The St Lawrence Share Fair St Lawrence parish Dates for 2018 April 29th, June 24th, August 19th, newsletter spring 2018 October 14th. All Share Fairs take place in Jubilee Field on a Sunday between 12-4pm. Welcome to the Spring edition of the St Lawrence Parish Newsletter. If you have an event you would like mentioned in the next edition please contact the A Share Fair is like a market or Fair … but everything is ABSOLUTELY FREE! A Money- editorial team, or send your copy to [email protected]. Costs for business Free-Zone where EVERYONE is WELCOME to share and swap skills, stuff and stories. advertisements are £10 full page £5 half page. The next edition will be out in May 2018. An event, with no hidden costs for things like food and drink, entertainment or goods? Editorial Team: Linda Pailing (01621 744400) Pauline Johnson (07540063578) What if this event was not only ABSOLUTELY FREE but also helped towards caring for the environment by reducing waste and caring for the community by bringing people to- ST LAWRENCE CRAFT GROUP gether to learn new skills?

Too good to be true – well please read on because we think we’ve cracked it! CRAFT SALE

In the past, markets were more like fairs – as much about social gatherings and enter- SATURDAY 24 March 2018 tainment as about trading goods. Nowadays the word ‘market’ is associated with money- 10.00 am—1.00 pm making and fairs are often very expensive. So, a few of us have decided to keep the idea

CAKE STALL, KNITTED ITEMS, HANDMADE CARDS AND OTHER of an old-fashioned market, but get rid of the money bit – and we are calling this event a HANDCRAFTED ITEMS and BRIC-A-BRAC Share Fair.

HOT REFRESHMENTS How does it work? All proceeds to go to the St Lawrence Church Centre . The group meets there every Friday from 10.00-12.00. We all have things in our homes that we no longer need – good stuff that is sitting un- used and taking up valuable space. We all have clothes we have grown out of (or never worn!) that someone else could use but stays hanging in our wardrobe. All this stuff we can bring to a Share Fair and swap.

We all have skills we can share – some of us play musical instruments, or are excellent knitters, or good cooks. Some of us are experienced vegetable growers, dog-trainers or song-writers. Some of us mend things, build things or create things. Some of can draw well, or speak different languages or hula hoop! All of us are good at something – even if that something is being friendly for half an hour and listening to somebody who is a bit lonely.

And we all have a story to tell – all of us enjoy a good natter from time to time, especially with somebody who can tell us new ideas, or useful information or old stories about where we live. At a Share Fair we have comfortable seating areas with free tea and cof- fee where people can sit and chat. 2 1 Diddydots Nursery Diddydots nursery, breakfast and after school clubs. Open Monday - Friday 7am till 6:30pm Offering sessional and full day care for funded and non funded children. St Lawrence village hall, main road St Lawrence. Dear Friends, Please call on 07718220663 Or 01621 778965 or 07875500777 February marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar and happens to fall on Valentines Day this year, February 14th. For those who www.diddydots-nursery.co.uk would like to join us to mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday 14th February, we will be having a Joint Benefice (, & , Bradwell on Sea & St Lawrence) Communion at St James Dengie at 7.30pm where there will be the imposition of ashes.

We will also be holding a 5 session course during Lent called “Handing on the Torch – sacred words for a secular world” where there will be 2 sessions available each week – one during the day and one in the evening throughout Lent which will be held over 5 weeks. Further details are

Harlow Blackwater Sailing Club below and do feel free to come along to any of them. Whilst is a course

Established 1955 North Drive, , . Tel 07929 734684 and would be beneficial to attend each week, you are more than Affiliated to RYA welcome to come along to any of the sessions.

The safe, friendly, well-managed sailing Club at the bottom of North Lent is a good time for us to withdraw from some of our treats and things we enjoy in lives, so we can possibly replace them with a good deed, a Drive in Maylandsea. Cheap cruiser moorings available. Lent Course! or something which can bring us closer to God as we remember Jesus’ temptation in the desert. Lent is a time to reorient www.harlow-blackwater-sailing-club.co.uk ourselves, to slow down and to recover from any distraction in our lives.

Or find us on Facebook and YouTube Whatever you choose to do in Lent, may it be a good one for you and may God give you his peace.

Reverend Steven

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3 If you want to:

- learn more about the Christian faith. - tackle the biggest questions facing humanity Wildlife Talks—forthcoming events - examine your own beliefs, in fellowship with others Session 1 – A Christian Country? Wednesday 21 February 2018. St Nicholas A series of Wildlife Talks are held at the Annex, St Lawrence Church. Church, Tillingham. 11am – 12 or 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Vicarage, 6 Bakery There is a charge of £4 per talk with proceeds after running costs going to Close, Tillingham. the speaker’s charity. A raffle is also available. Session 2 – A Secular Society? Wednesday 28 February 2018. St Thomas Church, All talks will start at 8pm with doors opening at 7.30. Numbers are restricted Bradwell. 11 – 12 or 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Vicarage, 6 Bakery Close, Tillingham. so it will be best to book your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. This can be done by emailing [email protected] prior to each Session 3 – A Beleaguered Church? Wednesday 7 March 2018. St Lawrence event. Church, St Lawrence. 11 – 12 or 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Vicarage, 6 Bakery A diary of events is shown below. The talks cover a range of subjects and Close, Tillingham. will be suitable for all ages and open to all.

Session 4 – Competing Creeds? Wednesday 14 March 2018. St James Church, Dengie. 11 – 12 or 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Vicarage, 6 Bakery Close, Tillingham. 28th February - Adventures of Lady Grace - A talk given by Stacey Belbin of Lady Grace Boat Trips. Stacey skippers boat trips out of West Mersea Session 5 – Handing on the Torch. Wednesday 21 March 2018. St Nicholas and will be speaking about her experiences and her love of wildlife and pho- Church, Tillingham. 11 – 12 or 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Vicarage, 6 Bakery Close, tography. Tillingham. Course booklets provided. Any queries, please contact Rev Steven Poss on 28th March - The Work of the Woodland Trust - Sally Helper from the 01621 779620, [email protected] or 07830 150713. Woodland Trust will speak about the state of our woodlands today and will cover ancient woodlands, local woods, their impact on wildlife and the work done to protect our trees. What’s on At the Church Centre Event Day and contact Time 25th April—Wildlife talk topic to be confirmed. Pebbles Monday 10.00 am More talks are in the pipeline for later in the year with subjects including

Bats, Moths and the Little Tern monitoring scheme. Bridge Monday 1.45 pm

Coffee morning Tuesday 10.30 am Details can be found on our website Café Extra Wednesday 2.30 – 4.00 www.stlawrencewildlifetalk.wordpress.com where you can join the mailing list or via Facebook and Twitter. Jane Pudney 772345

Yoga Thursday 2.15– 3.45 pm

Contact Nikki 779027

Hobby/Craft group Friday 10.00 – 12.00 Essex Library Van Once a fortnight on a Friday 12.00

5 6 Have you tried the exercises classes at St Law- St Lawrence Bay WI rence Village Hall? Classes run throughout the year, 3 times a week, (excluding Bank Holidays), Over the last few months we have had some fun events. The August Fete on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings at on the Jubilee field was very successful with around 250 villagers and 7.30pm. Your first class is half price at only £2. friends for a bit of bargain hunting at the bric a brac stall and in the many boot sale stalls. Body Blitz is on a Monday and Thursday evening. This is a body conditioning/toning class using weights, resistances bands and Our monthly meeting talks have included Magnetic jewellery, Elizabethan witches and British tubes. It is suitable for all ages and abilities. Wildlife. In November we took a range of gifts to the Women's Refuge. This replaced our Legs, Bums and Tums is on a Tuesday evening and compliments secret Santa gifts to each other. They were greatly appreciated by the Refuge. the other class, getting your heart pumping and aiding weight loss. All equipment is provided; all you need is suitable clothing and We celebrated Christmas with a fabulous party. Our members then staged some fun entertain- footwear and a bottle of water. ment including recitals by 4 'fairies', songs and a can can routine. The calendars which we made from pictures during the year were handed to every member as a memento of our 40th year. So if you want to lose weight, tone up with great music and have We finished the evening dancing to disco. fun, why not come along! For more information; search “Wendy's Aerobics” on Facebook or One of the WI's main focus is on campaigning and lobbying the government on current issues. call 07846205232/01621778646 So in our January meeting we debated a range of issues including Raising Awareness of Modern Slavery; Stopping Female Genital Mutilation and Promoting a Positive Body image. Our votes will be added to the others across the country and the National WI will campaign on the issue with the strongest following. These have been very successful in the past. Look at NFWI web- site for more info.

We are always looking for more members. Join us for a meeting at the Village Hall on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (7.30pm). Phone me on 01621 779630 or email [email protected] for more info. Ann Johnson

ST LAWRENCE PARISH COUNCIL Flower Festival at the Church VACANCY Art displays in the Annex of the Church Music and other entertainment LITTER PICKER

More details in the next issue of the newsletter. Helpers needed To pick litter 3—4 times a week. Areas covered Jubilee Field, car park, both sides for the weekend. Please contact Linda 07710249563. of Main Road and the viewing platform by The Stone pub. £60.00 per month. Necessary equipment provided

For further details contact Elaine Hill on 779470 or email [email protected] 7 8 CHURCH SERVICES

Date Time Building Service ST LAWRENCE PARISH COUNCIL 09:00 St Lawrence Church. Parish Communion www.essexinfo.net/st-lawrence-parish-council February 4th 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Worship Clerk—Elaine Hill, 79 Mountview Crescent, St Lawrence Tel: 779470

10:00 St Lawrence Centre Family Communion MEETINGS 2018 February 11th 18:00 St Lawrence Church Evening Service 09:30 St Thomas Church School Service 26TH FEBRUARY February 14th 19:30 St James Church Joint Communion and Ash Service TH Ash Wednesday 26 MARCH RD 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion 23 APRIL February 18th 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Worship 21ST MAY ANNUAL MEETING/VILLAGE MEETING 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion TH February 25th 25 JUNE 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Service RD 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion 23 JULY March 4th TH 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Worship 20 AUGUST 10:00 St Lawrence Centre Family Communion 24TH SEPTEMBER March 11th 18:00 St Lawrence Church Evening Service 22ND OCTOBER 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion March 18th TH 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Worship 26 NOVEMBER TH 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion 17 DECEMBER March 25th 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Service th March 29 19:30 St Thomas Church Joint Service Communion and Washing of Meetings start at 7.30pm. All welcome. Meetings commence with public Maundy Thursday feet followed by the Watch with Christ question time—your chance to have your say. 10:00 St Lawrence Church Messy Church th March 30 13:00 St Thomas Church Walk to St Peters with Othona Good Friday PARISH COUNCILLORS CONTACT DETAILS 14:00 St Peters Chapel Good Friday Meditation CAROL TAYLOR MARIGOLD 87 MOUNTVIEW CRESCENT CM0 7NR (Chairman) 06:00 St Peters Chapel Dawn service Communion MARIAN GIBSON 93 MAIN ROAD CM0 7NA (Vice Chairman) April 1st 10:00 St Lawrence Centre Easter prayers before joining for com- JANE PUDNEY WEST NEWLANDS BRADWELL ROAD CM0 7LL Easter Sunday munion at the church COLIN TRAVERS 2 WICK FARM ROAD CM0 7PF 11:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion LINDA PAILING 99 NIPSELLS CHASE MAYLAND CM3 6EJ RUTH LANGLEY 40 MAIN ROAD CM0 7NA 10:00 St Lawrence Centre Family Communion April 8th NEIL SULLIVAN LANTERN COTTAGE, MAIN ROAD CM0 7NA 18:00 St Lawrence Church Evening Service 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion April 15th 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Worship 09:00 St Lawrence Church Parish Communion April 22nd 10:00 St Lawrence Centre All Age Service

9 10 What’s on At the Village Hall—Regular weekly events Event Day and contact Time

Diddydots Monday-Friday 7.00 am– 6.30pm Rachael 07875500777 or 07847865423 Dodgeball Friday 5.00 –6.00 Dan Monk Keep Fit Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7.30 pm – 8.30 Wendy Butterwick pm 01621778646 or 07846205232.

Table Tennis Club Tuesday 2.30 – 4.30 pm Ivan Joslin [email protected] Marine School STARTING 16-19th Feb Jacqui Monk Table Tennis Friday 7.30 – 10.00 pm Matches Tai Chi Wednesday and Friday 2.30 – 4.30 pm Ann Tucker at the Post Office

At the Village Hall—Regular Monthly Events Event Day Time Social Club First Wednesday 7.00 – 10.00pm

Alf Richardson Women’s Institute Second Wednesday 7.30 – 10.00 pm

Ann 779630

For Village Hall bookings contact Marian on 778102 For Church Centre bookings contact Shirley on 779403

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