TEAM RECTOR ADVERTISING
The Team Rector vacancy is now being advertised on the Chelmsford Diocese website, with interviews in late October. Please pray for the person we believe God is calling to Billericay and Little Burstead, and for the lay reps from the Team Churches who will be part of the selection and interview panel with the Archdeacon and Area Dean: Phil Alcock, Pete Fisher, Linda Russ, Rachel Orford and Pauline Randall. The next Team Prayers will be on 8 September at Emmanuel at 7.30pm and on 29 September at St John’s, also at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
We have Kids’ Church for primary school aged children during the 10.30 service. The children start off in church with everyone else and leave after our initial sung worship to enjoy learning more about Jesus in a fun way in the church hall. When we have Communion, the children come back to their parents for that, and on the other weeks parents need to go to collect their kids at the end of the service. There is a Crèche for parents/carers to take any younger children if they aren’t coping with being in church.
We are starting a Youth Drop-In at Emmanuel in September, for Year 7s and above during Term Time on Mondays from 2.30-5pm (open 3.00-4.30pm). We have started recruiting and training helpers but can always find room for more. Tasks include serving light refreshments, taking names at the door (seated), greeting and meeting in the foyer. There is a rota so you can attend as little or as often as you can manage. Please let Gina McEvoy, Andy Butt, Phil Alcock or Christine Coe know if you are interested. Full training and help will be given.
Sign-up on the sheet by the Crèche.
GRANDPARENTING FOR FAITH ‘Grandparenting for Faith’ is a 6-week course published by the BRF to help us encourage faith in our grandchildren. The course will run from Thursday 3rd September for 6 weeks, 10.00am in the Pilgrim Room. Please let Christine Williams or Pauline Woolnough know if you are hoping to join the course so we have an idea of numbers. Bring photos of your grandchildren to the first meeting.
COMMUNION
The DCC has tried out 3 options for the position of the Communion Table over the last few weeks:
The small Credence Table we have been using for the last 18 months
The original large Communion Table in the centre of the Worship Area floor
The original large Communion Table front and centre of the platform
If you haven’t already sent your feedback to Maureen Baker, the DCC Secretary: maureen.baker@billericaychurches.org there is still time before the DCC meeting on 7 September when the DCC will be making a final decision.
BILLERICAY FUN WALK
Emmanuel has registered for this sponsored fundraising event. You can walk 2 or 5 kilometres anywhere and anytime in September. A group from Emmanuel will be meeting at Lake Meadows main entrance on Saturday 26th September at 2pm, and you will be welcome to walk with them.
Please do sponsor those taking part, if you can, so we can raise funds to improve Emmanuel’s provision for children and young people in particular, and the wider community as a whole. The Fun Walk Trust’s bonus pot last year added 30% to the amount raised by sponsorship. Talk to Alan Woolnough for more details.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
We will be collecting shoe boxes again this year. These can be completed at home and brought to church in November. If you are buying adult size shoes, ask if you can have the box to use for this. We also have pre- printed, ready to pack OCC shoeboxes at church. A full list of what can go in the boxes is at: https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/how-to-pack-a-shoebox
Start looking out for items! There will be a box available in the foyer where you can donate items if you don’t want to fill a whole box or have spare items. If you need extras, help yourself from the box!
HARVEST
The 10.30am service on 4 October will be our Harvest Service. We’ll be joined by members of the Scouts and Guides, and collecting donations of non-perishable food for Billericay Foodbank. The service will be followed by a Bring and Share Jacket Potato Lunch. We’ll provide the potatoes but there will be a sign-up sheet for offers of toppings, salads, desserts, etc.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
There are many ways in which more help is needed in running Emmanuel smoothly.
• We are particularly short of welcomers for the 10.30 service. There is a monthly rota for this and full training will be given. Speak to Phil or Christine if you think you could help in this way.
• Could you run the PA system? This is not as complicated as it might seem. Now that our loyal operator, Ruth, has moved away, there is an urgent need for people who could provide this vital, yet easy-to-learn ministry.
Please contact Richard Shipton if you are interested.
• Do you have good administrative skills? There are several small admin jobs that could be shared if there were more people able to offer a little time, either regularly or for a short project.
CHURCH GIVING
Emmanuel is a self-funding church, relying on donations from all its members to keep running. We give financially and of our time and skills as part of our gratitude for God’s generosity. This enables us to improve our provision for children and young people; to reach out to our community, either by offering our building or by participating at community events; and to maintain the fabric of our church.
Please prayerfully consider your giving. An easy way to do this is by setting up a regular standing order or by direct debit through the Parish Giving Scheme. If you pay tax in the UK, we can claim back Gift Aid on your donations. Please talk to Brad Martin or the service leader about this.
Our bank details are …
Account name: BILLERICAY EMMANUEL PCC Sort Code: 20-12-21
Account number: 70179434
Or use this QR code:
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
2 Sept Table-tennis, 7-9pm, Emmanuel Foyer & Archer Hall. Details from Alan Woolnough and Banjo
3 Sept Grandparenting for Faith course starts 10.00-11.30am, Pilgrim Room
5 Sept Who Let The Dads Out? 9.00-10.30am Emmanuel Foyer
7 Sept Youth Drop-In starts
Emmanuel DCC, 7.30pm
8 Sept Team Prayers, Emmanuel, 7.30pm
13 Sept Community Parade in the High Street. Short service at St Mary’s at 10am; refreshments all day
16 Sept Table-tennis, 7-9pm, Emmanuel Foyer & Archer Hall. More details from Alan Woolnough and Banjo
19 Sept High Street Market at St Mary’s, 10.00am-4.00pm; lunches served from 11.30am-2.00pm
21 Sept PCC at Emmanuel, 7.30pm
26 Sept Artisan Food and Drink Market in the High Street, 10am-4pm Live Concert at St Mary’s 3pm
Emmanuel Fun Walk, Lake Meadows, 2pm
29 Sept Team Prayers, St John the Divine, Outwood Common Road, 7.30pm
4 Oct Harvest Service followed by Bring and Share Jacket Potato Lunch
PRAYER REQUESTS
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 is isolating or struggling with ill health and in need of prayer at this time.
TEAM PRAYER MEETINGS
As we are now advertising the vacancy for a new Rector for the parish, we need to be praying that the right person for the job sees the advert and responds. Praying also for trust that God has someone in mind and that we can recognise this in any candidates that come forward.
The next dates are Tuesday 8 September at Emmanuel at 7:30pm and Tuesday 29 September at St John the Divine, Outwood Common, also at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.
