PARISH MAGAZINE www.stjamesstpaulcolchester.org.uk MARCH 2017 FIFTY PENCE
2
Letter from the Church Wardens The end of February sees us saying goodbye to Father Peter and Caroline. Father Peter has been our Rector for 23 years and worked unstintingly in the Parish. At the time of going to print we look forward to welcoming friends old and new to his Farewell Reception on Saturday 25 th February and to catch up with those who have moved on to pastures new. On Sunday 26th Father Peter celebrates his final Mass as our Parish Priest and we hope to see many friends join us for this important occasion. Father Peter and Caroline will be greatly missed but we wish them well in their retirement. We have now entered into the third month of the year but why does it feel like the beginning of the year all over again? As we go into an interregnum it is the start of something new; a new year; a new beginning. We are very fortunate to have some continuity with Father Giles, Father Alan, and Father Richard of St Barnabas, Old Heath, looking after some of our Masses, assisted by Father Bryan Snaith, Father Nicholas Cook, and Father John Thackray, who will be helping celebrate the Friday Mass in School. Please check the magazine for daily services, if there are any last minute changes these will be noted on the weekly pew sheet. We start a new season of the church calendar with Ash Wednesday on 1 st March; the beginning of Lent. There will be said Mass at 12:30 pm in St James, and sung Mass at 7 pm at St Barnabas, Old Heath. We ask for your prayers and support at this very busy time. Kate Thurston Stephen Pawlak 3
Monday Mass 6 th March Alderwood Care Home 11-00 am 13 th March Colonia Court 11-00 am Saints Days 1 st March St David (Dewi Sant) Ash Wednesday Mass with the Imposition of Ashes 12.30 St James & Sung Mass 19.00 St Barnabas 17 th March St Patrick 9.00 Family Service School 20 th March St Joseph No Mass 25 th March Lady Day The Annunciation No Mass The Holy Rosary The Rosary will be prayed in St James on Monday 13th March at 7-30pm. Please come and join us in prayer. If the Rosary is new to you, do not worry, instruction is given and rosaries are available to borrow or buy. Palm Crosses Please return your Palm Cross from last year or former years, so they can be made into the ashes for Ash Wednesday. Church Cleaning Saturday mornings during Lent at 9:30 All welcome to join in on our annual Lent cleaning programme, this is a time we give our church an extra clean as part of our Lenten penance. It s not all about giving up; it s about giving and doing more as we prepare for Easter. Give up a couple of hours on a Saturday morning and help the cleaning team if you can please. Mothering Sunday Please join us and invite your family and friends to be with us to celebrate Mothering Sunday, which this year fall on Sunday 26th March. We look forward to members of the School community helping to lead our worship and there will be posies and seasonal refreshments as usual. This is a good opportunity to invite someone to join you at Mass. 4
R.M. (BOB) TOKLEY GAS SERVICES Local Gas Service Engineer from Guildford Road Riverside Estate Gas Safe Registered Landlord Gas Safe Certificates All Gas Appliance Servicing & Repairs Phone 01206 866033 Mobile 07710293997 5
Tree of Light The Tree of Light 2016 raised approximately 2,800 after expenses, which is a good result, thank you to all who helped with this project. As Caroline has now moved on we need other volunteers to continue this venture. Please speak with Sheila to get more information if you can help in any way. No special skills are needed (Sheila does the clever stuff) but there is plenty that needs doing. Any offers of help to the Churchwardens please. Thank you 6
7
Interregnum The parish is now in an interregnum. Interregnum is word from the Latin and means, between reigns. The Bishop of Chelmsford does not like the term interregnum as he does not feel the rector or vicar should be seen as one who reigns over a parish and church and he does have a point, he prefers to speak of a vacancy in a parish. As the word interregnum is so commonly used it is most likely one will hear it. It means the time between Fr Peter leaving as our rector and a new one being appointed. It means that all the legal ownership of the church building, the churchyards and rectory pass from Fr Peter and into abeyance until a new rector is appointed. During an interregnum many legal things pass into the stewardship of the Churchwardens and they are the ones who are in charge until a new priest is appointed. In our parish we are very fortunate to have a good team in Kate and Stephen with their complementary skills. They have already begun to organise things for this time of vacancy. The role of the churchwarden is time consuming at the best of times but in an interregnum it is a very busy period for them. Please offer them your full and prayerful support, go to them with any concerns or problems you may have, trust their judgement and be grateful for all they will be doing on your behalf. You have appointed them, they legally hold their office, and they now will need your love, your prayers, and your support as they work hard for you in the months to come. St. James Church of England Primary School News 8 www.st-jamescolchester.essex.sch.uk MORE NEWS NEXT MONTH
2017 Faith Easter Egg launched The new look Real Easter Egg 2017 range has been launched, and churches are being asked to encourage people to support this unique way of sharing the story of Easter. This year a 24 page Easter story-activity book, illustrated by Alida Massari, is included in the Original, Egg Hunt and Dark eggs. The Special Edition has an Easter traditions booklet inside. The Sharing box, with 30 eggs, comes with 30 colour-in posters. Out of the 80 million Easter eggs sold in this part of the world every year, The Real Easter Egg is the only one which has a copy of the Easter story in the box, is made of Fairtrade chocolate and makes a donation to charity from sales. The Real Easter Egg was launched in 2010 but the supermarkets turned down the idea. It was left to churches and church schools to place orders to fund The Meaningful Chocolate Company so they could make The Real Easter Egg. David Marshall, creator of the Real Easter Egg, said; With the support of churches more than one million eggs have been sold with 750,000 of these sent through the post directly to churches and schools. The rest have been sold through independent retailers and supermarkets. The success of The Real Easter Egg has meant that the production of Fairtrade chocolate has moved to the UK. Over 250,000 has been raised from sales for charitable causes. Due to production restrictions, this year we have slightly few eggs available so we recommend people order as early as possible." The whole range can be ordered online at www.realeasteregg.co.uk (with free delivery) You can also buy the blue Original egg from Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons. 9
MASS AND PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH 1 Wed A Holy Lent 2 Thu Churchwardens & PCC 3 Fri Our School 4 Sat Lonely People 5 SUN Our Parish 6 Mon World Peace 7 Tue M.P s 8 Wed The Sick and Suffering 9 Thu Our Diocese & Deanery 10 Fri Our Bishop 11 Sat The Children s Society 12 SUN Our Parish 13 Mon The Unemployed 14 Tue Ordinand s 15 Wed Local Hospitals 16 Thu The Homeless 17 Fri The Church in Ireland 18 Sat The Soup Run 19 SUN Our Parish 20 Mon Young People in Our Congregation 21 Tue Husbands 22 Wed Family Life 23 Thu Our Town of Colchester 24 Fri Theological Colleges 25 Sat Greater Love for Jesus 26 SUN Our Parish 27 Mon Deprived Children 28 Tue Those Who Have No Faith 29 Wed Care Homes 30 Thu Father Peter & Caroline 31 Fri For a New Priest 10
DIARY FOR MARCH 1 Wed ASH WEDNESDAY 12-30 Mass 19-30 Mass St James Old Heath 2 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 3 Fri 9-00 Mass School 4 Sat NO MASS 5 SUN Lent 1 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 6 Mon 11-00 Mass Alderwood 7 Tues NO MASS 8 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 9 Thurs 12.30 Mass St James 10 Fri 9-00 Family Service School 11 Sat NO MASS 12 SUN Lent 2 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 13 Mon 11-00 Mass 19-30 The Holy Rosary Colonia Court St James 14 Tues NO MASS 15 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 16 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 17 Fri ST PATRICK 9-00 Family Service School 18 Sat NO MASS 19 SUN Lent 3 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 20 Mon ST JOSEPH NO MASS 21 Tues NO MASS 22 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 23 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 24 Fri 9-00 Family Service School 25 Sat THE ANNUNCIATION NO MASS 26 SUN Lent 4 MOTHERING SUNDAY 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 27 Mon NO MASS 28 Tues NO MASS 29 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 30 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 31 Fri 10-00 Mass School 11
The Bible version used in this crossword is the NIV. Crossword reproduced by kind permission of BRF and John Capon, originally published in Three Down, Nine Across, by John Capon ( 6.99 BRF). 12
Across 1 These letters come between Romans and Galatians (11) 9 You will not me to the grave (Psalm 16:10) (7) 10 King of Moab to whom the Israelites were subject for 18 years (Judges 3:14) (5) 11 Town possessing mineral spring (3) 13 Mede (anag.) (4) 16 High-fidelity (abbrev.) (4) 17 He succeeded his father Rehoboam as king of Judah (1 Kings 14:31) (6) 18 A son of Simeon (Genesis 46:10) (4) 20 Controversial religious book of the 1970s, The of God Incarnate (4) 21 He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you and hear (Acts 2:33) (3,3) 22 You me together in my mother s womb (Psalm 139:13) (4) 23 Edit (anag.) (4) 25 Who has believed our message and to whom has the of the Lord been revealed? (Isaiah 53:1) (3) 28 Abraham s brother (Genesis 22:23) (5) 29 When Mordecai learned of that had been, he tore his clothes (Esther 4:1) (3,4) 30 Sympathetic (Proverbs 11:16) (4-7) Down 2 That was why his parents said, He is ; ask him (John 9:23) (2,3) 3 Integrated Services Digital Network (1,1,1,1) 4 4 Saul has slain his thousands, and David his of thousands (1 Samuel 18:7) (4) 5 Concept (John 8:14) (4) 6 Do we, then, the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law (Romans 3:31) (7) 7 Industrious (2 Timothy 2:6) (11) 8 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you (Ephesians 1:18) (11) 12 Out of the same mouth come and cursing (James 3:10) (6) 14 This was how many of the Jewish leaders described Jesus (John 10:20) (3) 15 Vitality (Job 20:11) (6) 19 He urged David to kill Saul at Hakilah (1 Samuel 26:8) (7) 20 So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul with the church and taught great numbers of people (Acts 11:26) (3) 24 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4) (2,3) 25 Parched (Matthew 12:43) (4) 26 In the image of God he created him; and female he created them (Genesis 1:27) (4) 27 Disparagement (Psalm 15:3) (4) 13
St David by David Winter. On 1st March Wales celebrates its patron saint, David - or, in Welsh, Dewi or Dafydd. He is indisputably British, and is revered wherever Welsh people have settled. As with most figures from the so-called Dark Ages (he lived in the sixth century), reliable details about his life are scarce, but there are enough for us to form a picture of a formidably austere, disciplined and charismatic leader, who led the Church in Wales through turbulent years and fought tenaciously for the faith. It s likely that he was strengthened in his ministry by time spent in Ireland, where the Church was stronger and more confident. Early records tell of a meeting of Irish church leaders with three Britons, as they were described, among them Bishop David. His mother, Non, is also celebrated as a saint in Wales, where a number of churches are dedicated in her name. That he founded a monastery at Menevia, in Pembrokeshire, seems beyond doubt. It later became the site of St David s cathedral and the settlement which is now the smallest city in the United Kingdom. From Menevia David embarked on preaching and teaching missions across Wales, and probably beyond. His eloquence was legendary. At a famous Synod of the Church, held at a Carmarthenshire village called Brefi, he preached passionately against the Arian heresy - indeed, so passionately that he was (according to some accounts) immediately named as archbishop of Wales. The village is now known as Llandewi Brefi - brefi in Welsh is a hillock, and legend claims that it appeared miraculously in order to provide the eloquent bishop with a pulpit. His monks avoided wine and beer, drinking only water. Indeed, he and they lived lives of rigorous austerity and constant prayer, in the manner of the Desert Fathers of the Eastern Church. The date of David s death is disputed - either 589 or 601. It wasn t until the twelfth century that he was generally accepted as the patron saint of Wales, and pilgrimages to St David s were highly regarded in the following centuries - including two made by English kings, William I and Henry II. 14
The Thai 1 Restaurant is the longest established Thai Restaurant in Colchester Essex, Britain s oldest recorded town. We pride ourselves on serving only the best in truly authentic Thai dishes, all freshly prepared and cooked from locally sourced suppliers by our highly experienced Bangkok trained Thai chef s. Thai 1 Colchester can be found just a few hundred yards on the right hand side travelling up East Hill Colchester, going towards the Town and Castle Park. You can visit our website at www.thai- 1.co.uk, or contact us on 01206 870770 15
St James the Less and St Helen FILMS FOR FAITH January - July 2017 In the Crypt Wednesday (fortnightly) at 1pm for 1.15 start. Refreshments served JANUARY 25 - Bernadette Part 1 FEBRUARY 08 - Bernadette Part 2 22-12 Ordinary Men Grace and Catherine Laboure MARCH 08 - The Ten Commandments Part 1 22 - The Ten Commandments Part 2 APRIL 05 - Mary Magdalene 19 - Science Tests Faith MAY 03 - The 13th Day (A Fatima Film) 17 - Chosen - Confirmation of Faith (8 sessions) 1-2/8 31 - Chosen 3-4/8 JUNE14 - Chosen 5-6/8 28 - Chosen 7-8/8 Final JULY12 - Don Camillo Part 1 26 - Don Camillo Part 2 AUGUST - NO FILM CLUB - NEXT DATE 13 SEPTEMBER - FILM TO BE ADVISED *Films are subject to change* Clocks move forward on the 26th of March, British summertime begins 16
SOCIAL COMMITTEE PROGRAMME Please add these to you diaries now. It is important to support these events if you are able; they are fun and a time of fellowship Saturday 1 st April Men s Breakfast 8.30am in the Church Vestry. Brian Fitzsimmons will host, all are welcome so please come and join us and add your name to the list on the notice board for catering arrangements. Saturday 15th April Holy Saturday Easter Eve Mass 7:30am Bring and Share Buffet Sunday 16th April Easter Day Easter Egg Hunt for the children after the 10am Service Saturday 20th May Coach Trip to Canterbury 8-6pm Saturday 27th May Quiz Night teams of 4 with St Barnabas at Old Heath 7pm Sunday 25th June Strawberry Afternoon Tea at Rowhedge from 3pm Friday 30th June -Sunday 2nd July Weekend Pilgrimage to Walsingham Sunday 23rd July St James Day Bring and Share Lunch with BBQ after the 10am service Sunday 6th August Sunday Lunch at Greyfriars 17
Lady Day - the Annunciation This beautiful event (Luke 1.26-38) took place in Nazareth, when Mary is already betrothed to Joseph. The Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary, greets her as highly favoured, tells her not to be afraid, that she will bear a son Jesus, and that her elderly cousin Elizabeth is already pregnant (with John the Baptist). The church calendar is never quite as neat as some would like it. To celebrate the Annunciation on 25 March does indeed place the conception of Jesus exactly nine months from his birth on 25 December, but the latter part of March almost inevitably falls during Lent. But the birth and death of Jesus are intrinsically linked - he was born to die, and thus fulfil God s purposes. The Annunciation is a significant date in the Christian calendar - it is one of the most frequent depicted in Christian art. Gabriel s gracious strength and Mary s humble dignity have inspired many artists. Certainly Mary s response to the angel has for centuries been an example of good faith in practice - humility, enquiry of God, and trusting acceptance in his will for her life. 18
19
Churchwardens of the Parish Mrs Kate Thurston 01206 793243 60B East Hill Colchester CO1 2QZ Parochial Church Council Officers Mr Stephen Pawlak 01206 728443 16 High Street Rowhedge Colchester CO5 7HQ Secretary Mrs Lucy Mason 01206 386766 2 The Anchorage East Road East Mersea CO5 8UJ Treasurer Mr Philip Dodd 01206 504480 16 St Albans Road Colchester CO3 3JQ Electoral Roll Mrs Sheila Sansom 07905516502 Officer 14 Greyfriars Court The Secret Garden Castle Road Colchester CO1 1TL Child Protection Mr Stephen Pawlak 01206 728443 Officer Millbank 16 High Street Rowhedge Colchester CO5 7HQ Health & Safety Mrs Janet Walker 01206 860155 Officer 107 Military Rd New Town Colchester CO1 2AT 20
St. James Church of England Primary School Colchester Head Teacher Website Mrs Belynda Fellows http://www.st-james-colchester.essex.sch.uk Children s Society Mrs Joyce Mays 01206 841681 Sidesmen Mrs Kate Thurston 01206 793243 Readers Mrs Janet Walker 01206 860155 Intercessions Mr Matthew Austen 07749529078 Gift Aid Officer Brian Fitzsimmons 01206 822547 Organist Mr Mark Terry 01621 929941 Sacristan Team Mr Brian Appleby 01206 578094 Mr Paul Bareham 01206 210270 Mr Stephen Pawlak 01206 728443 Children s Liturgy Mrs Diana Irven 01206 386393 Flowers Mrs Susan Noble Magazine Editor Mrs Lucy Mason 01206 386766 21
Contact by email stjamesandstpaul.colchester@outlook.com Hon Asst. Priest Fr Alan Cross SSC Services at St James the Great, East Hill Sundays Said Mass 08:00 Sung Mass 10:00 Monday Mass See page 4 Tuesday No Mass Wednesday Mass 19:00 Thursday Mass 12:30 Friday Mass /Family Service in School PLEASE SEE CALENDAR Saturday No Mass Festivals and Saints Days see monthly calendar. Confession Holy Baptism Ministry to the Sick By appointment By arrangement after preparation Names of the Sick to the clergy/churchwardens, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for the communion of the Sick, and the Oil of the Sick for Anointing 22
I would welcome any contributions to the Parish Magazine which may be of interest to our readers. Please email to: hollymason@btinternet.com by the 15 th of the month for inclusion in the following months magazine. Thank you 23
St Cedd s Chapel, Bradwell MARCH 2017 24