From the Benefice Team

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1 From the Benefice Team Any sign of a new vicar yet? is a question I m sure many of us have been asked over the past year. The process for filling clergy vacancies is unlike that found in many other occupations and can seem to be a slow one. Last summer a parish profile, describing our churches and wider community and setting out our needs, was drawn up. The vacancy has been advertised on the diocese website and in the Church Times as of the beginning of January. Representatives of our churches have been nominated to work with the diocese and our patrons in the search for that priest who will be able to lead us forward. Please hold those involved in this process in your prayers but don t be surprised that they don t share news of how the search is going. One reason being that it is particularly important that present parishioners of possible candidates are not unsettled by news that their priest is considering moving on. Meanwhile the life of our churches goes on. We ll shortly be in the season of the church year known as Lent. Ash Wednesday falls on February 14 th this year. Giving something up for Lent has become very popular, even for people who have no idea what Lent is. Or instead of giving something up, taking up something beneficial may be thought to be more positive. Someone recently said to me however that they were concerned about either giving up or taking up becoming an end in itself, because if one fails, it leads to guilt, and if one succeeds it leads to pride, neither of which is desirable. So, what exactly is this Lent thing all about? The Season of Lent is the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday: a symbol of the forty days and nights Jesus spent struggling with the

2 devil in the wilderness. It is a time of preparation and self-sacrifice. The practice of Lent probably has its origins in the agricultural societies of the fourth and fifth centuries, when Lent is first mentioned in history. Winter crops would have been scarce and so a period of fasting answered a physical as well as a spiritual need. The excesses of Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, would have been a response to the same phenomenon, as people needed to use perishable goods before they spoiled. As time went on Lent took added significance as new church members were prepared for the baptism of Easter Sunday. Through an organised Lent course or by private prayer and reading of the bible aided perhaps by one of the many Lent books available, we too can set aside time alone with our Father-God, as did Jesus in the wilderness as he prepared for his earthly ministry. The season of Lent actually lasts forty-six days. However, as Sundays represent Christ's resurrection, the six Sundays between Ash Wednesday and the Easter are not included in the count of forty. The number forty features in the Bible a number of times. Moses and Elias spent forty days in the wilderness, in a similar manner to Christ; Exodus records that the Jewish people wandered for forty years; and Jesus spent forty hours in the tomb, before his resurrection. Whether you intend to mark the season of Lent through the selfsacrifice of giving up something enjoyed, or taking up something challenging; or by preparation through following a Lent course may you be strengthened by the knowledge that God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, and by the certainty and joy of the Resurrection which we will celebrate at Easter. Yours in Christ Judy Manley

3 HEYBRIDGE BASIN NOTES Carol service Thursday 21 st December 2017 It was good to welcome friends from the Basin, and the wider community to St George s for the Carol Service. Thank you Sue and Joy for putting the service together, Julia who presided, all those who read and especially Joy for overcoming the problems posed by a digital keyboard suffering from the cold and damp of winter! A collection was taken which enabled us to send a cheque for to aid the work of The Children s Society. Decorated wreaths again helped give the church a festive feel. Refreshments- mulled wine, sherry or fruit juice and of course mince pies - were enjoyed after the service. The Friends of St George s Church Thanks are due to the Friends who continue to assist in keeping our church building in good order. Work in 2017 included repainting both outside and inside the church, electrical repairs, improved external lighting and a ramp constructed to the South Door. Future Events This year marks 225 years since Royal Assent was granted to the Chelmer Navigation Bill and work started on the construction of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. Remarkably there are still relatives of the men who came to build and work on the navigation living here. It is a mark of the community feeling here that even those residents who have arrived far more recently have quickly developed a sense of belonging.

4 I have amassed a collection of postcards, photos, newspaper articles and books about the Basin and I am sure many others who live here also have items of interest. I propose to organise a display of village history in the Community Room later this year, possibly in April during the school Easter holidays. Plans are in a very early stage but I envisage open days when people can view the display and share reminiscences along with an activity day for children and possibly an art and or photographic competition. I would love to hear from anyone who has items to display. Do you have photographs taken in the village over the years? Views of buildings showing how they have changed (or not), of village events and of residents old and new would all trigger memories I m sure. Please contact me if you can help. j.manley@tesco.net tel What s on? Coffee Mornings -All are welcome to drop in for a cuppa and a chat. Bring and Buy books and bric a brac. Raffle. February Coffee Morning Saturday 3rd February 10 am 12 noon March Coffee Morning Saturday 3rd March 10 am 12 noon JLM 4

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6 Be heart-ready for Lent in 2018 FUNERALS We remember those who have recently passed away, and the funerals which have either taken place already, or will do in the near future. Albert Chaplin As they pass into the nearer presence of God, may they rest in peace. Amen 6

7 Heybridge Parish Common Purpose Statement Through worship, prayer and loving action we will help all the community to discover Jesus and develop their faith Langford Parish Mission Statement To love and worship God faithfully To follow the example of Christ by loving and serving others. To seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for our Church and in our lives To bear witness to our faith Visit to St Paul s Cathedral, 10 th Feb 2018 If you would like to join us for this trip but have not signed up yet please let Rosemary know. Those who have signed up please could you let Rosemary have your addresses to make it easier for her to contact you direct. Her s is rosemaryhtaylor@gmail.com. 7

8 Langford Notes February 2018 Arthur Albert Chaplin ( ) I cannot believe I am writing this, but our beloved Albert has gone. In our December notes we mourned the passing of Pat Corbin, and Albert had remarked that he hoped she would save a seat for him. We certainly had no idea at all that it would be as soon as this. Albert died on the morning of Tuesday 12 th December aged 97 an unexpected death as he had been cheerful and full of life on Sunday, when I sat with him in his house and talked over a cup of tea about Christmases past, and the snow that was still falling. As he had not been under a doctor for anything serious a post mortem had to be carried out, which further distressed his family and friends, especially just before Christmas. The result of this was that he had suffered a heart attack. His funeral was held on 17 th January, and it will come as no surprise to anyone that the church was packed. It was not just his family, church and village friends that were there, but those from the wider benefice, and from all his interests mainly trains, the Museum of Power and various clubs that he had either set up or supported. What can one say about Albert? He was, as his son Patrick put it, a true Langfordian having been born in Railway Bridge Cottage and dying at home in Ulting Lane. Albert was so much a part of village life. He had been Secretary to the Parish Meeting from 1956 to 1976, PCC Secretary from 1956 to 1966 and then from 1976 to 1981 (when he volunteered me to take over!) and was Churchwarden from 1989 to 2002 (when again, I took over from him) and he was a member of the PCC from 1954 until the day he died. He always participated in events, supported village affairs, and always, always thanked people for their help, and encouraged them to go further. 8

9 Having spent the early days of his married life living with his in-laws, Albert and his wife Joyce moved to a house in what was then Princes Street, Maldon, moving back to Langford in 1954 to No. 8 Ulting Lane - one of the waterworks houses. When Joyce died in 1995 Albert was helped through his pain and bereavement by his extended family, Langford villagers and friends from the church. (Albert described his time with Joyce as the best fifty years of my life. ) It was a strange coincidence that Joyce s funeral was also held on 17 th January, 23 years ago. With Albert s passing, the village of Langford will never be the same. No more will this happy, dedicated, supportive, friendly, sometimes mischievous, man be seen in Langford but at least we know that he is now united with those he loved. Rest in peace Albert. Carol Service 17 th December It was wonderful to see the church so full for the Carol Service, although there was a great sense of emptiness without Albert with us, especially as he always read one of the lessons. However, his son Patrick stepped into the breach and the Chaplin tradition of reading one of the lessons continued. Heavenly Supplies shop As some of you may know, we have been battling with the Council over their insistence on charging us rates for a non-profit-making venture in a non-rateable building. They have very kindly waived rates for but are still pressing for back rates, even though they refuse to tell me exactly what we would be paying rates for as we have no services from them at all. We have, as they suggested, written to the Valuation Office to repeal this ridiculous situation, and will let you know the outcome. A new incumbent? An advertisement for a new incumbent (or rather, a Priest in Charge to start with) has now been published in the Church Times and on the Diocesan website with a closing date of 8 th February. We do hope and pray that the right person will feel called to come and help us and bring some sparkle back to our churches. Irene Allen 9

10 Let Your God Love You Be silent. Be still. Alone. Empty Before your God. Say nothing. Ask nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God look upon you. That is all. God knows. God understands. God loves you With an enormous love, And only wants To look upon you With that love. Quiet. Still. Be. Let your God Love you. By Edwina Gateley 10

11 Food in The Bible Word to Find corn herbs oil barley cucumbers honey pomegranates bread fish lamb rue butter fruit milk vinegar cheese garlic parchedcorn wheat 11

12 Heybridge WI First meeting of 2018 began with Maureen wishing everyone a happy new year, quite a few apologies, two visitors and one returning member. Unfortunately the expected speaker was unable to attend but had kindly arranged for Karen Buttress and assistant Karen to come and tell us about Maldon District Council's role in Emergency Planning. As they had other meetings to attend their talk came first for a change. Handouts of information were distributed, apparently the greatest risk we face in the Maldon area is flooding so members were advised to prepare grab bags in case of evacuation being necessary. Members were asked to think about volunteering to assist at help centres should the occasion occur. A list was passed round for the 2018 County Annual Meeting together with a list for quiz orders. A short floral quiz was passed round to be completed during tea and as there was no mailing from Count the meeting became a social occasion with everyone chatting. After the quiz results, came the raffle and results of the competition of a winter photograph, the results were 1 st Helen, 2 nd Dorene, 3 rd Maureen. Winners of the flower of the month were 1 st Kathy, 2 nd Maureen & Rosemary, 3 rd Ellen. Tea hostesses for February are, Rita, Janet & Freda. Heybridge WI meets on the first Friday of the month in Plantation Hall at 2pm with visitors and new members always welcome. 12

13 Messy Church Messy Church will meet again on February 18th at 3.30pm in the Waring Room. Last month we looked at an Old Testament story Jacob s Ladder thinking about dreams and how God is always with us in all that we say and do. Next month we will be looking at why we have Lent. 13

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15 Penitential Prayer for Lent By Thomas Merton My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. 15

16 MUSIC IN THE BENEFICE St Andrew s Church Organist - Gerald Matthews ( ) St. George s Church Organist - Joy Norman ( ) St. Giles Church Organists - Gerald Matthews & Rosemary Taylor ( ) St.Giles Singers practise in Church 5.45pm Tuesdays New members and musicians always welcome WELCOME WORKSHOP Meets every Friday (term times) Bring your own craft or come along and knit and natter, and maybe learn a new craft skill! ST. ANDREW S CRAFT CLUB Card making and crafts for teenagers and adults. Meets 7.30pm in The Waring Room on 2nd & 4th Thursday each month More info contact Lynne Wood Lynne Wood

17 USEFUL CONTACT NUMBERS CUBS AND SCOUTS Group Scout Leader Clive Searle MAGAZINE EDITOR Sue Howat SEA CADETS Telephone: COFFEE MORNINGS St.George s Heybridge Basin 1st Saturday each month St.Giles Langford 2nd Saturday each month Judith Manley Irene Allen

18 Prayer Diary February 2018 Thu 1 For those who have died Fri 2 For those being baptised Sat 3 For the wisdom of Solomon Sun 4 For those about to be married Mon 5 For our area bishops Tue 6 For our Queen on the anniversary of her coronation Wed 7 For retired clergy, readers and lay ministers Thu 8 The gift of music in our churches Fri 9 For those who are lonely Sat 10 For those who are hungry Sun 11 For Racial Justice Mon 12 Those who find it difficult to pray Tue 13 Those who are new to the Benefice Wed 14 Those who are bereaved Thu 15 For all who work in the Emergency Services Fri 16 For our armed forces overseas Sat 17 For victims of domestic violence Sun 18 For the Bishop s Lent Appeal Mon 19 For all parishes in vacancy Tue 20 For those who tend our graveyards Wed 21 Pleshey Retreat House, its staff and visitors Thu 22 For all involved with Spiritual Direction in our Diocese Fri 23 For those finding life difficult Sat 24 For those entering the Ministry Sun 25 For all who need our prayers Mon 26 For Fairtrade Fortnight which begins today Tue 27 Those who are living with anger Wed 28 For the promise of Easter to come 18

19 IN YOUR PRAYERS PLEASE REMEMBER Those who are unwell: Allison, Steve Clark, Jay Stables, Janet, Hope, June Slack, Chris Spong, Pam, Michael Shrimpton, George Gribble, Amelia Russell and Valerie. Loving Father, have mercy on those whose lives are crippled by strain and anxiety in themselves, release their tension, give them inward peace, restore them to the wholeness which is your will for all. Amen MALDON LUNCHTIME CONCERTS UNITED REFORMED CHURCH MALDON Thursday 8th February 2018 at 1.00pm Essex Horns - 1 trumpet and 3 saxophones playing music from Gershwin to Bach. Refreshments available for a donation Deadline for the magazine The deadline for the next (March) magazine is on Sunday 11th February (2nd Sunday). 19

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