Weekly Parish News
PARISH NEWS
In time it is hoped that we will together develop the content and style of this Parish News. But for now, with the constraints on time and resources we have, I hope you will tolerate my simple attempts to pass on some news in this way.
The plan is we will send a PARISH NEWS (posted on the website, emailed out and printed and posted specifically for those identified by the Pastoral Team as not having access to email) on a Monday each week, as often as is humanly possible. I will also be doing my best to ‘present’ the notices at each of the services on Sunday mornings in the churches (so they can be heard online as part of our regular streamed services and in person as well when we are able to once again come together to worship).
If you would like something specifically mentioned in the Parish News, then please do email me at nik@langdonhills.net. However, we do hold editorial control so no rude jokes (no names mentioned) or adverts for winning raffle tickets for sale please.
SERVICES IN THE PARISH THIS WEEK.
St Mary’s 9am – Communion Service – Public Worship (restricted numbers) (this service will be livestreamed)
St John’s 11am – Communion Service – Public Worship (restricted numbers)
To Book a place please email stjohnsca@gmail.com or call Nikki (the Parish Administrator) on 07720 089260. Please note that we will need to allocate seats and on a first come first served basis (but priority will be given for the next weeks service to anyone who we were unable to accommodate).
THE READING FOR THE 9am and 11am SERVICE 13th JUNE
Mark 4: 26-34
Both services will be led by Revd Barry Johnson and The Venerable Mike Lodge, Archdeacon of Southend will be preaching at the 9am service.
A HUGE THANK YOU
This week I would like to thank all those that enrich our lives and worship through music. Yes we are still not allowed to sing as a congregation in church and I know this is a huge disappointment to so many of us. But there are those, whether it is singing solo here in St Marys or on our Wattsapp groups or selecting and preparing the music to be played during our services, sharing songs online or are so busy preparing for that time we can dust off the microphones and sing in church again. They are doing all they can to still bring music into our lives and services and to them I am so very grateful.
So please this week, hold in your thoughts and prayers all those that enrich our lives and worship with music and pray that many more with music in their hearts will step forward to help in bringing a joyful noise back into church just as soon as we are allowed.
PARISH DAY OF PRAYER 11th June
(Coming Together, Healing Together, Forward Together)
On the 11th of June from 9am we will be holding a Parish Day of Prayer. The theme for the day will be Coming Together, Healing Together, Forward Together. So far the plans for the day consist of :-
9am Morning Prayer (Zoom Details to join available from the Parish Administrator)
1pm Café Prayer This will be a relaxed opportunity for fellowship and prayer. To join on the day Zoom details are available from the Parish Administrator
6.30pm Healing Service at St Johns. Restrictions mean places will be limited so please do book in advance (details below)
8pm Evening Prayer (Zoom details to join available from the Parish Administrator)
9pm A simple candle lighting service (and also livestreamed with a request that we all light a candle wherever we are) at St Mary’s Church. Places in church will have to be limited so please do book a place in advance (details below)
To Book a place for the Healing or Candle Lighting Service please email stjohnsca@gmail.com or call Nikki (the Parish Administrator) on 07720 089260. Please note that we will need to allocate seats and on a first come first served basis
Throughout the 24hrs there will be opportunities online to share prayers and join together in prayer, so please do check the Reaching Out Wattsapp group, Social Media and Email.
This event is one of only (it is hoped) many opportunities throughout the year for us to join in events to pray and reflect.
GUEST PREACHER
On Sunday 13th of June at the 9am St Mary’s Service (therefor also Livestreamed and recorded) The Archdeacon of Southend the Venerable Mike Lodge will be preaching. So please do take the opportunity to hear Mike preach.
VACANCY
We currently have a vacancy for a cleaner at St Johns Church. The post is for a couple of hours either in the morning or evening. If you or someone you know is possibly interested then please email me nik@langdonhills.net and I will give more details and/or send out an application pack.
SENSORY GARDEN
Much work has been done on the Parish Sensory Garden and it is looking great. But Sue and Anne (the leaders) are asking if anyone might have some perennial or bedding plants that they could donate, to fill the beds with glorious color. If you do then please either email (Parish Administrator who will forward on) or contact Sue and Anne.
WEEKLY PRAYER FROM THE PRAYER MINISTRY TEAM
Loving Lord, help us to remember that you are our shepherd, though we might walk in the darkness, we will not be afraid because you are with us. Help us to cast all our anxiety on you because you care for us. May we not be anxious about tomorrow but trust in you for each day as it comes. We ask this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Whilst the weather today, as I write this is glorious, with clear skies and the warmth of the sun, I was caught out by the sudden downpour last week. Such a sudden change in weather I suppose is something that we are almost used to, in this country, but it did somehow illustrate, at least to me, the certainty that nothing remains the same for always and sometimes things feel sudden and unpredictable.
We have and continue to go through so much change as a church, families and community and I suspect there will be more moments of sudden downpours ahead. But as you will have read in the beautiful prayer above – do not be afraid, anxious, fearful or down, be patient on the Lord for he is with us now, forever and his timing is always perfect.
God Bless
Nik
Churchwarden
Morning Prayer
Weekday Morning Prayer
It is intended that morning prayer on Zoom will continue at 9am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays after Easter (excepting bank holidays). The link to access morning prayer will change after Easter. If you would like to have the link please email your request to stjohnsca@gmail.com.
Interregnum Arrangements
Interregnum arrangements.
“Interregnum” is the name for the period between the departure of one Rector and the arrival of the next. This is likely to be a period of around one year. Some arrangements have already been put in place to cover this period.
Sunday Services
These arrangements are, of course, contingent on what happens with regard to the lifting of the current restrictions. Our provisional plans for services for April to June allow for the current lockdown to continue or for us to return to the situation immediately before lockdown (i.e. broadcast services form St. Mary’s and limited services at St. John’s). There will need to be some revision of our plans if the situation differs from this.
We are delighted to report that Rev. Barry Johnson, a retired minister in Basildon, has volunteered to undertake many of the “priestly” duties during the interregnum. This means that he will preside at many of our communion services and will take many of our weddings, baptisms and funerals. Our Area Dean, Rev. Jane Richards and her team (who are based at Holy Cross and St. Andrew’s in Basildon) will also provide cover, along with various other ministers from time to time.
Our own preaching team of Readers Ron Gough and Kennedy Rath, authorised preacher Eddy Lee and churchwarden Nik Wright (who is exploring a call to ordination) will also preach more regularly than in the past.
Rosters have been planned for April to June with the intention that we will broadcast live communion services from St. Mary’s at 9am every Sunday except for one Sunday in each month (to give our dedicated technical team of Roger McArdell and Ian McNally a well-deserved break!). On that Sunday the broadcast service will come from St. Andrew’s in Basildon where we will join in worship with the congregation there. We are very grateful to Rev. Jane Richards for offering this. Initially these services will be on the last Sunday of each month.
Provisional plans are also in place for 11am worship to recommence at St. John’s when it is judged to be safe and practicable so to do. Duties have been assigned but no opening date has yet been decided upon. It is anticipated that when worship recommences at St. John’s it will initially be on the same basis as just before lockdown i.e. said communion with no singing and people will have to book in advance in order to attend. Watch this space for further information!
Rector Colin Hopkinson
Sunday Streaming Church Service
Join us for a broadcast service on Sunday.
When you follow the link you will be taken to a Facebook page. You do NOT need to have or create a Facebook account to view the video. To watch go to the videos section and click on the video you want. Previous services will also be there.
You can find the service in the video section by following this Link
If you would like an order of service follow this Link
St John’s Kids Online
Come and join us today for the first St John’s Kids online
Follow this link to the churches videos
Copper Kettle Virtual Cafe
Wednesday’s at 10am
A chance to meet up online and have a chat
For a zoom link please email: nik@langdonhills.net
Morning Prayer Online
Just the Mon and Tue after Easter Sunday there will not be any morning prayer.
Join us for Morning Prayer online at 9am from this Thursday 26 March and thereafter on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.
It is very easy to join us. Just send an email to me at cchopkinson@aol.com requesting to join. I will add you to the group and send you an invitation email to join a “Zoom meeting”. Click on the link on the email a few minutes before 9am to join the meeting. (The first time you do this Zoom will download and install the Zoom app. It is safe to install this).
To be able to join in with the words you will also need to download the Daily Prayer app (search your app store for “Daily Prayer Church of England”, it has a blue logo with Daily Prayer in it) and when you open it should take you straight to the words for that morning. You will need one screen (e.g. phone) to look at the words and another (e.g. laptop) to join the Zoom meeting.
If you would like a prayer request to be included please be sure to have the consent of any person named in the request and send it to me at cchopkinson@aol.com on a separate email titled “prayer request”.
Bishops Crook – Virtual Pub
Every Saturday at 7.00pm
For a lively chat and catch-up with your friends or an opportunity to make new friends come and join us. Bring you own bottle!
For a zoom link please email
Nik@Langdonhills.net
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 web site 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 07754 540005
Name: _________________________________
Mobile:_________________________________