Colchester Christ Church News October 2013

Transcription

1 Colchester Christ Church News October 2013 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:26 Christ Church Anglican Congregation Vision Statement Through our worship, mission, nurture and service we want to enable all people to enter into a living relationship with Jesus Christ

2 In this month s news: From the Rector: Christ Church in Mission Recipe for Evangelism Harvest 2013 Prayer of the month Time Out with God Christ Church Christmas Bazaar Advent Calendars Save the Children Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal Who let the Dad s out? All Souls Day Service of Remembrance Church Gardening Curry and Scalextric evening One World Week October diary Rector: Rev Paul Norrington (01206) Curate: Church Treasurer: Revd Jackie Sams (01206) Brian Taylor (01206) Churchwardens: Church Office: Delia Bloom (01206) Liz Bird (01206) Rod Green (01206) christ-church-vestry@btconnect.com

3 He called the congregation and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, Don t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you re not welcomed, leave town. Don t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on. Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went. Luke The Message The message is Keep it simple but who was He? Was it Bishop Stephen - The Bishop of Chelmsford, The Rector of Christ Church, an evangelism course leader or the leader of a large-scale mission preparing his helpers? Well, yes and no. If you replace the word congregation with disciples, then it becomes clear. These were the words of Jesus, who having prepared his 12 closest colleagues in mission The Rector Writes Christ Church in Mission! was sending them out to share the gospel. He commanded them to go out to meet specific groups of people, establish their need and in preaching the gospel heal and transform them. But, keep it simple, be focused, unburden yourselves of unnecessary baggage and move on from where you are not welcomed. Luke s gospel makes it very clear, the disciples went out, lightly loaded, they preached and they healed the sick liberating lives to a relationship with God. A week or so ago, it was Bishop Stephen who commissioned us to go out in mission. He did not specifically use the words of Jesus neither did he send us out onto the streets in that way. As he reminded us, this sort of missional outreach and evangelism is not in the style of the Church of England! However, in a sense, he did take the command of Jesus and express it in ways that energized and encouraged us to get involved in mission and evangelism. In particular, he encouraged us to be more comfortable with the idea of evangelism and see it as a natural way of getting to know particular

4 people groups in our parishes and communities. Then having identified the many people groups we engage with we were to consider needs, concerns and issues that may touch and affect them. Lastly and perhaps the most challenging part, having done all of this we were to reach into those groups with the gospel which would be focus and directed to the people and their needs, hopes and fears. Wasn t this exactly what Jesus asked of his disciples? Go out to the villages (people groups), identify their needs (to be free of demons, diseases and death) and preach the gospel (share the good news and heal the people). Gladly we can know that Jesus has always been there ahead of us for as Bishop Stephen constantly reminds us; God is the evangelist. God is the one who does the calling but we have to be ready to meet, engage and encourage what that means to the people he brings us. Perhaps then, the whole idea of evangelism does not seem so terrifying. Yes, it is difficult and demanding of us but with Jesus nothing is impossible. Bishop Stephen reminded us of Mary who being visited by the angel was told of amazing news you will bear a son the Son of God. In all her weakness and fear, she responded Yes, I see it all now: I m the Lord s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Luke 2.38 In 2014, the Centenary year of the diocese of Chelmsford, each parish is being encouraged to engage with their community in a weekend of mission. This will be different for each parish. Some will have great events others will keep things simple. But in every case we are being asked to get those who are passionate about mission and evangelism working together to make 2014 a special year. For Christ Church, this will mean stepping up from where we are to where God is calling us in reaching our community. He put it very simply. For all who have come you are now the core planning team for your parish mission (paraphrase!) We came away with an arsenal of information and ideas some of which may come to fruition as we step out together in mission. There are others in our congregation who came to the Network course whose passion is mission and outreach. They too are invited to join this great adventure. With this in mind, the PCC Mission group would like us to gather at a meeting on Thursday 14 th November

5 (venue TBA) to begin the planning process for a year of mission at Christ Church in Much of what we might do will be familiar BUT we are looking for fresh thinking and sharing of ideas. Please pray about this and consider the part you might want to play as we plan and pray together. It seems that Jesus did not want mission to be confined to the inside of doors but sought to reach as many people as possible by going out to them. Jesus knew that under the current circumstances, cultural difficulties and religious legalism it was going to be difficult to fulfil his ministry. Neither could he do so alone - he needed help and empowered his disciples to go out. Jesus made it clear, go to the demon possessed, the sick and preach. Such healing and preaching was the gospel in action and for many who experienced it they followed Jesus. Let us take note - we have all been gifted with hearts full of Jesus. Let us then set our hearts to mission, reaching out to those who do not know him. Indeed, who may never know unless we go, one person sharing with another person the good news of Jesus. Lastly, please look out for future information bulletins and in this edition, Bishops Stephens recipe for evangelism. Happy cooking! Yours ever Paul

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8 Harvest 2013 A big thank you to everyone who who gave time, energy and gifts making our harvest festival weekend so memorable. Special thanks go to our joint church flower team for amazing and creative displays. The harvest was a bumper one for the Foodbank. Thank you for a wonderful outpouring of generosity which will help many needy and hungry families in Colchester. Our thanks to you all. Paul and Glyn

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12 Prayer of the month This is not only a poem about prayer but it is also a prayer by a doubting but interested outsider.it deals with fairly ruthless self analysis followed by reflection and culminates in recognition of the promise which the Cross represents.. You talk o prayer and such- Well,I jest don t know how, I guess I got as much Religion as a cow. I fight an drink an swear; Red hell I often raise, But never said a prayer In all my days. The author is the poet and writer Robert Service ( ).He was born in Lancashire but as a young man he emigrated to western Canada to the gold rush frontier of the Yukon. He is known as the Bard of Yukon.In later life he lived within the literary set in France. RG Sept.2013 I m honest, right enough; Don t take no stock in crimes; I m jest a dockside tough, An yet an yet sometimes, If I should happen by A church door open wide The chances are that I Will sneak inside It s kin o peaceful there Just sittin in a pew; There s sompin in the air That rests me through an through; It does me heaps o good To see them candles glow, So soothin to the mood. Why?- I don t know. Unless that sittin still Can be a kind o prayer; My heart just seems to fill Wi peace.oh,god don t care For guys the likes o me; I just ain t in His line; But when the Cross I see, I make the sign.

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15 CHRIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Saturday 23 rd November 2013 The Christ Church C of E Christmas bazaar will be held this year on Saturday 23 rd November between 10am-12 noon. If any individual or group would like to have a stall please contact me on the details below. To help encourage more of a community feel to the bazaar and beyond, the following ideas have been suggested. Knitted Christmas Tree Knit a 20cm square from green wool. Any shade of green and any kind of stich is OK. Bring along your completed square(s) to either the bazaar or afterwards. The squares will then be mounted on to a conical frame to create a Christmas tree. The tree will look particularly effective if varying shades of green wool are used. Squares can be added at anytime until Christmas. Decorated Mini Christmas Trees Calling all groups. Spend some fun time together coming up with ideas and decorating a mini Christmas tree. Provide your own tree (upto 1m) tall of your own design eg.a tree, just a branch, cardboard tree etc. Decorate it in whatever way you feel appropriate. Include details of who the tree was made by. Bring along your completed tree in the week prior to the bazaar or for the opening of the bazaar. The trees will then be displayed at the bazaar for all to look at. For any more information or to book a stall, please contact Paul Wakefield, Tel: pandk.wakefield@ntlworld.com After Christmas, the squares will be sewn together to form a blanket and donated to Oxfam, Shelter etc.

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17 ADVENT CALENDARS Advent seems to be coming up quickly and Traidcraft with Christian Aid, CAFOD (The RC aid agency) and SCIAF (The Scottish Churches) have produced the Christmas Story Advent Calendar. But for those who like the chocolates, The Meaningful Chocolate Company have also produced the Real Advent Calendar complete with a fair trade chocolate behind each window and a little book telling the Christmas story. For every calendar sold the company donates 10p to The Children's Society.I have stocks of these and would be delighted to receive your orders! There is also a lovely Advent Candle do see them all in the Traidcraft Autumn catalogue. Clare Lankshear Save the Children Any old money? Save the Children, Colchester Branch, are collecting out of date (or not) foreign currency which can be turned into cash. If you have any you don t want lying around in a drawer or elsewhere, please donate it. I can collect. Penny Jacklin Tel Cambridge Road

18 Operation Christmas Child Have you all seen the display on the notice board in the Foyer? The knitted items were made by Jill Dyer -- many thanks, Jill -- and she has also kindly donated a box of tennis balls on the Foyer table. Please help yourselves to 1 or 2 balls to go in your own Shoeboxes. There is an interesting website operation-christmas-child-ideas-uk/ giving a good variety of gift ideas which can be made for inclusion in your box. I know some enthusiastic knitters have already made use of the patterns, available last year. When buying presents, do bear in mind that many shops especially at seaside resorts are off loading this year's stock, so there may be bargains on smaller items ideal for the boxes. Please don't delay in getting your boxes as Shoebox Sunday is 3rd November. Do enjoy making your box once again. If you are unable to provide a filled Shoebox you can always make a donation to the charity. Details are contained in the leaflets in the Foyer. With thanks, Angela Ennals.

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21 Church Gardening On Saturday 12 th October, the Joint Council is organising a morning to clean up the Church garden before winter. We are meeting at 9.30 am and will hope to finish by 12noon. If we have more helpers the sooner the job will be done. Please bring the necessary tools with you. Coffee and biscuits will be available. If you are able to come along please sign up in the foyer.

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24 Diary Sunday 6 th October 8.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel 9.30 am Morning worship Traidcraft stall 6.30 pm Psalm, Prayer and Praise Monday 7 th am Coffee + Tuesday 8 th 9.00 am Morning prayer Wednesday 9 th am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Thursday 10 th 9.00 am Morning Prayer Friday 11 th 6.00 pm Crusaders Saturday 12 th 9.30 am Church Gardening am Saturday Prayerworks Sunday 13 th 9.30 am Holy Communion Monday 14 th am Coffee + Tuesday 15 th 9.00 am Morning prayer am Time Together 3.30 pm FRoG Club Wednesday 16 th am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Thursday 17 th 9.00 am Morning Prayer Friday 18 th 6.00 pm Crusaders Saturday 19 th 9.00 am Who let the Dad s out Sunday 20 th 9.30 am Family Worship 6.30 pm Holy Communion Monday 21 st am Coffee + Tuesday 22 nd 9.00 am Morning prayer am Time Together 3.30 pm FRoG Club Wednesday 23 rd am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Thursday 24 th 9.00 am Morning Prayer Friday 25 th 6.00 pm Crusaders Sunday 27 th 9.30 am Holy Communion 5.00 pm Time out with God Monday 28 th am Coffee + Tuesday 29 th 9.00 am Morning prayer Wednesday 30 th am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Thursday 31 st 9.00 am Morning Prayer Sunday 3 rd 8.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel 9.30 am Morning worship 3.00 pm All Souls Service of remembrance