Weekly Newsletter, Sunday 24th September, 2023

Dear friends,

I hope you are well. Firstly, I’d like to thank everybody who helped, served and supported the recent Open Gardens event in Basildon last weekend. Despite the awful weather at the beginning of the afternoon, it was on the whole a very successful event and lots of fun too!

This weekend we celebrate Harvest Festivals across our churches and we have a wide variety of activities going on. Firstly we’ll have a Harvest Holy Communion service at Ashampstead at 8.30am. Next there will be a 10am Family service with bacon butties at Basildon. We shall round off the weekend with a Harvest Evensong service at Aldworth, followed by apple pies and cider too - so a full Sunday of celebrations thanking the Lord for his goodness towards us. Please do come and join us.

At Harvest time we are always pleased to receive special donations of dry, long life and tinned foods, so that we can pass them on directly to refuge centres around our villages. Please either bring your gifts in advance of the services and leave them in the church, or bring your donations with you on Sunday and we’ll gratefully distribute them next week to well deserving centres local to us.

‘

Love and blessings,

Grant

A special gift for Jen’s ordination

(2 weeks left to give)

Our curate Jen Green will be ordained to the priesthood on 18th October at a very special service at St. Stephen’s, Upper Basildon at 4pm by the Bishop of Reading - (please do come if you are free!).

We have organised a gift for her which is a silver home communion set which she will be able to use in her ministry throughout her life. It symbolises the work and role of a priest in sharing and celebrating God’s special meal with his people.

If you would like to make a contribution towards the cost of this lovely gift, we would be gladly welcome contributions using the button below. Thank you so much.

Click here to contribute

SERVICEs THIS WEEKend

Featured
Breakfast Church @ Aldworth
Nov 16
Breakfast Church @ Aldworth

St Mary's

Food for body, mind and soul ! Join us at 9:30 am for breakfast followed by a short, informal, family friendly service. A great opportunity to meet friends and share a breakfast of bacon rolls, fresh brewed coffee or tea, fresh fruit, croissants; then worship together.

10am Communion with Sunday Club @ Basildon
Nov 16
10am Communion with Sunday Club @ Basildon

St Stephen’s

We gather for a service of prayer, readings, wonderful hymns and communion. We have activities and toys for children and are passionate about seeing all ages and stages engage in worship together. We have gluten free communion wafers available and share in delicious refreshments in the church centre after the service - it’s a great way to chat and catch up with people.

Wild Church @ Ashampstead
Nov 16
Wild Church @ Ashampstead

Join us for our half-termly outdoor Wild Church. All ages are welcome as we wander, wonder and worship. Please dress for the weather. Children bring a grown up!

Upcoming in the villages

Featured
Community Cafe
Nov 17
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
Community Cafe
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon

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.

upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
Post Office @ St. Stephen's
Nov 17
Post Office @ St. Stephen's

Post Office operates each Monday 10am - 12noon.

Tiddlers Stay and Play
Nov 20
children, play, social
children, play, social
Tiddlers Stay and Play
children, play, social
children, play, social

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.

children, play, social
children, play, social
Post Office @ St Stephen's
Nov 21
Basildon
Basildon
Post Office @ St Stephen's
Basildon
Basildon

Post Office in the church centre at Basildon. Most Post Office services available plus local free range eggs, and books.

Basildon
Basildon
Post Office @ St. Stephen's
Nov 24
Post Office @ St. Stephen's

Post Office operates each Monday 10am - 12noon.

Community Cafe
Nov 24
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
Community Cafe
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon

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.

upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
Tiddlers Stay and Play
Nov 27
children, play, social
children, play, social
Tiddlers Stay and Play
children, play, social
children, play, social

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.

children, play, social
children, play, social
Post Office @ St Stephen's
Nov 28
Basildon
Basildon
Post Office @ St Stephen's
Basildon
Basildon

Post Office in the church centre at Basildon. Most Post Office services available plus local free range eggs, and books.

Basildon
Basildon
Community Cafe
Dec 1
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
Community Cafe
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon

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.

upcoming, cafe, Basildon
upcoming, cafe, Basildon
Post Office @ St. Stephen's
Dec 1
Post Office @ St. Stephen's

Post Office operates each Monday 10am - 12noon.

See all upcoming events on our website

Services next Sunday 1St OCTOBER

Join us next weekend:
10am Nativity Service @ Basildon
Dec 24
Basildon, christmas, next week
10am Nativity Service @ Basildon
Basildon, christmas, next week

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.

Basildon, christmas, next week
All Age Crib Service @ Ashampstead 4PM
Dec 24
Ashampstead, christmas, next week
All Age Crib Service @ Ashampstead 4PM
Ashampstead, christmas, next week

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!

Ashampstead, christmas, next week

Join us for morning prayer and worship

LAtest episode of our Podcast

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Advent Sunday - Peace by Revd Grant Fensome

This Advent reflection was given by Revd Grant Fensome at the All Churches Together service on Advent Sunday 2024 at St. Stephen's Upper Basildon.

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Listen to our latest sermon given by Rev Jen Green.

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February 11th - Richard Hudson

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