www.silverendcongregationalchurch.org

Keeping in Touch

Sunday Services at 6.30pm

A Very Warm Welcome

God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. He makes his feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places.                2 Samuel 22:33-34

MARCH 2022

SERVICES

6^th	Request Sunday	Service at 6.30pm Fellowship Service
13^th	Evening Worship & Communion – 6.30pm	Mr. Charles deLacy, Chelmsford
20^th	Evening Worship – 6.30pm	Mrs. Jenny Haggar, Ipswich
27^th	Morning 10.00am Family & Parade MOTHERS DAY	Mrs. Penny Bloom Chelmsford No Evening Service

APRIL 2022     SERVICES at 6.30pm

3^rd	Request Sunday	Fellowship Service
10^th	Evening Worship	Mr. Charles deLacy, Chelmsford
17^th	10am & 6.30pm Worship	EASTER  SERVICES
24^th	Evening Worship	Mrs. Norma Huxter, Halstead

What’s On in MARCH

Tues 1^st    Prayer in vestry                                     09.45-10.00

Meet up @ Coffee & Chat                          10.00-12.00

                Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) Toss the Pancake

Wed 2^nd    Open Book –informal discussion group     10.30-11.30

Thurs 3^rd Knit & Natter                            10.00-12.00

Sat 5^th     Church Meeting- Please come and share  10.00-12.00

Sun. 6^th Request Sunday – Fellowship Service with your choices of hymns.

Tues 8^th    Prayer in vestry                                     09.45-10.00

Meet up @ Coffee & Chat                          10.00-12.00

Thurs  10^th         Knit and Natter                            10.00-12.00

Sun 13^th Mr. Charles deLacy                         18.30

Tues 15^th Prayer in vestry                                     09.45-10.00

Meet up @ Coffee & Chat & Quiz  10.00-12.00

Wed 16^th Open Book – Informal discussion group   10.30-11.30

Thurs 17^th          Knit & Natter                               10.00-12.00

Sun 20^th Rev. Jenny Haggar, Ipswich             18.30

Tues 22^nd Prayers in the Vestry                09.45-10.00

Meet up @ Coffee & Chat                          10.00-12.00

Thurs 24^th          Knit & Natter                              10.00-12.00

Sun. 27^th        Family & Parade Service          10.00

            Mothering Sunday Service Refreshments afterwards and

                Flowers for all. Service Led by Penny Bloom

Reminder - CLOCKS GO FORWARD

‼‼‼ Please note NO evening Service

LOOKING AHEAD – to April

2^nd April    Guides are holding an Easter Fair – 1pm – 5pm

12^th April  Special morning @ Coffee & Chat for Easter

15^th April  Good Friday -Walk of Witness 10.15 at the Co-op

                Service here in Congregational Church at 11am

17^th April  Easter Sunday – Family & Parade Service and Easter Egg Hunt 10.00 Service led by Carol Hutchings and

                Evening Worship 6.30pm led by Mrs. Norma Huxter.

News & Thank you

February has flown by so quickly! a little bit of tongue in cheek that remark, as we have certainly felt the full force of the wind with some pretty ferocious storms. As the wind howled, the rain poured and the sea raged, it made it difficult to remember that above the clouds, above it all, the sun is still there and very much shining! It can feel similar to that when we’re going through the storms of life; to remember that when it feels like we are surrounded by trouble and darkness, that above it all and reigning sovereign is the Lord. That He is higher, He is greater, and He is always good.  ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms’                                    Deut. 33:27

I do hope that you haven’t sustained too much damage to your property. I know a few of you have lost fence panels and looking at the roads and fields around the village a few large trees have gone, along with some big branches. Some of you were without power for a couple of days which is pretty grim at any time of year but in the winter it is even more so. Isn’t wind amazing we can’t actually see it, but we feel it and we see its power that can rip up trees and roofs, sheds and anything else that does not have a strong foundation. Things that unexpectedly happen make you realise just how fortunate we are these days. Back when I was young, we always had candles and matches handy stored away under the sink or in the cupboard. We all knew where they were kept, we carried torches. We had open fires where we could boil water or heat up some soup etc..etc.. As I type this I am looking forward to seeing a documentary on the TV all about the Big Freeze of 1962/1963. I didn’t even miss a day at school, even though my bus went into the ditch, we were marched to school on foot. Say no more‼

As I said last month we wouldn’t be able to keep our church so open and vibrant without the help from so many wonderful people. This past month has been no different. Thank you very much Jane Holland and Daphne Gray who helped me seal all the wooden floors at the church. As I have mentioned before this is a big job and I am so grateful to these two lovely ladies, they worked very, very hard. I supervised mostly and let them do all the hard graft, whilst I busied myself with silly bits and pieces that never get sorted or cleaned. Both Jane and Daphne didn’t even get a break between the coats of sealer drying. I am such a hard task master! Jane sorted out a big box of junk and dusted all the church and lampshades and Daphne did a great job on the cleaning cupboard.

Another big thank you to Daphne who is now tackling the front hedge at the church. She suggested that it needed thinning out because the weight of the top is making the hedge pull over. We are very grateful for her expertise and hard work to take on such a big job. I can’t tell you how thankful we are for all the help people give willingly to keep this church open for the benefit of our community and as part of God’s  work here in Silver End.

We are starting ‘Open Book’ again this month. It will be twice a month on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday, starting on Wednesday the 2^nd March, at 10.30am. It will be very informal and relaxed, starting to look at the book of Mark in the bible. So if you are free and would like to come along, we would love to see you.

I know many people are very anxious at this moment in time for a variety of reasons. Look at this verse from Isaiah and God will be with you and strengthen you.

Isaiah 41: 10

Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

NEED INFORMATION? Listed below are some helpful numbers

CHURCH CONTACTS- on line – www.silverendcongregationalchurch.org

Church Open               Tuesday        10.00 – 12 noon

Coffee & Chat             Tuesday        10.00 - 12 noon

Open Book                  1^st & 3^rd Wednesday 10.30 – 11.30am

Church Secretary & Enquiries          Mrs. J. Bartlett      Tel.561959

Church Treasurer       Mrs. S. Gray  Tel.583913   E.mail   sharon@silverend.org

Church Telephone No.      01376 584306       Post Code CM8 3QF (Silver Street)

Silver End Guiding Group        Contact Mrs. Carol Hutchings 07857 663959

Rainbows, Guides, Brownies, Rangers

Tues.         Silver Swans Movement Class 11.00-12pm  Contact Gemma 07597 649240

Wed.         Carolyn’s Dance Group - Disco/Street Dance           Contact Harriet 07855 014717

Thurs.       SILVER TOTS (Baby & Toddler Group) at 9.45am- Nikki 07809 761902 (Term Time)

Thurs.       Knit & Natter Thursday 10.00 – 12 noon    Contact  Barbara 01376 585467

SCOUT GROUP    Dan Sutton (Scout Leader)            dan@silverend-scouts.org.uk  07970 730636

PRAYERS

Father thank You that You have promised us that You will never leave us or forsake us. We look to You to lead us with thankfulness, assurance and trust, knowing that promise in our hearts, You will never leave us or forsake us.

Ukraine  “The horrific and unprovoked attack is an act of great evil. Placing our trust in Jesus Christ, the author of peace, we pray for an urgent ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian forces. We call for a public decision to choose the way of peace and an international conference to secure long term agreements for stability and lasting peace. We invite Christians to make Sunday a day for prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace. We also give support to a call from Pope Francis for a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday, March 2^nd”

Archbishop Justin Welby & Archbishop Stephen Cottrell.

We pray for our own Country where storms have been causing havoc. Thousands without power once again, houses damaged and flooded. We pray especially for the families of those killed or injured  There has been a lot of misery over the last two months. We lift them and ourselves to the Lord.

Pray for each other. We know people within this fellowship and their families are having difficulties with health, physically and mentally. We would lift Roy, starting new treatment. Val, who goes into hospital shortly for a big operation. We keep in our prayers, Judy, Brenda, Rose, Iris and others we miss seeing. We ask that God will surround them with his Love and Presence, that they will feel safe and loved.

Please keep praying for this village, for this fellowship and the other churches in the village, and for your neighbours and friends. May God’s love touch their innermost being and give life, strength and hope.

Keep this Country, Parliament and the Government in your prayers. Where do we start? There are serious issues for our Nation and Europe with Ukraine and Russia. The fuel prices are rocketing and I think we are in for a very difficult time. Our energy costs going up and the rise in the National Insurance which will hit families. We ask that the Government will be given great wisdom to make these decisions that will effect so many lives.

Please remember the Queen as she fights off Covid, we pray that she will soon regain her strength. We know how her faith has sustained her over long service.