Parish Magazine of Earls Colne & White Colne
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The Parish Magazine of Earls Colne & White Colne � � � � � September 2021 Dear Readers, What a year it has been! I’m not talking about the year filled with pandemic-related restrictions and lockdowns, which though lifted, still presents us with many challenges. No, I’m talking about the year within which my entire life and my involvement within our parishes and communities have changed. On September 13th a year ago I was ordained Deacon in the Holy Church of God. Nine months later on the 26th June, I was ordained Priest, the second of the three Holy Orders. For information, the third Holy Order is that of Bishop . and I currently have no plans to get to those dizzy heights! Two ordinations in less than 12 months and I couldn’t be happier. But most of all, I am extremely grateful to everyone who has journeyed with me, prayed with and for me, and supported me especially when the dark days rolled in, and times seemed hard and unbearable. And that’s just in relation to all the essays I had to write!! There can’t be anywhere better than the communities of the lovely villages/parishes in which I serve, alongside Revd Mark, Revd Hugh and the lay ministry teams of the Three Colnes Churches. And for that I am truly thankful to the God who sustains us and enables us to share our ministry with you, our wonderful neighbours and friends. My thanks also goes to all of you who have been so generous, taking time to say hello, congratulations, well done and to just be a friendly face as I find my feet. We all have so much to be thankful for and God has been so generous with the blessings he bestows on us each and every day. Admittedly, not every day is easy but there is always something for which we can give thanks. So throughout this month, our Sunday services will have the theme of ‘Generous God, Generous Disciples’, looking at the different ways in which we can give back to God in response to all the blessings he gives to us. Giving back to God is an intrinsic part of our journey as www.colnechurches.com 3 followers of Jesus, whether we are long-term or fledgling disciples. And there are many ways in which we can give of ourselves, our talents and resources. So why not come along to one of our services and see, either in person or online. We would love to give you a very big smile and a hearty welcome; our way of saying thank you for being you � and for being a part of our wonderful community. And I couldn’t end without saying a very big thank you to my husband Chris, the best gift God has given me. With love and prayers, a. to be confined in prison b. to be overcome by surprise c. to be married a. a young tortoise b. a quarrel or fit of rage c. something going up and down, a see-saw a. to dig a hole for planting b. the size of a sugar beet c. to have a good gossip ******************* a. wet, drizzly and misty b. a collection of mud on boots a. the state of being intoxicated 4 www.colnechurches.com The Three Colnes – St Andrew’s Churches Our services during September are a mix of ‘in-person’, streamed (#) and online and you are warmly invited For details of all our services including Morning Prayer on Mondays & Saturdays, please see our website: www.colnechurches.com and our Facebook Page Wednesday 1st Earls Colne – 9.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 5th – Trinity 14 Earls Colne - 10 am Morning Worship # Colne Engaine – 10 am Morning Worship White Colne – 10.30 am Holy Communion Wednesday 8th Colne Engaine - 9.30 am BCP Holy Communion Sunday 12th – Trinity 15 Earls Colne- 10 am All Age Morning Worship & Baptism # Colne Engaine – 10 am Morning Worship Wednesday 15th Earls Colne - 9.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 19th – Trinity 16 Earls Colne -10 am Holy Communion # Colne Engaine – 10.45 am Harvest Festival Service White Colne – 5 pm Harvest Forest Church in White Colne Meadows Online – 6.30 pm Café Church Wednesday 22nd Earls Colne - 9.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 26th - Trinity 17 Earls Colne – 10 am Morning Worship # Colne Engaine – 10 am Holy Communion Wednesday 29th Earls Colne - 9.30 am Holy Communion www.colnechurches.com 5 HARVEST FOREST CHURCH Sunday 19th September, 5pm White Colne Meadows Many people can describe transcendent moments in nature where they feel deeply connected to something bigger than themselves and Forest Church is a way to explore that connection within our community. Forest Church is a fresh expression of church drawing on much older traditions when sacred places and practices were outside – but it is also drawing on contemporary research that highlights the benefits of spending time with nature in wild places. Forest Church isn’t just normal church happening outside, instead it attempts to participate with creation. And it isn’t just a fellowship group doing an outside activity, we aim to learn, worship, meditate, pray and practice with the trees, and with all creation. Join us on Sunday 19th September, 5 pm at White Colne Meadows (parking at Village Hall). You might want to bring a camping chair or picnic blanket and be prepared for the whatever the weather might be. We will be gathering for food after the service so please bring a picnic. 6 www.colnechurches.com On Sunday the 1st of August we had our first Forest Church service in a copse on Millennium Green. 23 people, 5 children, 6 dogs and 1 caterpillar came along. The rain began lightly and then the cloud exploded above us and the tree canopy was no match for the deluge. Everyone huddled under their umbrellas, the lovely Revd Sharon held umbrellas over Revd Mark and me as we tried to keep our sheets dry so that we could carry on with the service. Hilariously in my reflection on the reading of Genesis 1 and without any thought of the possible weather I had written the words 'we and all creation are soaked in the goodness of God!". It was a wonderful service with smiles, giggles and much laughter and to think we would have cancelled it if we'd known there was to be a downpour! Everyone went home soaked through but smiling and very appreciative of warm, dry clothes (maybe some pyjamas!) and a cuppa. The rain brought us together as a group and, as in some of my other words spoken into the raindrops, we need to unite the opposites in our heart – infuse the dark side with the light of love to fully release the amazingness that is in all of us. Our next Forest Church will be at White Colne Millenium Green on Sunday 19th September at 5 pm if you would like to join us . anything could happen! Helen Sherfield www.colnechurches.com 7 Earls Colne Heritage Museum A Nonconformist Protest As the Baptist Minister, the Reverend William Burnett, was about to leave Earls Colne in 1910, having completed a refurbishment of the chapel by some of his own artistic embellishments, as shown in this picture, he was able to tell his congregation that there had been no “unpleasant experience” during his pastorate with any member of the Anglican Church. Even so, Ted Scillitoe could remember playground arguments during his schooldays between classmates from the two denominations (the “Churchers” and the “Chapelers” as they were known). But most disputes were about the merits of their respective Sunday School treats and out- ings rather than doctrinal differences. However, for a few months at the start of Mr Burnett’s appointment he found himself involved in a court case when some of his congregation mounted a campaign of disobedience on a matter of principle. In 1902 the Government introduced a local tax to support schools, including the Primary School in Earls Colne, that were managed by the Church of England. Several leading members of the Baptist Church objected to this support for another denomination. The protestors included Thomas and Arthur Mann who were the proprietors of the timber yard in Foundry Lane. Thomas (left) and Arthur Mann They refused to pay the tax and received a summons to appear at the Magistrates Court in Halstead. The Reverend William Burnett acted as spokesman for the defendants. He was praised by the Magistrate for the dignified way in which he had presented their case. Still, the law had to be upheld and fines were imposed. 8 www.colnechurches.com Thomas and Arthur Mann were jointly fined 11s.2d.; Arthur’s daughters, Marion, Julia and Lily, who ran a private school on the corner of Foundry Lane, received a fine of 5s. 1d.; and William Burnett himself was fined 5s.8d. Still defiant, the Mann family and the other protestors refused to pay the fines and had some of their property seized by bailiffs. The confiscated items were then put up for auction watched by a crowd of some sixty people and the press report includes details of the main items:”arm chairs, a wheelbarrow, a sewing machine, and less bulky articles in the shape of watches, books and jewellery”. Even the auctioneer, Thomas Howard, was sympathetic to the cause, declaring: “We are met to protest against one of the most pernicious acts of a most disreputable Government since the days of Bloody Queen Mary and the arch-traitor Charles the first!” With assistance from Charles Wash, the carpenter in whose yard the sale was being held, the the auctioneer then allowed protestors to buy back their own property at the prices which happened to match the fines.