DATES & EVENTS IN AND Monday 3rd and 17th February: 1.30pm Blacklands Bible Study St Mary’s & St Andrew’s Wednesday 5th February: 7.30pm Five Acres Bible Study group. (Further meeting dates to be decided.) Welcome to St Mary’s Church, Woodham Ferrers Sunday 28th June: 3pm at St Mary's Rayleigh Brass in Concert. Details to and St Andrew’s Church, Bicknacre. follow. Services for Sunday 2nd February

'Presentation of Christ in the Temple - Candelmas' EVENTS AT OTHER COMPASS CHURCHES

Thursday 6th February: 8.30am Morning Prayer at St Mary's the Virgin St Andrew's, Bicknacre: 9.30am Holy Communion led by Revd Church, Church Road, Little Baddow, CM3 4BE. Carol Ball Saturday 8th February: 10.30am-12.30pm Coffee morning at Holy Trinity Church, . St Mary's, Woodham Ferrers: 11.15pm Holy Communion led by Thursday 13th February: 8.30am Morning Prayer at All Saints' Church, Revd Carol Ball The Tye, , CM3 8AD. Friday 14th February: 12.15-1pm Lunchtime Concert at St John's, Danbury with Anne Skinner playing a programme of music on the flute. Bible Readings Presentation of Christ in the Temple Psalm ~ Psalm 24 (p392) Entry is free, but with a retiring collection. Lunch is available to purchase from 11.45am or bring your own. Old Testament ~ Malachi 3:1-5 (p678 ) New Testament ~ Hebrews 2:14-end (p849) Thursday 20th February: 8.30am Morning Prayer at St Mary's Church, Gospel ~ Luke 2:22-40 (p724) Woodham Ferrers.

Friday 28th February: 7.30pm 'Call My Wine Bluff' at the Memorial Hall, Little Baddow. Collect: Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and Saturday 6th June: Quiet Day at Othona, Bradwell holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God.

Post-Communion Collect: Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Colin Morgan Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah: may we, We are all so sorry to hear of Colin's sudden death and pass on our who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet condolences and prayers to all his family. Details of his funeral will Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life; appear here when known. for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

Services for Sunday 9th February 'Third Sunday before Lent' Joan Richardson As many of you know, Joan passed away last month. Her funeral will St Andrew's, Bicknacre: 9.30am Morning Worship led by John take place at St John's Church, Danbury on Monday 17th February at Woodrow 2.30pm, and afterwards at the Cricketers pub. All are welcome. St Mary's, Woodham Ferrers: 11.15pm Holy Communion led by Revd Chris Poulard

VIEW FROM THE VICARAGE: THE FOODBANK Thanks to all who donated in 2019. The local Foodbanks have been well supported over Christmas but they are going to be needed more than ever in Today on the feast of Candlemas, we turn away from the 2020. Please put donations in the box at the back of church if you are able. happy event of Christ’s birth and start to look towards the what he came to do. From next week we will be Food items:tinned tomatoes, long-life fruit juice; sachets of powered custard, counting down to Lent, to Christ’s Passion and to Easter. sachets/packets ‘smash’/powered potato, sponge puddings. We are fortunate in that we know how the story ends, we Non-food items: shampoo, handwash, shower gel, deodorants, tin openers, know what Jesus came to do, we know that he tooth brushes, washing up liquid, washing powder/liquid. succeeded. But Lent and Passiontide are harrowing times in the church calendar. What can we take from this season to help us to face the tough times ahead? CHURCHWARDENS What can we store in our own hearts to resist the sword Both Churchwardens have served for over the six year period. If anyone in that might pierce it? Well this day is known as either congregation would like to consider taking on the role of Churchwarden Candlemas because that is traditionally when churches please talk to Sharon or Malcolm. Both current Churchwardens would be blessed the candles that they were to use throughout the happy to support a transition of the post to a new candidate. This could be year. One thing we know about candles is that they are done gradually and with much support. We ask people to pray for our current Churchwardens and those who might find God calling them to serve. portable lights. We can carry them in places of darkness and they can penetrate that darkness with light. Those who have suffered power cuts will know how effective a single candle can be in a dark place. Christ came at Christmas to bring light into our darkness, so we can carry the light of Christ with us wherever we go. As we consider the suffering and death of Jesus, let us Parish Contacts remember the words of John’s gospel and have hope. Priest-in-Charge: Revd. Carol Ball. Tel: 01245 322134 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has Email: [email protected] not overcome it. (John 1:5) Churchwarden St Mary’s - Sharon Hutton-Mayson tel: 07773644326 Reverend Carol Ball Churchwarden St Andrew’s - Malcolm Lyall tel: 078 2443 7558 Church Treasurer - Sue Grocock Tel: 01245 225557 [email protected] Parish Safeguarding Representative: Pat Cox 01245 223542. Parish Newsletter & Church Diary: Alison Griffiths. Email items for the newsletter by Tuesday evening to Alison at [email protected] or text messages to 07969655535