CHURCH GIVING
At Emmanuel, we believe that giving financially and of our time and skills is part of our gratitude for God’s generosity, our worship to him and what it means to be a family on mission. This year we are running an Alpha course where we have invited people to find out about Jesus; we long to improve our provision for children, and to strategically rethink the way we do church and reach out to our entire community.
It takes resources to do this. so we want you to prayerfully consider your giving through tithes and offerings for the coming season and join with us in this area. The best way to do this can be 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 use this QR code:
BAPTISM People within the church are encouraged to be baptised and confirmed as part of their growth in Jesus. We are planning an adult baptism at Easter, following a short course of instruction. Please talk to Christine Williams or a service leader if you are interested.
HOME GROUPS are a great way to think more deeply about God’s word and share fellowship with a small group of people. They usually meet fortnightly, either in the daytime or evening, in someone’s home. Some newer members of the congregation have expressed an interest in joining a Home Group and we’re planning a new one now. Please speak to Christine Williams or Pauline Woolnough if you are interested.
ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a period of six weeks leading up to Easter, when weparticularly remember Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross. A service of Holy Communion with the Imposition of Ashes will be held on Ash Wednesday, 18 February at St John the Divine, Outwood Common, at 7.30pm.
There will also be a Lent course on Thursdays at St John’s, starting on 19 February at 7.30pm (7.15 for refreshments).
TEAM PRAYERS The next Team Prayers event is at Christ Church on Thursday, 12 February at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Copies of the comments made at the December meeting with the Archdeacon of Southend are available in the foyer. These may act as a starting point for your own prayers too.
KIDS’ CHURCH
Meets 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 the church hall. When we have communion, the children come back to their parents for that, and on the other weeks parents will go to collect their kids at the end of the service.
Kids are not the future of the church, they are the church now and we need to love them and treat 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 how we care for those who are under 18. Part of improving the consistency of our provision means increasing the number of volunteers helping. This includes 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. If you are interested, please speak to a church leader or email emmanueloffice@billericaychurches.org
CHRIS’S LAST SUNDAY Thankyou to everybody who helped with the farewell lunch, by moving tables and chairs, providing or serving food, washing up or clearing away. Chris, Abi and the children have arrived in Melbourne and are settling well into their new ministry. Please continue to pray for them all.
CARE FOR THE FAMILY is running its Going the Distance marriage course at Emmanuel on Thursday 26 March. Full details and tickets are available via their website https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk
Please let Christine or Phil know if you would like to help on the night.
RIDING LIGHTS THEATRE COMPANY will perform ‘Night Falls’ at Christ Church on 26 March at 7.30pm.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
4 February – Table-tennis: 7-9pm, Emmanuel Foyer & Archer Hall. Details from Alan Woolnough and Banjo.
7 February – Who Let the Dads Out? 9-10.30am, Emmanuel Foyer.
Tea & Cake with Robert Norris on the Piano: St Mary’s, 3pm.
Quiz Night at Christ Church: 7pm. BYO drinks and nibbles. Tickets £8 from
Christ Church Office.
8 February – Bishop Adam celebrating communion at the 8.30 and 10.30 services at Emmanuel.
12 February – Team Prayers: Christ Church, 7.30pm
16 February – PCC meeting: Christ Church 7.30pm.
17 February – Shrove Tuesday Pancakes at St Mary’s provided by Billericay Mothers Union, 3.00pm-4.30pm
18 February – Ash Wednesday Service of Holy Communion with Ashing at St John the Divine, 7.30pm.
19 February – Lent Course begins at St John’s: refreshments from 7.15, course starts at 7.30pm.
21 February – High Street Market at St Mary’s, 10.00am-4.00pm, lunches served from 11.30am-2.00pm
25 February – Table-tennis: 7-9pm, Emmanuel Foyer & Archer Hall. More details from Alan Woolnough and Banjo
26 March – Care for the Family ‘Going the distance’ event at Emmanuel, 7.30pm.
26 March – Riding Lights Theatre Company ‘Night Falls’ at Christ Church, 7.30pm.
REGULAR EVENTS
PRAYERS RENEWAL & REVIVAL 1st & 3rd Sundays, 7pm at Emmanuel
WHO LET THE DADS OUT?: First Saturday every month, 9-10.30am Emmanuel for all Dads, Grandads and Male Carers with pre-school Toddlers. Contact tony.wallace@billericaychurches.org for more information
‘ANNA’S PLACE’: Tuesdays 10.30am–2pm. 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: Emmanuel, 10.30am -12noon for tea, coffee and good company
HOLY COMMUNION AT ST MARY MAGDALEN: Wednesdays at 10am
ZOOM PRAYERS: every Wednesday, 6pm
TABLE TENNIS & GAMES: Wednesdays 4 & 25 February, 7-9pm. Details from Alan Woolnough or Banjo
TEDDY BEARS: Thursdays 9.30-11.30am for pre-school children over the age of 18 months. Contact Merrill Knight (01277 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
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 is isolating or struggling with ill health and in need of prayer at this time.
TEAM PRAYER MEETINGS
As we start to face church life after Chris leaves us, we need to be praying about what God has in store for Emmanuel and the parish as a whole.
As part of this, we have begun a series of corporate prayer meetings to start to explore life, worship and mission across the parish in the next phase. To enable as many people as possible to take part, meetings are at different times on different days of the week and shared between the churches.
The next date is Thursday, 12 February at Christ Church at 7:30pm. Everyone is welcome.
Please keep Chris, Abi and their children in your prayers as they settle into their new ministry at St. Albans in Geelong, Melbourne, Australia.
