Deanery of Colchester

Big Band in St. James

Here's something to put us all 'in the mood' for a great Christmas! The Sid Bolan Big Band will be playing in St. James' Church, East Hill, Colchester on Saturday 7th December at 7:30pm, with music of yesteryear and today. Tickets are £12:50 from Eventbrite - click just here to go to the bookings page, or email Lucy Mason, Churchwarden at St. James'. Here's a poster we can display to promote the event. Proceeds will help towards the Church's restoration works.

Carols in the Park - postponed to 2020

We're sorry to report that it has been necessary to postpone 'Carols in the Park', which was in diary for Saturday 7th December. The practicalities of an outside event needing technical support required more planning than the organisers had anticipated - but they are keen to see it happen in 2020. No doubt you will make good use of that day for the Lord and your Christmas preparations!

Annual Report of Synod meetings

Here's something new - Martin Roscoe, Secretary to Deanery Synod has done an Annual Report of the meetings in 2019 - a succinct summary which Parishes could use as part of their Annual Report. Read and download the Annual Report here.

FairTrade Breakfast on Commonwealth Day

This is advance notice that there'll be a big FairTrade Breakfast in Colchester Town Hall on Commonwealth Day, which is Monday 9th March 2020. It will take place from 8:30 to 10am, and is run by the FairTrade Town Group. Mark the date in that diary you've already bought - and come to the Town Hall to celebrate the distinctiveness of our Town and the area.

Confirmations in Stanway, February 2020

Bishop Roger will be presiding at a service of Confirmation in St. Albright's, Stanway on Sunday 2nd February next year, at 10:30am (note the recent change of date and time). All Parishes in the Deanery are invited to present candidates for Confirmation at the service; in the first instance contact Michael Topple, the Parish Administrator at office@stalbrights.org

Abbeyfield Community Project becomes CO2

The Abbeyfield Community Project, the community-based Christian outreach project, is now called ’Community Open 2 All’ or CO2 for short. Mark and Naomi Snelling of CO2 say: This reflects the ethos that everyone is welcome and also the postcode area in which we are making wider connections through initiatives such as Essex Free Uniform. Our discernment process continues as we are still in need of people to join the team, vacancies on the management group, funding and possibly an additional venue to develop any future ministry. If you would like to know more, please get in touch and most importantly, continue to pray’. Contact CO2 through naomijsnelling@gmail.com.

Chapter welcomes new Deacons

We are delighted to welcome four Deacons to the Deanery, following their Ordination in the Cathedral. Revd Anne Mason is working for St. Luke's and Great Horkesley, Jacquie Messinger and and Margaret Whiteman are serving at Lexden, and Tim Solosy at St. John's Colchester. May the Lord bless all they are and do in His Name.

Hymn books etc. Free to a good home!

Rosemary Boreham tells us that her Church has several hymn books and service books available to collect for free, if your Church can use them. Here's the list: 120 Mission Praise paperback hymn books & 4 Music books (hymns 1-282); 35 Mission Praise hardback words books (hymns 1-798); and 73 Holy Communion Rite A service books. Contact Rosemary on 01206 853769 and they're yours!

Marketing support for your Church

Isn't it great when a Church member has the skill and the will to do something valuable for the Church? Amy Carbonero, worshipper at Fordham, is offering freelance, affordable design work for marketing materials - posters, flyers, websites, many kinds of promotional material. Click to view the posters for Fordham's Harvest, Women's Breakfast and Youth Group, for instance - and contact Amy at amy.carbonero@icloud.com

Lead thefts & thefts from local Churches

We hear that there has been a recent theft from a local Church, both lead from the roof and items from the Church. Please be vigilant,

ensure that items of value are locked away after services and when the church building is unattended. If your church has lead on the roof and there is no alarm installed, perhaps the PCC may consider this to be a necessary acquisition. Archdeacon Ruth reminds us that she can approve such an installation under List B provisions of the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015.

n a screen in Church.

Youth Newsletter

Dot Salmon, our Colchester Area Youth Adviser, keeps us updated with a Newsletter, so that we're aware of youth events and training for leaders. Click here to be directed to the current issue. But why not sign up to receive the newsletter regularly? In fact, if you click on this link, you can sign up to receive news on any topic of your interest!

Colchester's growing population

The Borough of Colchester continues to be the fastest growing Borough in the east of England, and the population has now reached 192,523. A new document showing further forecast population growth has been added to our website's vision page, to assist us in our planning. The statistics do not drill down below Borough level so we cannot know Deanery or Parish figures - but as we know that most of the growth is within the Deanery, we can expect the Deanery population to be in the region of 145,000 - an increase of 19,000 since the 2011 Census.

The new Deanery Vision Plan

The Deanery Standing and Pastoral Committee have published a draft Deanery Vision Plan for the decade 2020-2030, which has been sent to all members of Deanery Synod and PCC Secretaries, for review on PCC and response. The Plan, and the covering letter from the Area Dean and Lay Chair, can be viewed and downloaded from the Vision tab of our website.

A Retreat for your Parish or MMU?

Revd Jackie Sams, part of the Diocesan Spiritual Direction Team and a leader of Individual Guided Retreats at Pleshey, can be available to lead a quiet day or retreat for a Parish, team or MMU. If you would like to explore the opportunity, contact her on 01206530586 or by email at revjackiesams@gmail.com.


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	Deanery News

	Big Band in St. James Here's something to put us all 'in the mood' for a great Christmas! The Sid Bolan Big Band will be playing in St. James' Church, East Hill, Colchester on Saturday 7th December at 7:30pm, with music of yesteryear and today. Tickets are £12:50 from Eventbrite - click just here to go to the bookings page, or email Lucy Mason, Churchwarden at St. James'. Here's a poster we can display to promote the event. Proceeds will help towards the Church's restoration works. Carols in the Park - postponed to 2020 We're sorry to report that it has been necessary to postpone 'Carols in the Park', which was in diary for Saturday 7th December. The practicalities of an outside event needing technical support required more planning than the organisers had anticipated - but they are keen to see it happen in 2020. No doubt you will make good use of that day for the Lord and your Christmas preparations! Annual Report of Synod meetings Here's something new - Martin Roscoe, Secretary to Deanery Synod has done an Annual Report of the meetings in 2019 - a succinct summary which Parishes could use as part of their Annual Report. Read and download the Annual Report here. FairTrade Breakfast on Commonwealth Day This is advance notice that there'll be a big FairTrade Breakfast in Colchester Town Hall on Commonwealth Day, which is Monday 9th March 2020. It will take place from 8:30 to 10am, and is run by the FairTrade Town Group. Mark the date in that diary you've already bought - and come to the Town Hall to celebrate the distinctiveness of our Town and the area. Confirmations in Stanway, February 2020 Bishop Roger will be presiding at a service of Confirmation in St. Albright's, Stanway on Sunday 2nd February next year, at 10:30am (note the recent change of date and time). All Parishes in the Deanery are invited to present candidates for Confirmation at the service; in the first instance contact Michael Topple, the Parish Administrator at office@stalbrights.org Abbeyfield Community Project becomes CO2 The Abbeyfield Community Project, the community-based Christian outreach project, is now called ’Community Open 2 All’ or CO2 for short. Mark and Naomi Snelling of CO2 say: This reflects the ethos that everyone is welcome and also the postcode area in which we are making wider connections through initiatives such as Essex Free Uniform. Our discernment process continues as we are still in need of people to join the team, vacancies on the management group, funding and possibly an additional venue to develop any future ministry. If you would like to know more, please get in touch and most importantly, continue to pray’. Contact CO2 through naomijsnelling@gmail.com. Chapter welcomes new Deacons We are delighted to welcome four Deacons to the Deanery, following their Ordination in the Cathedral. Revd Anne Mason is working for St. Luke's and Great Horkesley, Jacquie Messinger and and Margaret Whiteman are serving at Lexden, and Tim Solosy at St. John's Colchester. May the Lord bless all they are and do in His Name. Hymn books etc. Free to a good home! Rosemary Boreham tells us that her Church has several hymn books and service books available to collect for free, if your Church can use them. Here's the list: 120 Mission Praise paperback hymn books & 4 Music books (hymns 1-282); 35 Mission Praise hardback words books (hymns 1-798); and 73 Holy Communion Rite A service books. Contact Rosemary on 01206 853769 and they're yours! Marketing support for your Church Isn't it great when a Church member has the skill and the will to do something valuable for the Church? Amy Carbonero, worshipper at Fordham, is offering freelance, affordable design work for marketing materials - posters, flyers, websites, many kinds of promotional material. Click to view the posters for Fordham's Harvest, Women's Breakfast and Youth Group, for instance - and contact Amy at amy.carbonero@icloud.com Lead thefts & thefts from local Churches We hear that there has been a recent theft from a local Church, both lead from the roof and items from the Church. Please be vigilant, ensure that items of value are locked away after services and when the church building is unattended. If your church has lead on the roof and there is no alarm installed, perhaps the PCC may consider this to be a necessary acquisition. Archdeacon Ruth reminds us that she can approve such an installation under List B provisions of the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015. n a screen in Church. Youth Newsletter Dot Salmon, our Colchester Area Youth Adviser, keeps us updated with a Newsletter, so that we're aware of youth events and training for leaders. Click here to be directed to the current issue. But why not sign up to receive the newsletter regularly? In fact, if you click on this link, you can sign up to receive news on any topic of your interest! Colchester's growing population The Borough of Colchester continues to be the fastest growing Borough in the east of England, and the population has now reached 192,523. A new document showing further forecast population growth has been added to our website's vision page, to assist us in our planning. The statistics do not drill down below Borough level so we cannot know Deanery or Parish figures - but as we know that most of the growth is within the Deanery, we can expect the Deanery population to be in the region of 145,000 - an increase of 19,000 since the 2011 Census. The new Deanery Vision Plan The Deanery Standing and Pastoral Committee have published a draft Deanery Vision Plan for the decade 2020-2030, which has been sent to all members of Deanery Synod and PCC Secretaries, for review on PCC and response. The Plan, and the covering letter from the Area Dean and Lay Chair, can be viewed and downloaded from the Vision tab of our website. A Retreat for your Parish or MMU? Revd Jackie Sams, part of the Diocesan Spiritual Direction Team and a leader of Individual Guided Retreats at Pleshey, can be available to lead a quiet day or retreat for a Parish, team or MMU. If you would like to explore the opportunity, contact her on 01206530586 or by email at revjackiesams@gmail.com.

The Church of England Deanery of Colchester is part of the Colchester Episcopal Area of the Diocese of Chelmsford. The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance is a registered Charity, no. 249505 We are committed to Safeguarding children and young people and vulnerable adults. As a Diocese, we have adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practice on safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England’s website: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding. Diocesan guidance is available at https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/safeguarding