Welcome to the newsletter for The Two Rivers Benefice . We extend a very warm welcome, especially if you are joining us for the first time. We invite you to join us for a chat and some light refreshments after the service. Each month this newsletter contains information about the Sunday services and forthcoming events.

 Vicar's Contact Details

Rev'd Canon Jonathan D Lowe ACII CF

The Vicarage

3 Church Street

Steeple Bumpstead

Essex

CB9 7DG

Tel: 01440 731687

email: vicar@tworiversbenefice.org.uk

Services:

13th March             09.15am       Morning Prayer

20th March             10.30am       Benefice Palm Sunday Service at Helions Bumstead

27th March               6.00pm        Holy Communion

 ____________________________________

What's On in the Local Churches in March

Monday 14th March:   8:00pm Fellowship Group

 Tuesday 15th March:   8:00pm Community Choir

 Weds 16th March:        9:30am Ridgewell School All-Age Service at St Lawrence’s Church

 Thurs 17th March: 7:30pm Birdbrook APCM

 Friday 18th March: Revd Lowe’s day off

 Saturday 19th March: 10:00am Marriage Preparation Day at the Congregational Church

 Sunday 20th March: 10:30am Benefice Palm Sunday service at Helions

                                    4:30pm The ‘4:30 to King’s Cross’ service at Steeple

 Monday 21st March: 8:00pm Spring Harvest meeting

 Tuesday 22nd March: 8:00pm Community Choir

 Weds 23rd March: 9:30am BCP Morning Prayer at St Andrew’s, Helions Bumpstead

 Thurs 24th March: 7:30pm Maundy Thursday Communion at Ridgewell

 Friday 25th March: 3:00pm Good Friday Meditation service at Sturmer

 Sunday 27th March: Easter Day - please refer to the notice below

 

 Easter Services across our Benefice

 

Palm Sunday 20th March                  10:30am       Benefice Holy Communion at Helions Bumpstead

 Maundy Thursday 24th March          7:30pm       Holy Communion at Ridgewell

 Good Friday 25th March                    3:00pm  Meditation service at Sturmer

 Easter Sunday 27th March                 9:15am Holy Communion at Helions

                                                               11:00am Holy Communion at Birdbrook

                                                                11:00am Easter Family Worship

                                                                 6:00pm Holy Communion at Ashen

________________________

 

                                             Ashen Church

                                    Children’s Easter Activities

                                                          &

                                            Easter Egg Hunt

 

                                        Saturday 19th March

                                        at Ashen Village Hall

                                            2:00pm - 4:00pm

 

                 All ages welcome and parents are welcome to stay too.

                                             £2.50 per child.

                                Contact Maureen: 01440 788678

 _______________________

 

Dates for Benefice Combined Services 2016

20th March                         10.30am Palm Sunday             Helions Bumpstead

29th May                             10.30am Holy Communion      Ridgewell (with picnic)

31st July                             10.30am Holy Communion      Steeple Bumpstead

30th October                       10.30am All Saints                   Sturmer

4th December                     10.30am Christingle                 Ashen

 ___________________________

Dates for your Diary:

Saturday 23rd April             St George's Day Party (Village Hall)

Friday 1st July                    Jazz Band Evening in the Church

 ___________________________

 Did you know that whenever you buy anything online - from your weekly shop to your annual holiday - you could be raising a free donation for St Augustine's Church, Ashen? 

There are nearly 3,000 retailers including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, thetrainline and Sainsbury's, who will donate a percentage of the amount you spend to St Augustine's Church, Ashen to say thank you for shopping with them. It's really simple, and doesn't cost you anything.

All you have to do is: 1. Go to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/staugustineschurchashen 2. Sign up for free  3. Get shopping - your donations will be collected by easyfundraising and automatically sent to St Augustine's Church, Ashen. It couldn't be easier! There are no catches or hidden charges and St Augustine's Church, Ashen will be really grateful for your donations.

Thank you for your support.

______________________________

 Children's Church Smile

If you have any friends whose children may like to join our Children's Church at Steeple Bumpstead please invite them along.

Children's Church takes place on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays of each month during term times at 11.00am. The area for the children to access books etc is available each service. The service on the 1st Sunday of the month at 11.00am is suitable for all the family.

_________________________________________

Bell Ringers

We have a team of 5 ringers now (mostly new) and if there are any ringers who would like to join us or anyone from 11 years old who wish to learn, they would be most welcome to join us at Ridgewell Church on Friday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00pm. We also have a practice ring at Ashen usually on the first Tuesday of the month.

__________________________________________

Ashen Church Yard

We now have areas set aside to encourage the wild flora and fauna. If anyone is interested in helping with the identification of the flowers and plants please conact Maureen Rigg on 01440 788678.

___________________________________________

If anyone has any items for the Church Newsletter or diary, please contact: 

 Nancy Hatch  01440 730836     email: administrator@tworiversbenefice.org.uk