PARISH MAGAZINE www.stjamesstpaulcolchester.org.uk

DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 FIFTY PENCE

Christmas Services

Sunday 24th December Christmas Eve 8am Mass 10am Sung Mass 4-30pm Christingle The Christingle Service will also include the blessing and lighting of the Tree of Light 11-30pm Midnight Mass & Blessing of the Christmas Crib

Monday 25th December Christmas Day 8am Mass 10am Parish Mass with Carols for families

2 Letter from Alan Cross S.S.C.

My dear Brothers and Sisters

A few months ago I knew that Christmas was coming! No, the Holy Church has not changed the date, neither had I been through the Advent preparation, but it was when I saw a shop window full of Christmas items and lights flashing on and off. But it was not even this that reminded me of the festive season but the person who was asleep under the shop window. Like Jesus, he or she had nowhere to go – Jesus was in a dirty cold stable and this particular person was on a cold dirty pavement. Today there are so many things to distract us from the real meaning of Christmas, which of course is that our God became a human being to share his life with ours in good and bad times alike. There was nowhere for Jesus to go at his birth except for a stable – at the end of his life there was nowhere to go except the cross. Let us make sure we worship and give thanks to Jesus for becoming man – for us and for our salvation. Do have a holy and happy Christmas and make sure you share it with Jesus. I pass on some words from a Christmas card already received from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution which I support: ‘Christmas is giving and living and love, Christmas is praising the powers above, Show me a smile and a heart that is true, Oh! Have I got a Christmas for you’ My Family and I send you all our love and prayers for a happy and holy Christmas.

3 After Christmas a New year descends upon us, however [lease do not forget that around Christmas and the New year there are a lot of Saint and Holy days. Lots of people make New Year’s resolutions like giving up beer, sugar or chocolate. In this year may I suggest a new resolution is to follow Jesus more nearly and dearly? We may desert Jesus at times but He will never desert us as he loves each one of us too much. May I finish with the last verse of ‘Away in a Manger?’ ‘Be near me Lord Jesus: I ask thee to stay Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care And fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.’

As always my love and prayers to you as we start a New Year for Jesus.

Father Alan

Confession before Christmas

Fr Alan will be available on the following dates and times:

Thursday 7th December at 12 noon Thursday 21st December at 12 noon Saturday 23rd December at 12 noon Sunday 24th December at 9 am (Fr Alan is saying 8 am Mass this day)

Or by appointment 4 STEPHEN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2017

Venting his fury at a potential rival, Herod plays a percentages game: he spreads the net of his anger widely; kills every boy under two in order to ensure he kills just one. He fails. Fury and anger usually do - though that is scant consolation to the mourning families of the innocent who suffer. Meanwhile Jesus, the Saviour who is saved, is visited by unlikely people: in this case, shepherds and foreign rulers.

The shepherds, virtual outcasts in their own society and looked upon with grave suspicion, hear a song of peace. It is deeply attractive, and it sends them to Bethlehem.

The wise men have followed a hunch in the form of a star. They are about to learn that all their maps are wrong. They will return by a different route.

Tyrants like Herod still strut about the world today, their vanity and hubris still causing havoc and misery. But the door of the stable at Bethlehem still stands open for those who long for peace and those prepared to have their lives redirected.

Might you be one of them?

Have an interesting Christmas!

Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell

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R.M. (BOB) & MATHEW TOKLEY

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6 St. James’ Primary School News www.st-james- colchester..sch.uk Dear Readers, Two visits to On Tuesday 17th October, thirty children selected from year’s three to six visited Chelmsford Cathedral. We took part in lots of activities about events in the Bible. The people at the Cathedral were so welcoming and friendly. We looked around the Cathedral for different items, created gifts and lots more. It was great fun! Written by Juliette On Tuesday 31st October, I accompanied our school council to Chelmsford Cathedral. We had an early start as we were travelling with pupils from other schools within ‘The Vine Trust’. The children took part in lots of activities which included looking for features within the Cathedral. We particularly enjoyed creating a cross of lit candles. We had a very enjoyable day and the children were a credit to our school.

‘All Saints Day’ The whole school recently attended Church to celebrate ‘All Saints Day’. The Church was full, with our Foundation children now having to sit on the floor! Thank you to parents and parishioners who celebrated with us.

‘Open School’ We held an ‘Open School’ event on Thursday 9th November, when the parents had an opportunity to come into school and work with their children for the afternoon, as well as the chance to look through their books and enjoy 7 classroom displays. This event was well attended with 100 parents joining us and staying for our ‘Star Work’ Assembly.

Anti-bullying Week On Monday 13th November we held a wear ‘odd socks’ to school day. The children and staff wore the wackiest or creative socks they owned; or just an odd pair of socks that the ‘sock monster’ took whilst in the washing machine! Our main theme for the week is ‘We are all different; we are all equal’.

Leaving & Joining We recently said a sad farewell to Kismet in the kitchen who has decided to return to her hairdressing career. We wish her well and the children and staff are going to miss her caring, cheerful and friendly manner, as well as her cooking skills. We are pleased to welcome Jo McKechnie, Hannah Woolener and Lisa Henman to our team. They are already proving to be welcome additions to the classrooms. Our Carol Service is at St. James the Great Church on 18th December at 5 o’clock, children will be accompanied by their parents and it would be lovely if parishioners joined us for this festive celebration of Christmas.

Belynda Fellows

We're All One This was one of the songs from the iSingPop concert held in church in October They are keen to sing another song to you soon and if you would like to hear the song again please email [email protected] and we shall send you a copy of the track.

Christ the King To celebrate the end of the church year (A) Our Youngsters who attend St James School and the Sunday School sung a tuneful message to us all to end our church year.

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Mission

Mission Weekend 2/3 December 2017 is almost upon us. Please add your name to either the list for visiting or the list for praying in church. These are on the notice board at the back of church. Mission is an important part of our church life and we should all be involved in some way. Please ask Janet or the Wardens if you need further information.

A thought on Mission.

We are called as Christians to partake in Mission and to carry this out we should shine and encourage others to come to us by our example. Mission begins in the pew with an understanding and tolerance of others to allow us to go out into the community as a light of Christian living. We are at a crucial stage in our church life, seeking a new to guide us and we should always strive to present ourselves in the loving spirit of Jesus.

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10 The nativity scene with all its characters was in place, as the children (representing angels), gathered around the manger. They sang: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will among men’. Suddenly a small girl on the edge of the crowd, who couldn’t see what was going on, shouted out, ‘Let Jesus show!’ At Christmas time, we want to let Jesus show, in our churches, communities and lives. We have an amazing message to share: ‘in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord’ (Luke 2:10). It was to the shepherds, apart from his parents, that Jesus was first showed. No doubt these simple shepherds would have no idea of what the names given to Jesus fully meant (i.e. Saviour, Messiah and Lord). All they needed to know, and all we need to know, is that God has done something unique in coming to earth as a human being. This is good news of great joy for everybody! After worshipping the child, the shepherds return to their normal routine. However, they would never be the same again! Even though they were still shepherds, they had a message to share and let Jesus show. Although we don’t normally see angels, we have the same good news to share! When Christmas is over and we’re back to our normal routines, how will we let Jesus show in our lives?

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NOW YOU CAN GIVE BY ‘TAP & GO’

12 Church of England cathedrals are trialing contactless donation boxes for visitors. It follows the announcement earlier this year that the CofE was going to trial ‘tap and go’ contactless payment systems for donations. For several months now, 60 churches have been equipped with handheld terminals to process card payments, with a view to offering the system to every diocese next year. The trial includes a variety of churches - urban, rural, large and small - to make sure that the needs of different parishes are considered when the scheme is offered nationally. John Preston, National Stewardship Officer, recently told the Financial Times: "We're aware that younger generations - and there are many people now who don't carry cash - want to give in different ways. Enabling them to give in a way that suits them is something we'd like to try." The scheme will be run by Parish Buying. https://www.parishbuying.org.uk/ The terminals, provided by startup GoodBox, are already in place in the Natural History Museum, where donations have been up 20 per cent since they were installed in June.

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The IC Group Autumn/Winter social this year was at the Mercury Theatre Saturday 25th November evening performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - a good time had by all. THE HOLY ROSARY

The Holy Rosary will be prayed in St James On Monday 11th December and Monday 8th January at 7.30pm. New participants are always welcome and there are spare rosaries available to us.

PLEASE DO JOIN US! 15 St Helena Hospice Christmas Tree-Cycle 2018

If you are planning to buy a real Christmas tree this year, but you’re unsure what to do with it when it’s time to take the decorations down, St Helena Hospice can help. Working in partnership with Colchester Borough Council the hospice, which supports local people living with life-limiting illness, is again offering a recycling service for supporters with real Christmas trees. On Saturday January 6th a team of volunteers will collect trees from homes in postcode areas CO1 to CO9. This year the scheme will also include CO13, thanks to support from Parkers Garden Company, Frinton. Christmas tree-Cycle is a practical way for local people to help the hospice continue to provide support to families and patients. The hospice welcomes a suggested donation of £7.50 per tree. Sarah Wilson, Corporate Relationship Manager at St Helen Hospice said: ‘We’re really pleased to have the support from Colchester Borough Council again this year to provide the collection. We are also thankful to Parkers Garden Company in Frinton for supporting the collection in the CO13 area. The help from the Parkers means we are able to collect in a wider area offering the service to more of our supporters. Last year we raised an incredible £12,000 and we hope to raise even more this year. The Collection relies solely on volunteers and van owners to support the collection itself.’ To register for the collection please visit sthelenahospice.org.uk/treecollect18 or call the fundraising team on 01206 931468 Anyone able to provide a van, or help with collecting trees on January 6th should use the same number or email:

[email protected] or [email protected]

16 17 High Steward’s Heritage Tours

Old Heath residents are invited to take part in Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell’s Annual New Year’s day Walk – which this time will feature a ‘Roam around roman Colchester’. The tour, on Monday 1st January, will last around two hours, starting at 10am from Roman Circus House which is at the western end of the site of the Roman Circus next to Abbey Field. There is a car park off Butt Road, a short walk from Roman Circus House. Sir Bob has organised a New year’s Day Walk for several years and one route included the three former water mills in Old heath: Bourne Mill alongside the stream to Cannock Mill and then to Distillery Mill before walking along Hythe Quay and then the riverside walk to Castle Park. Another year the route was from The Hythe along the public footpath next to the River Colne to Rowhedge. The 2018 route will ‘roam’ around Colchester’s Roman heritage, notable, the Roman Circus, Town Wall, the base of the 1st Century Temple to Claudius on which 1,000 years later the Normans built Colchester Castle, mosaic floor of a Roman villa, foundation of a Roman Theatre, Balkerne Gate and the remains of Britain’s oldest Roman Christian Church. Each year Sir Bob asks participants to make a donation of £5 towards a good cause, which this time will be for Colchester Food Bank for which demand has increased significantly in recent weeks. Sir Bob’s New Year’s Day Walk is in addition to his regular programme of Heritage Tours which he has been running for the past three years. He has two routes, both of which start at Colchester Arts Centre (former St Mary at the Walls Church). Future dates for his next two tours are ‘B’ 11th February and ‘A’ 11th March. In April he will commence his fourth season of fortnightly tours during the Spring and Summer. Full details will be published in due course. He is raising money for the statue of the Taylor sisters, Jane and Ann – it was Jane in 1806 in Colchester who published a poem which we know today as ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little star’. Bookings can be made to Colchester Arts Centre by phone on 01206 500900 or e-mail to [email protected] Please note: there is no need to book for his traditional New Year’s Day Walk, details of which have been given above. Sir Bob also writes a weekly ‘out and about’ article in the Colchester Daily Gazette which usually appears in the one published on a Wednesday. They cover a range of subjects, but the majority have an historic flavour.

18 WITH CHRISTMAS IN MIND... Christmas gift suggestions: Anon To your enemy, forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to a customer, service; to all, charity; to every child, a good example; to yourself, respect.

26 DECEMBER LOOK OUT FOR WENCESLAS Most of us probably know that on December 26th (the Feast of Stephen) ‘Good king Wenceslas’ looked out, writes David Winter. We probably also know that the snow lay round about, ‘deep and crisp and even’. Beyond that, he’s just someone in a carol that’s not often sung nowadays. However, Wenceslas was a real person, a duke, and effectively king of Bohemia in the 10th century. In modern terms, he was Czechoslovakian. He was known as a generous and kind monarch, deeply Christian and given to good works. So the story in the carol by the Victorian hymn-writer J.M. Neale, while possibly fictitious, is at least in line with his recognised character. ‘Page and monarch’ braved the ‘bitter weather’ and the ‘cruel wind’s wild lament’ to take food and fuel to a poor man living rough. Neale’s carol was enormously popular in the 19th century, because it perfectly expressed Victorian Christian ideals of benevolence and alms-giving. Christian men of ‘wealth and rank’ are urged to help the poor, and so ‘find blessing’. Ignoring the ‘wealth and rank and men’ bit, it’s still good advice, at Christmas or any other time.

19 PRAYER & MASS INTENTION FOR DECEMBER

1 Fri Young people in our congregation 2 Sat Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham 3 SUN Advent 1 Our Parish 4 Mon For a Holy Advent 5 Tue The housebound 6 Wed St Nicholas Deprived children 7 Thu St Ambrose Theologians 8 Fri Immaculate Conception Greater love of Mary 9 Sat The unemployed 10 SUN Advent 2 Our Parish 11 Mon Beacon House 12 Tue Community of the Sacred Passion 13 Wed Headway 14 Thu World Peace 15 Fri Our School 16 Sat Local shopkeepers 17 SUN Advent 3 Our Parish 18 Mon The poor and lonely 19 Tue Local hospitals and care homes 20 Wed Our Mayor and Councillors 21 Thu Those involved with the Soup Run 22 Fri Our local M.P. 23 Sat Those working at this time 24 SUN Advent 4 Our Parish 25 Mon Christmas Day For joy in our faith 26 Tue St Stephen Martyrs in every age 27 Wed St John Spiritual writers 28 Thu Holy Innocents The Children’s Society 29 Fri St Thomas Beckett 30 Sat Family Life 31 SUN The Holy Family Our Parish

20 PRAYER & MASS INTENTION FOR JANUARY

1 Mon Mother of God God’s Blessing on this New Year 2 Tue Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham 3 Wed Holy Name of Jesus Monks & Nuns 4 Thu Theological Colleges 5 Fri Ordinands 6 Sat The Epiphany of the Lord Giving Jesus our best gifts 7 SUN Our Parish 8 Mon The Baptism of the Lord Our own Baptism 9 Tue Parish 10 Wed Lonely people 11 Thu Hospitals & Care Homes 12 Fri Our Deanery & Diocese 13 Sat Our School 14 SUN Our Parish 15 Mon Churchwardens & PCC 16 Tue World Peace 17 Wed The housebound 18 Thu Prayer for Christian Unity Wk Church Unity 19 Fri Orthodox Church 20 Sat Anglican Church 21 SUN Our Parish 22 Mon Roman Catholics 23 Tue Baptists & Methodists 24 Wed United Reform 25 Thu Conversion of St Paul New Christians 26 Fri Ss Timothy & Titus Bishops 27 Sat Salvation Army 28 SUN Our Parish 29 Mon Community of the Sacred Passion 30 Tue Spiritual Directors 31 Wed Retreat Houses

21 DIARY FOR DECEMBER

1 Fri 9-00 Mass School 2 Sat 12-30 Exposition Prayer Gp St James 3 SUN Advent 1 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 4 Mon 11-00 Extended Mass Alderwood 5 Tues NO MASS 6 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 7 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 8 Fri 10-00 Mass School 9 Sat NO MASS 10 SUN Advent 2 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 11 Mon 11-00 Extended Mass Colonia Crt 19-30 Holy Rosary St James 12 Tues NO MASS 13 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 14 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 15 Fri 10-00 Mass School 16 Sat NO MASS 17 SUN Advent 3 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 18 Mon 17-00 Carol Service St James 19 Tues NO MASS 20 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 21 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 22 Fri NO MASS 23 Sat NO MASS 24 SUN Christmas Eve 8-00 Mass Advent 4 10-00 Sung Mass 16-30 Christingle St James 11-30 Midnight Mass St James 25 Mon Christmas Day 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 26 Tues NO MASS 27 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 28 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 29 Fri NO MASS 30 Sat NO MASS 31 SUN The Holy Family 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 22 DIARY FOR JANUARY

1 Mon NO MASS 2 Tues NO MASS 3 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 4 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 5 Fri TBA 6 Sat Epiphany 9-30 Cell of OLW St James 7 SUN Epiphany 1 8-00 Mass The Baptism of Christ 10-00 Sung Mass 8 Mon 11-00 Extended Mass Colonia Crt 19-30 Holy Rosary St James 9 Tues NO MASS 10 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 11 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 12 Fri TBA 13 Sat NO MASS 14 SUN Epiphany 2 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 15 Mon NO MASS 16 Tues NO MASS 17 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 18 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 19 Fri TBA 20 Sat NO MASS 21 SUN Epiphany 3 8-00 Mass 10-00 Sung Mass 22 Mon NO MASS 23 Tues NO MASS 24 Wed 19-00 Mass St James 25 Thurs 12-30 Mass St James 26 Fri TBA 27 Sat NO MASS 28 SUN Epiphany 4 8-00 Mass Septuagesima 10-00 Sung Mass 29 Mon NO MASS 30 Tues NO MASS 31 Wed 19-00 Mass St James

23 Churchwardens of the Parish

Mrs Kate Thurston 01206 793243 60B East Hill Colchester CO1 2QZ

Mr Stephen Pawlak 01206 728443 16 High Street Rowhedge Colchester CO5 7HQ

Parochial Church Council Officers

Chairman Mr David Beattie 01206 868848 19 Riverside Place Colchester CO1 2ZG

Secretary Mrs Lucy Mason 01206 386766 2 The Anchorage East Road East Mersea CO5 8UJ

Treasurer Mr Philip Dodd 01206 504480 38 Rosebery Avenue Colchester CO1 2UL

Electoral Roll Mrs Sheila Sansom 07905516502 Officer 14 Greyfriars Court The Secret Garden Castle Road Colchester CO1 1TL

Parish Safeguarding Mrs Clare Moles 07751329314 Representative 10 Bristol Road Colchester CO1 2YU

24 Health & Safety Mrs Janet Walker 01206 860155 Officer 107 Military Rd New Town Colchester CO1 2AT

St. James’ Church of England Primary School Colchester

Head Teacher Mrs Belynda Fellows Website http://www.st-james-colchester.essex.sch.uk

Children’s’ Society Mrs Joyce Mays 01206 841681

Sidesmen Mrs Kate Thurston 01206 793243

Readers Mrs Janet Walker 01206 860155

Intercessions Mrs Kate Thurston 01206 793243

Gift Aid Officer Vacant

Organist Mr Mark Terry 07765574267

Sacristan Team Mr Brian Appleby 01206 578094 Mr Paul Bareham 01206 210270 Mr Stephen Pawlak 01206 728443

Children’s’ Liturgy Mrs Diana Irven 01206 386393

Flowers Mrs Susan Brandeis

Magazine Editor Mrs Lucy Mason 01206 386766 25 Contact by email [email protected]

Hon Asst. Priest Fr Alan Cross SSC Canon Emeritus, Chelmsford Cathedral Chaplain to Abberton Manor Nursing Home

Services at St James the Great, East Hill Sundays Said Mass 08:00 Sung Mass 10:00 Monday Mass PLEASE SEE CALENDAR Tuesday No Mass Wednesday Mass 19:00 Thursday Mass 12:30 Friday Mass / Service in School PLEASE SEE CALENDAR Saturday No Mass

Festivals and Saints Days see monthly calendar.

Confession By appointment Holy Baptism By arrangement after preparation Ministry to the Sick Names of the Sick to the clergy/Churchwardens, the Blessed Sacrament is reserved for the communion of the Sick, and the Oil of the Sick for Anointing

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