BAPTISM:
Later in the year we will be running baptisms and we would love for you to be baptised with us if you want to be. If you haven’t heard of it before, want to find out more or want to join us for our pre-baptism session please email the church office to get more details.
KIDS CHURCH:
Kids are not the future of the church, they are the church now and we need to start loving them and treating them as such. We want to make church a brilliant place for the youngest to the oldest and at the moment we have a big gap in that provision for those who are under 18. Whilst we can’t solve everything in one go, the place we want to start is by getting our children’s work flying. Part of this means consistency of provision and ensuring that it is not simply the same people serving. We would like to gather a number of volunteers to help in this space. This will look like assisting the kids’ leaders, helping out with activities and just being a warm and friendly presence. All the relevant training and help will be given. Please connect with one of the church leaders or email the office at emmanueloffice@billericaychurches.org
ALPHA COURSE:
Later in the year we will be running an Alpha course which is an introduction to Christianity and a place to ask all the questions and explore all the issues people have ever wanted to about life, faith and purpose. As part of this we need a great team to host our guests. It takes a real team to make Alpha work! Three things we want you to consider:
i) Who you might invite…begin now by planting seeds, asking questions and building relationships with people who might enjoy this space
ii) Consider serving on team – Some of the roles include preparing food, serving food, hosting and welcoming people, being small group hosts or praying for our sessions.
iii) Pray like mad – people finding Jesus is a Spiritual battleground, we need to cover this in as much prayer as we can get our hands on
EASTER LILIES
If you would like to buy a lily in memory of a loved one, please complete a slip available in the foyer and return it to Trish Pickup or Donna Martin together with £2.50 per name. The lilies will be used to decorate Emmanuel on Easter Sunday.
If you would prefer your lily to be placed in St Mary Magdalen in the High Street, please return your slip,with £2.50 per name to Doreen Harrison or Jill Norris.
Final date for the return of slips is Palm Sunday, 13 April.
INDOOR MARKET AT ST MARY’S – Saturday 26 April from 10-4pm, lunches served 11.30am – 2pm.
NEW ELECTORAL ROLL
Every six years the Electoral Roll is completely redrawn and this is the year. This means even if your name has been on the Electoral Roll for some time, you have to re-apply for inclusion. Letters with application forms will be available for every current member from 9 February. Please complete and return the form as soon as you can but in any case by 10 April, in preparation for the Annual District Church Meeting on 27 April. Only members of the Electoral Roll are eligible to stand for election to the DCC or PCC or to vote at the ADCM or APCM. For further information, speak to Sue Stevens, Electoral Roll Officer for Emmanuel.
ELECTIONS ON 27 APRIL
Nominations will open shortly for places on the DCC, PCC and other church roles. Please consider prayerfully how you could serve Emmanuel in the coming year.
SOAPBOX DERBY
Churches Together in Billericay will once again have a marquee at the Rotary Club Soapbox Derby at Sun Corner on Sunday 4th May. Volunteers are needed to help put up the marquee on Saturday and take it down at 5pm on Sunday. Helpers are also wanted on the Sunday – chatting to people who visit the CTB space, helping with the children’s craft activities and generally supporting each other with this wonderful time of outreach to our community. Valid DBS required. For more details or to offer help, please contact Lorraine Harris at the Methodist Church markandcrew@hotmail.com
CHURCH GIVING
Because many of us are British it is hard to talk about money so we don’t do it. Yet the Bible doesn’t seem to have such qualms about it!
At Emmanuel we believe that giving financially and of our time and skills is part of our worship to God and what it means to be a family on mission. This year we long to run an Alpha course where we can invite people to find out about Jesus, to hire a children’s director, and to strategically rethink the way we do church and provide for our entire community.
It is going to take resources to do this. We want you to prayerfully consider your giving through tithes and offerings for the coming season and join with us in this area.
Often the best way to do this is by setting up a regular standing order and then you don’t have to worry about remembering. The details can be found here…
Account name : BILLERICAY EMMANUEL PCC
Sort Code: 20-12-21 Account number: 70179434
Or by using this QR code:
Thank you very much.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
5 April Who Let The Dads Out 9-10.30am Emmanuel for all Dads, Grandads and Male Carers with pre-school Toddlers.
Contact tony.wallace@billericaychurches.org for more information.
10 April Team Lent Course, St John the Divine, 7.30pm
12 April The Next Chapter bereavement social group, Emmanuel Archer Hall 10.30am-12.30pm
13 April Digging Deeper Bible Study, Mayflower/Pilgrim Room 12.30pm. Bring your own lunch
13 April Prayers Renewal and Revival
2 & 16 April Table-tennis group, 7-9pm Emmanuel Foyer. More details from Alan Woolnough and Banjo
15-19 April The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend. For details and to book go to: lionwitchonstage.com
17 April Maundy Thursday: Agape meals at home 7pm; Communion at Christ Church at 9.15pm
18 April Good Friday: Reflection 10am
26 April High Street Market at St Mary’s, 10.00am-4.00pm, lunches served from 11.30am-2.00pm
27 April ADCM at 12.30 To review the past year, plan for the next and elect church officers
27 April Prayers Renewal and Revival
4 May Soapbox Derby, Sun Corner. Volunteers wanted – please see above
19 May APCM at Christ Church, 7.30pm
WEEKLY EVENTS
‘ANNA’S PLACE’ Tuesdays 10.30 am – 2 pm A warm welcome and activities every week in Christ Church Church Hall for older people. Refreshments and lunch included. Just come along. Free.
TUESDAY DROP IN at Emmanuel, 10.30 am -12 noon for tea, coffee and good company.
HOLY COMMUNION AT ST MARY MAGDALEN – Wednesdays at 10 am
ZOOM PRAYERS every Wednesday 6pm.
TEDDY BEARS – Thursdays 9.30-11.30am for pre-school children over the age of 18 months. Contact Merrill Knight (656183) for further details.
BABIES & TODDLERS – Fridays 10-11.30am, for parents/carers and babies/toddlers. Contact Juliet Shipton at juliet@richardshipton.com for further information.
Please email webmaster@billericaychurches.org to let Richard know and send him your copy and any pictures or posters associated with it.
PRAYER REQUESTS
THOSE WHO ARE UNWELL
Please remember in your prayers those members of our church family who are in need of our love and support at this time, whether we know them to be unwell or struggling in different ways. Please also remember those who continue to weigh heavy on your hearts. Pray for all members of our church family and anyone we know who are isolating or struggling with ill health and in need of prayer at this time.
Please continue to pray for : David and Maureen Bird, (following David having a stroke); Jean Cuthbert (broken leg); Alan Campbell; Jeanette Claughton; Pamela Hammond; Brenda Lunn; Lauren (Shirley & Don Jeffery’s granddaughter); Peggy and Derek Randall (Donna’s parents); Brad Martin; Sue & Jim Shrubb; Paul Harrison; Sue Stevens; Julie Harper; Esther Davies; Joan Steward; Justin (Juliet’s brother); Sonja Chamberlain; Nicola (Bob & Jill’s daughter); David Kitchener; Vince Fabbri; Claire Iveson; Sheila Whitworth; Fred Towler (Vicki Davies’ dad); David & Maureen Bird; Jan Wood; Rosemarie Biron; George Wetjen; Carol Hayward; Roger Hayward; Simon Harrison; Kim Steele.
THOSE WHO ARE BEREAVED
Please continue to pray for all those we know who have been recently bereaved, especially for Anna, Stu, Thomas and Matthew Laughland and Anna’s mum and sister, on the death of Anna’s dad; Gina Fabbri and Ornella on the death of Ornella’s father; Stephen Greenfield and family following the death of Stephen’s mum; and the families of: Sheila Bailey; Cynthia Costelloe; Heather Bearman; Maureen Budner (Marianne and Mark); Veronica Brooks (St John’s).
The Prayer List is constantly updated. If there is someone missing, or if you would like to add someone or someone can now be removed, please contact Sue Oakley email sue.oakley@billericaychurches.org
