Dear AllLast week we celebrated Christ the King and I talked about the motifs of Jesus that can be found throughout the Bible and I have attached this if it will help you as you read your Bible.Advent will be celebrated in different ways tomorrow – at the first service BCP at 8.00 am we will be lighting Week 1 of the Advent Candle Wreath; at the second service at 9.30 am we will be starting with breakfast and then doing the Pop-Up Christmas Nativity – as we remember and tell the story of that very first Christmas and sing some Christmas Carols. You will also have the opportunity to donate Christmas food to the Pop Up shop as our Advent Challenge (see flyer).Later in the week you will also have the opportunity to take part in our Advent Bible Study on Wednesday 4th December at the Rectory from 7.30 pm.Advent is traditionally a season of self -reflection as we consider many things, I am very taken that at school the value they celebrate for December is compassion. My prayer for us all is that this will be a value we can look to this month. Compassion for each other, for those less fortunate than ourselves, compassion for our wider world – thinking deeply who we want to support this Christmas. Please remember that we are not sending each other Christmas cards this year but will have a large Christmas Card in church and are asking for donations to go to the Homeless Shelter in Bishop Stortford.Wishing you all joy, peace and hope as we journey through Advent together this year.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllThank you to all those who joined me in praying for peace in the church at our regular prayer meeting on Tuesday morning at 9.30 am. Next week will resume to being online.I hope you have been able to experience these prayer stations and that they have been helpful for you.It has been a difficult week for the Church of England that may ricochet among your friends and family for a few weeks.You may want to get up to speed with the findings of the Makin report so that you can talk with some knowledge if anyone asks you questions.Makin Report: Key findings and conclusions | Evangelicals NowIt is with sadness that I read this review and its findings and this is another instance that shows why we need our safeguarding practices to be strong and healthy.This weekend is Safeguarding Sunday, our services will change slightly and will create the opportunity to meet with Cath Sharples our Safeguarding Officer and myself and ask any questions that you are unclear about.We have 2 services this Sunday:-9.30 am communion at St James11.15 am St Mary’s, GilstonOnto Parish NewsA reminder that it is Lois Smith’s funeral at Parndon Wood Crematorium on Monday 18th November at 2.00 pm. All welcome to join the family.Also, we have now finalised the arrangements for the funeral and burial of Rita Bird. The funeral will take place on Wednesday 27th November at 11.30 am at St James Church followed by burial in the churchyard with her husband. All welcome to join the family.We have the opportunity to meet on Saturday morning for coffee and cake and learn how to ‘Light up High Wych’ with a demonstration of how to decorate your cone. As I understand it Cones can be collected or they will be dropped off for people.I trust your week is going well and I look forward to seeing you soon.Every blessingAlison
Outside St James are white ribbons that you can tie onto the railings as you say a prayer for peace.Inside the church there are some prayer stations with prayers you can say for the conflicts we are currently aware of. We also remember those who have died over the years in war.You can also write a prayer to hang on our prayer tree.Please pause for a moment if you can.
Dear AllI did promise you I would let you know the arrangements for Lois Smith’s funeral when I knew them.The date and venue and time has been agreed and will be as follows:-Monday 18th November at Parndon Wood Crematorium at 2.00 pm. Please remember Barry and his family at this difficult time.This has been the first week back at school after half term, Jimmy’s has been in full swing and full, Jim’s café was very well attended and so was this month’s Wednesday Welcome. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the many teams who come together with great willingness to make all these activities and sessions run so smoothly. Thank you so much, we couldn’t do any of this without your help.As you know this weekend we are calling to mind and commemorating Remembrance Day. There are a variety of opportunities to remember those who have died for their country over the years.9.30 am Holy Communion, Remembrance Day service, St James, High Wych10.45 am Act of Remembrance at St James War Memorial10.45am Act of Remembrance, Eastwick War Memorial, Eastwick3.00 pm Remembrance Day Service at St Mary’s, Sawbridgeworth (taken by Rev Alison Jackson).I hope to see you all soon at one of our activities or one of our services.Every blessingAlison
