June-July 2015
NOTICE board
‘Vicar’s Wife’ to share Messy House Ministry
By SHIRLEY ANSTEY
AMANDA Robbie, a clergy spouse, mother and author from West Bromwich, who also tweets and blogs as ‘The Vicar’s Wife’, will be leading this year’s Chelmsford Clergy Spouses Weekend. The weekend is September 25-27 and held at the Diocesan Retreat House at Pleshey. Worship will be led by Revd Sharon Guest, curate at Chigwell and also a clergy spouse. "To love one’s neighbour messy makes" writes Amanda, in her 2013 book ‘The Ministry of a Messy House’. On her theme for the weekend, ‘Making the most of a Messy Ministry’, Amanda says: "There's no getting away from it: ministry is messy. "And it's not just the glitter stuck on the church hall floor after the toddler group. "We are messed up people ministering to and with
Revd Sharon Guest messed up people in a messy world. "Our homes receive mess in the form of ecclesiastical junk mail, people seeking help and all the problems and joys of parish life. "Our churches and our communities are not as they should be - sometimes we can feel totally inadequate when faced with the mess around us - and inside us. "Why not join us at the Chelmsford Clergy Spouses weekend as we think about how God's grace and
providence help us to make the most of the mess? "We'll be thinking about our homes, churches and communities and how God's power is made perfect in weakness. "Come to laugh at the sometimes ridiculous situations we find ourselves in, to share ways to persevere when the mess threatens to overwhelm us and to be encouraged in God, who meets us in and through the mess." The weekend is an opportunity for spouses of clergy currently serving in Chelmsford Diocese to enjoy the peace of Pleshey. Although it is no longer called a retreat, the aim is to provide a mixture of spiritual and social, with relaxation and reflection, teaching and talking, friendship and fellowship. There is a friendly group of regular attendees but those who have not been previously would be very welcome. Most spouses come for the whole weekend but we have a
Town Hall Gospel Choir coming to the lTHE Harwich Festival on July 4 (7.30pm) and will perform at St Nicholas, Church Street. This outstanding choir from Birmingham were the winners of the first BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year competition. The 40-strong choir, under the directorship of Colin Anderson, will be singing a variety of gospel music in their own inimitable style. Roderick Earle, the Festival Artistic Director says: "I am thrilled that this fabulous choir has agreed to come to the Harwich Festival. They are at the top of their game and this will be a concert to remember. Prepare to be excited, moved and uplifted. Gospel singing doesn’t get better than this!" The event is sponsored by Churches Together in the Harwich Peninsula and tickets are £12 from 07425 145022. The Harwich Festival runs from June 24 to July 5. l www.harwichfestival.co.uk
Organ scholarship on offer
THE Parish Church of St. Nicolas, Witham is looking for a new Organ Scholar to take up the position from September 2015, initially for one year but with the possibility of a further year. The new Organ Scholar is likely to be aged between 14 and 18, to be reasonably competent on the piano or electronic keyboard, and willing to make a commitment to the church over a 12-month period.
What the church offers is the chance to learn the organ, with regular lessons given in church by an excellent teacher; to practise regularly on our superb Kenneth Tickell instrument; to work with the choir, training, leading and accompanying them; and to play regularly at services. What the Organ Scholar has to do is attend organ lessons, choir practices and services regularly during term time; to practise regularly and
to make progress on the organ; and to take advantage of the opportunities being offered. If you know of anyone who might be interested in the St Nicolas Church Organ Scholarship, please get in touch with the Director of Music, David Martin. l David can be contacted on 33, Bridge Street, Witham, Essex CM8 1BU, 01376 515827 or e-mail: martind77 @hotmail.com
few spaces for day visitors on the Saturday. Pleshey Retreat House is not large so places are limited and early booking advised. Invitations and information will be sent to clergy spouses shortly, either by personal email address if available, or via their spouse’s email. l For further information, contact Shirley Anstey (020 8520 2885) or for bookings contact Christine Wragg (01708 446571). The diocese holds a list of spouses email addresses and we encourage spouses who think they may not be listed to contact one of us with their details so they can be included. l Book: ‘The Ministry of a Messy House: grace in place of guilt’ – by Amanda Robbie (IVP 2013) l Blog: https://thevicarswife. wordpress.com/ l Twitter: @thevicars
GUEST SPEAKER: Amanda Robbie and her book: ‘The Ministry of a Messy House: grace in place of guilt’