The Month December 2016

December 2016

tmas starts with N E E D TO K N OW ristingle Bishop’s View

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 www.chelmsford.anglican.org

By Rt Revd Peter Hill, Bishop of Barking WHEN I was a boy I hoped to be six feet tall.

My hope has not been fulfilled - well not yet anyway! Later I hoped to get married and have kids, those hopes have been fulfilled. This year I hope Wales will win the rugby Six Nations Grand Slam! At present I hope for someone dear to me to get better. We all hope for peace in Syria, Iraq and the Middle East..

As we enter the season of Advent we are encouraged and enthused with an even bigger hope: the hope we have in the Lord Jesus, who comes to us in love and will one day bring the whole of his creation together in peace and justice for all, the total fulfilment of the Kingdom of God. In my recent dealings with refugee children I have seen hopes raised and dashed. When I became Bishop of Barking just over two years ago I never imagined I would find myself sitting on the floor in Calais with rabbis and other faith leaders, hearing the hopes and fears of refugee children trapped in the Jungle Camp.

Some hoped to be engineers, other medics, all simply hoped to get to school in the UK. Neither did I reckon I would be helping 14 young people from that CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Christmas services website launched: Turn to centre pages

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'Walking Backwards to Christmas' is a best-selling book for Bishop Stephen

Commemorating the Battle of Assandun's millenium

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■ Wishing all our readers and advertisers a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year

2

THE MONTH December 2016

THE

month — 'Many churches are bucking the downward trend'

Chelmsford parishes were tops at noting latest attendances

THE Church of England has published its Statistics for Mission for 2015 based on parish returns for October 2015.

Over recent decades, attendance at Church of England church services has seen gentle decline.

These trends continued in 2015.

Most key measures of attendance have fallen by between 10 and 15 per cent over the past 10 years.

Although the overall pattern is one of gradual decline, this masks the differences in experience in individual parishes.

In 53 per cent of parishes there has been no statistically significant change in attendance in the Church of England as a whole. In 10 per cent of parishes attendance has increased. In 37 per cent of parishes attendance has decreased.

Many East London and Essex churches are on the up, with a third consistently reporting growth Commenting on the figures for Chelmsford Diocese John Ball, the Chief Executive & Diocesan Secretary, has said: “We all know that church attendance across the country has been trending down for many years, so there is nothing new about that in these figures, but this latest snapshot confirms that the rate of decline has slowed, and many churches are bucking the trend.

“In East London and Essex average all age weekly attendance was 38,404 in 2015, which was actually up by nearly one per cent on the 2014 figure.

These statistics are

based on a fantastic 100 per cent return from our parishes.

“The national figures reflect some - but by no means all - of the activities of parish churches.

"For example, many of our churches are serving communities in new and innovative ways but these activities are not captured by this set of statistics.

“Our parishes are to be congratulated on being the best in the country at collecting and

JOHN BALL providing this information.”

On average, 38,404 people (84 per cent adults, 16 per cent children under 16) attended services and acts of worship each week in our churches in October 2015.

A further 6,153 people attended services for schools in our churches each week.

Usual Sunday attendance at our churches in 2015 was 30,469 people (84 per cent adults, 16 per cent children under 16).

The worshipping community of our

churches in 2015 was 44,399 people, of whom 20 per cent were aged under 18, 53 per cent were aged 18-69, and 27 per cent were aged 70 or over.

50,195 people attended our churches at Easter 2015 (of whom 73 per cent received communion).

104,634 people attended our churches at Christmas 2015 (of whom 31 per cent received communion).

During Advent, 95,934 people attended special services for the congregation and local community, and 123,403 people attended special services for civic organisations and schools.

There were 4,885 baptisms and services of thanksgiving for the gift of a child during 2015.

There were 1,843 marriages and services of prayer and dedication after civil marriages during 2015.

There were 2,685 funerals in our churches, and a further 3,065 funerals at crematoria/ cemeteries during 2015.

Chelmsford has the lowest level of participation in the Church of England as a percentage of the Christian population (3.3 per cent) due to the strength of other denominations and churches in our region.

Fresh Expressions of Church like Messy Church and Café Church are not counted in these figures.

Church attendance is measured each October but the statistics are not available for a year. ● Fresh expressions figures fillip: Page 12

first Mission ●THE and Ministry Unit,

for Saffron Walden Deanery, was commissioned on October 16.

Eight Mission and Ministry Units have now been approved to enable churches to work together and support each other in mission and ministry to every community in their areas.

The others are the Chelmer Mission & Ministry Partnership, South West Chelmsford Churches, Thurstable and Winstree with Kelvedon and Feering, Dunmow and Stansted Deanery, All Saints Minster, Central and North Romford and Newham Deanery.

Commenting on the recent approval of the Chelmer Mission & Ministry Partnership, which will bring together 11 churches in eight benefices, Canon Robert Hammond, Lay Chair of Chelmsford North Deanery, has said: “This is another really good example of lay and clergy leadership working together to deliver a key component of

‘Transforming Presence’.”

KEY—Purple: Christmas attendance; Red: Easter; Green: Usual Sunday attendance; Blue: Average adult weekly plus Child Sunday attendance

Do you wish it could be Christmas every day?

"OH I wish it could be Christmas every day” goes the song. To which many may respond: “Be careful what you wish for!”

But what might Christmas each day look like in a world frayed at the edges, fraught with uncertainty and struggle?

Just imagine the everyday opportunity to share time together, offer hospitality, express our appreciation to each other, to remember and pray for those less fortunate, to

Bishop Stephen's Christmas message

show our togetherness and celebrate a wonderful event.

And yet the birth of Jesus is more than a wonderful event. It is the supreme act of giving that reminds us of our own humanity, our own vulnerability, of the child that is within us all, full of hope, generosity and anticipation.

Instead of celebrating Christmas once a year, why

not put it at the heart of our lives, ministry and mission throughout the year?

That is why I do wish it could be Christmas every day.

So – have a peaceful, blessed and very special time. And let the bells ring out for Christmas!

RT REVD STEPHEN COTTRELL Bishop of Chelmsford

Bishop's Chaplain off to Isle of Wight REVD Leslie Rogers is moving to the Isle of Wight where his partner, John, has been offered a new job.

Leslie (left)will be leaving his posts as the Bishop of Chelmsford's chaplain and Associate Priest at Ascension with All Saints Chelmsford at the end of January 2017.

Bishop Stephen said: "Although I am very pleased that this door of opportunity has opened for Leslie and John, I am enormously sad to be losing him as my chaplain.

He has brought tremendous

wisdom and experience to the post, been a fantastically loyal and helpful colleague, and served the Chelmsford diocese with great commitment over the past few years. In particular, Leslie's knowledge of safeguarding, his experience as a magistrate and his pastoral heart have enabled the whole diocese to improve its processes in a number of critically important areas.

"There aren't many priests with his blend of gifts and experience. He has also been

a great support to me personally. We will miss him hugely."

Leslie commented: "It is with a mixture of sadness and excitement we leave Chelmsford diocese.

"I could not have wished for a better experience for my ministry and the fantastic opportunity to work with Bishop Stephen and his staff as Bishop's chaplain.

"We feel extremely blessed to have shared this journey with so many supportive friends and colleagues."

THE MONTH December 2016

THE

month — Barking Area advisor heads north

Vernon appointed as Archdeacon of Westmorland

REVD Vernon Ross, the Barking Area Mission and Ministry Advisor, has been appointed as the next Archdeacon of Westmorland and Furness in south Cumbria.

Vernon, who is also an associate priest in the Chigwell and Chigwell Row team ministry, will take up the post next February.

The Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome, has welcomed Vernon’s appointment: “Vernon Ross has shown he has tremendous and demonstrable talents for missional and spiritual growth as well as strategic oversight in order to bring new people to discipleship in Jesus Christ.

"He has also shown a great commitment to leading that vision forward ecumenically."

Vernon commented: “I’m delighted to be joining the Diocese of Carlisle.

"Just like Chelmsford Diocese, Carlisle is placing a real focus on mission, evangelism and discipleship and a desire to work across denominational boundaries.

"I have really enjoyed working in the dynamic setting that is East London and Essex with such a gifted

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MOVING HOME: Revd Vernon and Mrs Francesca Ross

group of colleagues both lay and ordained, and both Francesca and I will miss the many friends that we have made here.”

The Bishop of Barking, Peter Hill said: "Vernon is a deeply committed and able minister of the Gospel who is well equipped for the role of a missional Archdeacon.

"His dedicated and creative ministry

will be a loss to the Barking Episcopal Area.

"The Diocese of Carlisle are fortunate to gain such a strategic, mission-focused leader on their senior team."

Vernon will be ‘collated and installed’ (or admitted) as Archdeacon at a special service in Carlisle Cathedral on a date yet to be fixed.

God is waiting for us at end of stress cycle

NATIONAL Sermon of the Year winner Natalie Collins (right), from Langdon Hills, is a gender justice specialist. She works to enable individuals and organisations to prevent and respond to male violence against women.

She is also the creator of the DAY Programme, an innovative youth domestic abuse and exploitation education programme.

She speaks and writes on understanding and ending gender injustice internationally. Here is her second mini-sermon written for The Month: IN October I spent the day with fabulous women at the Gathering of Women Leaders (www. gatheringofwomenleaders. info). The theme of the day was “Living in Uncertain Times” and I was asked to talk about the Stress Cycle.

Most people are under the miscomprehension that stress is a choice. As Christians, we may feel like we’re failing if we are

B.F. MULLEY & SON

NATALIE'S MUSINGS

unable to serenely glide around, talking in a gentle voice about how wonderful life it. Within British culture, famous for our stiff upper lip, we may try to power through, ignoring our body telling us we need to stop.

Stress is not a choice.

It is the body’s natural, physiological response to stressors. In years gone by, those stressors would most likely be lions, tigers and unicorns (okay, maybe not unicorns).

There is a deep built-in stress response designed to trigger an “I’m at risk” state. We either run away from the lion (flight), kill the lion (fight) or “play dead” so the lion leaves us alone (freeze).

Once we escape the predator we can move from the “I’m at risk” state to “I am safe” state.

Instead of wild animals, we deal with the chronic stressors of financial difficulties, unrealistic deadlines at work or arguments with our family.

However, the flight, fight and freeze responses are still how our body responds to stressors.

Flight is fear, anxiety and terror. Fight is anger, irritation and frustration.

Freeze is depression.

With many modern stressors, there’s no clear beginning. We may not even realise our body has shifted into “I’m at risk”.

Yet it has.

And we’re in a culture which suggests we should just power on, that denial is the best solution.

Yet, God created us with a physiological stress cycle. Until we create a context where we can take healthy action that will complete the stress cycle (moving us from “I’m at risk” to “I am safe”) things won’t change.

Research has found physical exercise, sleep, affection, mindfulness, a good long cry, journaling and art can help us to complete the cycle and move into the “I am safe” state.

As Christians, it may be useful for us to remember that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and not our strength. And in Him we can find peace, rest and the completion of the stress cycle as He whispers to us, “You Are Safe.” ● You can find out more about Natalie’s work and contact her at www. nataliecollins.info

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4

THE MONTH December 2016

THE

month — Public want to know where financial institutions are investing

Banks told to clean up their act

By JOE WARE, Christian Aid

● New report shows

THERE is significant public support for banks to be more transparent about how they use customers’ money, a new poll for Christian Aid has revealed.

Seventy per cent of British adults want banks to be legally required to reveal where they invest their individual and corporate customers’ money, while only 14 per cent disagree, according to the ComRes poll.

Half of British adults (50 per cent) also say that the type of companies a bank invests in is important to them, when deciding who to bank with.

The results come as Christian Aid launches a new campaign which will see bank account holders asking Barclays, RBS, Lloyds and HSBC, whether they have a climate plan for their customers’ money.

A new report by the charity shows that the big four banks are still much more heavily invested in fossil fuels than in clean energy, and are not moving quickly enough to change this picture.

Report author Ken Boyce, Senior Private Sector Adviser at Christian Aid, said: “These poll results, show that a large majority of British adults want banks to come clean about where they invest billions of pounds of ordinary people’s money that they control. More than ever this

shows that private finance is the public’s business.

“Everyone wants to save for a rainy day but what if our money is causing a storm?

“Today we are launching a new campaign for banks to shift their customers’ billions out of dirty and dangerous fossil-fuelled industries and into cleaner ones that will help keep people and our planet safer.

“The banks should urgently formulate clear plans to keep all their lending and investment in line with internationally agreed climate commitments.

“Our future is quite literally in their plans.”

The ComRes poll showed that Women are more likely to say

High Street banks heavily invested in fossil fuels ● 70 per cent of adults want banks to reveal where they invest their money ● UK’s Big 4 banks given D grade for a lack of climate investment policies and exposure to fossil fuels

they care about the type of firms in which a bank invests (53 per cent versus 46 per cent of men), according to the new poll.

Women are also more likely than men to say that environmental issues are important for them, when choosing where to bank (44 per cent versus 37 per cent of men).

Christian Aid’s report, Our Future In Their Plans, assesses the banks’ policies in relation to climate change and their plans to bring their investments and lending in line with the internationally agreed target of limiting global warming to 2˚C, which was enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

The analysis of the big four High Street banks gives them all a disappointing D grade.

Mr Boyce said: “The big four banks have all signed the Paris Pledge for Action in which they affirmed their commitment to act to support the realization of the goals of the Paris Agreement. We tried to assess what concrete actions and commitments they are taking. We awarded them a D grade because they are not living up to that pledge.

“They are still financing the building of coal-fired power stations which will lock countries in to high carbon infrastructure making it harder for them to meet their climate ambitions. They are still financing oil and gas companies far more than they are

renewables. And they are reluctant to set measurable targets for scaling up support for renewables and phasing out support for fossil fuels.

“As the grave problems caused by climate change intensify, the financing of new fossil fuel projects such as these will become increasingly financially risky. Banks that fail to take these risks into account are failing to safeguard customers’ money.”

To meet our globally agreed climate commitments, the UK must shift more quickly towards a low carbon economy. Christian Aid believes the finance for this shift is already available – but only if the companies that manage money on our behalf get behind the change. ● Readers of can take part in the campaign to email the big four banks by visiting www. christian-aid.org.uk/bigshift. ● ComRes interviewed 2,030 British adults aged 18+ online from October 28-30. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of all British adults aged 18 and over by age, gender, region and socioeconomic grade. ● The report 'Our Future In Their Plans: Why Private Finance Is The Public’s Business', can be downloaded at http://caid.org.uk/ bigshiftreport

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THE MONTH December 2016

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READY TO SERVE: Evangelism Enablers and Pastoral Assistants await commissioning in Chelmsford Cathedral with Bishop John Wraw (left) and Training Co-ordinator, Beverley Vincent (right)

by REVD ELIZABETH JORDAN, Lay Development Adviser A SERVICE to celebrate Lay ministry can only begin to acknowledge the multiplicity of ways in which God’s people are living distinctive, faithful lives and witnessing to His transforming presence.

Many gifts and ministries were named in Chelmsford Cathedral on October 8, but there is always more to be said.

So as thanks were given for those who served as authorised local preachers, spiritual directors, school governors and headteachers, church wardens and PCC members, members of the Mothers' Union and of religious orders we knew there were many more whose ministry was not going to be named aloud.

It was a celebration for many reasons: the 150th anniversary of Reader ministry in its present form, a welcome to Readers joining us from other dioceses,

Lay ministry is celebrated the commissioning of Evangelism Enablers, Pastoral Assistants, Youth ministers and Newham evangelists and the licensing of new licensed ministers.

There were balloons, much singing, some dancing and only a few spare seats in a packed cathedral.

The preacher, Professor David Ford, picked up the theme of God’s abundance as he continued the exploration of John’s Gospel which he had begun during a lecture in the morning.

He spoke of the way in which

John records God always providing more than we need – too much bread, a bursting net full of fish.

The full Cathedral was a reminder that God is calling many people to be witnesses of His generous provision for us, providing His church with the ministry it needs to carry out His mission.

We were able to rejoice both in the profound ways in which formal lay ministry is changing the look of the church and in the many informal activities which are carried out day by day.

It sometimes feels as though we are living as though God had rationed our resources, but this day was testimony to the fact that God’s Spirit is calling and equipping many to serve Him. The service ended with a renewed commitment to ministry and mission in God’s name. ● If you would like any further details about how to find resources to help you in your response to God’s call, please contact Revd Dr Elizabeth Jordan, the Lay Development Adviser: ejordan@chelmsford. anglican.org

Do you have wishes that you hope will be fulfilled?

FROM FRONT PAGE

same camp reunite with their UK family members at the reception centre in Croydon a few weeks later.

It was a privilege, but a bitter sweet privilege, as it should not have been necessary - but sadly it was!

It was bitter to hear their stories of agonising loss and trauma on horrendous journeys across land and sea from Darfur, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Syria; and in seeing the emotional and physical results at first hand.

Yet it was sweet in seeing the joy on young faces at reaching the safety of London, within touching distance of their families.

Sweet also in seeing them relax, laugh, eat and play games while they waited, just like any other kids; yet still so vulnerable in the

IN MY VIEW

midst of our bureaucratic processes. And by the way they were all clearly kids, the youngest being 13, including one girl.

It is a bitter thing that we cannot save all the child refugees, but as a Jewish saying has it, “to save one life is to save a whole world.”

Jesus was a refugee too and we are all refugees one way or another, all passing through this world as strangers and pilgrims, destined for a better home, welcome in the arms of a loving God. Meanwhile our lives are full of hopes: big, small, important and trivial. What are your hopes and dreams: for yourself, your family, your church, from life, after death?

Perhaps you simply hope for a quiet and peaceful life! In the end all our earthly hopes

are transient and fleeting. There is nothing wrong with that and they may be based on intelligence or good judgement. They are all natural human wishes, but they cannot be relied upon.

The world is an awful chaotic place at times, life is not fair.

We all know that and we see it, as I did with the Calais children, and we experience it for ourselves.

So how can the apostle Paul write, “be joyful in hope” (Rom 12:12)?

He can say it with confidence because he is talking about a very different kind of hope, a hope the New Testament says is absolutely “sure and certain” (Heb 11:1). Why? Because God is God and Jesus has been raised from the dead!

PETER HILL Bishop of Barking

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THE MONTH December 2016

THE

month — Four videos have been filmed on the theme of Christmas Joy to pr

CHELMSFORD SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT

‘This Shining Night’ Saturday, 17th December 2016 at 7.30pm Venue: The Church of St. John the Baptist, Danbury, Essex CM3 4NG

Tickets: £10; Under 18 - £6 Tickets available from James Dace & Son, 22 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford. 01245 352133/262841 - email: shop@jamesdace.co.uk or from Choir members, or our website.

Further information from sue.lowden@btopenworld.com

Website mince pie bring #JoyToTheW

ON 1 December www.AChristmasNearYou. org will be live for anyone to find the nearest Christmas services to them or search for services in a place they will be visiting.

The website will take into account practical matters such as whether wheelchair access and car parking are available or whether services will include sign language as well as basics such as carols.

People will also be able to find which Christmas services are serving mince pies or mulled wine. For smartphones, the website will be able to use geolocation to find where the person is and show which Christmas services are happening nearest to them.

The website will be supported by a social

COVER STORY media campaign from the launch of the website, right up to Christmas Day using the hashtag #JoyToTheWorld.

To promote the website and this Christmas social media campaign, four videos have been filmed on the theme of Christmas Joy. The videos star Gogglebox vicar Kate Bottley, comedian Paul Kerensa, Matt Woodcock of ‘Becoming Reverend’ fame, and Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rose Hudson Wilkin – each showing a moment of Christmas Joy in their lives.

Sarah Newman, the Communications Executive of Chelmsford Diocese, is encouraging parishes to get ready now.

“Please start uploading your Christmas services to your A Church Near You page ready for the website launch,” Sarah said.

“You don’t need to have A Church Near You administrator access to add the right Christmas services, just your email address. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #JoyToTheWorld in your printed publicity and social media. We really want to get this trending.

“For millions of people a perfect Christmas includes Church. We don't want people to worry if they haven't been to church for ages. They are still very welcome."

Last year 2.5 million people attended services on Christmas Day on top of 2.3 million joining Advent services in churches and 2.7 million at civil carol services.

Essex residents walk for

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

BY JOEY KNOCK, Christian Aid CHURCHES across Essex took part in the Speak Up Week of Climate Action. In Leighon-Sea, there was a ‘Walk of Witness’ from St Clement’s Church to Sir David Amess MP’s office in October.

After a short reflective service in the Lady Chapel, 15 residents walked through Leigh town centre holding signs to show what they love and want protecting from climate change. Signs included ‘For the love of Southend Seafront let’s do something about climate change’ and ‘For the love of sunny days in the park with my nephew.’

At the end of the walk, residents met Sir David to discuss their concerns.

Sir David agreed to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and ask him to publish a lowcarbon investment plan to transform the economy in line with the Climate Change Act. Other local issues raised included recycling by litter pickers, encouraging more children and parents to walk to school and the cost of public buses in Southend.

The event took place as part of the Speak Up week of action, where thousands of local people met their MPs across the country.

Other events in Essex included a nature walk with Colchester MP Will Quince at Highwoods Park, and an exhibition in Bulphan Village Hall.

The Speak Up week of action was organised by The Climate Coalition – a group of more than 100 organisations including Christian Aid, RSPB, WWF, Islamic Relief, CAFOD, WI as well as local groups.

It is part of an ongoing effort to encourage the government to shift to 100 per cent clean energy within a generation to protect the people, places and life we love from climate change.

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the climate to meet MPs WHAT THEY SAID REVD MELANIE SMITH, minister at Westcliff and Crowstone United Reformed Churches: "As we walked along Leigh Broadway, we received the smiles and thumbs up of Saturday shoppers. Climate change affects us all from flooding on Southend seafront to the price of food. We need to keep speaking up and making sure our government and world leaders are doing all they can."

SIR DAVID AMESS MP: "I enjoyed meeting local residents after the walk to talk about climate change and their local concerns. It’s important MPs and the government hear the voices of those around the UK and act on the serious implications climate change has."

Above: Residents meet Sir David Amess MP to discuss climate change at Westcliff United Reformed Church.

Left: Will Quince, MP for Colchester (centre), with some of the town's churchgoers and WI members, including Geoff Casey, chairman of Colchester Christian Aid group and his wife Janet Casey.

Right: David Walker, Church Times cartoonist, joined the Leigh event.

JOEY KNOCK, Christian Aid’s Regional Co-ordinator for Essex and resident: "Climate change is having a huge impact on some of the poorest people in the world, making flooding in India or a food crisis in Malawi more likely. We need to speak up and act on climate change so it doesn’t keep communities trapped in the poverty and insecurity that disasters can cause.""

GINA COX, local resident in Leigh attended the walk with her husband and six-month old daughter: "I brought my little one along because the walk was campaigning for a better world that ultimately she will inherit with all our children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren. I think it’s unjust that the poorest people in the world are catastrophically suffering the effects of climate change when we in industrialised richer countries are more to blame for polluting the environment."

01992 576065

info@lightline.org.uk

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Radio is on EPG 0147 Live TV at www.ewtn.co.uk £175 total cost for equipment and installation With no monthly costs

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Visit your local Christian Bookshop for your Christmas cards, gifts, Bibles, books, and so much more!

Serving you at Southend Christian Bookshop 57 London Road Southend-on-Sea Essex SS1 1PF T: 01702 344008

Wellspring Christian Bookshop Pilgrims Hall Ongar Road Pilgrims Hatch Brentwood CM15 9SA T: 01277 373413

Contact us for bulk orders, see: christianbookshopsrus.co.uk scbookshop@talktalk.net

There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

1Ch 17:20 (ESV)

8

THE MONTH December 2016

25 years providing hope and healing for the hurt and lost 2016 has been a wonderfully challenging year as we have commemorated 25 years since the beginning of our work at Gilead. Wonderful, because of all the people who have been set free from addiction and now live lives that they did not think possible. Challenging, because we see the need is increasing as the years go by.

from 1994 to 2001, staying on to help others after her own successful rehab from addiction to drugs.

She worked as PA to Gilead co-founder, Ian Samuel, and as There have been many successes in crime. “Gilead is 25 years of ministering to the lonely and why I am here the Administration Manager. She trained hurting who seek help from Gilead. These today. I am not are just a few: for four years to the same person become a qualified I was. Gilead has Pam, formerly addicted to heroin enabled me to live psychotherapist specialising in following a turbulent childhood, told with other people counselling and is now a us: “It was the unconditional love and without needing to acceptance shown to me at Gilead after use drugs. My family is Project Manager, working Carolyne with ex-offenders at Langley I had messed up so badly that being restored”. In was the key for my recovery.

2008 Paul worked House Trust in Somerset. “Gilead made me feel safe,” she said. “They I never thought I would be as a support worker believed in me, and that gave me hope to happy living a ‘normal’ for schools work. He then begin to believe in myself.” life – but I am!” Pam undertook a three year completed rehab with course at Moorlands Gilead in 2013, she Bible College, where The years ahead, frankly, look bleaker than the last 25 years for those seeking to is now engaged to he attained degree start a new life free from addiction. Most be married, holding in Applied Theology funding for rehab is now limited to just down a good job and in 2011. He married is FREE of addiction. his wife in 2012, 12 weeks. Long term (at least 52 weeks) rehab is proven to work better, and is the they are now homebasis of Gilead’s 85% success rate.

Paul was a Gilead owners and have been graduate in 2005 approved as foster In the face of funding cuts, we have following a 20 year parents. decided to keep all of our rehab spaces history of substance Pam Carolyne was at Gilead as fully occupied as we can. At the abuse and drug related

PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING GILEAD WITH A DONATION OR REGULAR MONTHLY GIVING.

I enclose a one-off gift of £

If you have any questions about our work, please contact Lois Samuel on 01837 851240. If you have questions about making a larger donation or interest free loan to the ministry, please contact Chris Cole (Trustee) on 07957 433973.

You can CONSIDER also visit www.gilead.org.uk to find outA more PLEASE SUPPORTING GILEAD WITH about us and online.

DONATION ORdonate REGULAR MONTHLY GIVING.

I would like to become a Partner

If you have any questions about our work, please contact Lois Samuel on 01837 851240. If you have questions a larger orGilead interestFoundations free loan to the Iabout am a making UK taxpayer anddonation I agree to ministry,(GFC) pleaseclaiming contacttax Chris (Trustee) 07957 Charity on Cole all past, presentonand future 433973. donations I make the charity. Please my more donations You can also visit to www.gilead.org.uk to treat find out as Giftus Aidand donations.

I confirm that I am paying or will pay about donate online. an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount GFC and any other charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) will reclaim for the tax year I am a UK taxpayer I agree Gilead (6 April one year to and 5 April the to next year).Foundations Council Tax and Charity claiming tax onGift all Aid. past,GFC present future VAT do (GFC) not qualify towards will and reclaim 25 donations I make to the£1charity.

Please my donations pence of tax for every that has beentreat given. as Gift Aid donations. I confirm that I am paying or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover the amount GFC and any other charities Signed Date or Community Amateur Clubsto(CASCs) willmailing reclaim Please addSports my details the Gilead listfor the tax year (6 April one year to 5 April the next year). Council Tax and VAT do(Mr, not Mrs, qualify Title Rev,towards other) Gift Aid. GFC will reclaim 25 pence of tax for every £1 that has been given.

First Name Signed Date Address Please add my details to the Gilead mailing list Title (Mr, Mrs, Rev, other)

Please make cheques payble to Gilead Foundations Please fill in this form

Name

I enclose a one-off gift of £

Please make cheques payble to Gilead Foundations

Name of your bank

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

Bank address Name

Postcode Name of your bank

Account No.

Sort Code

Bank address Instruction to your bank: Please deduct £5 / £10 / £25 / or £ from my account on (dd/mm/yy) / / Then monthly until further notice. Pay this sum to Gilead Postcode Foundations Account No: 05651441 Sort Code: 54-21-14 Nat West Bank, 40 Fore Street, Okehampton, EX20 1EY

Account Signed No.

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Instruction to your bank: Please deduct £5 / £10 / £25 / or £ from my account on (dd/mm/yy) / / Surname Then monthly until further notice. Pay this sum to Gilead Foundations Account No: 05651441 Sort Code: 54-21-14 Nat West Bank, 40 Fore Street, Okehampton, EX20 1EY Signed

Date

We wish to thank readers of this newspaper who have supported Gilead over the last year or so.

We have many different kinds of supporters – those who pray, those who volunteer, those who give large sums and those who give just a little every month. With any kind of support, it is the heart behind the gift that counts, and we’re blessed to have such goodwill from many different people all over the UK.

• • •

Surname Postcode

•

£20 pays for simple counselling course materials for one client £80 pays for their food for a month (we budget wisely!) £100 pays for their health and safety approved workwear for their skills training £5 per month will help towards the costs of basic training in First Aid, Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, Literacy and Numeracy – all of which increase employability £10 per month contributes to

Postcode

Organisation / company (if applicable) Please return this form to

Gilead Foundations, Risdon Farm, Jacobstowe, Okehampton, EX20 3AJ

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You can also donate online.

DIO1216

01837 851240 www.gilead.org.uk You can also donate online.

Please return this form to Gilead Foundations, Risdon Farm, Jacobstowe, Okehampton, EX20 3AJ Tel : 01837 851240 Fax : 01837 851520 Email : admin@gilead.org.uk www .gilead.org.uk Registered in England No: 2608644 Limited by Guarantee Registered Charity No: 1002909

Tel : 01837 851240 Fax : 01837 851520 Email : admin@gilead.org.uk www .gilead.org.uk Registered in England No: 2608644 Limited by Guarantee Registered Charity No: 1002909

Gilead community

It’s the stories of those who have been restored at Gilead over the last 25 years that keeps us going, and encourages us to reach out to more people with the life-changing message of hope and practical help.

We see lives transformed beyond expectations, and it’s a joy. If you can support us in any way, we would like to hear from you. We hope the short stories on this page will encourage you as much as they encourage us.

Any giving makes a difference

First Name Organisation / company (if applicable)

Email

You can help us as we continue to reverse the destructive effects of addiction. Please become a monthly partner with us, or make a one off donation to our bursary fund to help us help those who are considered by many to be ‘beyond help’. We believe in them, and we believe many people share our vision. If you can, please stand with us.

Thank you for your support

•

Address Telephone Number

time of writing, we have five people on application, who we aim to admit before Christmas. None of them have the necessary funding to come, but we believe they all have a good chance of successful rehabilitation leading to productive lives.

This is why we exist, and in the current climate of austerity, we will continue to provide hope and healing for as many people as we can. But we could use some help!

We wish you a Blessed Christmas and 2017

vocational skills training in catering, administration and farm work • £25 per month makes a genuine dent in the programme costs associated with providing rehabilitation ALL donations help, and ANY donation you can make, as a one-off gift or a regular monthly partner, means that we are closer to reaching our goal of taking in anyone who needs help, and who genuinely desires to change, regardless of their funding status.

THE MONTH December 2016

THE

9

month — February 28 deadline for entries

Diocese rewards design excellence

THE Diocese is asking parishes to enter the DAC Design Awards which reward design excellence across the diocese.

The DAC Design Awards Scheme applies to everything that requires Faculty consent, from small items such as candlesticks and light fittings, to glass, memorial, sculptures, paintings and furniture through to reordering schemes, whole building developments, churchyard schemes for areas

2017 DAC DESIGN AWARDS

to inter cremated remains, or tree planting projects.

Neither the scale nor the cost of the work is important, and inner city, suburban, rural and town centre churches have equal opportunity within this Scheme.

The number of awards each year will be at the discretion of

the judges, and will take the form of a certificate categorised as Merit, Commended and Highly Commended.

Schemes awarded Highly Commended will be presented with their certificate by the Bishop of Chelmsford at a suitable occasion.

Judging of all applications will

take place at the Diocesan Office as soon as possible after the Tuesday, February 28 deadline.

A date for judging has yet to be confirmed. ● The application form can be obtained from the Diocesan website at www.chelmsford. anglican.org/parishes/dac or a hard copy can be obtained by contacting the DAC office 01245 294413/294423

New altar frontal for Ashdon

Corruption bill THE Government has taken welcome small steps against corruption but it has much more to do to get the UK’s own house in order, Christian Aid says as MPs debated the Criminal Finances Bill on October 25.

“The UK’s tax havens have been implicated in many of the worst corruption and tax dodging scandals.

Yet a Bill designed to stop corruption says nothing about them,” said Simon Kirkland, Christian

Aid’s Parliamentary and Political Adviser.

“If Government is serious about tackling corruption then it must get the UK’s own house in order by bringing Overseas Territories into line with the transparency the rest of the UK enjoys. Theresa May talks tough but she needs to act tough with this Bill.

“Until there is transparency in the tax havens, Ms May is missing a major opportunity to stamp out tax crime.”

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

editorial

RICHARD Spencer, the Team Vicar of Ashdon, introduced a new altar frontal for All Saints’ Church before a celebration of All Saints’ Day on October 30.

The frontal shows a stream of Peacock butterflies around some words from Psalm 119: ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet’.

It was donated in memory of Andrew Eyles, designed and painted by Richard’s wife, Bozy, made by Lucy King Curtains and embroidered by Bozy, Helen Eyles and Barbara Marshall. Peacock butterflies appear in the church at times.

Richard spoke about butterflies which go through a transformation from caterpillars that is analogous to the new birth that Jesus promised to all who follow him. He said: "The Bible uses the word ‘saint’ to refer to all who put their trust in him, so the multitude of butterflies helps us to picture all the saints, past and present. At St Paul wrote, ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17)."

16 Confirmed at GreatTey

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: 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

WE BELIEVE: Bishop Roger, Rector Revd John Richardson and 16 candidates at a Confirmation Service at Great Tey church on October 13.

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.

10

THE MONTH December 2016

We’ve been helping homeless people for 125 years

Sadly, our help is still needed You can help homeless people rebuild their lives. Please donate today.

Please accept my/our donation of  £250 I enclose a  cheque  postal order or charge my  Visa  Mastercard

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Please reclaim the tax on this and/or future donations (delete as applicable) until further notice. I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) to which I donate will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify.

Signed __________________________________________________ Date _________________________ Please return your completed form to: Church Housing Trust, PO Box 50296, London EC1P 1WF  020 7269 1630  info@churchhousingtrust.org.uk  www.churchhousingtrust.org.uk Charity No. 802801

The Month Xmas 2016

Image courtesy of www.cgpgrey.com

THE MONTH December 2016

11

12

THE MONTH December 2016

THE

month — Epistle to Hebrews lecture is available on CABC website

Make a date with Bradwell

By VERY REVD NICHOLAS HENSHALL “GATHER up the fragments.” (John 6.12) The new Bradwell Festival was rolled out for the first time in July. The Festival has its roots in the traditional Bradwell Pilgrimage, and seeks to develop the Pilgrimage into a whole weekend of music, worship and celebration.

This year saw a wide range of speakers and bands, worship in the Chapel through the day and on Sunday morning, and a range of opportunities both around the chapel and at the Othona Community.

The Bradwell Festival 2017 takes up where 2016 finished – very much the same format but with a wider range of worship, events and speakers.

The theme of Bradwell 2017 is “Gather up the fragments” – Jesus’ command to his disciples at the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6.

Bradwell 2017 seeks to be a celebration of precisely how we do that – how the Gospel reaches beyond our divisions to a vision of how all of us can flourish together and share in the abundance which Christ wants for the whole of humanity (John 10.10).

Bradwell 2017 takes place over the weekend of July 2017. Put the date in your diary now and look out for updates and further information.

CHRISTMAS 2016 CHELMSFORD CATHEDRAL

RECENT research by the Church Army has revealed that more than 50,600 people are attending fresh expressions of Church (fxC) in 21 dioceses across the country including Chelmsford.

Half of these young churches are being led by

Saturday 10 December, 7.00pm CathedralChoirs’ Christmas Concert Tickets: chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk

Friday 16 & 23 December 12.30pm Carols for Everyone Sunday 18 December 6.00pm Ceremony of Carols with the lighting of the ChristmasTree Friday 23 December, 6.30pm Nine Lessons and Carols

Christmas Eve Crib Service Nine Lessons and Carols Midnight Mass

Christmas Day 8.00am 9.00am 10.30am

By REVD STEPHEN BAZLINTON MORE than 200 delegates assembled in the Central Baptist Church, Chelmsford for the 16th Chelmsford Annual Bible Conference on October 15 to hear Revd Kevin Murdoch take us to the promised land through the Epistle to the Hebrews, the first verses of which we hear every Christmas.

Kevin (right) went deeper into this amazing letter and in four sessions he showed us how drift away from Jesus in the Christian pilgrimage is always a tendency because we are tempted to lose sight of what is a simple message; God speaking to us through His Son. We are distracted to unbelief through many other voices and pressures. There is the temptation to go back to ‘religiosity’ and its apparent solid security.

The Children of Israel had been led out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God but when confronted by empty water bottles, complained against God their Saviour and rebelled.

How often do we recite the first verses of the Venite (Psalm 95) but then when things go wrong, like no milk in the fridge or having to wait six minutes for a train, we lose our cool?

Three times the writer in chapters 3 and 4 reminds us not to harden our hearts through unbelief in the goodness, promises and provision of God, the verses we no longer seem to recite!

He reminded us that we are on the road to

eternal life but a heart of unbelief can stop us experiencing that life today in the rest that God longs for his children.

Christmas begins the greatest rescue story, such a great salvation, so we need to read, study and believe the promises of the Word of God and thereby encourage one another. This is all because the way of Christ is the better way.

The Old Covenant, old religion, can never bring us eternal life because there is a continual reminder of sin but the blood ‘group’

of Jesus has made holy for ever, those who come by faith to Him. I need to say no more about what was a most encouraging day because you too can hear it all on www.cabc.org.uk or obtain a CD from alisondeja@gmail.com.

We returned home with a party bag containing Smarties, a freebie book, 'God’s Big Picture' by Revd Vaughn Roberts and a reminder that next year 2017, on October 14, Very Revd Rod Thomas will be the speaker on the epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus.

Figures fillip for fresh expressions of church

Sunday 27 November, 6.00pm The Advent Procession

2.00pm 4.00pm 11.30pm

Conference explores familiar festive verses

Holy Communion Family Eucharist for Christmas morning Choral Eucharist for Christmas morning

For more information visit www.chelmsfordcathedral.org.uk

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Ex 15:11

women and twice the number of under-16s attend compared to parish churches.

The key research findings: ● There are four times as many fxC starting up now compared to a decade ago. ● Only 10 per cent of

attenders transferred from another local church. ● FxC attenders are much younger than the control group of parishes surveyed, with an average age of 25-34 against the average age of 65 for parish church attenders.

● FxC have a strong presence on England’s poorer housing estates.

For more information visit www.churcharmy. org/fxCresearch. ● Church attendance figures: see page 2.

Service commemorates the Battle of Assandun in 1016 VILLAGERS at Hadstock, together with many visitors, commemorated the Millennium of the Battle of Assandun with a church service on Sunday, October 16 at St Botolph’s Church, Hadstock.

This was the nearest Sunday to the actual 1000th anniversary of the Battle between the Danes and Saxons, which took place on October 18, 1016.

Rt Revd Rowan Williams (Lord Williams of Oystermouth) (right), previously Archbishop of Canterbury and now Master of Magdalene College Cambridge, gave an inspiring sermon, speaking of the place of the Church in being a space where those on both sides of any conflict could find healing and reconciliation – as Cnut knew when he founded his church for those who fell on both sides of the Battle of Assandun – and a space which links together past, present and future.

The congregation heard a reading from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle about the battle and its aftermath, as well as readings from the Old and New Testaments about God’s peace. In an Act of Commitment, all committed themselves to strive for peace, to seek to heal the wounds of war and division, and to work for a just future for all humanity, without distinction of rank or nation.

The service, which was led by Revd Paula

Griffiths, priest at Hadstock, also included the blessing and dedication of four banners made in Hadstock which illustrate the story of Cnut, from his voyage to England in 1016 to his founding of a church in 1020 to commemorate those on both sides who fell in the battle.

Paula Griffiths said: “Our programme of events over the summer has given the local communities a great deal to enjoy and think about, as we’ve learnt more about this significant battle and how it influenced our local and national history.

"We were delighted to welcome Dr Williams to the historic church of St Botolph, which may well be the church Cnut himself founded in 1020 to commemorate those from both sides who died in the Battle.

“Over the summer a dedicated group from Hadstock have worked enthusiastically and with immense commitment to produce the banners showing the Battle and Cnut’s church – you could call it Hadstock’s own Bayeux Tapestry!

"The detail is exciting and imaginative – it is marvellous that they will grace the church for years to come.”

The banners (see cover picture) were designed by Sonia Villiers and sewn by a team who met regularly in Designer Drapes in Hadstock over the summer.