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Deanery Synod meetings

Deanery Synods are formal meetings, which are mainly for information and discussion about mission and ministry in the area. Occasionally they are required to take formal decisions, sometimes by means of a vote. All Licensed Clergy in the Deanery are automatically members of the Chapter and Deanery Synod. Deanery Synods also have Lay Members, i.e. those who are not Clergy. Every three years, Annual Parochial Church Meetings elect their Lay representatives to Deanery Synods. The Lay representatives form the electorate for the House of Laity on the Diocesan and General Synod.

Deanery Synod meetings for Basildon in 2024 are as follows:

  • Tuesday 6th February 2024 – 7.15pm for 7.30pm, Christ Church, Perry St, Billericay CM12 0NX. Deanery Planning (1) – Mission Mapping: look at what is happening in parishes, deanery and wider community.
  • Thursday 16th May – St Martin’s, Basildon, Planning a Deanery Plan (2) Speaker: Michaela Southworth, CEO Chelmsford Diocese.
  • Tuesday 24th September – St Chad’s, Vange.
  • Thursday 21st November – St John’s, Outward Common.
  • Meetings in the first half of 2024 are specifically to begin preparing a new Deanery Plan.
Unveiled

A regular Friday night arts and performance event at St Andrew’s Church, 7.00 – 9.00 pm, 11 London Road, Wickford, Essex SS12 0AN.

Exhibitions, open mic nights, performances, talks and more!

  • Unveiled – a wide range of artist and performers from Essex and wider, including Open Mic nights (come and have a go!).
  • Unveiled – view our hidden painting by acclaimed artist David Folley, plus a range of other exhibitions.
Autumn Programme 2024
  • 13 September (7.00 pm) – Trials & Tribulations – Exhibition viewing evening. Meet John-Paul Barrett, see his exhibition and hear him interviewed. This Leigh-on-Sea based artist creates modern interpretations of classic iconographic images and scenes.
  • 27 September (7.30 pm) – Dave Crawford in concert. Popular local musician, Dave Crawford writes engaging/melodic songs in Americana/ Alt-Rock/Indie-Folk. He has performed at the Leigh Folk Festival, Pin Drop Sessions, and Music for Mind together with Kev Butler. This will Dave’s second concert at Unveiled, we have also enjoyed his powerful vocals and guitar at our Open Mic Nights.
  • 11 October (7.00 pm) – Re-enacting the Napoleonic Wars. Robson Coke (2nd 95th Rifles & Drum Major of the Band of 1st Foot Guards 1815, Napoleonic Association) will talk about the Napoleonic Wars, explain how re-enactments are organised & show costumes and equipment used in re-enactments.
  • 25 October (7.30 pm) – Eva Romanakova in concert. Eva sings a wide genre of music; Musical Theatre, Arias, Pop, Jazz, Movie Songs and also Folk. She will sing music from various countries and different times.
  • 8 November (7.30 pm) – Open Mic Night. Everybody is welcome to come along and play, read, sing or just spectate. See you there for a great evening of live performance!
  • 22 November (7.00 pm) – An evening with Steven Turner. Hear about the career of local dancer Steven Turner, who has trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary, street, mime & moving with props. Steven founded his own organisation, Next Step Creative, to promote collaboration between dance & other creative arts. He also regularly choreographs & teaches for Dance 21 (a dance company for children & young adults with Down’s syndrome). He has performed across the UK and Europe including Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, & France.
  • 6 December (7.00 pm) – Broomfield artists in the Basildon Deanery. Find out about artworks in Basildon & Nevendon by Thomas Bayliss Huxley-Jones & Rosemary Rutherford. An illustrated talk by Jonathan Evens.

These events do not require tickets (just turn up on the night). There will be a retiring collection to cover artist and church costs. 
See http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html for fuller information.

'Trials and Tribulation: Modern Interpretations of Iconography'
  • 13 September – 20 December 2024, St Andrew’s Church, 11 London Road, Wickford SS12 0AN.

    ‘Trials & Tribulations: Modern Interpretations of Iconograph’ is an exhibition by John-Paul Barrett, a Leigh-on-Sea based artist who creates modern interpretations of classic iconographic images and scenes. https://www.jpbarrettart.com/ 

    St Andrew’s is usually open:

    Sat 9am-12.30pm; Sun 9.30am-12 noon; Mon 2-3.45pm; Tue 1-4.30pm; Wed 10am-12 noon; Fri 10am-1pm.

    https://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/whats-on.html

     

    Friday 13 September (7.00 pm) – Unveiled: Trials & Tribulations – Exhibition viewing evening.

    Meet John-Paul Barrett, see his exhibition and hear him interviewed.

    Events at St Andrew’s with Holy Cross

     

    Messy Church

     

    Join us for our next Messy Church – Saturday 12th October 2024, please get there at 3:00pm for:

    • Arts, Craft, Games, Worship,
    • Teaching and Food.
    • Great Messy Fun for all the family

    Finishes at about 5:30pm

    St Andrew’s Church
    The Fremnells SS14 2QX

    ALL WELCOME!

    for more info:
    email: messy@standrewholycross.org

    or call 07309 749495

     

    Monthly Prayer Gathering

    All Welcome – 11:00-12:30
    St Andrews Church
    The Fremnells
    SS14 2QX
    • Wednesday September 11th.
    • Wednesday October 9th.
    • Wednesday November 13th.
    • Wednesday December 11th.
    Prayer & Fellowship for Christians with a heart for serving God in Basildon.
    Contact: Nikki Firth
    families@standrewholycross.org
    07309 749495

    St Mary’s Live

    The return of St. Marys Live – Saturday September 21st 2024 – 7pm. St. Mary and All Saints, Langdon Hills SS16 6HY
     
    Our concert series recommences with September Serenade featuring  Classical pianist Tim Smith
    Give it a try and bring a cushion maybe!
    As usual the concert is free with optional donations for wine plus nibbles included.

    Quiet Day

    St Catherine's Wickford

    Quiet Day: The 7 S’s of the Nazareth Community

    Saturday 28 September, 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, St Catherine’s Wickford 

    Consider Silence, Sacrament, Scriptures, Service, Sharing, Sabbath, and Staying as a personal Rule of Life. Learn about the Nazareth Community based at St Martin-in-the-Fields and its growth through the Companions of Nazareth.

    Reflect in the quiet space of St Catherine’s, a small country church originally serving a village community which still seems, in church and churchyard, to retain an atmosphere of the rural heritage of Wickford’s past.

    Led by Revd Jonathan Evens, Team Rector, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry

    Cost: £8.00 per person, including sandwich lunch (pay on the day)

    To book: Phone 07803 562329 or email jonathan.evens@btinternet.com

     

    http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/

    WICKFORD AND RUNWELL PARISH
    DIFFERENCE COURSE 2024

    We will be running this course, which “explores what it means to follow Jesus in a complex and divided world, seeing transformation through everyday encounters”, on the following dates

    Wednesdays, 2-3.30pm at Roger’s on 25th September, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd October
    Thursdays, 7.30-9pm in St Andrew’s church on 26th September, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th October

    Each week includes films of stories from Christians facing conflict, Bible study, interactive exercises, prayer and discussion.

    While it is preferable to attend each week it is not mandatory. A Participant’s Guide is available at a cost of £3.50 for those that would like to purchase one.

    SIGN – UP sheets available soon.

    RLN Difference is a part of the Reconciling Leaders Network. Archbishop of Canterbury’s Reconciliation Ministry

    Wickford Church of England School shortlisted for national award

    Not only is The Wickford Church of England School rated an Outstanding School by Ofsted, but it has also been on the shortlist of this year’s Times Educational Supplement awards for Primary School of the Year.

    Check out this article in The Echo about the school being shortlisted for this prestigious award.

    Miss Bristow, Head of School, says of the School:

    “The school provides education for children from the ages of 2-7 in the local area. As a team, we aim to create a respectful, caring and secure place for children to explore, learn and be happy together. As a distinctively Christian school, spirituality is at the heart of all we do and we are supported in doing this by the close links we have with the Wickford and Runwell Parish.”

    Jon Severs, editor of Tes Magazine said: “Congratulations to all the shortlisted entries – the standard was so high this year despite the challenges schools face.

    “It is critical we celebrate excellence and share it widely so we can ensure that the fantastic work happening in education is properly recognised.”

    Wickford Church of England School is part of The HEARTS Academy Trust, which was established in 2011 and is inspired by its values of happiness, self-esteem, achievement, respect & responsibility, truth, spirituality and service. The Trust was founded by The Wickford Church of England School, and also now includes Briscoe Primary School and Nursery, Waterman Primary School, Stambridge Primary School, Hilltop Junior School and Hilltop Infant School. In 2018 they were proud to open The Atrium, a specialist alternative provision for children with social and emotional needs.

    HEARTS Academy Trust are also extremely proud to announce that their CEO, Mrs Debbie Rogan, has been given the prestigious Pearson Silver Award for Lifetime Achievement. This year saw exceptionally high-quality entries from educational settings across the UK with Debbie being highlighted as a particularly strong candidate.

    Bronze Award for Wickford and Runwell MU

     

    Wickford and Runwell Mothers’ Union Branch has been awarded a bronze award for their support and raising awareness of domestic abuse using the Rise Up campaign. Two members were invited to the head office, Mary Sumner House, in London in recognition of this.

    St George’s Day celebrations

    Rev. David Ibiayo, Rector of St. Chad, Vange, and Priest-In-Charge of St. Margaret’s Bowers Gifford with North Benfleet, shares the reasons why St Chad’s Vange has a special annual celebration of St George’s Day:

    “We sometimes tell people things we are up to, and their response to what we tell them is sometimes heartwarming.  You can imagine saying the following to a friend, “I am going into hospital next week for a minor procedure,” and then the friend responds, “I will be thinking of you” or “I will be praying for you.”  I am sure this will make you feel good.

    The question I ask myself is this, in addition to what the Church of England is already doing in England, what more can the Church of England do?  Hence my suggestion is this, the church should make the most of St. George’s Day, which can also be seen as England’s national day.

    The Church of England can use this day to remind everyone in England that the church is praying for their wellbeing and hoping the best for them in whatever situation they are in, and that the church is also praying that we can be good neighbours to each other.

    Every year at St. Chad, Vange, we celebrate St. George’s Day, and as part of the celebration we invite four primary schools to church to be part of our St. George’s Day Schools’ Celebration.  Each school then talks about the values of their schools and how it is beneficial to the community.

    Just imagine on the 23rd of April every year we are able to wish each other happy St. George’s day, wishing the best for our neighbours, this will definitely transform the beautiful green and pleasant land – England, where we live.

    Although as a church we think of everyone every day, it is important we can be emphatic every year on the 23rd of April letting everyone in England know that we are praying for them, and also praying for other countries who are our neighbours.

    The Church of England as a national church should find opportunities to show their relevance in the everyday life of people in England.”

    Click on the links to view the 2024 St. George’s Day Schools’ Celebration and St. George’s Day Concert at St Chad’s Vange.

    Rail & Street Pastor

    Mike Tricker was licenced in October 2020 as a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in the Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry. He says that he “was called an evangelist disguised as an LLM”, and that “there is some truth in that”. He thinks preaching is the same thing; that is, meeting people where they are and trying to bring Jesus alive in our lives. He has sat himself down in Costa, prayer tents, street kitchens, and wherever he can find to talk about the good news from the early days of his faith.

    He also started training as a Street and Rail Pastor to continue that theme of bringing Jesus to the fringes. Street pastors are trained volunteers from local churches who care about their community. They patrol in teams of men and women, on a Friday and Saturday night, to care for, listen to and help people who are out on the streets.

    A street pastor is someone who is…

    • A Christian and is part of a local church;
    • Concerned for society and their local community;
    • Willing to engage with people, whatever their perspective on life and wherever they hang out;
    • Happy to work in a team and in collaboration with other agencies and projects, both statutory and voluntary.

    Mike has written about his experience as Street and Rail Pastor for ‘Transforming Ministry’.  His article is called ‘Being Christ’s Hands on the Streets’ and is about his call to the fringes of society as expressed through his work as a Street Pastor. ‘Transforming Ministry’ is a magazine that equips, challenges and transforms its readers and their ministry. This excellent publication, sent to most Readers (LLM)s, includes news, articles by members of the CRC, and theological articles following a theme for each issue. Many Readers (LLMs) find this an excellent resource for information, learning and reflection.

    Mike writes: “For me the pastor network is a practical theology in action.  In Matthew 25:31-46 when the disciples asked, when did we see you hungry. Jesus answers them “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me”.

    A patrol with the street pastors is seeking out members of Jesus creation and showing them and therefore our Lord love. I have at times felt closer to Jesus on a cold night talking to someone in need of help, than I have at the eucharist. These are truly the thinnest moments of my life, where the divide between heaven and earth is very thin indeed.”

    He also says: “I love my role and all the opportunities that it gives to talk about our Lord to everyone and bring his love to a world that so desperately needs it.” Mike posts his sermons at https://christianpathway.net/ 

    https://streetpastors.org/locations/basildon/ / https://streetpastors.org/locations/billericay/

    Cast & Crew Theatre Workshop

    Rev Trudy Arnold is a founder member and committee member of Cast & Crew Theatre Workshop, a popular community amateur theatre company on Canvey Island. A laid back and friendly group, C&C are always welcoming new members and offering a chance to try your hand onstage and behind the scenes. Heaps of social events and theatre trips take place within the group and all established members get the chance to direct and stage manage as well as act or be an important part of the backstage crew. They are an active and friendly group who manage to fit social events, charity fund raising and group fund raising into their busy rehearsal schedules. In 2023 C&C performed a Murder Mystery at St Andrew’s Basildon to raise funds for the Restoration of Holy Cross Church. https://www.castandcrew.uk/

    Fresh Claim & Plankton Records

    Rev Simon Law formed the blues/rock/funk band Fresh Claim following the demise of his previous bands “Sea Stone” and “Intransit”, the bands that he had fronted throughout the late seventies and early eighties. Simon was, and still remains, Fresh Claim’s guitarist and vocalist, although now also plays solo and with the Law Family Banned. Fresh Claim formed in 1986 and released nine albums. The band name came after Simon visited the local (then named) Unemployment Benefit Office and had to go to the (then named) ‘Fresh Claims’ counter! Given the political situation at the time, and the fact that Fresh Claim’s aim has always been to communicate the Christian Faith and how it relates to life today through great music – it was a good choice!

    Simon is also a founding partner of Plankton Records which has, since 1978, been one of the UK’s few independent grassroots Christian-based record labels. With over 70 releases under our belt, they primarily aim to offer a platform to artists whose music has something to say about and to the world and the human condition – songs which may in the past have come under the wide encompassing banner of ‘protest songs’.
    Watch the video for Simon’s song ‘The Haven’.

    Exhibition Reviews & Articles

    Revd Jonathan Evens writes regularly on the Arts for a range of mainstream and church publications including Artlyst, ArtWay, Church Times, International Times, Seen & Unseen and Stride. In his writing, he aims to highlight artists that engage with aspects of spirituality and document ways in which the Church engages effectively with the Arts. He has also sought to practice what he preaches by undertaking cultural programming within his parishes and supporting artists by running for 11 years an artist’s collective called commission4mission.

    In addition to his Arts journalism, he also writes poetry and short stories, some of which have been published by Amethyst Review, International Times and Stride. He is co-author of The Secret Chord, an impassioned study of the role of music in cultural life written through the prism of Christian belief.

    The Secret Chord is an accessible exploration of artistic dilemmas from a range of different perspectives which seeks to draw the reader into a place of appreciation for what makes a moment in a ‘performance’ timeless and special. He has also contributed to ‘All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich’, ‘Finding Abundance in Scarcity: Steps Towards Church Transformation – A HeartEdge Handbook’, and ‘Liturgy on the Edge: Pastoral & Attractional Worship’. He blogs at joninbetween.blogspot.com.

    Check out Jonathan’s Arts journalism at the following sites: Artlyst; ArtWay (put Evens in the search box); Church Times; International Times; Seen & Unseen; and Stride. Read ‘The Secret Chord’. Hear Jonathan read his poem for ‘All Shall Be Well: Poems for Julian of Norwich’.

    Where to find us

    Chapel

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