Weekly Newsletter 9th March

Dear friends,

I hope you are well.

There is a lot going on across the villages at this time of year as we roll on towards Easter. Many of us have been enjoying the Lent groups exploring Lectio Divina - which continue the coming week too. We’ve launched a new Podcast (see below) which means you can catch up or keep up to date with messages, talks and reflections we share at St. Stephen’s each Sunday and share them with friends if you think it’s worth it!

There are a variety of bible study groups, theology exploration sessions, community Lent lunches, and volunteering opportunities happening over the next few weeks too. Do please look below and see if there is anything you might like to attend or help with.

On top of this, we are preparing for our wonderful ‘Messy Easter’ event this year to be held in Basildon Village Hall. It will be a time for all ages and stages to explore the story and meaning of Easter through crafts, games, songs, stories and food. I’m looking for a few extra volunteers to help with this too (no experience needed!) so please do let me know if you are interested at all.

Important announcement: The ‘jobs morning’ due to be held at St. Stephen’s this coming Saturday is now cancelled. There will be another opportunity to help tidy up very soon.

I very much hope that we will see you at any of the upcoming events or services - you’ll be so very welcome.

Love,

Grant

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This week:

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A few dates for your diary

Weekly Newsletter 22nd February

Dear friends,

Reading the Gospel of Matthew again this week I was struck by just how many interactions Jesus has with all kinds of people from the ‘crème de la crème’, to the very worst in society. One very stark observation I had was this:

When Jesus hung out with sinners; they changed. Not Him.

When we meet with the Lord, his holiness, his mercy and his truth hold a mirror up to our own lives and we are changed. We repent, or we worship, or mourn the very worse elements of ourselves so much that we want to see change and difference in our lives. His holiness reveals our need for him to save us from our wrongdoing and bring us back into relationship with him. Jesus never changes and we cannot change him. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent - a season which is supposed to effect this kind of inward change in us. Tonight we will be holding a reflective Holy Communion service at St. Clement’s Ashampstead, where we will offer the imposition of ashes (ashes on foreheads) as we enter the Lenten season and acknowledge both our wrongdoings and our need for Christ.

Everybody is really welcome to join us for this service which is now at 7pm (previously advertised as 6pm, apologies).

“From dust you came, and to dust you shall return”

Join us this evening 7pm at St. Clement’s, Ashampstead for Impostition of Ashes and reflective Holy Communion

As always, if there is anything we can be praying about specifically for you and your loved ones at the moment please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Love,

Grant

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There is still time to sign up to join one of our Lent Groups this year.

(Tuesday Afternoons in Aldworth or Wednesday Evenings in Basildon).

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Events & Upcoming

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Weekly Newsletter 17th Feb

Dear friends,

I do hope you are having a good week so far. For many of us it is half term so we have the extra noise and excitement that having little ones close by brings.

We’ve had a great response so far of people signing up to join our Lent group this year. In fact, we are now going to be hosting a second group because of the interest. Naomi and I will still be hosting one group on Wednesday evenings at the vicarage. Additionally, there will be a second group which runs on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30pm which will be in Aldworth (beginning on 7th March). This allows us to offer a daytime and an evening option for people - and it really is for everybody. So if you’ve already signed up and would prefer a daytime session please let me know. If you haven’t yet signed up to join us and would like to, then do get in touch with me and we can pop your name down. A new 2 minute trailer is below which I hope will whet your appetite and excite you about this season.

Next Wednesday 22nd February is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. We will be holding a reflective Holy Communion service at St. Clement’s Ashampstead, where we will offer the imposition of ashes (ashes on foreheads) as we enter the Lenten season. Everybody is really welcome to join us for this service.

As always, if there is anything we can be praying about specifically for you and your loved ones at the moment please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Love,

Grant

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Watch the trailer for this years lent groups beginning in March.

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Weekly Newsletter 1st February

Happy Wednesday, friends!

I hope your week is going well so far.

It was C. S. Lewis who said, “The Church exists for nothing else, but to draw people to Christ”. And whilst I think the Church has lots of roles to play within the community and in the wider world, this certainly has to remain its primary vocation. With Lent coming up in a few weeks time I wanted to share with you a new lent group Naomi and I’ll be running on Wednesday evenings through March (video trailer below) which is designed to equip us to be drawn nearer to Christ. After the difficulties of the past couple of years, and the political and financial volatility of the current times, this short five week journey enables us to hear God’s voice through praying the scriptures. We will read, meditate, pray and contemplate together. You are most welcome to join us as we journey together - drop me an email to let me know you’re interested and I can get the necessary resources ready.

As always, if there is anything that we can do or pray for to support you or your loved ones then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

God Bless,

Grant

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Family News

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Weekly Newsletter 26th January

Dear Friends,

I came across a new song during my time off a couple of weeks ago called ‘Hallelujah, even here’. Hallelujah means ‘God be Praised!’. It is such a beautiful song about choosing to worship God even in the face of the battles we face . It’s about choosing still to say ‘Hallelujah’ when we don’t feel like it, when we’re worried, when we’re fearful - ‘Hallelujah, even when I’m down’. I know that I have found this a powerful reminder. Praising God in the hard times doesn’t minimize or deny heaviness of heart. Instead, it redirects our focus on who God is. He never changes. He promised never to leave or abandon his children, so we can count on his presence, even when our emotions can’t confirm it. He is near to the brokenhearted.

Hallelujah, when the storm is relentless
Hallelujah, when the battle is endless
In the middle of the in between
In the middle of the questioning
Over every worry, every fear
Hallelujah, even here

There are many of us who are facing trials in our lives at the moment. Perhaps this song and these words may encourage us all to continue trusting in God. Of course, if there is anything either myself or the churches can do to help or support you, then we’re here for you as well.

Love,

Grant

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SERVICES THIS WEEKEND

A reminder that there is just one joint service this weekend at St. Clement’s Ashampstead:

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EVENTS & UPCOMING

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Weekly Newsletter 18th January

Dear Friends,

I trust you had a good Christmas and New Year celebrations. On a personal level, it is really lovely to be back after a restful break, so my heartfelt thanks go to the wonderful ministry team who took on extra duties to enable that to happen.

Our weekly services and activities all continue so do please have a flick through the website and details below, we’d love to see and welcome you to any of our services and events this term.

As the publication of a certain Royal’s new auto-biographical book has been making headlines, it struck me that there is a great reminder of the hope the God offers us and it really is quite simple and something for us all to ponder:

Those who are in Christ are never the SPARE and always the HEIR.

If our identity is found in Christ, we are in line to inherit the Kingdom of God. How marvellous a thought!

With joyful blessings for the year ahead!

Love,

Grant

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Weekly Newsletter 21st December

Dear Friends,

O come let us adore him! Christ the Lord!

Well, it has been a wonderful action packed few weeks as we have prepared for Christmas. Nativity services, Christingles, Christmas Dinners, Carol services, Messy Church, and lots lots more.

When I was a trainee vicar, I remember somebody saying to me during the Christmas celebrations “Keep the main thing, the main thing!”. It’s so easy to get distracted with work, or wrapping, or cooking or shopping, or delivering presents especially as we try and fit all the final remaining things into fewer days and hours. In the midst of this busyness and in the last few days before Christmas Day itself, let’s keep our eyes focussed on God. Let’s open our hearts to receive the love which came down to earth in our Lord Jesus. Let’s keep the main thing, the main thing. Come, let’s adore him together.

Do join us for any of our Nativity and Crib services this year - all the details below.

I will be taking some time off after Christmas until 15th January. If you need a minister in my absence please do contact Revd Katy Weston: katy@thebenefice.uk or by phone.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you and all those you love and pray for a very happy Christmas!

As ever, love and blessings,

Grant

More snapshots of our recent events below

Action Packed Christmas - Revd Grant sharing chocolate & good news!

Beautiful Christingle at Aldworth Breakfast Church

Great work being done by CCA - delivering Christmas items to families

Lots of Christmas deliveries to make - CCA

Singing Carols outside The Bell, Aldworth

Revd Grant distributing (more) sweets at The Bell

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CHRISTMAS EVE:

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CHRISTMAS DAY:

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JOIN US FOR CAROLS

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SERVICES AFTER CHRISTMAS

After the joyous celebrations of Advent and Christmas we take the opportunity to worship together as a whole group of churches as one big family of God. There will be a communion service held at Basildon on the 1st January at 10am. Normal Pattern of services then resumes from the 8th January.

Weekly Newsletter 15th December

Dear Friends,

The temperatures have chilled right down, but the celebrations are ramping up!

I hope you’re keeping warm in these icy conditions. We are in the midst of our Christmas celebrations in our beautiful villages. So far, we have had some stunning carol services and christingles and there’s plenty more to come over the next couple of weekends.

I’ve included below a few snapshots taken at some of our events thus far, including our launch of Messy Christmas and Carols at the chip van. Have a click through and enjoy!

There are plenty more opportunities to join us to sing carols and hear of the wonderful hope to be found in Jesus. Apart from the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services listed below, we’ll also be hosting Carols at The Bell in Aldworth this Saturday afternoon at 4pm and carols at the farm shop in Ashampstead on Thursday 22nd at 10am. Do join us if you’re able.

O come let us adore him!

Love and blessings,

Grant

Basildon Christingle with Primary School

Carols around the chip van

Carols around the chip van 2

Christingle

St. Mary's Aldworth looking beautiful!

Messy Church Team!

Our first messy church was a huge success

Lots of food at Messy Church!

Tiddlers Christmas Party

Fun and Games at Tiddlers

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Weekly Newsletter 1st December

Dear Friends,

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. - Isaiah 9:2-3,6-7

Through Advent we are reminded that we do not just wait for a little toy baby to end up in the crib services on Christmas Day, but rather we wait for the coming of something truly amazing; God’s kingdom. A place where peace rules, where justice and mercy roll like a river, a place where there is no more sadness, illness and no death. God’s kingdom is given through the Prince of Peace, Jesus. So, ‘Come, let us adore him!’ as we sing carols, hear the story of his birth, and enjoy some wonderful community events this Christmas time!

Love and blessings,

Grant

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Weekly Newsletter 24th November

Dear Friends,

It’s beginning to look a lot like Advent!

This Sunday is known as the 1st Sunday of Advent and we begin to ramp up our celebrations heading towards Christmas Day. Each Sunday between now and Christmas Day, we will light our Advent wreath candles. Each of the four Sundays reminds us of those who prepared for the coming of Christ. ‘The Patriarchs’ can naturally focus on Abraham and David. ‘The Prophets’ gives an opportunity to reflect on the way the birth of the Messiah was foretold. John, who proclaimed the Saviour, and Mary, who bore him in her womb, complete the picture (and the wreath). Why not join us one Sunday to hear a little more of the good news story. In fact, across the villages this year there are so many wonderful and varied services and events - far too many to name here - which will speak of love and hope - so do check them out by clicking the link below.

To help us get ready in Basildon, this Saturday 26th from 2pm-4pm we are gathering for a couple of hours to build some huge Christmas wreaths which will be installed in the church as part of the Christmas decorations this year. There will be mulled wine and a bit of Christmas music so do pop along with some gardening gloves and secateurs - we’d love to see you.

Love and blessings,

Grant

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An Advent bible reading:

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - John 1:9-12

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