospel reading for the week. All are welcome to come in and have a look at the prayer spaces and try out some of the simple activities, such as writing in a sand pit something we are sorry for and then wiping the words away to remind us of God’s forgiveness.
One of the prayer spaces will include an opportunity to light a candle and say a prayer for the people of Ukraine.
The church will be open from 9am to 3.30pm each week day and children accompanied by parents are very welcome.
Services & Other Dates
6th March
10:00 am
Holy Communion (also on Zoom)
13th March
10:00 am
Messy Church
20th March
11:15 am
Holy Communion (also on Zoom)
27th March
10:00 am
Mothering Sunday – Praise on 4 Service (also on Zoom) with refreshments served from 9.45am
3rd April
9:30 am
Holy Communion (also on Zoom)
10th April
9:30 am
Messy Church
For those services which are also being zoomed, please contact the church office on 01206 243683 or [email protected] for the zoom link.
Our Team at St Mary’s
Priest in Charge: Revd. Heather Wilcox email: [email protected] tel: 01206 240906 or 07503 151715
Age Concern are currently running a free Lunch Club to engage those in later years who may be lonely. Also to help encourage a resumption of socialising as we leave COVID19 restrictions. Six free lunches are available per person at either of the venues below:
February is the month when traditionally we celebrate Valentine’s Day on 14th February. So what better month in which to hold a special Songs of Praise service with a wedding theme! The service will take place on Sunday 27 February @ 6.30pm.
Cake & Prosecco
We will be inviting couples who have been married in our joint parishes over the last few years , and also couples planning to be married this year. But everyone from the village is very welcome to attend and enjoy cake and prosecco at the end of the service!
As part of the service, it would be lovely to display a selection of photos from people’s weddings, so if you have a wedding photo you would like to share, please contact Jo, our church administrator , or Rev Heather (contact details on page 2).
Revd Heather Wilcox starts by discussing New Year Resolutions; there is also an appreciation of Jo Jeffery and thank you for Advent Windows. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services and contacts.
New Year Message from Revd Heather Wilcox
New Year resolutions, I suspect that at some point in our lives, we have all made them.
As a new year dawns, we wake up determined that somehow this year we will make better choices. Maybe we want to lose weight or exercise more, learn a new hobby, or find ways of connecting with our friends more effectively throughout the year and not just with the annual Christmas card and round robin letter.
The Results of the “Fence or Not to Fence” Survey Are Now In
Before Christmas, the Parish Council posted this survey on the hub. It posed a questions about fencing in the children’s playground on the Lorkin Daniell Field. Whilst the results show a clear support for fencing in the playground, this is only one of several ideas that the Parish Council will consider in the New Year.
Before we get to the trail video, there are some changes to St Mary’s services on Christmas Eve. The Crib Service at 3 pm will now take place outside in the church yard (so wrap up warmly). The 6.45 pm Carol Service will be socially distanced in the Church and also on Zoom. For Zoom details, please contact the church office on [email protected].
Advent Trail
The West Bergholt Village Advent Windows returned for 2021! A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered to decorate a window featuring a scene from the nativity story.
The first window was revealed on Wednesday 8th December with a window each day until Monday 20th December.
Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year from everyone at St. Mary’s Church.
St Mary’s December newsletter provides details of this years, advent trail and a Christmas message. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services (and they look forward to welcoming you for their Christmas Services in both the Old Church & St Mary’s), and contacts.
Christmas Message from Revd Heather Wilcox
It’s that time of year, when we are bombarded with Christmas advertising, but one advert in particular has caught my attention, probably because it has generated the most complaints in 2021 so far, the Tesco’s advert.
It begins with a lady standing outside a Tesco’s store being asked, ‘Do you need a little help’ and she responds, ‘Don’t worry my love, this year, nothings stopping me.’ Queens ‘Don’t stop me now’ providing the soundtrack to the advert.
