Yesterday I saw snowdrops and a few cowslips as we move from winter into spring. The birds were singing and the sun was warm on my face and I felt my heart lift at the thought of longer days and not having to walk Bean in the dark in a dayglo jacket so I can find her when she is off the lead!!We are journeying towards Easter, to all those joyful times of longer days, warmer evenings, not perhaps as much rain and mud, being able to get out in the garden, the allotment or play in the park, long dog walks, time off school, time off work, spending special time with our families and friends, all on our horizon. We have so much to be thankful for. We have already had our Pancake Party and our Ash Wednesday service to mark the beginning of Lent, and……Our next dog walk leaving from St James Church, High Wych will be Sunday 3rd March at 2.30 pmHowever, as we journey towards Easter with all our services to look forward to we are experiencing Lent, that journey that is of personal self-reflection as we journey with Jesus as he walks towards the Cross, asking ourselves - where do we fall short? what can we do that is better? Who can we help?, etcThis year I am asking you all to think carefully about taking on the Lent Challenge as our way of giving thanks for all that we have and for serving others who are struggling at this time. There are many ways we can do this, here are 3 different ways we can do this (see below):-2024 The Lent ChallengeDuring the 40 days of Lent we may give things up – to fast – from sugary or fatty foods, while others choose a well-loved treat, social media, alcohol, or TV the idea being that we remember Jesus’ time in the wilderness when he went without and we are called to give more attention to God, in prayer and reading the Bible.We are also called during Lent to remember those worse off than ourselves and there are so many ways we can do this. We can give our money to charity, maybe sending help to children in Gaza who are struggling without food and basic necessities:-Children in Gaza crisis appeal - UNICEF UK – (follow this link to financially give).Or you may consider using the Count your Blessings project that helps you work through Lent thoughtfully, giving to the poorer countries around the world who are dealing with the onslaughts of climate change and poverty:-count-your-blessings-2024-v1.1.pdf (christianaid.org.uk) – (follow link to download the 40 days challenge – printed out at back of church (St Mary’s) for you to look at)Or you may want to look closer to home and take up the Lent Challenge for our own area. We are committing to give generously to the Pop-Up shop during Lent, focussing on a particular area of food/household products each week as follows:-Week 1 - we focus on bringing soft drinks for that week.Week 2 – cans of food.Week 3 – dried goodsWeek 4 - Cereals or household products.Week 5 – chocolate (small Easter eggs)Week 6 – Special Easter food This will call us to sacrifice some of our wealth but it will benefit others who are struggling. The church (St James, High Wych) or (St Mary’s, Gilston) is open every day from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm for you to bring food and place in the box provided, and we will make sure this food gets to the Pop-Up Shop. Or if this is difficult for you, you can give the Pop Up Shop money directly at:-Barclays Bank – Account Number 60797029 – Sort Code 20 36 98Account Name: Sawbridgeworth Congregational ChurchMy hope for each one of us over this Easter period is that we will say this prayer:-Father, help me to live each day to the full,Being true to You, in every way.Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,Being kind to everyone I meet.Sprit, help me to love the lost, Proclaiming Christ in all I say and do. Amen.I leave you with our Bible verse for the year to encourage us to find the joy in each day that we are given.Your PriestAlisonRomans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear AllAs you can see from the Welcome sheet there are quite a few different events on the horizon for you to be involved with.First of these is the Quiz Night on Saturday – I believe there are still some spaces left if you want to get involved.We also have a dog walk leaving Eastwick on Sunday at 11.15 am if you are interested in bringing along your dog/or not – the dog is not compulsory.You will be pleased to know that during our PCC meeting last night the Bible Course – Study books turned up – phew.If you have signed up to come tonight, I am really looking forward to journeying through Lent with you as we look more closely at the Bible and I have a few extra guides if you would still like to come. Please also bring your Bibles tonight. See you at 7.30 pm.😊Saturday 24th February is the second year anniversary of the Ukraine/Russian conflict. I am putting together a prayer station for you, which will be in church for Saturday and Sunday – please pray for this conflict that is ongoing. Our prayers are very much needed.Hoping you can find joy in your day, despite the rain.AlisonRomans 15:1313 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear AllIt has been a busy week – I feel like I have seen some of you every day, thank you for all you do and the things you have been involved with in just this week.Thank you to all those who came online for the prayer meeting on Tuesday, all who helped at the Pancake Party at Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall, The Ash Wednesday service yesterday and Jimmy’s toddler group today.As we head to the weekend we are now in the season of Lent and so I attach the information about our Lent Challenge for this year, copies of this will be printed onto the back of the Welcome sheet too.The information to join for the prayer meeting on Tuesday is on the Welcome sheet and next Wednesday the Lent Study starts at the Rectory – first session Wed 21st February – at 7.30 pm – looking forward to seeing all those who have signed up for this. The study guides have been ordered so we are ready!Every blessingAlison
Dear AllHow are you all?I feel that as we approach this season of Lent we are on that journey towards Easter and all that means as we once again discover the meaning of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The joy of celebrating Christmas is behind us as we begin our journey to the Cross.And I wonder, how are you going to journey through Lent this year? Are you a person who gives things up like alcohol or chocolate, or fasts from tv or technology as is your tradition or do you do something positive that benefits others as you journey through Easter.I have been pondering this and as well as our Bible Study that will take us through Lent, which is:-The Bible Course – (please sign up if you want the study guide. Join me at the Rectory every Wednesday at 7.30 pm through Lent and beyond – see the Welcome sheet for more details and the sign up list at the back of church). This course will give us an amazing overview of the whole Bible and where everything fits into the story of God.If you would like a positive impact on our world - I am attaching the Christian Aid – Count your Blessings resource that you can use throughout Lent, ultimately raising money towards world poverty. You can access it here….count-your-blessings-2024-v1.1.pdf (christianaid.org.uk)Or perhaps you would like to do something practical that benefits our own local community? For instance; how about if we commit to giving generously to the Pop Up shop during Lent – here is my suggestion:-Week 1 we focus on bringing soft drinks for that week.Moving on as follows:-Week 2 – cans of food.Week 3 – dried goodsWeek 4 - Cereals or household products.Week 5 – chocolate (small Easter eggs)Week 6 – Special Easter food This will call us to sacrifice some of our wealth but it will benefit others who are struggling.We are also able to celebrate Pancake Day with the children in our community with our Annual Pancake Party at Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall on Tuesday 13th February from 3.00 – 5.00 pm – we are looking for people to help with this, so please drop me an e-mail if you can help on that day.As to our services - we begin our Lent journey with our Ash Wednesday service next week on 14th February at St James at 7.30 pm and will continue through to a glorious celebration on Easter Day.My hope is that during Easter our journey will benefit others and ourselves as we learn more about ourselves, more about the story of God and turn to the light of Jesus Christ carrying it out into our world.Your PriestAlisonRomans 15:13 ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
Dear AllWhat a full week, thank you to the many of you who are journeying together through Lent with our Bible study – The Bible Course. It is really lovely to have you all at the Rectory on Wednesdays. As we move closer and closer to Easter, we have a taste of it this Sunday in our Family Service, as this is the only opportunity to celebrate and remember Easter with our Family service congregation. Don’t forget you are all welcome to come to this service and we will be starting with breakfast at 9.30 am and starting the service gently at 10.00 am, which will last for about 45 mins to 1 hour. If you are taking part in our Lent Challenge this week we will be providing dried goods for the Pop-Up shop, please place in the green box by the font.We are celebrating the World Day of Prayer tomorrow at St James at 10.00 am, we are hosting this service this year using the service that has been prepared by an ecumenical group of Christian women from Palestine, the land in which Jesus was born, ministered and died, where the Christian faith began and is rooted. It is also an opportunity to come together to pray for the situation in the Holy Land at the momentWe also have a community dog walk starting from St James this week on Sunday 3rd March at 2.30 pm, please come and walk with us if you can, or come and eat cake from 3.30 pm😊Don’t forget every Tuesday morning we now have an online prayer meeting where we can join together to pray for our whole Benefice. The link is on the Welcome sheet, but here it is if you are looking for it:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84557900182?pwd=MDhIR2ZBSFc4RXdxWW4zL3FJRGx0dz09Meeting ID: 845 5790 0182 Passcode: 640464Wishing you rest and joy in your every day.Your Priest, Alison
Dear AllAs we look forward to Easter we have a few things to mark the beginning of Lent:-A study course (see details below), our annual Pancake party and our Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday 14th February in St James church at 7.30 pm.Some information for you that I could not fit on the Welcome Sheet:-We are starting our Lent Course and will be studying The Bible Course which will give us all a rich overview of the Bible as a whole and how it all fits together. Helping us to get The Big Picture. There will be a study book for you to look at the back of church and a sign up sheet so we can order the study books at a cost of £5.00 per head.Each session is video led and using the study book with questions. We will meet in the Rectory at 7.30 pm and there are 8 sessions which will take us beyond Lent slightly and so the dates are as follows:-21/2/2024, 28/2/2024, 6/3/2024, 13/3/2024, 20/3/2024, 27/3/2024, 24/4/2024, 1/05/2024Also, may I draw your attention to the 2 events that are happening in February:13th February 2024 – Annual Pancake Party at Gilston Village Hall (see attached flyer) – 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm. I know some of you helped to make this event a great success last year and I would ask, if you can, to volunteer again this year and let me know if you can help with set up, or during the event or tidying away.24th February 2024 – The Quiz Night – see the flyer attached. We would value your support for this event by drawing a team together and coming to have some fun.Tuesday morning 9.30 am – prayer meeting (this link remains the same every TuesdayJoin Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/84557900182?pwd=MDhIR2ZBSFc4RXdxWW4zL3FJRGx0dz09Meeting ID: 845 5790 0182Passcode: 640464Every blessingAlison