So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand Isaiah 41:10
`Dear All
This Sunday Geoff and Sarah Felton will be with us and Geoff will be leading our service.
On Monday we have our church meeting at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and join in the conversations.
Try Praying
Kathy writes ”As part of The Gathering in Vienna in November 23(24/7 prayer conference?) we listened to various seminars. Tucked away at the end of one seminar was a man speaking about this little booklet and the movement that has grown up around it. It is an invitation to try praying for seven days and see what happens. If you go on the website you can get a leaflet free or you can read it online. I would encourage anyone to use it and then lose it to someone else outside church. It’s a really gentle short booklet that may start a relationship with “someone you know who needs Jesus” and God. Enjoy. www.trypraying.org “ Kathy Wroe-Brown
Foodbank
David writes: Grateful thanks to everyone that has supported the Colchester Foodbank over 2023 via the Church, whilst recognising that many support the Foodbank via other routes. We collected 1.78 tonnes of provisions over 2023, more than 34 kgs per week, for which the Foodbank volunteers are always appreciative.
We continue to open up the church for Foodbank collections on Saturday mornings between 10 and 11 am, while the collection point to the left of the main door is always available when the church is open. We take the donations to the Foodbank on a weekly basis – with grateful thanks to Robin and Kathy who have stepped in to help when I have been variously incapacitated recently. David
New Wine
The next North Essex celebration is happening on 10th February at 7pm at Lawford Church (CO11 2JX). John Coles is coming to speak – he was booked for our last gathering, but had to drop out due to illness (and Paul Harcourt kindly stepped in at the last minute). Please let me know if you would like to go and I will obtain the tickets – if you can let me know by Sunday 21st January that would be helpful as tickets may go quickly.
Also, don’t forget that Refresh is happening in the summer: 14 – 16 June 2024. A chance to meet, pray, worship, and receive together from God. This takes place at Vauxhall Christian Trust, Great Wenham. You will be able to either book the accommodation available, camp or bring a caravan. There will be those of us who decide to be daily delegates and return to the comfort of our own beds! Rev Malcolm Macdonald will be speaking at the weekend, he is the vicar from St Mary’s Church, Loughton. More details coming soon! You can watch the short promo video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cApy6Z0Pn7M
URC Church Life Review
The Church Life Review Group was set up in 2020 to review the life, structures, resources and work of the URC to enable a faithful response to the challenges presented in Paper A1 Toward the Future of the URC. This paper reflected that the pandemic has become a moment that has revealed strengths, weaknesses and possibilities in the life of the church we maybe were not aware of.
The CLR Group is now moving into its second design phase, with the formation of three Task Groups that will help design future arrangements for support services, paid lay ministries, and financial and legal systems.
The task groups will be responsible for:
Identifying/designing options for future ways of operating relevant to their group’s remit
Undertaking feasibility studies for possible models
Testing models against the values and principles agreed by General Assembly
Consulting widely upon potential changes
Producing recommendations for General Assembly in 2025
Church Life Review Webinar
The United Reformed Church General Secretariat will be hosting a webinar about the Church Life Review on 24 January 2024 at 7.30pm.
The purpose of the session is to outline key pieces of work and roles which will be instrumental in affecting change and supporting the next phase of the review.
During the webinar, the General Secretariat will be able to provide fuller details about the key volunteer posts to be filled, outline the tasks required to be carried out, and answer any queries. So, if you are interested in learning more about the next phase of the Church Life Review or you think you might be able to play a part in the next interesting step on the URC’s journey of change, then do come along.
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89534958744?pwd=FvBDNtyLkADVPO1LlamXEsovvMUw58.1
Meeting ID: 895 3495 8744
Passcode: 240124
Christmas Trees
Our thanks to Peter who arranged to have our trees collected by the Stanway Centre. The trees are now being enjoyed by some alpacas!
This week
This week, there will be prayer meetings on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 9.30 am and the Tuesday evening homegroup. Zoom details will be e-mailed early in the week.
With love and blessings.
