Parish Notes - Sunday 28th March (Palm Sunday)

Many thanks to those who took part in the unannounced cleanup of grounds and building at St Cedd’s last Monday. It looks much tidier. 

Tomorrow and Tuesday, in the afternoon, children from Stifford Clays Junior School yrs 5 & 6 will be visiting St. Cedd’s to walk through a multi-sensory experience of the events of Holy Week and Easter in the form of a labyrinth like ‘Stations of the Cross’.  We will need help to prepare the church as well as volunteers to help the children to get the most out of their visit so if you are able to help with this important ministry, please have a word with Andy.   (Please don’t be shy about coming forward – the children always enjoy their visits to our church and it’s an excellent opportunity for us to show them how important we think they are).

 Easter is fast approaching and we are looking forward to seeing flowers in our churches again.  Easter lilies can cost up to about £5 each and it is not too late to help with cost of these, perhaps in memory of a loved one or simply just to give thanks for the Easter celebration.   Please give your donation to Phyllis Ford ( St. Mary’s) or June England (St. Cedd’s).

 Neither is it too late to book a place for our Agape Supper which will be held on Maundy Thursday 1^st April at 7.30 pm in St. Cedd’s and we hope that as many of our church family as possible will be able to join us.  Please sign up on the form that is in both churches so that we will have a rough idea of how many to cater for and if you need a lift or are able to offer one, please indicate on the form. There is no set charge but a contribution can be made on the night and all proceeds will go to Christian Aid.

 Quite a few of us now pay our offering to the church by Direct Debit and if you would like to take advantage of this easy way of regular giving, our bank details are: Sort Code 40-22-21 and account number 90649279. Please contact Elaine Duddy (01708 854506) if you would like to know more.

 ‘Women as Bishops?’ is the title of a talk open to all Sat 24^th April 10am-1pm at Meadgate Church Great Baddow - see poster.

 Haydn ‘The Creation’ performed by Thurrock Choral Society at Sat 24^th April 7pm Grays Parish Church £8 - see poster.

 Please see the posters in church for more information on the conference entitled Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith to be held on 8^th May 10am-5pm in Christchurch , Billericay.

 Dates for your Diary:

6^th April:  iPod Training for both churches at 7 pm in St. Cedd’s

8^th May:   Help the Heroes Quiz Night in the parish hall (See June England to book your place)

25^th May:  The next Alpha Course starts every Tuesday evening (See Andy for more details)

Funerals

Please pray for the family and friends of those whose funerals have been conducted during the last three weeks…

11/03/10 Mrs Jane Bateman of Palin’s Way, Stifford Clays

12/03/10 Mrs Daphne Fuller of Heath Road , Chadwell St Mary

16/03/10 Mrs Marjorie Britton of Palin’s Way, Stifford Clays

March Birthdays

4^th Margaret Collins, Naomi Crossley & Tim Sentance:  17^th Kathleen Hughes:  19^th Doreen Robinson:  21^st Rebecca Sentance:  24^th Abbie Miller:  28^th Iris Beech.  “Many happy returns to you all”.

 If you would like to add anything to this pewsheet, please contact Brenda Smallcombe on 376580 or Brendasmallcombe@hotmail.co.uk

Parish Notes - Sunday 21st March (5th Sunday in Lent)

On Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th March, in the afternoon, children from Stifford Clays Junior School yrs 5 & 6 will be visiting St. Cedd’s to walk through a multi-sensory experience of the events of Holy Week and Easter in the form of a labyrinth like ‘Stations of the Cross’.  We will need help to prepare the church as well as volunteers to help the children to get the most out of their visit so if you are able to help with this important ministry, please have a word with Andy.   (Please don’t be shy about coming forward – the children always enjoy their visits to our church and it’s an excellent opportunity for us to show them how important we think they are).  

As everyone is aware, we have to make alternative arrangements for our music in worship and to this end we are now the proud owners of two iPods.  (For the uninitiated, an iPod is a type of music machine).  We now need people to operate them & David Bates has kindly offered to run a training session for anyone interested on Tuesday 6^th April at 7 pm in St. Cedd’s.  Don’t be put off by “technology” – I promise you it’s really, really straightforward & just think how impressed your children/grandchildren will be!  

Easter is fast approaching and we are looking forward to seeing flowers in our churches again.  Easter lilies can cost up to about £5 each and if you can help with the cost of these, perhaps in memory of a loved one or simply just to give thanks for the Easter celebration, please give your donation to Phyllis (St. Mary’s) or June (St. Cedd’s)

Our Agape Supper will be held on Maundy Thursday 1^st April at 7.30 pm in St. Cedd’s and we hope that as many of our church family as possible will be able to join us.  Please sign up on the form that is in both churches so that we will have a rough idea of how many to cater for.  There is no set charge but a contribution can be made on the night and all proceeds will go to Christian Aid.  

For everyone with busy diaries, we have advance notice of one of June’s famous Quiz Night in aid of Help for Heroes to be held on Saturday May 8^th in the parish hall.  More details will follow later but for now, note the date!  

Next Alpha Course is on Tues evenings 8-9.30pm starting 25^th May.  

Some have asked for our Parish bank details so that payments can be made directly, so here they are! code 40-22-21, no 90649279. If you need any further details please speak to our treasurer Elaine Duddy.

Dates for your Diary:

Palm Sunday:            28^th March. (clocks change)

Maundy Thursday:   1^st April – 7.00pm Agape Supper

Good Friday:              2^nd April – Hour at cross 2-3pm St Mary’s

Easter Sunday:          4^th April – 10.30am HC at St Cedd’s and 6.30pm HC at St Mary’s  

Funerals

Please pray for the family and friends of those whose funerals have been conducted during the last three weeks…

11/03/10 Mrs Jane Bateman of Palin’s Way, Stifford Clays

12/03/10 Mrs Daphne Fuller of Heath Road , Chadwell St Mary

16/03/10 Mrs Marjorie Britton of Palin’s Way, Stifford Clays

March Birthdays

4^th Margaret Collins, Naomi Crossley & Tim Sentance:  17^th Kathleen Hughes:  19^th Doreen Robinson:  21^st Rebecca Sentance:  24^th Abbie Miller:  28^th Iris Beech.

 “Many happy returns to you all”.

 If you would like to add anything to this pewsheet, please contact Brenda Smallcombe on 376580 or Brendasmallcombe@hotmail.co.uk