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
We gather at 8.30am for a short said communion service using the words of the wonderful Book of Common Prayer. The service will include 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 - especially as there is coffee and biscuits served afterwards.
We join together for a short interactive family worship service. Lots of fun! Action songs, Bible readings, dressing up, toys and we finish with yummy refreshments. Bacon butties, posh omelettes, pastries and much more.Lots of Holy Chaos. Come join the fun.
This is a fabulous way to round off the weekend. We gather together in the atmospheric St. Mary’s Aldworth to pray and worship together using the traditional and powerful words of Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer. We have a small community choir to help us sing God’s praise. There is a short sermon with prayers and psalms. If you are looking for a spiritual encounter with the Lord in the comfort of a traditional service - this is for you.
A short said service of Holy Communion using the tradition Book of Common Prayer format. We enjoy a said service this week, with scriptures, prayers and a sermon. A perfect way to begin a Sunday morning in worship.
This week we gather for a Family Communion service with short readings and sermon, plus some well known hymns. Bring the whole family as we gather around the Lord’s table. We look forward to seeing you.
Join us at 10am as we host our Christingle Service with special performances from Basildon Primary School. We will build the Christingles as part of our service and enjoy some delicious refreshments afterwards. Absolutely everybody welcome.
We gather at 8.30am for a short said communion service using the words of the wonderful Book of Common Prayer. The service will include 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 - especially as there is coffee and biscuits served afterwards.
An informal and friendly service where we sing worship songs, hear the inspiring words of Scripture and pray for one another and the needs of the world. We enjoy a short talk and we welcome children and families to be fully part of the service. After the service we enjoy wonderful refreshments which are always yummy!
This is a fabulous way to round off the weekend. We gather together in the atmospheric St. Mary’s Aldworth to pray and worship together using the traditional and powerful words of Evensong from the Book of Common Prayer. We have a small community choir to help us sing God’s praise. There is a short sermon with prayers and psalms. If you are looking for a spiritual encounter with the Lord in the comfort of a traditional service - this is for you.
Join us at The Bell Pub in Aldworth at 5pm as we sing some classic Christmas Carols as well as enjoy some refreshments! Everybody welcome for a fun filled afternoon!
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.
