New Events – Parish of Langdon Hills

NEW ALL AGE SERVICE – Every 1st Sunday of the month

Alpha Course 2023

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a series of 10 interactive sessions that freely explore the Christian Faith.

Our Alpha course will be starting on

Thursday 26th January 2023

Starts 7.15pm (for 7.30pm start) to 9.30pm at St John’s Church, Forest Glade.

For more info and to book a place please contact our Church Administrator Nikki.

Phone: 07720 089260 or Email: stjohnsca@gmail.com

There will be a meal followed by a short talk , and then opportunity for group discussions.

All are welcome, why not bring a friend!

Community Warm Hub – Every Saturday 12pm – 3pm

Everybody is welcome to enjoy free homemade soup and rolls, refreshments and other warm snacks at our new Parish Community Warm Hub.

On Saturday's, St John's Church will be open to everyone from 12pm - 3pm where free homemade soup, warm snacks and refreshments will be served.

Please note - Revised time from Saturday 4th February is now 12pm-3pm

Community Warm Hub is a safe place to chat and meet other folks every Saturday.

Keep warm, enjoy good hospitality and meet new friends!

For further information, feel free to contact Sally Butler at sallybutler66@icloud.com

Parish Walk and Sensory Garden

Sensory Garden Project

The Parish of Langdon Hills has a large plot located in the Sensory Garden at the Langdon Nature Discovery Park, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon,SS16 6EJ.

During lockdown, sadly it became neglected and overgrown. However, with amazing teamwork and many donated plants, the garden has been fully restored to its natural beauty. It’s now the focal point of our monthly Parish Walk.

It’s the perfect place for resting after a long walk, or just sitting in quiet reflection and prayer, and the perfect spot for connecting with the local community as they visit the area.

If you would like to be involved further with the garden project, please get in touch here.

Parish Walk

We are blessed in Langdon Hills to have so much beautiful nature on our doorstep. God’s wonder is truly all around us. Please join us for a lovely walk through the woods to Langdon Nature Discovery Park every 4th Saturday of the month (weather permitting). Meeting outside St John’s Church at 9.30am, the gentle stroll gives us the opportunity to chat and admire the changing seasons as we wander down to the church plot in the Sensory Garden and then stop for refreshments at the Nature Discovery Centre, which is a perfect opportunity to connect with the local community.

If you would prefer to meet us at the Nature Discovery Centre for coffee, we will be there at approx 10am.

The next Parish Walks are scheduled for -

Saturday 25th February 2023

Saturday 25th March 2023

Saturday 22nd April 2023

All welcome.

Please get in touch here for more information.

Thanks-Giving Appeal

Dear friends,

I am writing to all in our church family to ensure that everyone is fully aware of a challenge we are facing as a parish, and therefore has the opportunity to respond as they are able to, and feel led to.

As I shared in my sermon on 2nd October, in these early weeks as Rector I have needed to gain an understanding of various areas of church life, including our finances. I have become aware that, although St John’s Childcare is doing well – even post-pandemic – and more than covering its costs, therefore contributing positively to our finances, the picture is not so healthy when it comes to the ‘church’ aspect of our finances.

The reality is that at present we are not covering the costs of our buildings, our staff, our other running costs, and our ‘parish share’ – which is an amount of money we pay to the Diocese of Chelmsford each year into central funds, out of which they pay me as your Rector, provide a Rectory for the parish, and which also helps to cover the cost of other central services, from which we benefit.

Essentially, we are not ‘living within our means’, and as things stand, we are facing a potential budget deficit, or shortfall, this year of £25,000. We have no real scope to make cost savings of that amount, and whilst we do have some ‘unrestricted’ reserves, dipping into those to cover the projected shortfall would take them to an unacceptably low level. We are doing all we can to raise funds in other ways, for example through fundraising events and through buildings hire, but these alone will not raise what we need.

So, as I said on 2nd October, with the full support of the PCC, I am launching a ‘Thanks-Giving Appeal’ which we will be running throughout October, seeking to raise funds to cover our £25,000 projected shortfall for the year. However, whilst that is the amount I hope we can raise between us, I’d like us to focus not so much on that, but instead on thankfulness to God (which is why I am deliberately calling this a ‘Thanks-Giving’ appeal), giving thanks:

• For all God has done in the life of our churches over not just decades but centuries!

• For bringing us to this new season in our life as a parish and a church family

• In faith, for all God is going to do in the months and years to come as we are obedient to his call. And I am excited about all that is to come, as I hope you are!

As you can imagine, I did not expect to be writing to everyone on this subject so early on in my new ministry with you, and I realise the timing is far from ideal given the current cost of living challenges affecting us all to different degrees. However, given the circumstances it would be irresponsible of me and the PCC not to take decisive action. We therefore wanted to be open and transparent with everyone about our current situation, giving you the opportunity to respond, if you wish to and are able to.

We have provided an online response form which I would be so grateful if you could prayerfully consider and complete by Sunday 30th October. This is available here: APPEAL FORM. Paper versions of the form are also available at St Mary’s and St John’s or HERE.

I shared in my sermon on 2nd October (available to watch online on our Facebook page) that God is able to do wonderful things when we have even just a small amount of faith – as it is not great faith we need, but faith in a great God, and the tiniest amount of faith is enough! In fact, even before I publicly launched this appeal, I heard that someone had already generously given a gift of £1000!

So, whilst we face a significant challenge, I have faith that God is more than able to help us overcome it, and will also enable us to go on to do even greater things in his name and for the sake of his kingdom in the future! Therefore, as we give thanks together for all God’s goodness to us, I invite you join me in responding as you are able to.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8

With love in Christ,

Revd Jeremy Noles
Rector

PS. If you would like to have a personal conversation about anything in this letter, please do get in touch and I would be happy to do so.

Sunday Streaming Church Service

Reaching-Out

Hebrews 13v16:

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

In these troubling times which is causing anxiety for many, it’s time to reach-out and support one another.

We want to encourage people to join a new WhatsApp group ‘Reaching-Out’ to provide a simple way to connect folks so that they can ask for support, ministry, advice or give your time to support others. You just need to give us your name and mobile details.

We also are encouraging folks to subscribe on our website so you can receive information directly on what’s happening in our church.

Don’t feel you are alone – our church wants to help.

Please hand your details to one of our church wardens or email comms@langdonhills.net or text 07470 127533

Our Prayer List

If you wish a name to remain or you want to add a new name to the prayer list

Please email Nikki Hall

stjohnsca@gmail.com

Category Archive New Events

MEN UNITED – BIG BREAKFAST

Men United is a new mens group formed to allow our men to get to know one another and have some blokey time!

There will be various events organised throughout the year.

The first event is a BIG BREAKFAST at the Toby Carvery, Basildon

Saturday 4th February at 8.30AM

The cost per person for Full English with Tea & Coffee is £10.

For further details on the Big Breakfast and to book your place please contact

Steve Hurley - 07921-875007