Jimmy’s baby and toddler group have a new role play area thanks to our amazing team. We will have this out for the first time tomorrow. We are in the High Wych Memorial Hall from 9.30 am to 11.30 am every Thursday (except school holidays). Come and have some fun, we are a warm and safe place for your children to play. <br>You can meet new friends, bring friends with you. We serve hot drinks for adults in safe cups and snacks for children. We have a singing session together before the end of the session 😀
Dear AllAs this cold weather bites I hope you have been able to keep warm. At Jimmy’s baby and toddler group today the hall committee had made sure it would be lovely and warm for us all. We had lots of lovely returning families plus another 2 new families. What a great team we have, thank you to all of you who are involved with this very valuable ministry, and for the time and effort you put in behind the scenes. Margaret and Amanda are currently knitting us a picnic for the children to play with!!As we look forward Lent begins very early this year with Shrove Tuesday on 13th February and with our Ash Wednesday service on 14th Feb – I know that this is Valentine’s Day but if you are able and would like to we will be having our service at 7.30 pm in St James, High Wych.There is no prayer meeting this next Tuesday as I am away on a training course. So I will not be in the parish on 23 – 25th January 2024.I look forward to seeing you all very soon.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllHappy New Year to you all, I hope to see many of you as the weeks progress at our services, in person or online, or other community events.A bumper week of information - I attach for you the Welcome sheet, the readings- (to include the Psalm this week as that is going to be relevant to my sermon), the information about the Feast of Epiphany blessing and the Epiphany prayer (in case you weren’t in church to pick one up), also included below is the link for the Online prayer sessions on Tuesday mornings at 9.30 am and the Zoom link for the Alpha course for yourselves and/or your friends.As this year begins there already seems so many things to be involved with and give thanks for.We have a great team on our PCC’s and with our churchwardens we are very fortunate, please remember to pray for them.We have had amazingly well attended and generous services over the Christmas period – raising over the whole Benefice £600 each for the Winter Night Shelter in Bishop Stortford and The Children’s Society - £1,200 what a great amount of money to be able to donate. Thank you for all those who gave so generously.My car is currently full of Nativity dressing up costumes, a crib and a baby Jesus!! As I work out what to do with them until next year.Our Baby and Toddler group, Jimmy’s returns for the first time tomorrow after Christmas, which I know myself and the team are really looking forward to.On Sunday I am hoping to have a couple of you talk about the call that God has on your life that you would be prepared to share with us in church, please let me know if you would like to do this.Remember our memory verse for the year:-Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.That is my prayer for you as we go through this week, through this month and through this year.Every BlessingAlisonTuesday morning online prayer meeting at 9.30 am. Zoom meeting link Topic: Virtual Prayer MeetingTime: Jan 9, 2024 09:30 London Every week on Tue, 4 occurrence(s) Jan 16, 2024 09:30 Jan 23, 2024 09:30 Jan 30, 2024 09:30Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/84557900182?pwd=MDhIR2ZBSFc4RXdxWW4zL3FJRGx0dz09Online Alpha – starts next Tuesday – we would love to have you join us if you are able – it is very gentle and would be a great opportunity to invite friends to if you want to.The idea is we explore the following topics:- Is there more to life than this?Who is Jesus?Why did Jesus die?How can I have faith?Why and how should I pray?Why and how should I read the Bible? After these 6 video led, discussion based sessions (which last slightly more than 1 hour) we will meet in person at the Rectory for a Sunday afternoon tea on 25th February 2024 – more details nearer the time.Please come and perhaps take part also before you ask your friends if you are unsure. It gives you a great opportunity to talk about your own faith and strengthen it, or to find out what having a faith in Jesus is all about. We will run another opportunity for this after Easter.Zoom link:-Rev Alison Jackson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Alpha CourseTime: Jan 15, 2024 19:30 London Every week on Mon, until Feb 19, 2024, 6 occurrence(s) Jan 15, 2024 19:30 Jan 22, 2024 19:30 Jan 29, 2024 19:30 Feb 5, 2024 19:30 Feb 12, 2024 19:30 Feb 19, 2024 19:30 Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/83006394181?pwd=Ni9manlXS0pHQzVoMkRwbWNydEhYdz09 Meeting ID: 830 0639 4181Passcode: 684033
The Feast of EpiphanyThe Feast of Epiphany celebrates the revealing of God in human form, recalling the visit of the Magi (or wise men) who brought gifts to the infant Jesus.The word ‘epiphany’ comes from the Greek word ‘epiphaneia’ which means ‘appearing’.This is celebrated on 6th January, 12 days after Christmas Day.The season of Epiphany continues until 2nd February.Epiphany BlessingIt is a tradition that dates to the Middle Ages, bringing God’s blessing on homes for the year ahead. Chalking a symbolic blessing onto houses at Epiphany. The blessing to chalk this year is:-20 + C + M + B + 2424 stands for the year.C, M and B stand for the wise men – Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar – who we remember coming to worship Jesus at this time.These letters also stand for: Christus Mansion Benedicat – Latin for ‘May Christ bless this house’.In recent years and with the ongoing uncertainty of the year to come, it seems more pertinent than ever to ask for God’s blessing on our homes this year.If you would like to join this tradition, you can use chalk to write the symbolic blessing round the front door of your house (as it is chalk it will wear away over time, but the sentiment remains), and you might like to say the prayer.With every blessing to you and your household in 2024.Dear GodThe three wise menCaspar, Melchior and Balthasarfollowed the star to Bethlehem and tothe child Jesus, 2024 years ago,bringing gifts of blessing.I ask for your blessing on this homeAnd all who live here, in this year.May your peace fill this home and this heart,May you keep us safe and healthy.May all who visit hereKnow your warmth and loveAmen
