Dear friends,
Firstly, thank you for all the kind messages and offers of help we have received over the past week or so as our family was struck down with a sick bug. I’m glad to say we are all fully recovered now and looking forward to seeing you all soon.
This weekend we are thinking about the theme of Grace in the last instalment of our Lent Sermon series so I hope you’ll join us as we explore this great theme together.
John Newton once said, ‘I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.’
Grace is a fundamental aspect of who God is. God specialises in being able to give people a fresh start, over and over again. Despite what we get wrong, God desires us to become more fully the people he created us to be, and more fully like Christ. So Grace is where God gives his people unmerited and totally underserved favour and kindness, love and mercy, hope and forgiveness.
If you’re in need of some good news at the moment. Try Church this Sunday. We’d love to see you.
Love,
Grant
SERVICES THIS WEEK
St Mary's
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.
This week:
St. Stephen’s Cafe is open weekly on Monday mornings. It runs alongside the community post office at St. Stephen’s church. Various groups help to run and support it as we raise funds for various causes. Come along and join us for lovely hot drinks, freshly made homemade cakes and a good catch up with friends.
Our weekly play session for babies and toddlers meets on Thursday mornings in St Stephen’s Upper Basildon during term time. We start at 9.30 and it’s a wonderful time for the little ones and their carers to come together for play, craft and yummy snacks too finishing at 11am.
Post Office in the church centre at Basildon. Most Post Office services available plus local free range eggs, and books.
St. Stephen’s Cafe is open weekly on Monday mornings. It runs alongside the community post office at St. Stephen’s church. Various groups help to run and support it as we raise funds for various causes. Come along and join us for lovely hot drinks, freshly made homemade cakes and a good catch up with friends.