Parish Magazine November 2014

All Saints

The Kingdom Season

50p

November 2014 1 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre

Coffee Morning at St Catherine's Hall 2 All Saints Sunday

COMMEMORATION OF THE DEPARTED 6:30 pm St Andrew's Church

3 4 2 - 4 pm Meet and Make at St Andrew's Centre

7:30 pm Mass at St Mary's Church 5 Mass at all three churches - see the back cover

8pm Baptism Preparation at St Catherine's Hall 6 Mothers Union meets at St Andrew's Centre 7 9 to 12 noon "Bettie's Tea Shop" at St Andrew's Centre

"The Gospel Three" at St Mary's Church 2 - 4 pm 8 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre 9 Remembrance Sunday

10

11 10 - 4 pm All three churches open for "Prayers for Peace" 2 - 4 pm Meet and Make at St Andrew's Centre

7:30 pm Mass at St Mary's Church 8:15 pm Education Committee at St Mary's Vicarage

12 Mass at all three churches - see the back cover 13

14 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre 15 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre 16 The Second Sunday before Advent 17

18 2 - 4 pm Meet and Make at St Andrew's Centre 7:30 pm Mass at St Mary's Church

19 Mass at all three churches - see the back cover PCC Meeting - 7:30 pm St Andrew's Church and Centre

Mothers Union meets at St Catherine's Hall 20

21 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre 22 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre

2 - 4 pm St Mary's Christmas Bazaar at the Village Hall 23 CHRIST THE KING

10:30 am Joint service at St Mary's Church followed by lunch in the Church Hall - we welcome Bishop Stephen

24

25 2 - 4 pm Meet and Make at St Andrew's Centre 6:30 pm St Catherine's Day Service at St Catherine's Hall and Church

(There will be no mass at St Mary's Church) 26 Mass at all three churches - see the back cover

8 pm "The God Squad" at St Mary's Vicarage 27 Home Study Group - 2 Adam Way 28 9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre 29 Men's Breakfast, St Catherine's Hall

9 am to 12 noon Tea and Coffee at St Andrew's Centre Barn Dance and Tea, 2-5 pm St Andrew's Centre

30 The First Sunday of Advent 2:30 PM CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST ANDREW AND OF 50

YEARS OF WITNESS OF THE CHURCH OF ST ANDREW IN WICKFORD We welcome Bishop John

Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry

Supporting Basildon Women’s Refuge

Items needed in November are Hand towels, face cloths, soap, etc. Due to lack of space; Please only take items to St. Andrew’s Church on the last FRIDAY (or as near as possible) of each month; then they can be taken to the refuge. If you are unable to take our offering to St. Andrew’s then please do pass it to one of your Church Wardens or your Priest.

Thank-you

Valerie and Brian would like to express their heartfelt thanks for all the prayers, good wishes, cards, visits and loving support of St. Andrew’s and the further church Family. We would also like to thank Canon Jane and the Clergy for their committed care and the Basildon Chaplaincy Team for their support during Valerie’s stay in hospital. God bless you all.

Valerie & Brian

Remembering

"Remember, remember the fifth of November" . . . . Remembering is a part of our human existence. Our past adds shape to our present, which in turn has the potential to shape our future. Sometimes we re-write the past, often in our favour, to add depth and sanity to our present. I am prone to looking backwards at "what has been" - or even less helpfully - "what might have been". I find myself sometimes caught in the throes of wrangling (or wrestling) with the present because I am busy looking back. If only I could rid myself of some of those painful scars, if only I could step away from the burning coals that I seem to clutch closer and closer to myself . . . . if only . . . . if only. These thoughts always come to me at the beginning of November. The Feast of All Saints and the Feast of the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls) are 1st and 2nd November respectively. They begin the Kingdom season and we often use them to look back, to consider those we miss, to consider those who have gone before us in our faith, those who have given us special gifts to love and to be generous. Hang on a moment . . . . . that's not merely looking back with regret and sadness and pain! If I look back to those people, if I look back into my past, I can see a strand of golden thread (and at times a thick golden band and at other times merely a hair's breadth) that pulls through my journey on this planet so far.

This golden thread is the love that has shone, even in those dark places that I loathe and wish never to see again, and shone brightly. This love, added to by the generosity of God, is what I hope to pull through into the here and now. This bundle of thread that is now resting in my lap is not to be clung to or held closely to my breast so that it might be safe forever, Amen! No! This is the thread with which I must spin (or knit if you go to "Meet and Make"!). My spinning will be in the challenge I offer to those who want to hold their own thread tight, in the compassion I will show to those who are lonely, feeling unloved, those who are in need of gentleness. The thread I have seen and pulled through is that which will build a better today (let's not worry about tomorrow!). In our remembrance, albeit on 1st, 2nd or even 5th or 11th, may we seek not to hold ourselves still and weep, but look for the golden thread, seeking love, peace, joy and a determination to love as we have been loved. May our memories of the past build a better today . . . . which yesterday was tomorrow and tomorrow it will be yesterday!

Jo

MEET & MAKE

Meet and make is EVERY WEEK on Tuesdays at 2p.m. to 4p.m so

please come and join us.

Don’t worry if you do not have a "project" going there is always something

to join in with, over refreshments, chat and laughter.

You can contact Val on 01268 732526, or Vicky on 01268 767440

EMERGENCY PRAYER CIRCLE

The emergency prayer circle, a valuable and valued resource in the parish. You are very welcome to contact the circle directly, rather than via one of the

clergy; if you know someone who is a member please speak to them directly, or contact Jeannette on 01268 452309'

St Catherine's 100 club

1st. N. Craig 2nd. J. Clarke 3rd. J. Neal

From the Registers

St Catherine's Church:

Baptisms

September 14th Emily Martin Lewis French Sophia Jones 21st Nathan Cline Elsie Allen Funeral September 10th Irene Taylor

St Mary's Church:

Baptisms

September 21st Jessica Smith Sebastian Coleman 28th Darcy Lane Weddings:

September 6th Shannon Richardson and Anthony Abbott 8th Daniel Goodey and Chrissie Fenn

Angela Wagstaff

It is with great affection and sincere thanks that we greet Angela's stepping down as one of the editors of our magazine. Angela has, for a good few years, been the main stay and first point of contact - not least organising the articles and the adverts (the income of which helps offset the cost). Angela has also added some interesting reflections and challenging articles and we hope that this will continue. But for the meantime - thank you, Angela, without your focus, drive and organisation the magazine would not be what it now is! Thank you!

A joke for grammatical experts:

When I was at school my English teacher called

out: "Give me two pronouns!"

I said: "Who? Me?"

COFFEE MORNINGS AT ST ANDREW'S

Rumour has it that there have been coffee mornings on Fridays and Saturdays in St Andrew's centre for 40 years .......... I wonder how many scones have been baked and eaten over that time. The coffee mornings have a loyal following amongst the local community, as a place to meet, chat, relax, and enjoy. Even now, when the high street is full of alternatives, friendly service and home-made cakes continue to draw people in. Sadly, however, there are fewer people now able and available to cook for and staff the sessions, even with regular input from St Catherine's. We are delighted to have had offers of help from beyond the St Andrew's community, and indeed beyond our church communities, but if this long-standing outreach and service is to continue, we do need to find some additional volunteers. If you think you could help out, perhaps once a month on a Friday or Saturday morning, please contact Marjorie Stanford, one of the St Andrew's wardens, or myself. Or just turn up one morning, and offer!

Jane

CONFIRMATION AT GREAT BURSTEAD

It was a great joy to accompany twelve people, drawn from our three churches, as they were confirmed by Bishop John in the church of St Mary Magdalene, Great Burstead, on Sunday 28 September.

The church was packed, with over 30 candidates from across the deanery, and we were all moved and delighted to hear Mike Tricker from St Andrew's speaking (at very short notice and with great courage) of the journey which had brought him to the day.

Chris and Christina with Bp John

In spite of the numbers and his own ill health, Bishop John, as always, gave each person time and a sense of the presence of God as they knelt before him - and he took his usual please in soaking the clergy with water from the font!

We welcome the twelve back into the 'normality' of parish life, as they continue to travel with us - and welcome all the gifts they bring to us.

Our newly confirmed are:

Charlie Beetwell, Sarah Cox, Pat Bartlett, Mike Tricker, Christine Marshall, Christina Ashcroft, Louise Gaunt, Pat Watson, Carmen Tyler, Roger Tyler,

Brian Perkins and Sally Hall

WICKFORD AND RUNWELL TEAM MINISTRY

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH

COMMEMORATION OF THE

DEPARTED

A service of thanksgiving and

remembrance for those who have died

6.30 pm Sunday 2 November 2014

"THINKING IT THROUGH"

AN OPEN MEETING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ST ANDREW'S

On a Saturday afternoon last month, some 20 people from our three churches came together to pick up the conversation about a future for St Andrew's which we began when the Sparrows nursery project offered one way forward.

We used a series of questions to lead us through some self-understanding, to evoke both hopes and fears, to prompt us to visions for the future, and eventually to think about some next steps.

We recognised that there had been much to celebrate in St Andrew's past and much still to value, in worship, and the outreach and service which flow from it in all sorts of ways. We also recognised, however, that we face great challenges as an older congregation, with limited financial resources, in a building which is not a 'pretty church', is showing its age, and is sometimes not even recognised as a place of worship.

But we have material assets, the greatest being our site close to the town centre, and personal strengths, of willingness to change and grow, informed faith, commitment to service to the community, and a profound desire to

find ways to continue to offer a knowledge and experience of the love of God to those around us.

When we offered our hopes for the future, some were very familiar, and would probably be shared by almost every church community: most notably, the desire to see more people, and especially younger people, sharing in worship and in the life of the church. There was a strong strand of thinking about the building: could we find a way of making St Andrew's a place full of life, hospitable to all those around us, especially the 'forgotten people'?

On the other hand, there were voices saying, 'don't worry about the building, work on the outreach'. What we didn't want to see was the closure of the church and its replacement by something entirely secular. One question which was difficult to answer is what others might want from us; how might we discover the needs and longings of the community around us? And in the background, the most important question of all; what is God calling us to do and be?

St Andrew's as a large space for School concerts

The afternoon was not intended to bring us to an agreed set of plans: we haven't reached that point yet. But it did allow us to put in place some next steps in exploring a way forward. We agreed that whatever happens to St Andrew's matters to, and should be owned by, the parish as a whole.

With that in mind, I will be convening a working group, drawn principally from St Andrew's, but with representatives from St Mary's and St Catherine's.

Our local council is in the process of exploring the needs of the community in the Nevendon Road area around St Andrew's; we are active participants in this and this will, I hope, feed into any thinking we have about redevelopment, but there may be other ways of hearing from our neighbours about how we may best serve them; the working group will be thinking about that.

We also need to talk to other churches in the town to see whether there are things we can do better together than apart, and to the diocese which offers support for churches thinking about their future; we have already heard from the diocese of a housing association which might be interested in working with us in any redevelopment of all or part of the site.

A Parish Day in full swing in the movable space

I came away from our meeting both energised and just a little unsettled. There was a strong sense of hope and possibility, but also an awareness that we are being called into a different future, the shape of which we cannot fully discern. The road ahead is one we are to walk in faith, prayerfully, and trusting in God.

Jane

YOUTH GROUP

If you know anyone of secondary school age who may be interested in joining, please let Phil or Sue know on 01268 730972, or e-mail suemann@tiscali.co.uk

and

GAMES - STALLS - BARGAINS

tea - coffee - and home made

cakes (of course!)

WAITRESS SERVICE

St Andrew's Church

9 am - 12 noon

Saturday 8 November 2014

The Gospel Three Concert Saturday 8th November

2pm - 4pm

St Mary's Church followed by refreshments in the Church Hall.

They are Christian musicians who have played professionally in the past and now play to raise money for

charity . (Please note that part of the price of the ticket includes a donation to their charitable fund)

A light hearted concert covering all different types of foot

tapping songs as well as ballads, including many Gospel songs and Hymns.

Tickets available from your Church Warden

£7 (including refreshments)

Wickford and Runwell Mothers Union

November Meetings

Thursday 6th November at St Andrew's Centre 11:45 Quiet Time 12:30 Shared Lunch 1:30 An Act of Remembrance

Please bring cuttings, stories, photographs about 1st and 2nd World Wars

Wednesday 19th November at St Catherine's Church Hall 7:30 am "Tempting Taste"

'The Great British Bake-off' seems to have interested people in baking, so bring along a taste of your favourite recipe for all to try - also a chance to

swap recipes

Advance Notice:

4th December Meeting - Christmas Lunch at 12:30 pm in St Catherine's Hall. Please note the change of venue.

This month's topical cartoon:

The parish of Wickford and Runwell has arrived in the internet age. From our humble beginnings with our parish website, and with the help of Mike Tricker, we have now made an enormous stride and have joined Facebook . . . whatever next?

The Facebook page is there for us all to use, so anyone on Facebook please find us and join in the fun.

Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wickford.Runwell.Parish/ or search Facebook for “Wickford and Runwell Parish”.

For those of you who know about the workings of Facebook. . . . This is a 'closed group' and this means before anything is posted or accepted one of the site administrators will need to approve it. We would like you to join and post on the site for all to see and keep in touch with one another at all times. If you don’t want to post on the site, please keep visiting as we will try and publish all the events and activities in our Churches. As well as reminders about what's going on, there are some great photos of the recent Angel Exhibition held at St Mary's: it's worth joining just to see these! If you have any problems or haven't a clue what any of this is about . . . . just ask!

Steve

29th September was the Feast of St Michael and All Angels and so the Church of St Mary was transformed into a multicoloured Art Exhibition. The Art came from pre-schools, infant and Junior schools, Art Clubs, "Meet and Make" and from several talented individuals. Each of the 150 visitors had their own favourite and the exhibition was deemed a universal success! "Inclusive" was the main claim. Many, many thanks to Lyn Bear, who headed the whole event, to Val Harris who cleared it away, and to Jim and Paula Sloane, without whose help the task would have been almost

impossible! Thank you too to the many others who swept, mounted, welcomed, packed up and drew, knitted, photographed, stuck, coloured and imagined their angels.

For those who were unable to attend then (as it says above) the photos are on the Facebook page, a document will be on the website AND a "real" copy of a booklet will be in each Church!

St Mary's Christmas Bazaar

School choirs - Father Christmas

Games - cakes - raffles

22nd November 2 - 4 pm

Runwell Village Hall

DANCING THE AFTERNOON AWAY

We do things differently at St Andrew's. Where else would you get an afternoon barn dance?

There were some very sprightly moves, much hilarity, and a fair number of mistakes: somehow, half the party changed gender part way through one dance ......... and those who came just to watch had a great afternoon's entertainment.

Warmest thanks go to Ann Easter and Christopher Owens, who brought their music and their skills, led us through the dances, encouraged us, and laughed with us. Thanks too, to the catering

team: the posters promised a slap-up tea, and it was just that.

Next time, come and join us, fall over your feet with us, laugh with us: from the youngest to the oldest we had a great time.

HOMELESS JESUS

'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' One Wednesday in September that sentence was part of the reading from Luke's gospel. It reminded me of a story I had read recently about a controversial statue of Jesus which shows him as a rough sleeper. A thin figure, slightly huddled, lies on a park bench: he is covered by a blanket, which hides his face. Only his feet can be seen: and they bear the mark of the nails.

The statue, by sculptor Timothy Schmalz, has been offered to, and rejected by a number of major churches and cathedrals in the United States, and also by St Martin's-in-the-Fields in central London.

All sorts of reasons are given: practical issues of space, arguments about whether this is an appropriate way of picturing Christ, whether it honours or demeans those at the bottom of the social scale, what might it say to people outside or on the fringe of the church; even, how would it fit into the wedding photos? Impressively, the Wednesday morning congregation were up for the challenge. We found the image powerful and deeply moving, and saw it as showing Jesus placing himself with those in greatest need, those whom the world so often despises. But then we knew we don't have the money to spend on an expensive statue, so we weren't faced with a real decision. What do you think? How would you feel, if this was the scene you encountered on your way into St Andrew's, St Catherine's, St Mary's?

Jane

A collective joke:

What do you call two crows on a branch?

Attempted murder

St. Catherine’s Day 2014

Tuesday 25th November at 6.30pm

Come join the Patronal Festival Evensong and refreshments.

ST ANDREW'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

In 1901, a small, brick, mission church was built at the bottom of London Road.

Thirty or so years later, a dual-use building was added, and then in 1964 it was replaced by the St Andrew's we now know. On St Andrew's Day, 30th November, this year we will

be celebrating our 50th anniversary, with a special lunch and an afternoon service led by Bishop John. Of course, although we are marking 50 years of a building, what we are really celebrating is 50 years of worship and service, and all the different people who have offered that worship and service over half a century. It will be a time for looking back, for remembering both special moments and ordinary times spent in the company of friends and companions on the road. It will also be a time, I hope, for looking forward, as we pray and plan for a vision for the future of our building and our community. We hope that old friends who have moved away from Wickford will be sharing the day with us, but just as important will be the presence of friends from St Catherine's and St Mary's, from other churches in the town, and from the many organisations and events with whom we have connexions. Please put the date in your diary, and join us on the day.

St. Catherine’s

Christmas

Bazaar Stalls, Raffle, Sweets, Refreshments and Cake!

Saturday 6th

December 2014

9:30am – 12:30pm

at

St. Catherine’s

Church Hall

Jonah

For those who missed the three part course on the Book of Jonah: Week One: The Jonah Syndrome We explored the story's first Chapter and contemplated the characters in the story We thought about the prophet's desire to run away and hide. And we saw the parallels with the story of Jesus

Week Two: In the Belly of the Whale

From the fish's belly Jonah prays and so we looked at the nature of this Psalm and the heights and depths of human relationship with God.

Week Three: And? The third week promises to look at forgiveness and God's annoying ability to not do what we want God to do!

Would you like to have

your advertisement here? Cost = £26.00 For 12months.

Please contact the Editor for more details

The Chichester Old London Road, Rawreth

RESTAURANT & FUNCTIONS

Dinner-Dances

Civil Wedding Receptions

Family Sunday Luncheons

Private Parties for

Anniversaries, Birthdays,

Christenings, Clubs,

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Spare Advert Space

PIANO TEACHER

Has a few vacancies for pupils BEGINNERS TO ADVANCED

Adult beginners very welcome

Please telephone: MARGARET ROWAN ALCM

LRAM on 01268 734589

Would you like to have your advertisement here?

Cost = £40.00 For 12months.

Please contact the Editor for more details

CARTER.& WARD

OF WICKFORD LTD. Builders

Construction House, 82 Runwell Road,

WICKFORD, Essex SS11 7HJ

Telephone: (01268) 733421

(01268) 766485 (Site Sales Office)

www.carterandward.co.uk

SUTTONS CARPET FURNITURE CENTRE

HIGH STREET, WICKFORD. Phone: 733497 FOR ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD NEEDS

Carpets & Vinyls - Flotex 21 - Cushionflor - Lino,

Kitchen Utensils - Cutlery - Garden Tools, Decorative Chinaware and Glass - Tableware,

ROYAL DOULTON and ROYAL ALBERT Large stocks of Doulton and Feswick Figurines

HALL’S A wide range of Pet &

Garden supplies.

Specialists in Wild bird

Products.

01268 732093

71 High Street, Wickford

S. Carter & Son Independent Family Funeral Directors

& Monumental Masons Serving the Community since 1840

32 London Road Wickford, SS12 0AN

Telephone: 01268 733108 Email: scarterandson@gmail.com

Website: scarterandson.co.uk Funerals carried out in all districts

Would you like to have your advertisement here?

Cost = £26.00 For 12months.

Please contact the Editor for more details

CHELMSFORD TREE

SERVICES

• TREE REDUCTION OR REMOVAL

• HEDGES TRIMMED

• STUMPS REMOVED

• LOGS FOR SALE

• LOCAL FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

FULLY INSURED & PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED

FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION QUOTE CALL US ON:

Office – 01245 403 009 Mobile – 07811 241 605

QualitySolicitors Harvey Copping & Harrison

website: wwwqualitysolicitors.com/hch

De Burgh House, Market Road Wickford Essex SS12 0BB

QualitySolicitors Harvey Copping & Harrison will help you protect what's precious. Whether

you are moving home, making a Will, dealing with the death of a loved one or running a

business. For whatever life brings.

For details and a no obligation estimate of fees please feel free to telephone:- 01268

733381

Offices also at :-

South Woodham Ferrers: 01245 322956

Canvey Island 01268 511999

Burnham-on-Crouch Golf Club Members Club for All Abilities

7 Day Full Membership

£825pa

(£68.75per month)

Plus Golf Union fees and monthly payment cost if applicable.

No Tee Times

Please call office for

Current Green Fee Special

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01621 782282.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A MEMBERS GOLF CLUB IN A TRANQUIL SETTING LOOK NO FURTHER

For further information call 01621 782282.Visit www.burnhamgolfclub.co.uk

WICKFORD AND RUNWELL TEAM MINISTRY

CLERGY Jane Freeman St. Andrew’s Church 734077 Norbert Mutuku St. Catherine’s Church 733147 Jo Delfgou St. Mary’s Church 732068 Sue Mann 730972 Reader John Knowles 735837 P.C.C. Vice-chairman Pam Petts 734183

Secretary Emma Houghton 07527 433286 Treasurer Yvonne Branson 458778 Electoral Roll Officer Pam Petts 734183 St Andrew's Churchwarden Val Bryan 561446 Churchwarden Marina Bayley 730571 D.C.C. Secretary Pat Hughes 734522 D.C.C. Treasurer Mike Gibson 734293 Hall Lettings Reg Warne 766749 St Catherine’s Churchwarden Richard Feldwick 733362 Churchwarden Andrew Morl

D.C.C. Secretary Emma Houghton 07527 433286 D.C.C. Treasurer Steve Lissenden 763670 Hall Lettings Jimmy Salmon 732606 St Mary’s Churchwarden Val Harris 571933 Churchwarden Lyn Bear 421685 D.C.C. Secretary Coral Upham

D.C.C. Treasurer John Skinner 456892 Hall Bookings Alan Jones 765360 Linda Payne 732033 Mothers’ Union Enrolling Member Jeannette Cardnell 452309 Parish Magazine Editor Jo Delfgou Publicity

FOR INFORMATION ON GIFT AID AND PLANNED GIVING PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS BEAUCHAMP ON 762205.

SUNDAY SERVICES

St Andrew's 9:30am Sung Eucharist 6:30pm Healing Eucharist (on 3rd Sunday)

St Catherine’s 8:00am Holy Communion 9:30am Family Worship 11:00am Sung Eucharist 6:30pm Evening Prayer (Sung Evensong 4th Sunday)

St Mary’s 9:30am Sung Eucharist 6:30pm Taizé (2nd Sunday)

WEEKDAY SERVICES

Monday 9:00 am Morning Prayer at St Catherine's Tuesday 9:00 am Morning Prayer at St Andrew's 7:30 pm Eucharist at St Mary's

Wednesday 9:00 am Morning Prayer at St Catherine's 9:30am Eucharist at St Catherine's 10:30 am Eucharist at St Andrew's 11:30 am Eucharist at St Mary's

Thursday 9:00 am Morning Prayer at St Mary's

Friday 8:30 am Morning Prayer at St Andrew's Saturday 9:30 am Morning Prayer at St Catherine's

(on the first Saturday of the month)

OFFICE HOURS

St Andrew's Saturdays 11:00 - 11:30am in the Church

St Catherine’s Mondays 7:00 - 8:00pm in the Church St Mary’s Mondays 7:00 - 7:30pm in St Mary’s Hall

Articles for the next Magazine to the Editor by 10th of the month

Thank you - email: delfgou@live.co.uk

And our website: http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/index.php