The Month October 2015

October 2015

N E E D TO K N OW

I S T O R I E S I A R E A U P D AT E S I E V E N T S N E A R Y O U

Let your light shine

Arc hdeacon’s View

Bring the kids to light a candle for Christ’s birthday

By Ven Elwin Cockett, Archdeacon of West Ham THIS month, the third-largest sporting event in the world is taking place in this country: The Rugby World Cup 2015.

Fans from 20 nations are going to be following their teams playing in 13 different venues across the country. Five important games are even taking place in this diocese, in the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Some 500,000 visitors are expected, and a huge global audience is going to be watching.

Despite not really being a rugby fan, I went to the warm-up game between Samoa and Barbarians, mostly out of curiosity to see how West Ham United’s new stadium is shaping up.

It didn’t take long, though, for me to become engrossed in the rugby. What looks, at first sight, like a disorganised rabble of violent giants running haphazardly at members of the other side is soon seen for what it is – a remarkable team of people, all aiming for the same result, but with a real variety of skills and tasks.

Thus it was that when a Samoan got himself sent off for violent conduct, it was CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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See Page 2

www.chelmsford.anglican.org

christmasstarts.com

Rugby's World Cup tour raises funds for church where founder Webb-Ellis was rector

Good Companions pass their GCSEs aboard Harold Wood's Belle View Cruise

Page 6

Page 3

■ Colchester NHS Christian Network invites staff to launch by Bishop Roger: Page 3

2

THE MONTH October 2015

THE

month — Share consultation under way… Have your say!

Answering your top questions

By REVD CANON JENNY TOMLINSON, Chair of the Share Review Group IT has been interesting to read the early responses to the consultation about the possible new Share scheme for the diocese.

Next March our diocesan synod will make the final decision about the proposals which if accepted, would begin in 2017.

This would tie in with the start of significant new national funding arrangements.

You can read more about this online at www.chelmsford. anglican.org/parishes/parishfinance/parish-share-review.

The comments so far have been wide ranging, and include a welcome for the suggested abolition of the ‘floor and ceiling’ mechanism; approval of the allocation to Mission and Ministry ‘Units’; and concern that the

deanery will no longer have a role in Share allocation.

Perhaps the most frequently voiced comment, however, is anxiety about how newlyestablished Mission and Ministry ‘Units’ will cope with their role in apportioning the Share request.

Do make sure that you have your say on the proposals. You can find the report and response sheet at the above web page. I look forward to reading more!

Your questions answered

Q. Why can’t Share continue to be allocated by deaneries?

A. The Share Review group discussed this possibility, but realised that most deaneries would probably have just two or three ‘Units’, so allocating Share directly to them would remove an extra layer of administration.

This also makes more sense where Mission and Ministry ‘Units’ cross

deanery boundaries. In this diocese we’ve got used to deaneries having a role in Share allocation, but this doesn’t have to be part of their work.

Q. Why doesn’t the diocese allocate Share to individual parishes?

A. This would be an enormous task in a diocese the size of Chelmsford, and runs counter to all our efforts to work together to be even more effective in serving God’s world and proclaiming the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Local understanding, knowledge and discussion will enable Share to be apportioned in a fairer way than if it was attempted centrally.

Q. What will Mission and Ministry ‘Units’ need to do?

A. Mission and Ministry ‘Units’ need to consider how to use the resources available to the ‘Unit’ as a whole – people and premises as well as money. Talking about Share can

be part of the conversation about how licensed and authorised ministers might work across as well as within parishes, and what the mission priorities should be.

This discussion can include what each parish can offer both to the Share request and to local initiatives, and considering if help is needed from the Mutual Support Fund.

Q. What help will be available?

A. The Share Review group is working on a guide to assist Mission and Ministry ‘Units’ in apportioning Share, and will also make sure that people are available to help, if requested, with the necessary conversations.

The formation of these new relationships with neighbouring parishes is vitally important, and talking about financial issues, if done carefully and respectfully, has the potential to increase levels of trust and understanding.

Margaret is Support from Mission Opportunity Fund Month's star photographer Canon Jenny Tomlinson

CONGRATULATIONS to Margaret Perthen, from St Paul’s Bentley Common, for ‘Radiated Light’ – the winning entry in our photo competition this month and the overall winner of the competition.

Judge Paul Starr of Chelmsford-based photographers StarrPhotos commented: “A marvellous photo entitled 'Radiated Light' is a great and worthy winner of not only this month's photo competition, but of the year!

"What is so enchanting about this image (right) is that the photographer has noticed and perceived the wonderful patterns of the window and the lovely diffractions of daylight that burst through on to the church interior wall.

"The window is not a typically grand multi-coloured stained religious window, but is much more modest and subtle in its colouration.

“This simple image of refracted light through a charming stained glass window sums up the wonder of church architecture and the fact that you can see beauty in the simplest of things in life.

"The perfect exposure captures the softness of the light and the reflected colour on the walls accurately, whilst keeping the contrast level under control.

"The framing too is tight and close-in with no distracting subject matter, just showing perfectly the lovely window, the framing

By NATHAN WHITEHEAD, Pastoral Secretary, Diocese of Chelmsford A NEW stream within the diocesan Mission Opportunity Fund is now available to assist the development of Mission and Ministry 'Units'.

The bulk of the money in the Fund will be prioritised toward helping units and prospective units work together on the activity or project that would most help the new unit, either in terms of taking forward a Mission Priority Area or

getting a new Mission & Ministry Unit working effectively. The guidance note mentioned below gives some examples of what sorts of applications could be made.

This funding is being split into three rounds: —October 2015, 2015: application deadline September 15. NB: this round will not release over £40,000 of the overall total.

—January 2016 award round: application deadline December 1, 2015.

—June 2016 award round:

The Month, incorporating NB and East Window, is the free circulation newspaper of Church of England in Essex and East London (Diocese of Chelmsford). www.chelmsford. anglican.org/themonth ● Find Chelmsford Diocese on Twitter @chelmsdio ● Find Bishop Stephen on Twitter @cottrellstephen ● Subscribe to our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/ChelmsfordDiocese ● Like us on Facebook: www. facebook.com/chelmsdio ● Like our Ask an Archdeacon Facebook www.facebook.com/ askanarchdeacon ● View our photostream on Flickr www. flickr.com/photos/chelmsford-diocese ● Like us on Pinterest https://uk. pinterest.com/chelmsdio

Editorial stonework and the effect that light has had on the scene.

"It is a moment captured in time and will always appear different as the light changes.”

As the entrant judged to have submitted the best

photograph of the competition, Margaret Perthen will be invited to a masterclass with StarrPhotos.

Congratulations go to all the photographers who took part in the competition.

Editor: Jon Longman Editorial and photographs for The Month should be sent to: themonth@chelmsford.anglican.org or Jon Longman, The Month, 1 Bouchiers Place, Messing, Colchester CO5 9TY. Tel: 01621 810530. Mobile: 07860 769906 ● Digital photographs for publication:

application deadline June 1, 2016.

An online guidance note gives some examples of what sorts of applications could be made. ● For more information including the guidance note, please visit our web page www.chelmsford. anglican.org/parishes/ mission-opportunity-fund ● If you have any ` questions, contact Nathan Whitehead - email nwhitehead@chelmsford. anglican.org or call 01245 294412.

Please take pictures at largest size, resolution and compression. Hi-res JPGs or Tiffs should be re-sized to min 7x5in at 300dpi with no layers or sharpening.

Captions, your name and contact details should be embedded in the 'File Info' section if possible. If e-mailing many shots, send only 72dpi initially at max size of 8x6in. When submitting photos please confirm that written consent has been obtained from parents / guardians of children under age 16 for publication of photos publicising church activities in The Month. ● The inclusion of an advertisement should not be taken as implying endorsement of the objects of the advertiser by the diocese.

Advertising Please contact: Glenda Charitos, Cornerstone Vision, 28 Old Park Road, Peverell,Plymouth, Devon PL3 4PY. Tel: 01752 225623. Fax: 01752 673441. e-mail: glenda@cornerstonevision.com

Distribution For distribution contact: internalcomms@chelmsford.anglican.org Tel: 01245 294443.

Your newspaper will normally be available from the third Sunday in the month. Any further changes will be advised to distributors.

3

THE MONTH October 2015

THE

month — Volunteers entertain on 'river cruise'

By ANTHONY NICOLLE, Captain of the Belle View EVERY summer many young people go off to camps, house parties or have a holiday club.

Some years ago somebody asked the question: “Why just the children; how about the elderly?”

For many elderly people, their families go away during the summer holidays, clubs close and they are lonely. So GCSE was born – based on the Good Companions lunch and activities club.

Roughly every two years the St Peter’s Church Centre at Harold Wood is transformed during the first week in August.

This year the Belle View River Cruise took 32 passengers plus crew up the Thames for three days in August.

Each day had activities such as 'chaerobics', craft work, a taste of Parliament, Old Time Music Hall, a London quiz and Bible talks, led by ‘The Admiral’ and his ADC, Canon Hugh Dibbens; all accompanied by tea, coffee, a vast supply of home-made cake and cooked lunch.

The cruise culminated in a special family service on Sunday, August 7 where children were introduced to 'The Admiral' and Hugh finished his series of Bible talks based on The Water of Life from John’s gospel.

The service was followed a ‘silver service’ lunch on the Belle View.

Responses from the passengers included: “I have laughed so much.” “I couldn’t fault it.” ”There was spiritual and religious content with loving, caring provision.”

“Inspiring talks.” “Food and organisation amazing.”

For a few passengers, this was their first contact with church for many years.

All of this was made possible by the efforts of more than 60 volunteers spread over several months involved in cooking, serving, set building, table leading, entertaining, transport... and praying.

We are looking forward to the next GCSE in 2017 – after we have recovered from this one!

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Colchester NHS Christian Network launch invitation

NHS staff in the Colchester area are being invited to the launch of the Colchester NHS Christian Network at Christ Church, Ireton Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 3AT on Monday, September 28 at 7.30pm The initiative has the support of Bishop Roger Morris, the Bishop of Colchester, and he will be speaking during the service at the launch event.

Organising team member Sue Monckton-Rickett says: "This is a new initiative to explore ways in which Christians working in any aspect of the NHS within the Colchester Area can be supported.

"Everyone who works for the NHS, Provide, Hospice and ACE (Anglian Community Enterprise) is invited to find out about the NHS Christian Network. Please do come along if you

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are a receptionist, surgeon, GP, theatre nurse, nurse, midwife, clerical assistant, auxiliary, therapist, doctor, manager, health care assistant, district nurse, administrator or another role entirely. Everyone’s role is critical to keeping the NHS running.

"This is the launch – the evening will decide what we do next. It is a celebration, a chance to give thanks for what everyone does and an opportunity to discuss what everyone would like to do next – how the church can support you in everything you do.

"The idea has come an initially from a member of our local church, St Mary’s Lawford, who works in the NHS. "Mine and my husband’s involvement has come about through our work as counsellors and retreat

leaders who have supported many people in caring roles.

"We are also working closely with the Chaplains at Colchester hospital.

"We want to support people in the NHS and also encourage churches to do so.

"The launch evening will start at 7.30 with a chance to network, chat and let us know what you would like to do next – this is your network.

"At 8pm there will be a service of celebration and prayers with a welcome by Dr Richard Needle, Chief Pharmacist at Colchester General Hospital and a talk by Bishop Roger.

"At 8.45 there will be another chance to catch up." ● If you cannot make it but would like to be involved in the Colchester NHS Christian Network, please email Nickyyoung83@googlemail.com

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THE MONTH October 2015

THE

month — Adviser set to bridge gap between farm and church

Welcoming team is recruiting

WELCOMING visitors to Chelmsford Cathedral remains a top priority for a loyal team of volunteers.

Volunteer Coordinator Andrew Duke says: "We would love to foster our relationships with other churches within the diocese by recruiting stewards from these churches.

"Our basic wish is for everyone to be acknowledged with a “hello” or even an eye contact but full training will be given and you will not be placed immediately on your own.

"We are seeking help on every day of the week but how much you would like to become involved is entirely up to you.

"Some of our volunteers help on a weekly basis, others once a month."

The weekday stewarding team operates in pairs each day from Monday to Saturday in two-hour duties from 10am until 4pm. ● Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Andrew Duke on 01245 697970 or email andrewjduke@talktalk.net if you can help or seek further information.

Janet's rural challenge

REVD Janet Nicholls will take up her new role as the diocesan Rural Adviser and Agricultural Chaplain on October 1.

Janet (right) spent her childhood on an Essex farm, and raised her family in an Essex village, so she is aware of the issues that face our rural communities, as well as the pastoral support and community engagement which the rural church can provide to these communities.

Ven Robin King, Archdeacon of Stansted, said: "Janet holds a deep sense of vocation to the rural church

and her curacy in North Essex has given her a rich and varied training in the rural church, serving in six rural parishes over two benefices.

"Janet continued her work as an advisory teacher for children with special needs and disabilities throughout her curacy.

"This helped her understand the pressures in small rural churches, where people are often managing a demanding working life alongside a significant role in the church."

Janet’s first-hand experience of working in rural family businesses

means she values their role in maintaining employment and well-being in rural communities. She actively supports local businesses and works hard to raise their profile.

Robin added: "Janet hopes that her farming background will mean that farmers will use her agricultural chaplaincy role as a reassuring and practical bridge between farm and church." ● Janet will be commissioned by Bishop Stephen at the County Harvest Festival service at Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 11.15am.

Hannah is new youth adviser HANNAH Phillips has been appointed as the new Barking Area Youth Adviser.

Hannah, left, has been working in children’s and youth ministries since she was 14 years old.

Hannah trained at Moorlands College graduating in 2008 with a BA in Applied Theology in Youth and Community and winning the year prize in youth work.

While studying at Moorlands, Hannah worked for Bournemouth and Dorset Youth Services and worked for a charity called Impact which carries out detached youth work.

After graduating, Hannah spent five years working in parish in South London, where she launched a community-based youth project called iSource and qualified as a dance teacher.

For the last two years Hannah has worked for Diocese of London in the deanery of Hackney, setting up projects, running training and advising where necessary.

In her spare time, Hannah enjoys, dance especially ballet and jazz, writing, reading and sewing and running when there’s time.

Hannah started her new role on September 1.

Bishop Peter said: "Hannah will be working closely with the Area Team and the other Area's Youth Advisers.

"I hope you will join me in welcoming Hannah to this role."

● Hannah can be contacted on hphillips@chelmsford. anglican.org

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What do attendance figures tell us . . .?

Chair of diocesan budget subcommittee CANON DON CARDY continues his look at Statistics for Mission WELL, we got there!

After many years of achieving response rates of 95 per cent or more, and last year, with our 2013 church attendance data, achieving 97 per cent - the joint second highest in the Church of England, with our 2014 data we have just achieved 100 per cent.

This was not achieved without an extra special effort and congratulations to everyone concerned. However, now that we have the data, with no need to make estimates for missing churches or parishes, what does it tell us about last year?

'Rise in adults attending on second Sunday bigger than fall on first Sunday... more young people on first Sunday' First let’s look at the attendance at normal Sunday services. The October pattern of attendance during the last five years for adults is in Table 1 and for

TABLE 1 Adults Sunday 1 Sunday 2 2010 31,040 28,950 2011 30,510 28,200 2012 30,260 27,750 2013 30,010 (820) 26,590 (805) 2014 29,190 (819) 29,160 (814)

Sunday 3 Sunday 4 Total 28,440 26,270 114,700 28,400 26,200 113,310 27,030 27,280 112,320 27,570 (810) 27,070 (802) 111,240 27,230 (813) 26,240 (775) 111,820

Note: these attendances do not include the Cathedral; the numbers in parenthesis for 2013 and 2014 are the number of services held; and people attending more than one service each Sunday are only counted once.

TABLE 2 Children Sunday 1 2010 6,860 2011 6,510 2012 6,670 2013 6,530 2014 6,120

Sunday 2 6,290 5,930 5,940 5,660 5,820

children in Table 2. In addition to these Sunday attendances, in 2013, during October, a total of an additional 11,500 adults and 2,120 children attended ordinary weekday church services. In 2014 these numbers were 11,800 adults and 1,680 children respectively.

Table 1 shows that it has been normal for adult attendances on the first Sunday of the month to be higher than on the other Sundays; perhaps because the main service is more likely to be an all-age one or because the first Sunday in October is often chosen for a harvest festival?

For whatever reason there was a noticeable change in 2014 with a reduced attendance on the first Sunday more than matched by an increased attendance on the

Sunday 3 5,440 5,380 5,350 5,220 5,050

second, and the effect of this was to increase the overall adult attendance in October. Typically just over 800 individual services are held every Sunday.

The average adult attendance at each, in 2013, was 34.4 and, in 2014, slightly higher at 34.7.

Table 2 shows that young people’s attendance on the first Sunday continues to be higher than on the other Sundays, supporting the previous hypothesis about all-age worship and harvest festivals being on that first Sunday.

We have previously reported that attendances at Fresh Expressions of Church (FxC) seem to be compensating for any reduction in normal Sunday attendance, but that the collection of reliable data has been difficult.

Sunday 4 4,570 4,480 4,640 4,630 4,460

Total 23,160 22,300 22,600 22,040 21,450

It was in 2013 that a new start was made and now we have data for 2014 as well.

FxC activity is split roughly equally between Sundays and Weekdays with the total attendance during October on Sunday being 1.090 adults and 440 children, and during the week being 1,160 adults and 950 children.

However, these attendances appear to be a reduction on those in 2013 for reasons which are not yet clear, except that it seems to be linked with a reduction in the number of activities reported on the Statistics for Mission forms. ● Your views are very important to us — email statistics@ chelmsford.anglican.org

'A good church has a great team'

FROM FRONT PAGE

his team-mates who suffered because he was no longer there to fulfil his role.

His team lost the game, arguably because he was not there to do what he had been chosen to do.

Rugby players are not all the same. A burly forward (pictured right), with his bulk, strength and willingness to put his head where most of us wouldn’t, is very different to a fly-half, who will be fast, agile and able to kick a ball with accuracy, so long as the opposition don’t flatten him first.

Even more than in most team sports, Rugby players need specific gifts and attributes for each position, and each individual needs not only to do their own job but also to make use of the strengths of the players around them.

I was really struck by how well they supported each other and backed each other up.

Even when found out of position and under pressure, they were aware of the people around them, encouraging each other and working hard together.

It was a tough, hard game, but at the end they still managed to celebrate.

It might only have been a warm-up game, but the victorious Barbarians celebrated as if it had been a cup final.

The success mattered to them, and they wanted to show it.

How much greater the celebrations will be at the real World Cup Final at Twickenham on October 31!

What is my point? Well, a good local church has a great team of people behind it, and the Apostle Paul tells us all about teamwork in 1 Corinthians 12.

We are ‘one body with many members’ – not all the same, but each called to use the particular gifts that we have been given for the good of the whole.

If we don’t contribute using our God-given strengths and abilities, then everyone around us loses out.

We need to support each other, encourage each other, and back each other up in hard times as well as good.

When we do, and when it all comes together, we can celebrate in style, with real joy, knowing that we have worked together as members of the Body of Christ.

VEN ELWIN COCKETT Archdeacon of West Ham

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Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1 (ESV) Photo: www.sxc.hu

THE

month — Bishops John and David dedicate new prayer g

Open-air chat r dedicated to m

By ANNE SENTANCE PUPILS of Horndon Church of England Primary School welcomed not one Bishop, but two, to dedicate their new Prayer Garden.

Bishop John, a resident of Horndon-on-the-Hill, and Bishop David of Embu, Kenya, right, visited the school to officially open the garden which is dedicated to the memory of a much-loved member of staff, Gill Blake.

The idea for the Prayer Garden had originated from the many inspiring temporary prayer spaces that had been enjoyed by both pupils and staff at the school, prompting them to create a permanent area for quiet reflection and prayerful conversations – effectively 'a Chat Room with God'.

Featuring winding paths, a willow hut, gazebo, full-length mirrors and a variety of plants to complement each season, the Prayer Garden offers the perfect setting for the

children to appreciate the be their world whilst having a he heart with God about whatev on their minds.

At the centre of the Garden tall wooden cross drilled with numerous holes. Here the ch can write their prayers, roll th and slot them in.

The base of the cross is

New

THE Legacy XS ch anniversary of the Centre wih the ope ramps at Richmon More than 10,00 facilities in the firs £1million has been facilities and servi The Legacy XS successful outrea The new ramp Stephen Cottrell, Stephen said: "T example of the C

garden at Horndon CofE Primary School

S ME N

FT

SE X C R

A

F

to its local community to share the Christian Gospel and commended the efforts of all those in St George's Church, New Thundersley and the community who had made the vision a successful reality."

Rebecca Harris MP, Essex County Councillor Kay Twitchen, the Mayor of Castle Point, Councillor Ray Howard for Veolia North Thames Trust, local councillors and supporters of Legacy XS attended the opening (pictured below).

The new ramps were funded by grants from the Essex County Council’s Community Initiatives Fund and Youth Capital Fund, Veolia North Thames Trust and from Legacy XS’s own resources.

The indoor skatepark is now rated by professional

ES

“When we look at God’s Creation, we marvel at the diversity. So why, when it comes to religion, do we shy away from diversity?”

Rose Russell-Cohen Journey with Us world church placement programme

Be inspired by the world church.

w skatepark boosts outreach

harity celebrated the tenth opening of the Legacy XS ening of new indoor skatepark nd Park, Benfleet (left).

00 young people have used the st 10 years and more than n raised by the charity for youth ices in Castle Point.

S Centre has proved to be a very ach by St George’s church. ps were opened by the Rt Revd , Bishop of Chelmsford. Bishop The Legacy XS Centre is an Church of England reaching out

I LD O

n is a h hildren hem up

surrounded with stones painted by last year’s Year 6 pupils, bearing words such as hope, peace, serve, joy, honesty, responsibility; words reflecting the subject of their prayers and the school’s core values.

Two children, Paige Cranfield and Alfie Sanders, had the honour of cutting the ribbon to open the garden which has no gate — its

permanent accessibility mirroring God’s attitude to us.

An important part of the Garden’s Service of Dedication was the burying of a time capsule. Inside were the children’s carefully written memories of Mrs Blake bearing witness to her years of service and love for each and every child.

The capsule is to remain untouched for 20 years when a special service will be held.

A year in the planning, Horndon School is indebted to the Friends of Horndon School and to Horndon church for greatly assisting with its funding, and most importantly to Andrew Cranfield, designer, landscaper and gardener, for making it come to life.

The garden will be an invaluable future resource for both classes and individuals — its benefits summed up in the words of the worship song, ‘Prayer is like a telephone for us to talk to Jesus’.

GU

room with God memory of Gill

eauty of eart-tover is

7

THE MONTH October 2015

riders as in the top ten in the country for BMX riders, skateboarders, mini-scooter riders and inline skaters with areas suitable for beginners.

Trustee Revd David Hillman said: "The Legacy XS trustees are delighted with the standard of the new ramps which will ensure the charity can continue to provide high-quality facilities and services to young people in Castle Point, so that relationships are built to enable Legacy youth workers and volunteers to share the Christian Gospel." l The centre is open to those eight years old and over. Information on membership, session fees and opening times is available at www.legacyxs.com, manager@legacyxs.com or ring 01268 565650.

Order a FREE Us introduction pack for your church. Call 020 7921 2200 or email info@weareUs.org.uk Us. The new name for USPG Registered charity number 234518

Essex Christian Healing Trust Autumn Conference Saturday November 28th, 9.30 am to 4pm.

“The Church is Healing?”

Speaker: Rev Wes Sutton, Director of Acorn Christian Healing Foundation Venue: Meadgate Church Centre, 162a Meadgate Ave, Chelmsford, CM2 7LJ

Details: www.essexhealing.co.uk or email administrator on essexhealing@aol.com.

Tel: 01702 476273

Jesus said: I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

Lk 12:49 (ESV)

8

THE MONTH October 2015

Time away to think spiritually ConferenCes

retreats

Just a cursory glance on the World Wide Web will open up a whole world of ideas on the subject of retreats. You may be more than a little surprised to find you can have detox retreats; rural retreats, chic boutique hotel retreats and even surf goddess retreats.

As you can see, not all retreats are Christian let alone spiritual in the wider sense. It’s worth taking time, therefore, if you are looking for time out for a life

Holidays

Nourish your heart

Additional 5% discount for first time bookers!

15% off! an autumn wind down or winter warmer at Lee Abbey in beautiful North Devon!

To see our full programme visit:

www.leeabbey.org.uk/devon A few places remaining – book online or Tel: 01598 752621 quoting code AN15.

‘A haven of peace in the heart of Cornwall’ Epiphany house offers comfortable accommodation in tranquil surroundings in which to retreat.

Organised and private retreats available throughout the year, please see our website www.epiphanyhouse.co.uk or contact us on 01872 272249 or bookings.epiphanyhouse@keme.co.uk

Book Nofw!

15% of

inter autumn & w s conference

Discounts apply to conferences up until March 2016.

Subject to availability.

Please note all conferences between 1 November 2015 and 29 February 2016 will take place in our Beacon Centre due to major renovation works in the main house. See website for further details.

ST. MARY’S CONVENT WANTAGE

St Mary’s Convent offers a variety of facilities and flexible accommodation for Group Quiet Days and Group Retreats. Also, Conference facilities and private stays.

Theological Library may be available on request.

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enhancing church interiors across the country

affirming or life changing event that you check the provider before making a booking.

Retreats come many and varied from the simplest of silent retreats to those on a specific theme.

The Retreat Association office provides an information resource for individuals inquirers, parishes and other groups seeking something suitable and can be contacted on 0845 456 1429. Most Diocesan Offices will also have contact with a variety of retreat providers if you are thinking of getting a group together.

There is much to be gained spiritually as well as emotionally by taking time out to contemplate, returning home refreshed and renewed.

This small focus contains an example of some of the retreats and events lined up in the near future.

Novel available on Amazon

56

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five star reviews on amazon.co.uk

THE MONTH October 2015

THE

month — Area Dean stood for House of Commons

Jeremy has enjoyed exciting prayerful life

NEW Area Dean of Newham Revd Jeremy Fraser has always lived life to the full and he has always been a man of prayer.

THE Month interviewed Jeremy about his multi-faceted life.

TM: How did your life of prayer start?

JF: I came to faith at the age of 13 in St Ives, Huntingdon as a member of a Church of England youth group. My early life was troubled. As a child I was in care.

I was fostered and adopted.

I would catch a bus from St Ives to London where I had previously lived and had felt at home, and I would sit quietly by myself in a corner of the Tate Gallery. I didn’t know it then but Celtic Christians talk of ‘thin places’ where God is close.

These are places where we feel our need of God the most.

TM: And now you are the priest in charge of Stratford St Paul and St James and the new Area Dean of Newham. When did you feel the call to ministry?

JF: When I was 18 I attended London Bible College for two years. I thought I would get a call to do God’s work for the rest of my life. But the call didn’t come.

So I left and got a job as a postman.

TM: And did you go to church at that time?

JF: I got involved in the local churches but my passion was community activism. I was living with my wife Ruth in a council flat in the Elephant and Castle. We lived in a block the council wanted to knock down. The flat only had a toilet and a cold water tap. That was in 1981, not 1921, but there was no way of making hot water.

The council wasn’t interested in the tenants because they wanted to pull the block down. So I helped to form a residents’ association to fight for the rights of the community.

TM: And what about the call?

JF: Someone said, ‘Why don’t you go on the council?’ So I stood and got elected. I thought this was what God was calling me to do.

By then I was working as a qualified social worker, first at the Maudsley Hospital and then at St Thomas’.

TM: So you became a local politician. What was your political life like?

Dedham Lecture 2015

Dr Rowan Williams Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge and former Archbishop of Canterbury.



T ERESA OF A VILA & T HOMAS M ERTON T WO A NNIVERSARIES 

8 p.m.

Tuesday 29th September For further information: The Lecture, which is free, will take

place in Dedham Parish Church and is arranged by the Dedham Ecclesiastical Lectureship Trust.

Gilead Foundations is a Therapeutic Community, offering a residential rehabilitation programme, called KEY, for people with life-controlling addictions, such as drug or alcohol abuse, homelessness, gambling, eating disorders, self harm, and other addictive behaviours.

TEAM STRATFORD – Jeremy Fraser (centre) with curates Milen Bennett (left) and Ivo Anderson

PROFILE JF: I stood for election as the council’s chair of social services.

Some elderly people had died in one of the council’s homes, allegedly of neglect, before I had come onto the council. Politically many of the councillors wanted to hide from this. But I said, ‘Don’t hide, be open, move on, be honest about the council’s mistakes.’

TM: Were you elected chair of social services?

JF: Yes. I won by three votes and even toppled a rising star. How did that happen? I asked myself.

An unlikely supporter told me: ‘Some of us councillors had mums in that home.’

'You warned me this might happen when we started going out'

Politics in Southwark were rough in those days. If you voted the wrong way you could have threats made against you. When I was chair of social services I got death threats. I couldn’t have been a councillor without a Christian belief.

TM: Do you feel you made any difference as a politician?

JF: I got more and more interested in why Southwark was deprived, why the council’s strategies were not working. So I got involved in regeneration. The thinking had been you should bring jobs near to where people lived. But employers didn’t want to go to areas like Peckham when Southwark had an amazing piece of London on its riverside. So we gave planning permission for the

Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre. Also we decided to pull down the Peckham five estates.

Southwark changed from being south London to inner London.

The irony of the director of the Tate coming to talk to me when I had found sanctuary in the Tate as a teenager wasn’t lost on me.

Then I was asked to be council leader. I spent a sleepless weekend in prayer asking what did God want and why. From being the leader of the council the natural progression was to stand for Parliament. That was in 1997.

But I failed to be elected by a few hundred votes. On election night a journalist asked me, ‘What’s next for you now?’ and I replied: ‘If you lose in a Labour landslide, it’s God’s way of saying, get out of politics.’ The journalist thought I was joking. But my council term came up the following year and I didn’t stand again.

TM: And where did you go from there?

JF: Because of the contacts book I had and the decisions I had been part of, I walked into the PR world. After a few years I decided to set up a company with three colleagues and seven staff. Let’s give it five years we said and then move on. Some 13 years later the company we founded is still going strong.

But it was when I was running my PR company that the call to ministry came.

TM: How exciting for you!

JF: Actually I felt sick. I had a comfortable lifestyle. I was not sure my children, let alone Ruth, would want the upheaval. But Ruth said, ‘You warned me this might happen when we started going out in 1979.’ The children said it felt right. When I told my fellow-directors, they loved it. Later on, in some of their publicity they said, ‘We’re the only PR company with a vicar on the board.’ But breaking the news to our 150 staff

had to be done delicately, as they would have worried my departure might risk the company’s growth.

It actually did better when I left.

TM: So you moved from politics, through PR, to the priesthood.

JF: I was ordained Deacon at Southwark Cathedral in 2008. It was a really incredible day.

The irony about my curacy in East Greenwich was that my training incumbent was the curate of the church I had gone to in the Elephant and Castle all those years before. As part of curacy I worked in the CofE’s Olympic team with Duncan Green. Duncan encouraged me to talk to David Hawkins, then Bishop of Barking, and that’s how I moved to Stratford.

TM: What has life been like in your parish since you started there?

JF: The parish had been through some misfortunes and traumas, not of anyone’s making, and there were only 16 people in the church when I arrived. But now, thanks to an amazing team, we grew to about 60 on our own, we then added St James’ and a great minister to our team, and when the Bulgarians came too we were overnight 145. We have baptised 15 Bulgarians and two of their leaders have been ordained as curates. The Anglican Church is big enough to embrace many faith journeys. We also have a youth worker and a pioneer minister serving a big new population.

TM: And you are leading a discipleship project?

JF: Bishop Peter asked me to chair a working group on discipleship in May. We are looking at how more people can be trained locally and how a more diverse looking leadership can be encouraged. I have been working with the area deans and area team on this. We will be commenting on courses, distance to training venues and learning styles so something professional can be offered that people feel comfortable with.

Based on a 300 acre dairy farm in rural Devon, Gilead uses the Genesis Process Relapse Prevention programme with our clients.

If you, or someone you know would like more information about Gilead or would like to make an application, please contact:

Laura Alm

Tel: 01837 851240 Fax: 01837 851520

laura.alm@gilead.org.uk

www.gilead.org.uk

9

10

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE MONTH October 2015

“A young lady came to see us at the studios, with her baby in her arms. She told us had listened to a testimony on Cross Rhythms Teesside, and as a result had decided to keep her baby – there’s a little child alive now because the programming touched someone’s heart and gave them hope in a very difficult time.”

Please Consider Supporting Cross Rhythms Teeside Our running costs are kept extremely low, and our not for profit radio station is currently entirely staffed with volunteers. We only need 40 supporters donating £30 per month to enable us to sustain and develop our programming, reaching the whole area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the Gospel. A gift, or monthly donation, of any amount, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Title:

First Name:

Surname: Address: Postcode: Organisation/Company (if applicable): Telephone: Email:

I enclose a one-off gift of £

Please make cheques payble to Alive in the Spirit Trust

I would like to become a supporter Please fill in this form

Name: Name of Bank: Bank address: Postcode: Account No: Sort Code: Instruction to your bank: Please deduct £ from my account on (dd/mm/yy): / / Then monthly until further notice. Pay this sum to Alive in the Spirit account No: 70984094 Sort Code: 20-68-10 Barclays Plymouth, Reference CRT

Signed

Date I would like all donations I make to Alive in the Spirit Trust, Reg Charity Number 278432, from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise to be treated as Gift Aid donations.

Signed

Date

You must be a UK taxpayer and must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax that the charity reclaims on your donations in the appropriate tax year.

Please return this form to Cross Rhythms Teeside, c/o Cornerstone Vision, 28 Old Park Road, Plymouth, PL3 4PY

Cross Rhythms Teesside community radio station broadcasts 24/7 to Stockton-on-Tees and the Tees Valley. ‘That’s a long way from here’ you may be thinking, but hopefully the aims and values of this Community radio station will not be a long way from those of many in the church throughout the UK. The station engages with the community through radio using local news, discussions and interviews, with the latest contemporary Christian music providing the backbone to the sound and ethos of the station.

Sharing the Gospel with a 21st century audience using 21st century means.

One of the station’s founding DJ’s had this to say: “We’re often hearing from people who love the station, for the effect it has on the community if not the music itself. I’ve been a DJ for 10 years and my grandmother, who is 87 years old, supports what I do wholly. She can’t stand the music I play, but she supports what I do because she loves me and she believes in the project. The music may not be to the taste of older Christians. But it’s actually about seeing

Reaching a City with the Gospel

the bigger picture and saying, ‘It’s not necessarily what I like but I can see it connecting with a lot of people.’ That’s the starting point and everything else will fall into place around it.”

The radio station is run as a not-for-profit organisation, and any income goes towards the ministry of reaching the local community with the Gospel, and engaging with local communities for social gain.

During the recession, many of our projects with young people, especially around education and training, sadly ceased due to lack

of funding. Organisations that used to pay for those services had their budgets cut or removed, and as a result, the station has to find new income and support.

But now for the good news: Effectively, the station ‘re-started’ in September 2014, with a new Station Manager and a new Station Administrator, Rafal and Ania Dupat. This young Polish couple arrived in the Tees Valley area sensing a call from God and not really knowing why. Rafal has extensive production and audio engineering experience, and Ania has managed a number of community projects. Ideal qualifications for a Christian Community Radio Station, although they had no idea it even existed when they came!

Since getting involved, Raf and Ania have encouraged the growth, management and training of a new crop of more

than twenty volunteers to produce and present local programmes. They have also been meeting and engaging with the local community at large, and the Christian faith community especially, as well as community groups and organisations, and listener feedback is encouraging.

“We’re working towards securing funding to develop more programming and training opportunities to reach what is one of the most deprived areas in the UK”, said Rafal. “We have developed a love for the Tees Valley area, and the people here, and we want to use the radio station to bring hope and light in difficult times. As an evangelistic outreach, this radio station is broadcasting to people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year – it’s a phenomenal resource for the church in its mission.”

A message from Chris Cole, co-founder of the Cross Rhythms ministry.

It is fair to say that the Christian Faith has been the most ‘civilising influence’, globally, since the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In the Western World, the printing of the Bible over 500 years ago on the newly invented printing press enabled our civilisation to develop our politics, economics, education, societal attitudes, major institutions and spirituality. All of these developments have been at the cornerstone, until recently, of our liberal democracies.

It is now the development of the internet, digital satellite, FM radio and television communications that gives all of us who call ourselves ‘followers of Jesus Christ’ the opportunity to

share our stories on these platforms.

In many ways this is probably the first opportunity people will have of witnessing powerful messages and testimonies of real life in God. We are often the first Bible people will now read.

Cross Rhythms as a national ministry is growing with three Community radio stations licensed in the UK, (Teesside, Stoke on Trent and Plymouth), independently owned and operated but partnering together with similar aims and vision.

Cross Rhythms Teesside is reaching young people who engage with the music – but it is asking older people with a passion for a lost generation for support. It is based in one of the

most deprived areas of the North East of England – but it is asking for help from people in this area who can see the vision and wish to support it.

We now have a younger team developing around us who are very ‘media savvy’ and capable of maximising the amazing opportunities the Lord is giving us to ‘influence our cities for good’ by broadcasting the very best Christian Contemporary music with life changing messages.

Your partnership is not only deeply valued but is part of our spiritual resourcing to influence the airwaves in a way that helps those who don’t know Jesus gain a glimpse of His offer of salvation.

Contact:

Rafal Deputat

Station Manager E: raf@crteesside.co.uk

Cross Rhythms Teesside is very grateful to Cornerstone Vision, who have kindly sponsored this page.

THE MONTH October 2015

The Only Calendar with a Free Advent Activity Booklet.

New Design Available Now Help raise £15,000 this year We are the UK's only Fairtrade charity Advent calendar. For every sale a donation will be made towards the work of Traidcraft Exchange and the Funzi Baby Clinic in Kenya.

www.traidcra .co.uk

www.funzi.org.uk

RRP

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Visit us on

*Survey findings from ComRes 2007, 2010, 2012.

The Real Advent Calendar is a great way to share the Christmas story.

The calendar comes with a free 32-page Christmas story activity booklet illustrated

by Sophie Allsopp and designed to be used every day in Advent. Behind each of the 24 windows there is a Fairtrade chocolate and a line of the Christmas story.

Join the campaign to share the Christmas story It might be difficult to believe but recent surveys show that knowledge of the Christmas story is fading.* Among 5-7 year olds, 36% don’t know whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas and 72% don’t know Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Among adults, less than 12% know the full nativity story and 51% say that the birth of Jesus is irrelevant to their Christmas. This is a tipping point.

The Christmas Starts with Christ campaign hopes to reverse the trend by telling the Christmas story in new ways.

You can read more at www.realadvent.co.uk

Could you be a champion?

We recommend that churches, schools and groups buy in bulk directly from us.

The best way is for a champion (maybe you) to collect orders and place an order online. You can find resources to help with this on our website:

www.realadvent.co.uk/resources

How To Order

Pay online by card

The simplest way to pay, visit our online shop at www.realadvent.co.uk/shop

Order a case by 1st November for free delivery

Payment by cheque - Complete the form below and return to: The Meaningful Chocolate Company, 584 Knutsford Road, Warrington, WA4 1JE. Cheques payable to ‘The Meaningful Chocolate Company Ltd’.

Shops -Tesco (larger stores) and independent retailers such as Traidcraft, Eden.co.uk & CLC shops have supplies. For details visit our website.

Order Form

Delivery Address:

Title:

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Tel. No: (Daytime)

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Case of 18 Real Advent Calendars

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£71.82 (£3.99 per calendar) must be ordered in multiples of 18 Postage & Packaging free* or £4.95

*order by 1st November for free postage

www.realadvent.co.uk/shop

Grand Total

Total

11

12

THE MONTH October 2015

THE

month — 'We can’t do everything, but we can do something'

IN BRIEF

Saying Goodbye to babies service

CHELMSFORD Cathedral is to hold a service on October 11 at 6pm to give people an opportunity to say goodbye to a baby lost at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.

The loss of a baby is a devastating and traumatic experience for the parents and well as the extended family. Before 24 weeks, often no service is held and after that a service is often conducted whilst the family are still in the depths of grief.

This service is an opportunity for anyone of any faith or no faith who has lost a baby, be it recently or many years ago to acknowledge and remember their baby in the beauty of the Cathedral building whilst collectively saying goodbye. l For more information, contact the Cathedral office on 01245 294498.

David Lowman will retire in January

THE Ven David Lowman, Archdeacon of Chelmsford, has announced his plans to retire at the end of January 2016.

David has served Chelmsford Diocese for more than 30 years as parish priest, Diocesan Director of Ordinands, Archdeacon of Southend and now the first Archdeacon of Chelmsford.

Bishop Stephen said: "Now is not the time for farewell speeches, but I do want to put on record my huge thanks for his commitment to the cause of the gospel in this diocese and his support for my own ministry. David’s wisdom, good humour, tenacity and sheer hard work have been a source of blessing for me and for many others." l There will be a farewell service for David in Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday, January 31 at 3.30pm.

Worship & Prayer at Chelmsford Cathedral

A warm welcome to your cathedral, serving Essex and east London Sunday

8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 3.30pm

Holy Communion Parish Eucharist Choral Eucharist Evensong

Daily Services 7.45am 8.15am 12.00pm 5.15pm

Morning Prayer Holy Communion

(also Weds at 12.35 and Thurs at 10am)

Midday Prayer Evensong

(sung on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri)

www.chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk

Diocese launches appeal as churches respond to Syria refugee crisis THE Diocese of Chelmsford has launched a diocesan-wide appeal for a fund to help support Syrian refugee families as they begin to arrive.

Stephen Cotterell, the Bishop of Chelmsford, said: “We call upon Christian people in East London and Essex to give generously, to pray for peace in the Middle East, and to work in partnership with others that we can give a heartfelt and generous welcome to those who are fleeing persecution and who come to us in great need.

“The Bible tells us that when we serve each other we serve Christ. The stranger in our midst, the person in need, is not only where we are most likely to encounter Christ, but also the person from whom we will receive from Christ today. Therefore to give without any expectation of getting anything back, save the joy of being blessed by service, is fundamental to the Christian life.

“In the Diocese of Chelmsford we are convinced that that as we respond in loving service and compassion to the vast humanitarian crisis in Syria so we have an opportunity to live out what we believe. We are appalled by the horrors and indignities of this conflict. We pray for peace and justice in our world.

“But we also recognise that by our response to this situation we can be changed for the better.

We also believe this can be true for our nation, shifting the way we understand and discern our priorities. We can’t do everything, but we can do something, and this ‘something’ can make a difference. It is our hope that the Church can be at the centre of our nation’s response.

“We are also calling on the government to increase the offer of provision that has been made. It is good that our nation is prepared to play its part, but we believe it would be possible

to take more people than the 20,000 that have already been announced."

As part of the response the diocese will be making some of its own houses available. Three possible properties and a closed church have been identified to help with immediate need.

A co-ordinating group of lay people and clergy will work with ecumenical partners, other faith communities, local councils, other agencies and Citizens UK. The diocese has written to all the local authorities in its region explaining its hopes and pledging help. l If you wish to give money to this appeal, please look for the Chelmsford Diocesan Refugee Appeal on the home page of our website, www.chelmsford.anglican.org. l Alternatively send a cheque made payable to CDBF with ‘Refugee Appeal’ on the reverse to Refugee Appeal, Diocese of Chelmsford, 53 New Street, Chelmsford CM1 1AT.

Rugby's World Cup visits spiritual home

By RICHARD AUSTIN IN a quiet rural location near Ongar, the village of Magdalen Laver boasts a church with a strong rugby connection.

The church has no running water or toilet facilities but with the assistance of Sophie Morris, Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy representative, the Essex County Rugby Football Union and the kind cooperation of incumbent Revd Gillian Anderson, it played host to a very important trophy, the William Webb-Ellis Cup. 'Bill', as it was nicknamed by the Australian Wallabies', has been on a worldwide trophy tour and on September 5 it was the turn of Essex to host the World Cup. Richard Austin, President Elect of Essex CRFU and also the Deputy Secretary of England Deaf Rugby Union, invited 130 guests including the Bishop of Chelmsford, former Mayor of Brentwood Tony Sleep and Alan Gold, the Essex president (pictured above).

Rugby clubs from Old Brentwood, Ongar, Brentwood, Epping Upper Clapton, May and Baker, Romford and Gidea Park, Chelmsford and Halstead were represented by their members, coaches and players of all age groups.

Kind donations from the

WILLIAM WEBB-ELLIS CUP WELCOMING PARTY — Left to right: Richard Austin, Revd Mark James, Revd Gill Anderson, Ven Martin Webster, Alan Gold, Bishop Stephen, Sophie Morris attendees of the day raised more than £400 towards the upkeep and running of the church that Revd William Webb-Ellis became Rector of in 1855. It was in 1823 that he ran with the ball during a football match at Rugby School and gave us the game that we play today.

Club youth chairman Simon Peace OBRFC and Tim Gray of Ongar RFC both praised the organisers for giving their young player both boys and girls aged six to 16, the opportunity to see

Rugby's World Cup and encourage them to continue with their sport and hopefully represent their country like the Essex World Cup winning Legend Jason Leonard OBE did in 2003.

As well as Essex clubs represented, current playing squad members of England Deaf Rugby Union Bex Francis and Paul Cooper together with EDRU chairman Tony Stoyles and secretary Lyndon James were present.

The trophy then continued on

its tour to Westcliff RFU and Woodford RFU. The following day saw East London RFU take their turn to host the trophy tour and invited veteran players from Old Brentwoods and the Essex Bishops XV, the county charity side, who took part in a tournament and faced each other in the plate final.

At full time the score was 5-5 and so a further extra ten minutes was played with the Essex Bishops XV clinching a 12-5 win with a try and a conversion.

Bar'N'Bus treat for local children

By SHIRLEY DEERING, St Mary’s Widford FOR several days in August and September, residents of Westlands estate in Chelmsford were intrigued to see an orange double-decker bus standing in the car park of the Church of the Holy Spirit, in Forest Drive (right).

This was not the result of a dozy bus driver having taken the wrong turning, but of a joint initiative by Essex County Council, the Christian Growth Centre, and the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Led by Pastor Stuart Alleway, from the Christian Growth Centre, and Revd Stephanie Gillingham, from Widford Parish, a team of volunteers from the Widford congregations welcomed a steady stream of young people aboard the Bar‘N’Bus converted vehicle.

On the lower deck they found amenities such as X-Box, tea, coffee, squash and

biscuits. Climbing the original bus stairs, visitors found the upper deck had been turned into a space where they could enjoy playing a variety of board games, and enjoy playing Wii with groups of friends. There was also a nail bar which proved popular; decorating nails with bright colours and innovative designs.

Volunteers found opportunities to share their

faith with the young people and to pray with them. On the lower deck was a book in which visitors could leave written prayer requests.

Bar‘N’Bus is an Essex-based charity, operating a number of converted buses which it takes to towns throughout the county.

The leaders and volunteer teams seek to reach out to young people who would not normally even consider entering a church. They try to engage with them by listening to their concerns and issues, and where necessary, encouraging them to seek help from other agencies.

This was the first time the bus had visited Widford; the visit was arranged as part of a programme of reassurance for local people who had been left feeling very disturbed by a serious incident earlier in the summer. l More information: www.barnbus.org.uk.