What's On at the Heacham Churches - November
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEACHAM
2012 A.D
Anno Domini – in the year of our Lord. A reminder that crops up in
all sorts of places, from commemorative tablets to legal documents, that we
live in a nominally Christian country. That does not mean that we do not
accept and welcome those of other faiths and none in our midst but it does
mean that our laws and culture reflect the precepts of the Christian faith.
2012 A.D. is a notable year for three reasons.
(i) This year we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the monarch who has ruled over this Christian country for the last 60 years. Look at any coin in your purse or pocket and you will find it is embossed with this Queen’s head and some lettering. (Had I done this as a child I would have found coins of all monarchs from Queen Victoria onwards but decimalisation and 60 years reign have changed that.) DEI-GRA-REG – By the grace of God Queen FID-DEF – Defender of the faith.
(ii) This year the Olympic Games will be London based.
(iii) This year is a ‘Leap year’ – for those using the Gregorian calendar. Devised at the behest of Pope Gregory XIII and adopted by four European countries in 1582 it was not until 1752 that England joined the Gregorian calendar. By this time synchronisation with the seasons was so far adrift, that 11 days had to be lost from October that year. More accurate (only 1 day out in 3,236 years) than the preceding Julian calendar which had been devised for Julius Caesar and introduced in 45BC and is 1 day out in 128 years. The Roman Empire was responsible for the Julian calendar and the Roman Catholic Church was responsible for the Gregorian because they were both international organisations and needed a universal calendar. Why is this called a ‘Leap year’ when we actually gain a day? As the Church has fixed festivals this refers to the fact that in these years they move on two days in the week thus leaping one forward. e.g. in 2011 Christmas day was Sunday. In 2012 it will be Tuesday not Monday.
Not only is this a notable year but February is a notable month.
(i) Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne on 6th February 1952, which makes the 60th anniversary of the accession 6th February 2012.
(ii) This February has 29 days and notice that February 29th is the 60th day of 2012. If you were born on 29th February I do not need to remind you that this can cause problems especially with computerised bureaucracy which often will not accept a 29.02 date of birth. As you can only truly celebrate once every four years – Happy Birthday! The rest of us have a gift of an extra day, a day when according to tradition ladies can propose marriage to men and there is a price to pay for those who decline the offer! 29th February 2012 is a notable day in a notable month in a notable year. Curiously, a gift from a 16th century Pope. Yet another reminder of how widely Christianity has influenced our lives and the life of our country.
Penny Sutton St. Mary’s Church Ministry Team Member
PARISH REGISTERS
Baptisms
4/9/11 Lydia Plumb – parents Stephen and EstelleFor anyone who is in Christ there is a new creation
Faithful Departed (Church linked funerals)
17/11/11 Pearl Joan Manning 9120/11/11 Nancy Ellen Appleton 70
28/11/11 John Howes 91
07/12/11 Jean Macdonald 87
02/01/12 Florence Jill Drew 75
04/01/12 John Preston 82
12/01/12 Jean Aldridge 81
"Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted"
We do extend our sympathy and condolences to all who have been bereaved. The church prays for friends and family at the Sunday morning services around the time of the funeral.
METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY SERVICES:
10.30am Morning Worship
Preachers:
5th Feb – Philip Batstone
12th Feb – Rev’d Kim Nally with Holy Communion
19th Feb – Jenny Sparks
26th Feb – Mike Gunnell
Midweek Communion Service: This will be on Wednesday 8th February at 10.30am.
All who love the Lord are welcome to attend.
Regular Activities at the Methodist Church
New members are welcome to all our regular activities.MONDAYS: Indoor Bowls 7pm – weekly.
TUESDAYS: Ladies’ Fellowship 2.45pm on 7th and 21st February
TUESDAYS: Hands and Needles Club: 7.30pm on 7th and 21st February
THURSDAYS: Monthly Men’s Meeting at 7.00pm on 16th February.
All men welcome to join.
FRIDAYS: Indoor Bowls, 7pm weekly New members are welcome to all our midweek activities.
ST MARY'S PARISH CHURCH:
8.00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10.00am
5th February Morning Worship
12th February Holy
Communion
19th February Morning Worship
26th February Morning Worship
10.30am Morning Worship at the Junior
School
(Holy Communion on 19th February)
6.00pm 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th Evening Service
Soup and Bread
lunch at St. Mary’s: during Lent there is a weekly communion service at 11am
followed by a bread and soup lunch. Donations at this time will support the
Bishop’s Lent Appeal. The first one is Wednesday 29th February and then
every Wednesday in March.
February Services: Nursing/Residential Homes
Tue 7th 2.30pm Rebecca CourtWed 15th 2.30pm Summerville
Fri 24th 10.30am Fridhem
Regular Activities at St Marys:
Looking at the above information you might think that St. Mary’s is only open on Sundays, but it is a busy church with things going on throughout each week. There are Bible Study groups with people meeting in their own homes; there are Prayer Meetings; we have a Choir, and there are Music Groups; for very young children there is the Rainbow Circle Toddlers’ Group; all the women are welcome at Girls Together and there is a Men’s Group as well; all can be part of the Mothers’ Union; there are also Coffee Mornings and various other activities. So why not find out more about St. Mary’s and its regular activities – you might be surprised. The Sunday services act as a focal point when all meet together for worship, for fellowship, for support, learning, encouragement, challenge and growing. And on Sundays there are, of course, activities for children.
Church Contacts:
Methodist ChurchThe Rev'd Kim Nally
Tel: 01485 570232
St Marys Church
The Rev'd Steve Davies
Tel: 01485 570268
St Marys Church Office
Tel: 01485 572539
Email: heacham.church@googlemail.com