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MINISTERS MUSINGS
My
dear friends,
The
latest edition of Contact comes with warmest greetings as Easter dawns.
The season of Lent is a time of prayerful reflection on all that it means
to take up the Cross and follow. Easter reminds us that
sin’s power is broken, death is defeated and that through Christ we can
live our lives daily in a relationship with God our heavenly father.
The past is forgotten and eternity spreads out before us. I
pray that you all may sense you are meeting with the risen Lord in a very
special way this Easter.
The
end of April sees the beginning of my Sabbatical and though I will be
around for a good bit of the time it is time for study rest and
reflection, a gift from the Church which comes every seven years and
I will be off duty. The main project is to read and reflect
about prayer though I will also be trying to become more computer
literate, to learn about my digital camera and to take in some art
galleries and cathedral evensongs. During this time Rev Katie
will be covering the Circuit so please do remember her in your prayers
with the additional responsibilities. I would value your
prayers too for a time of rich renewal.
It
seems appropriate that I should have felt it right to think about prayer.
The United Reformed Church is encouraging us to think over a three year
period about Bible Study, Prayer and Evangelism and the Circuit Leadership
Team are encouraging us all across the Circuit to follow this pattern.
Materials are becoming available and I hope we will have the opportunity
to consider these at Central. I become more and more convinced
that my first calling as a minister is to be a person of prayer but then I
reflect that that is the first call of every Christian. Prayer
is the natural fruit of a personal relationship with God and just as we
grow in our own human relationships so we grow in the life of prayer as we
grow in our life in God. I will be sharing some of the fruit
of the Sabbatical in due time.
We
continue to rejoice in all that God is doing through ‘
Messy
Church
’ both in terms of involvement of people and also the bringing in of
people to the activity. We are grateful to all our members and
friends who are working so hard to make it happen and also to Rev Marc
Kenton who is giving of his time to us.
Summer
will soon be here. If you are going away have a good time.
Enjoy the beauty of God’s world and meet with him in the rest.
But don’t forget to come home. The church needs each one of
us to be part of a worshipping and working community here.
With
all good wishes, Your
Minister and Friend, Ian.
JUNIOR
CHURCH
AND PILOT NEWS
It has been a busy few months with our young people and the results
of some of this have been seen by yourselves at the Toy Service.
Toynbee Hall were as usual extremely grateful for our gifts that were
delivered directly by myself on Saturday 16th. December to their premises.
(No problems once we found the building!) There is a further letter
in this edition from Toynbee Hall.
Pilots is busy each week working through the Peace Builders material that
has been produced by a collective of the URC, Methodist and churches of
India
. Some interesting discussions and work has come out of this which
we hope to share with you during Pilot Service in April.
The Officers are now planning to join Pilots from all over the country at
the Pilot event in Longleat. This will prove to be quiet expensive,
but we are hopeful of being able to have a small mini-bus go. Thanks
to the charity coffee morning in November who raised £44.54 which we will
put towards the transport costs which are estimated at £350.
The Leadership Team arranged a lunch with our older Pilots on the 12th.
January, unfortunately only one Pilot was able to attend but this was a
productive lunch and has led to further events planned. The
discussions led us into thinking about how our young people are involved
within the church family and expanding this. The Leadership Team
began this due to looking towards the 'Child Friendly Church Award' that
is now available, however Dovercourt Central has some way to go to be able
to make the application. A further supper is planned for the older
Pilots to join the Leadership Team for discussion and listening.
Margaret Smith
Young People's Co-Ordinator
CRIB
FESTIVAL HELD LAST DECEMBER 2007
The
total raised was £1019.24 and we believe this to have been very
successful despite the appalling weather on the Saturday, the no lights in
town on Friday night which may have been to our advantage as people came
into town expecting the lights event. The musical presentations on
Saturday and Sunday were well received and we closed the event with a
short service of prayer and praise. 2008 event is already in the
early stages of planning. This has been arranged for the first
weekend in Advent 28th. - 30th. November and will take the theme
'Christmas around the world'. Several members have already agreed to
take a country and prepare a display. We are looking at perhaps getting
messages from friends and family who live abroad - possible through the
internet and having these folks speak to us which will be shown throughout
the event, so start thinking and making contact with your contacts around
the world. Speak to Hazel or Margaret if you have any ideas or
contacts.
Margaret Smith
A
MESSY CHURCH
Messy
Church is a once-monthly time when families come together to enjoy being
together, making things together, eating together and celebrating God
together through his word, through music and through prayer.
With
Messy Church we are trying to be a worshipping community of all ages,
centred on Christ, showing Christian hospitality—giving people a chance
to express their creativity, to sit down together to eat a meal and have
fun within a church context.
Principles:
To
provide an opportunity for people of all ages to worship together.
Help
people of all ages to feel that they belong in church and to each other.
To
help people have fun together.
To
give people a chance to express their God-given creativity.
To
invite people into an experience of Christian community.
To
introduce people to Jesus through hospitality, friendship, stories and
worship.
Our last
session of
Messy
Church
on
19th February 2008
began at
4.30pm
. There were different crafts
for people to participate in. The
theme for the evening was “The Good Shepherd”; so all the craft was
related to this. There was
some really good efforts on the different craft tables.
Then the Rev’d. Marc Kenton from Needham Market led a session for
about 10 minutes on this theme in the Church.
There was plenty
of interaction with the children and adults, we all became sheep with our
“baas”. This was followed by a simple prayer.
This session finished with the Messy Grace.
After
this we had the meal prepared by Hazel which was “Shepherds Pie” to
continue with the theme. There were also different desserts.
Parents and children and helpers were invited to the meal.
The whole
session finished about
6.30pm
.
MESSY
GRACE
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (Hold out your hands as if
expecting a present)
And
the love of God (Put your hands on your heart)
And
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Hold hands)
Be with
us all now and for ever. Amen! (Raise hands together on the word
‘Amen’)
Please
remember “
Messy
Church
” in your prayers that we may be able to encourage young families to
come along.
You are most welcome to join in any of the
Messy
Church
sessions. The next one is
Tuesday 18th March 2008
.
YORK
MINSTER GOOD FRIDAY PASSION PLAY COMES TO HARWICH
Riding
Lights Theatre Company is invited each year to perform a passion play as
the centrepiece of the Good Friday service at York Minster.
This occasion, at the heart of the preparation for Easter, has
provided a moving combination of powerful theatre, meditation, prayer and
corporate worship. Following
the huge success of the passion plays in recent years a new play has been
commissioned for 2008—Redemption Song by Les Ellison.
The
play starts and ends at the cross. As
the drama unfolds, the song Christ sings rises above the various
discordant reactions to his presence.
Full of vividly drawn characters from the gospels, the play gives
many illuminating insights which take us under the skin of the Passion
story. No one will walk away
untouched by an encounter with the one Life which constantly provokes the
question “Who do you say that I am?”
The
script of “Redemption Song” creates space for worship, music
and reflection arising directly out of the drama.
The whole presentation becomes a powerful act of remembrance,
Churches
Together is proud to invite you to this Passion Play locally as they have
booked the Riding Lights Theatre Company. “Redemption Song” will
be performed by the company at St Nicholas’ Church in Harwich on Tuesday
18th March, only three days before the company will present the Passion
Play at York Minster on Good Friday.
This
is not a fundraising event, but in order to cover the costs we need to
sell tickets.
Redemption
Song—Passion Play by Riding Lights Theatre Company
Tuesday
18th March at
7.30pm
(Tuesday in Holy Week)
At St
Nicholas’ Church, Harwich
Organised
by Churches Together in the
Harwich
Peninsula
Tickets:
£5 per person, 50% reduction for teenagers 13-18,
family tickets (2adults 3children aged 12 or younger) £11.
Tickets
available from Rev. Ian Wales.
TRINITY
CHRISTIAN BOOKSHOP
Trinity
Methodist
Church
,
Pier Avenue
,
Clacton-on-Sea
are opening a Christian Bookshop approximately the second week in April.
Mon-Fri 9.30-12.30 &
12.30-4.00pm
Sat
9.30-1.00pm
They are looking for volunteers to man the shop on a rota basis,
morning/afternoon sessions or Sat sessions. Please ring Liz Marshall on
01255 815325 or write to Elizabeth Marshall, Trinity Methodist Church,
Pier Avenue, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1 NJ or her home address,
Elizabeth Marshall, 6 Hereford Court, Hereford Road, Holland-on-Sea, Essex
CO15 5PB
She
would love to hear from you and value your prayers in Gods work for this
new venture.
 TOYNBEE HALL
A
BIG FESTIVE THANK YOU!
Achievements
from the Gift Appeal 2007
The
Gift Appeal 2007 has been the most
successful
yet! Companies, schools, churches
and
individuals donated over 6,000 gifts to an
estimated
value of an astounding £90,000! In
the
short space of two days (17th
&
18th
December),
160 volunteers selected and
packed
up these gifts for families and older
people
in
London
’s
East End
. With your support,
over
3500 young people and 700 older people
were
reached who may not otherwise have
received
presents during the festive season.
About the Gift Appeal
Toynbee
Hall’s annual gift appeal
collects
and distributes toys, presents
and
clothes to hundreds of families and
individuals
most in need in the
East End
of
London
at what can be a very difficult
and
stressful time of year. Not only does
this
benefit children and older people
who
may not receive any gifts, but also
parents
and grandparents who may not
otherwise
be able to give a present to
their
children and grandchildren.
About Toynbee Hall
Toynbee
Hall produces practical, innovative
programmes
for young people and families,
adults,
and older people, to meet the needs of
local
people, improve conditions and enable
communities
to fulfil their potential.
The
organisation makes a difference by
producing
local programmes that have the power
to
become national solutions, with a constant and
ongoing
commitment to the development of social
policy
and networks for positive change. Visit
www.toynbeehall.org.uk
Toynbee
Hall,
28 Commercial Street
,
London
E1 6LS
Tel
020 7392 2928 · Fax 020 7377 5964 · Email [email protected]
Registered
Charity Number 211850. A company limited by guarantee. Registered Office
as shown. Registered Number 20080
England
.
News
from The Garden
Through our conservatory
window this morning I am greeted by the sight of daffodils, their heads
gently nodding in the breeze; colourful pansies smiling at me and the waxy
blossoms of japonica adding a special radiance to their corner of the
garden. On the coffee table sit a beautiful bouquet of flowers that were
presented to me at Richard’s wedding nearly two weeks ago.
Since
Christmas much of our attention has been focused on wedding preparations,
so we have not managed too many walks as yet. However we have ventured to
the
Leith
Tower
hill area in Surrey, the highest point in south-east
England
and
Elizabeth
accompanied us on a very muddy walk near Crowborough early in January. She
was not amused when her boots sank to the ankles in a rather churned up
farmyard where the footpath had been obliterated by the hoof-fall of
cattle.
Back
in 2005 when Richard proposed to Mariela in
Peru
, February 2008 seemed an eternity away. However, as is often the case,
despite long months of planning, there were last minute jobs to be done as
the Big Day hove ever nearer.
Prayers
for fine weather were graciously answered. As we drove home on the 2nd
after an early morning run to the reception venue with
Elizabeth
and the wedding cake, the sun rose like a giant red disc over the A2. This
really reflected what was to be a glorious day. Poor James had forgotten
7am
existed- students! Just wait until you start work later in the year.
Guests
all arrived at the church in Bexley safely, despite the heavy snow in
Scotland
; officious customs men in
Germany
and early morning fire alarms in Blackheath. The flowers and pew ends were
a rainbow of colours, representing the flag of
Cusco
. I understand some of you saw Peter’s photos when he and Jennifer came
to a coffee morning.
Now
with all the excitement over, I can return to my books in earnest. I am
now some way into my final year of TLS training for lay ministry and on
January 13th was presented with my completion certificate for the
Foundation two years.My attachment church this year is in Orpington. This
is a large church with 250 members plus adherents, housed in extensive
premises. Many of the congregation have roots in Scottish Presbyterianism,
reminding me of some I knew from Cliff Rd Church.
The
main family worship services are at 10.30, one of which each month is a
Parade service when each uniformed organisation, in turn, is fully
involved in planning and presentation. Besides this there are monthly
9am
services of which I shall be leading three this Spring. It is a privilege
to be welcomed into another congregation and I expect it to be a learning
process for both sides as I introduce my more relaxed worship leadership
style.
We
are looking forward to our visit in April when we hope that we can catch
up with many of you. Until then God bless and Happy Easter to you
all. Ann.
DATES
FOR YOUR DIARY…………………….
March
2nd 10.45am HC Rev. K Martin.
3.45pm
Rev. R Gooch at Alexandra House.
March
5th
7.30pm
Lent Service Kingsway Evangelical
Church.
March
6th 11.00am Bible Study at Ramsey
Methodist
Church.
March
7th
9.30am Pause for thought in the church.
10.00am Coffee morning
in the hall.
2.00pm Women’s World Day of Prayer in
the Church.
March
9th 10.45am Mr M Carter-Tufnell.
Church Lunch
3.45pm
Rev. K
Jackson
at Alexandra
House.
March
12th
7.30pm Lent Service at St Nicholas’
Church, Harwich.
March
13th 10.00am Keep Fit on chairs in the hall.
11.00am Bible Study at Ramsey Methodist
Church.
March
14th 9.30am
Pause for thought in the Church.
10.00am Coffee morning in the hall.
March
16th 9.00am
HC Rev Wales.
10.45am Rev. A Potter.
3.00pm
Wix Walk.
3.45pm
Rev. J Robinson at
Alexandra
House.
March
17th Passover Supper at St Nicholas’ Church.
March
18th
4.30pm
Messy Church.
7.30pm
Redemption Song at St Nicholas
Church, Harwich.
March
21st NO
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
9.15am
Walk of Witness from Park.
9.45am Open Air Worship at Church.
10.00am Coffee morning in the hall.
2.00pm
Good Friday Service at Upper
Dovercourt
Methodist
Church
.
March
23rd 9.00am
HC Breakfast Service Rev. I
Wales
.
10.45am Easter Day Worship—the
Worship Group.
3.45pm
HC Rev. K
Jackson
at Alexandra
House.
March
28th 9.30am
Pause for thought in the Church.
10.00am Coffee morning in the hall.
March
29th 9.30-12.00
Table Top
Sale
.
March
30th 10.45am Rev. R Mortimer.
3.45pm
Rev I
Wales
at Alexandra House.
April
13th Church Lunch.
April
15th
4.30pm
Messy Church.
May
11th Church Lunch.
United Christian Aid Service (to be confirmed)
May
20th
4.30pm
Messy Church.
Pilots
meet every Friday evening at
6.00pm
during term time. Crusaders meet every Wednesday evening at 6.00pm during
term time.
MORNING PRAYERS
EVERY FRIDAY AT
9.30AM
IN THE CHURCH
COME AND SHARE A QUIET TIME
TOGETHER - IT MAY INCLUDE MUSIC, SINGING,
READINGS
AND PRAYERS YOU MAY WISH TO JUST COME AND LISTEN
AND BE QUIET, PLEASE DO-THERE IS NO
REQUIREMENT TO TAKE PART ALL ARE WELCOME
Mission
To Seafarers
On
behalf of the Harwich Centre I would like to thank everyone at
Dovercourt
Central
Church
who has knitted woolly hats over the past year or so for the seafarers.
They
do appreciate them when they are in colder climates and helps them to
keep warm especially when working outside on deck.
Please keep knitting. If
anyone requires a pattern please ask and you can have one at no cost.
Also I have some free balls of wool if anyone would like some.
Thanks once again. Bill
Hatch (Lay Chaplaincy Volunteer) Harwich.
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