WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR THE BLACKWATER BENEFICE 18TH OCTOBER 2020

Info for the newsletter please send to [email protected] PRIEST IN CHARGE: Revd Tracey Caswell 07742999633 [email protected]

ASSOCIATE MINISTER: Revd Sarah Clare 07762840905, 01621 868819 [email protected]

ASSOCIATE MINISTER: Revd Susan Godsmark 01621 891513 [email protected] SAFEGUARDING

We are committed to Safeguarding children and young people and vulnerable adults within this Benefice. The PCC has adopted the Church of ’s policies and best practice of safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England’s website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding, or on the Safeguarding pages of the Diocese: https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/safeguarding. Details of your Parish Safeguarding Representative can be found on the noticeboard in your church.

Tollesbury Salcott T. D’Arcy T. Major Gt. Totham Lt. Totham SUNDAY WEEK THREE 19TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – GREEN 18th OCTOBER

8:00 Bob 9:30 Isabel/ No Service 9:30 Rev Morning Andrew Vince 11:30 Sarah Prayer 11:00 (Lay 9:30 (Lay led) Morning Prayer Rev Tracey Family 10:00 led) Morning 1Thessalonians1:1- Communion Service Rev Tracey Family Prayer 10 Communion Service Matthew 22:15-22 (May (Live include Streamed) (You decide who Communion wants to – Sarah & 6:00 (Lay preach/lead!) Steve led) Lacey to Evensong decide) (zoom)

Booking for services Tollesbury please ring Denise on a Wednesday Little Totham – Lorna Key 01621 891667 between 11am and 3pm 07875549735 Goldhanger - Kim Westwood 01621 788698 please ring Steve on 01621869855 Great Totham - Karin Mann 01621 891215 Tolleshunt D’Arcy please ring Linda Towers on Salcott – Jeremy Heigham 01621 869723 01621818280 To be part of evensong on zoom at Great Totham please email Sue Godsmark on [email protected]

SUNDAY WEEK THREE 19TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – GREEN 18th OCTOBER October 17th World Poverty Eradication Day Again 1Thessalonians1:1-10 this week, we are doing catch up. Except I am not sure that this event is happening this year. It is a UN World Matthew 22:15-22 Day set up in 1992. It’s likely too that this year given THE GOSPEL READING the pandemic and its dire effects on poverty around the world, that there is no theme planned as far as I The Question about Paying Taxes can tell from my somewhat limited research capabilities. You can find information on themes from 15The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus past years at with questions. 16Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. https://www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/ “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you tell the truth. My thoughts are that whether or not the day is You teach the truth about God's will for people, recognised, we can pray for healing from poverty without worrying about what others think, because you which damages not only the poor but also those who pay no attention to anyone's status. 17Tell us, then, are not in poverty themselves. We can pray for the what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes poor. We can let God shape our thoughts on poverty to the Roman Emperor, or not?” and allow him to turn our thoughts in to practical 18Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so action. Consider James 2.14-18 What can we do feed he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap and clothe the poor? What needs to change? me? 19Show me the coin for paying the tax!” We can hold in our prayers all those people here who They brought him the coin, 20and he asked them, will face hardship as the furlough scheme comes to an “Whose face and name are these?” end at the end of the month. Pray too for a renewal of 21“The Emperor's,” they answered. our workplaces to provide work and income for people to thrive without damaging the earth on which So Jesus said to them, “Well, then, pay to the Emperor we live. what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.”

22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they REFLECTIONS FOR 18 – 24TH OCTOBER left him and went away. A reflection by Vivienne Smith of Little th Just Prayer: October 18 – 24th Totham

Three over-arching situations continue to direct our Love God and love your neighbour as yourself. These attention: are the two instructions we have been given. And which we know by heart whether we are Christians or 1. Climate change and the environment - think about not. the packaging of foods and other items; There are two problems with this. The first is: what do 2. The effects of the covid-19 pandemic - remember we mean by love? Clearly not physical. Perhaps the the plight of refugees in the pandemic; right question – which probably answers the first – is 3. The use of political power, decision making, policy how do we demonstrate this love. and justice and communication of that through Respect doesn’t really go far enough. But it’s a start. If various media - the final run up to the American you respect someone you bother about how they feel. Presidential election on 3rd November. You want to please them. You probably want them to reciprocate your feelings towards them. So that fits both God and your neighbour. Just as long as we don’t All infection control procedures will be stringently confuse respect with impress. followed. This includes the use of PPE and the need to wear a mask. We love our family – at least most of the time! – and Let's keep safe and well. that’s the type of love we have for God. He is our Blessings Father and we are His children. And, of course, as His Jo children we don’t always do as He would wish. However, we do understand the relationship. Both as Secondly parents and children we understand elation, disappointment, patience, and the importance of I thought this little piece may be helpful. I first posted having someone to look up to and rely on. this on Facebook towards the start of the pandemic and Now to the second question. How much do we love many have asked if its 'ok’ to resend. Yes of course. ourselves in order to love our neighbour in the same Dear friends and parishioners way? I’ve been seeing so many friends (me too) beating Sadly, for some people this is not an option. Because themselves up because we are not “maximizing” our they don’t like who they have become. We have a God time in social isolation by organising our cupboards, repainting the house, becoming a piano virtuoso, or of second chances but too often our human frailty exercising ourselves into a lucrative career as a denies us the ability to see this. swimsuit supermodel (ok maybe I made the last one So perhaps that is a good start – guiding someone in up!) this situation to realise that there is always help to start We (me included) need to stop and breathe. If we are again. feeling adrift, there’s a reason. It is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Look it up and you The idea of loving ourselves has a poor connotation. It will see what I mean. smacks of self-satisfaction and a feeling of superiority. But look at it a different way. We should all assess As humans, we have basic requirements (the bottom of ourselves. What do we do best? the pyramid) like food, water, air, shelter, sleep, etc. The biological basics. If those are met, then the next These are the qualities upon which we should rung of the ladder is Safety and Security. If we feel concentrate, nurture – and love – in ourselves. And this safe and secure, then we can climb up and start on our is a basis for loving our neighbour. Love and Belonging needs and on up the ladder we go until finally at the very top is SELF- In other words, love them for who they are, not what ACTUALIZATION which would entail all of the we might like them to be. Build a relationship and, above activities. The catch is, we cannot 'level up’ above all, enjoy each other’s company. until the needs at the current level are fulfilled. If the needs remain unfulfilled, we remain stuck on our current level until the situation changes. MESSAGE FROM JO THE PARISH NURSE For most of us, in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic, we are dwelling in the basement of Dear friends Maslow’s pyramid (where even having toilet paper has As a number of people have requested, our Parish been exciting!) Nurse confidential health and wellbeing clinic will be We make the most of things yes; however, starting from the end of this month, Monday 26th physiologically and psychologically we aren’t built to October 10am-1pm, and on the fourth Monday of live our “best life” now. Our job is to live “a life” and every month thereafter - held at St Nicholas to support each other. Village Hall Tolleshunt Major. Are we eating, drinking water, and sleeping at all these Please note: Our Parish Nursing service is currently days? If so, that is a real triumph. only able to cover our former N Blackwater Parishes, Let us be kind to ourselves Focus on the until PCC approvals ... etc are gained for Goldhanger, bottom/lowest level. If we are eating our fruit and Great and Little Totham. vegetables, getting some sunshine and fresh air, Very importantly due to the pandemic, the clinic will keeping some semblance of a routine and sleep be run on an APPOINTMENT ONLY basis, booked schedule we are doing really well. and confirmed directly via me: Let us start there. And be extra gentle and abundantly Tel: 07368 498908 gracious with ourselves. Email: [email protected]. We will get through this, supported by our friends, Thank you. family, and others as necessary. This I feel is enough and so important. So, let us try and be kind to ourselves, appreciate how well we are coping. Let us keep supporting one another and feeling able to gain further support when we need it.

Take care and keep well. Blessings Jo Parish Nurse and friend X

ONLINE SERVICES THIS WEEK Please see the service rota for the time of the live streamed service which will be on YouTube. Edward Bear Monday on Zoom at 10.00am. During term time.

LINKS FOR ONLINE SERVICES Morning Prayer can be accessed through your churches’ Facebook and your churches website on achurchnearyou. Also the Sunday Eucharist service which is live streamed can be viewed on YouTube on the following link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuMHtbsdz2Enbj0 TdEmE3-g/videos Again if you wish to view this through achurchnearyou website the link is: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6651/ or https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/6657