News and notices from across the benefice
Hi all,
Please see below a slightly different format for the weekly email. You will now be able to find copies of the newsletter on our website for further browsing as well as a few copies in church during the week. Please do feel free to pass me any feedback you have so we can continue to make these much better and more accessible to you. Also, as ever, please do get in touch if you have any items you would like to see in the newsletter.
God bless,
Grant
Here is Monday’ s reflection - your daily dose of hope for Holy Week. Click to play.
Our aim is to encourage you and help you as we journey towards the Easter celebration. Every day (Monday 29th March - Good Friday 2nd April). there will be a 5 minute thought from one of the Ministry Team.
The Tuesday Evening Prayer zoom services have finished for this year and there is NO Weekday said Morning Prayer this week or Bank Holiday Monday. Find Hope for Holy Week instead - click the play button above.
There is NO Wednesday Evening group this week, so do watch the Daily Hope for Holy Week reflections. The Wednesday group will continue after Easter.
We were able to record our Carol service which we held on Sunday 20th - click on the link and you can share with us - the choir of 6 socially distanced members singing carols, other members of the congregation reading, enjoy a lovely recording from St Bartholomew's choir and Henry playing the organ.
It is with enormous regret that we have taken the difficult decision to cancel the Carol Service at St Clement’s today. We just feel that in the light of the danger of the mutating virus and Tier 4 restrictions that it is our responsibility to make sure that everyone remains as safe as possible.
We have also decided to cancel the Christmas morning Holy Communion service. Aldworth has made the same decision as we both feel that it will be virtually impossible to make both our churches which are old totally covid-secure.
There are a number of online services taking place, notably we have a zoom Benefice Holy Communion service on Christmas Day which will be led by Juliet Straw. The Diocese is also providing a number of services and there will be many on the radio too. We will circulate details of all of these to you in the next few days.
We would also like to reassure you that St Clement’s will remain open for private prayer. St Clement’s has been beautifully decorated and all the Christmas stars are being blessed and hung this morning – a wonderful way of remembering all those we shall sadly be unable to see this Christmas. Do come and see them and say a prayer..
We can be back in our church buildings tomorrow to celebrate the second Sunday in Advent. There will be music but no congregational singing.
At St Stephen's we'll be looking for a volunteer to light the candles! It will be a short service - families welcome! Come and help light the candles on our Advent wreath as we remember the preparations which God made for the coming of his Son into the world.
Lord Jesus you are the true light that gives light to everyone:
At this Advent season, as we prepare ourselves for Christmas, may we receive you again in our hearts, renew our belief in your name, and remember that you give us the right to become children of God.
Lord Jesus, you are the Word become flesh, you made your home among us:
At this Advent season as we prepare ourselves for Christmas, may we once more be ready to see your glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
based on John 1:9-14
A beautiful service full of favourite carols and the beautiful words of the traditional readings. With candles, good voices and festive cheer its a service not to be missed.
The Christmas Story for all the Family. Everybody is encouraged to come dressed as a Nativity character (or anything else!). There will be cracking carols, lots of celebration and lots to eat and drink! Come and join us as we celebrate Christmas in style.
In our new style crib service we will gather together and re-tell the greatest story every told! We will sing some wonderful carols and encourage full family participation. Come dressed as a bible character. Yes tea-towels are mandatory! - or come as any of your favourite superhero’s - perhaps there will be a Batman instead of a shepherd this year? Who knows? Bring your friends and family and neighbours for what promises to be a fantastic way to enter into Christmas!
All are welcome to join us for our Midnight Communion at St Mary’s, Aldworth. We will start Christmas Day thanking the Lord, and contemplating the enormity of the miracle of Christmas.
We celebrate Christmas together at 11am for a whole family communion service with a collection of wonderful hymns and readings followed by a fabulous Christmas message for all ages.
We celebrate Christmas together at 9.30am with communion for the whole family. This is a communion service with a collection of wonderful hymns and readings followed by a fabulous Christmas message for all ages. A joyful way to worship together on Christmas Day!
A short family service of songs and readings with a fun Christmas message designed for the whole family to come to church and worship. ‘Come and adore him’ at 10am Christmas Day - St. Stephen’s Church Upper Basildon.
On the fifth Sunday of the month we join as one big family. This week we gather at 10am for a communion service using the words of the wonderful Book of Common Prayer at St. Clement’s. The service will include beautiful hymns, a short sermon, and plenty of time to pray, reflect and encounter God in this wonderful place. What a brilliant way to begin a Sunday. Everybody is welcome.
We’re all invited to begin the Jubilee weekend by lighting an official jubilee beacon on Thursday 2nd June.
Join us as we welcome our new Curate to the Benefice for a garden party at The Vicarage, Upper Basildon. Jen’s first services across the Benefice will be on the 3rd July 2022, so join us in the afternoon as we properly welcome her to Basildon, Ashampstead and Aldworth.
Join us for a wonderful evening concert in the company of the Aldworth Giant’s. Saturday 30th July 7pm.
