From the Vicarage
OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN MALDON
I think our memories of our first Christmas in Maldon will be very special. It was wonderful not only to be part of the celebrations in church, but also in some small way to be part of the town’s celebrations. My sons were intrigued to know that I had been asked to bless the Christmas lights in the High Street! And the two Victorian evenings were a real experience: the atmosphere was unforgettable. I was impressed with the way in which All Saints was able to hold together a fund raising event with being a place of Christian welcome and prayer. It was good to see so many candles being lit, and requests for prayer left in the Intercessions Box. The carols and Alan Marjoram’s words reminded our many visitors of the real reasons for celebrating Christmas. Thank you to all who were a part of the Victorian evening at All Saints. What wonderful opportunities we have as the church in the High Street. I am sure when the building project is completed, there will be even more opportunities to reach out to our local community.
OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES I am grateful to those who helped deliver parish Christmas cards. I am sure this contributed to the excellent attendances at all our services. It was particularly pleasing that the new children’s Crib Service took off so well. It was the first time we had put on two Crib services. At 3.15pm on Christmas Eve I was wondering if anyone would come! And then people started streaming in. It was lovely to see so many children dressed up as a character in the Nativity Story. The churchwardens estimate that 180 people came to this service. And the 5.00pm service was, as always well attended; though this year the format was a little different, as it was a candlelight service. By popular demand we retained the tradition of “The 12 days of Christmas” at the end of the service. Our Christmas celebrations were rounded off with the Christingle service on the feast of the Epiphany, followed by a children’s party. It was particularly pleasing to have the support of the Brownies, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. How splendid the flags looked as they paraded up to the altar.
ALL SAINTS SCHOOL Because of the building work we were not able to host the school for their Carol service before Christmas. But there was a lovely open air candlelit celebration of carols in the play ground, on a cold frosty night before the end of term. It is the first time I have been incumbent of a parish with a Church of England school: and I greatly look forward to the association with the school. Though I have only been here for less than three months, I have already been very impressed by the atmosphere and ethos of the school. We are very fortunate in having such an excellent Headteacher and teaching staff, providing a first class education for the children of our parish, within a caring Christian environment. We are very privileged as a parish to have a church school. Please remember the school often in your prayers.
GIFT DAY I will be writing to everyone on the Electoral Roll next month, to update you on the progress of the building project in the St Catherine and D’Arcy Chapels and the rebuilding of the organ. I will also give you an up to date picture of the income we have received from grant making bodies and from legacies. However, it is exercising the mind of the PCC that we are clearly going to need to take up a large proportion of the loans that have been offered in order to finance this work. We are most grateful to those who have generously offered interest free loans to our church. But paying back these loans will clearly put more pressure on our finances over the next few years. We are hoping therefore to reduce the amount we need to borrow in order to fund the project. I am sorry to write about money for two successive months, but we do need to have a strategy to reduce the amount we will need to borrow. To this end we are holding a Gift Day on March 20th. There will be more information next month and in the letter I will be sending to the congregation. A card will also be delivered to every home in the parish setting out the ways in which the new facilities will serve our community; and inviting financial support. The Gift Day will also be an Open Day, in which people will be able to see for themselves the progress in the building work, and to see plans and talk to members of the PCC. In the meantime I would be glad to hear of any one who would be interested in organizing a fund raising event for the building project. Events, great or small, would be welcomed.
DAY OF PRAYER It is important that all we do as a church is grounded in prayer. To this end, there will be a day of prayer on Friday March 19th, preceding the Gift Day. There will be more information in the March Magazine. But we are hoping to have people in church throughout the day on the 19th to share in a silent vigil of prayer. The day will be divided into 30 minute sections and people will be asked to take responsibility for one of these times. A leaflet will be available to help you use the time in praying for our parish, for the building project, for the Gift Day and for our town. Prayer is essential to the life of our church, and I hope many people will want to be a part of this day.
LENT
It is appropriate that our Day of Prayer takes place in Lent. Lent is a time for deepening our spiritual life and learning more of the things of God; a time for making a special effort in our Christian life. Being part of the Day of Prayer may be one way in which you could do something positive in your journey of faith. There will be many other opportunities in Lent. Churches Together in Maldon is organizing a series of Lent Groups some of which will be hosted by members of our congregation. This will be an excellent way to deepen our understanding of our faith. There is a list at the back of the church which you are invited to sign if you wish to be part of this. I hope the groups will be well supported by All Saints. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 17th, when there will be the usual Eucharist at 7.30pm.
The imposition of ashes will be available for those who would like to use this traditional expression of penitence. But the ashing is not compulsory! Personally, I find it very helpful to express this outward sign of my inward sense of repentance. But as with all symbols, the outward observance needs to be matched by the inner intention of the heart. There may be other special things you might do for Lent. How about coming to Evensong during Lent? Or attending the mid-week communion service? Or going to one of the lunch time services being organized by Churches Together? (Details can be found in the magazine) What are YOU going to do?
PASTORAL VISITING As I said on my first Sunday, my hope over the coming months is to visit everyone on the Electoral Roll. I have always found this a rewarding thing to do when I have begun my ministry in a new parish. It may take me some time to get around everyone. There is no hidden agenda: just to get to know one another. Meanwhile, if you are aware of anyone who is sick or housebound who would particularly like a visit, as a priority, please let me know.
AND SO TO THE FUTURE……
Richard, Nicholas, Sue and I are very happy to be in our new home in Maldon. It has always been my dream to be a Vicar in a small town with a sense of community and identity. We have come at a time of exciting developments in the life of All Saints. The development of the D’Arcy Chapel and the St Catherine Chapel and the rebuilding of the organ will enhance our mission and outreach in new and imaginative ways. We have been warmly welcomed by the congregation and have already been made to feel that we belong here. We love living in this amazing Vicarage. As we sat in the sitting room on Christmas Eve, my historical imagination ranged over the countless people who have experienced Christmas in that house over the centuries. Our church and indeed our whole town has a wonderful sense of history. The past is important. It shapes us and makes us what we are, and has to be respected and acknowledged. But the Church of Jesus Christ, though rooted in history, is an organism that is living and growing. Certainly our church building has evolved and changed in every century. The architecture of All Saints shows how every age has left its mark on the building. We in our age will be leaving our mark in what is being done in the St Catherine and D’Arcy Chapels. I believe this will equip us for our mission into the 21st Century and beyond. Please pray that God will guide, direct and inspire us all, as we begin our journey together into 2010, and please God, for many more years to come.
Stephen Carter
PATTERN OF WORSHIP
Occasionally it is necessary to make changes to our usual pattern of worship. Such an occasion was on the first Sunday in January when we held our Christingle in the afternoon. Because the family service for that day was in the afternoon, we decided to make the 10.00am service a Eucharist rather than Worship for All. I apologize to those who came expecting a Eucharist at 11.15am on that Sunday. With my arrival in November, we had not had long to plan and advertise these changes in our pattern. Therefore, I am giving advance notice that the PCC has agreed that the first Sunday of April (April 4th) being Easter Day, there will be a Eucharist at 10.00am, and therefore NO 11.15am service. The children will withdraw for a special activity during the service. Apart from Easter Day, we envisage that the pattern will remain as usual for the rest of the year. S.C.
THE CHALICE AT THE EUCHARIST
As you know, from July to November on the advice of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the chalice was withdrawn because of fears of spreading Swine Flu. The bishops gave permission for the chalice to be restored on Advent Sunday. However, the bishops have said very strongly that we are NOT to permit the practice of intinction of the host (that is the dipping of the Eucharistic bread into the chalice) Medical advise suggests that this is actually more likely to spread infection than drinking from the common cup. Please remember that infection is most likely to be spread by the hands, and the host is held in the communicant’s hand before being intincted. If you have anxieties about receiving the chalice it is perfectly acceptable to receive in one kind only. But please do NOT dip the host into the chalice (S.C)
VICARAGE CURRY EVENINGS
Please speak to Stephen or Sue if you would like to come for the second Curry Evening on Saturday 27th February, 6.30pm for 7.00pm. There will be a selection of chicken, prawn and vegetable curries of varying strengths. No charge-but donations would be welcomed for church funds (where possible Gift Aided to All Saints PCC please). Bring your own drinks!
