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        <title><![CDATA[Bulletin for the week beginning 1st October 
  
Sunday 1st October – Harvest Thanksgiving
09.00am: Holy Communion
10.30am: Harvest thanksgiving  
Readings: Harvest readings – Deuteronomy 8.7-18, 2 Corinthians 9. 6-15, Psalm 65, Luke 12.26-30 
5.30pm: Place for Grace, Harvest Celebration

Monday 2nd October 
09.15am: Morning prayer – in the Church
1.30pm: Shape Course – at Rev Wendy’s House 

Tuesday 3rd October
George Bell, Bishop of Chichester, Ecumenist, Peacemaker, 1958
10.00am: Albright’s Tots
11.00am: Funeral of Patricia Stapley
12.45pm: Time to talk Tuesday 

Wednesday 4th October
Francis of Assisi, Friar, Deacon, Founder of the Friars Minor, 1226
09.30am: Holy Communion 
10.000am: Lunch Club
7.30pm: PCC Meeting  with Holy communion at 7pm – in the hall 

Thursday 5th October
2.30pm: Interment of ashes – Philip Oakley

Friday 6th October 
William Tyndale, Translator of the Scriptures, Reformation Martyr, 1536
09.00am: St Mary’s School Harvest Service 
09.30am: Prayer walking 
10.30am: Holy Communion at Loganberry Lodge
 

Sunday 7th October – Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity 
09.00am: Holy communion
10.30am: Parish Eucharist
10.30am: Brights

Harvest Thanksgiving
Our Harvest Thanksgiving this year will be on Sunday, 1st October at the 10.30am Parish Eucharist. If you would like to bring any harvest gift, please do so. They will be donation to Colchester Engagement and Next steps (formally Colchester Night Shelter)
On Friday, 29th September, Harvest Supper at 6pm in the hall, the cost will be £10. If you would like to attend please contact the office.  

Building works
The building works to the church roof and tower are progressing very well and should be complete by the end of October. In the meantime, the church will be closed during the week and open on Sunday as usual. Midweek services will take place in the hall (next to the church)
For more information, please either of the contact below 
Rev Tony -07484265258 Rev Wendy – 07816039832 - Church office – 01206370387 , office@stalbrights.org.


The Diocese of Chelmsford’s SHAPE course
Your SHAPE for God’s Service aims to enable church members to understand the unique SHAPE God has made them, the gifts he has given them and how he might want to use them. This is so that God’s Kingdom may be built up as each person finds the ministry to which God is calling them in the Church and in the world. 
Hopefully this will enable participants to live and serve with more joy, satisfaction and fruitfulness. This feeds into a healthy growing church, and will affect the way each person engages with their family, friends, job, local community, and voluntary / leisure activities. 
Our next session will be this Monday 2nd October and every Monday, at 1.30-3pm for four more weeks. If you are interested, contact Rev’d Wendy. 
You can find out more here: SHAPE | The Diocese of Chelmsford (anglican.org)

Course in Christian Studies 2023-24
If you are thinking ahead to how you can develop your faith and Christian confidence in the coming year, the Course in Christian Studies is an excellent foundation course covering Bible study, Church history, doctrine, theology, pastoral care and ministry - and there's a Zoom course as well as an in-person weekly Course starting in the week of Monday 18th September. Learn more on the web here, and lots more on the Course!

Stanwell Hub
'Time to Talk Tuesday' continues every first and third Tuesday in the month. The next one will be this Tuesday, 3rd October, at the Stanway Lakelands Centre, Western Approach CO3 8WD at12.45pm – 2.00pm. We will be joined by James from St Helena Hospice who will share with us about their work and ministry. 
Everyone is welcome to join us.

For further information, please contact Rev. Wendy. You can also find details of what is happening at Time to Talk Tuesday and other wellbeing matters on StanWell Hub Facebook page here.

Community coffee morning
Our community coffee morning takes place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, between10.30am - 12 noon. Our next gathering will be on Wednesday, 11th October. Everyone is welcome to join. 

A Place for Grace
Our intergenerational All Age worship service, 'A Place for Grace', takes place on the first Sunday of every month from 5.30 to 7.00 pm, with a meal and various activities. The next one will take place this Sunday, 1st October with a harvest theme. We will be making and baking bread rolls for a supper or soup, rolls, cheese and/or jam. We will also be collecting tinned foods, cereal and rice for the Colchester Foodbank. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Contact Rev. Wendy or Rev. Tony for more details.
Messy Church
A fun and novel service for all the family, involving activities and crafts every two months. Please contact Rev. Wendy or Rev. Tony for more information and look out for announcements. 
Children at St. Albright's
Brights
Normally on the second and fourth Sundays our Sunday School, Brights meets during the 10.30am morning service. The next Brights will be Sunday, 8th October.


Family Communion
On the third Sunday of the month, we all gather for a service of Holy Communion in church. Baptisms usually take place on this day too. The next Family communion will be on Sunday, 15th October.  

Albright's Tots
A great playgroup for younger children which meets every Tuesday, except the 2nd Tuesday of the month, from 10.00 to 11.30 in the hall during term time. 
The next one will be on Tuesday, 3rd October. Everyone is welcome!
Please contact Sarah Camp or Rev Wendy if you are interested.
Bruce's Crew Youth Group
Bruce’s crew families will be organising their own gathering. If you would like more information, please contact church office – office@stalbrights.org or Rev Wendy
Holy Communion at home
If you would like to receive Holy Communion at home, or if you know anyone who might, then please contact any member of the ministry team. There is also a Parish Pastoral Support Team whose members are able to visit, help and support those in particular need.    

Thought for the week written by members of the ministry team and others is available here

Giving 
We now have a card reader in church so that donations may be made using a debit or credit card.
It is also possible to donate to St. Albright's online. There is a dedicated page on the website to make giving much easier.
If you would like further details about how to give, and there are many ways to do so, then please contact any of the ministry team or churchwardens. We particularly welcome regular giving, however small, either using weekly envelopes or by standing order, and, if you are a taxpayer we can reclaim Gift Aid.
It is also possible to sponsor a day in the life of the church. You may wish to make a one-off donation in memory of someone or to celebrate a particular event. Please contact any of the ministry team or Churchwardens.
Flowers. If you would like to donate towards the cost of providing the beautiful flowers in church then please speak to any of the ministry team. 
PCC
The next PCC will be this Wednesday, 4th October at 7.30pm with Holy Communion at 7.00pm. If you have any matters that you would like to be brought up then please speak to Rev Tony, Pam  or any of the members of the PCC. Full details of membership and minutes of meetings are on the website with hard copies in the church.”


For your prayers

Collect for Harvest 
Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; through Jesus Christ your son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

Collect for the seventeenth Sunday After Trintiy 
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gist of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in  the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

We continue to pray for the people and nations of Ukraine and Russia. For peace and for the relief of suffering. The prayer tree will be remaining in the church until the conflict is over, and St. Albright's is supporting the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal.
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice, 
we pray for the people of Ukraine today. 
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. 
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. 
We pray for those with power over war or peace, 
for wisdom, discernment and compassion
to guide their decisions. 
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, 
that you would hold and protect them. 
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. 
Amen
Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell  

We pray for our King, HM King Charles III, our sovereign and supreme governor of the Church of England 
In our church community, please pray for:
Our churchwardens and PCC
Our director of music and the choir
All who help lead our worship - especially readers, intercessors, servers and sidespersons
The ministry and pastoral teams as we seek to help those in particular need.
Those who care for the hall.
Our Architect and the building team
All those who are to be baptized: Thomas Smith, William Smith 

Pray for all those who have been baptised and for our continued connection with baptism families.
All those who have been married in St. Albright's in 2023 and all who will have their banns called here.
Our outreach, particularly with young people and to the schools in the parish
In the diocese of Chelmsford, please pray for the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt. Rev. Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, and for the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt. Rev Roger Morris. Please also pray for our Archdeacon, the Ven. Ruth Patten, and for all the other parishes in the Colchester Deanery. Our Area Dean is the Rev. Erwin Lammens, vicar of Wivenhoe, and the Assistant Area Dean is the Rev. Hannah Cooper, vicar of St. Luke's, Highwoods and all those who are being ordained Deacon/Priest at this time. 
In the Anglican communion, please pray for our Archbishops, the Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and the Most Rev, Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York. 
Please also pray for the Provincial Episcopal Visitors - The Bishop of Richborough, the Rt Rev Norman Banks, and the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, the Rt Rev Dr Rob Munro 
The diocese of Chelmsford has links with several overseas dioceses in the Anglican communion: in Kenya - Embu, Meru, Mbere and Marsabit; and the diocese of Trinidad and Tobago. There are also links with the diocese of Karlstad in Sweden and the Archdiocese of Lasi in Romania. Please pray for the bishops, clergy and people of these places.
In the wider Church, please pray for the Orthodox Patriarchate of Ukraine, for the Church in South Sudan, for Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, and for all Christians persecuted for their faith.
In the wider world, please pray for a better and wiser stewardship of our natural environment. 
Peace in the world, especially for the peoples and nations of Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Yemen, Tigray in Ethiopia and Israel/Palestine, and for all refugees from areas of conflict.  Pray for all who work for peace, especially the United Nations.
All the nations of the world and their leaders.
Our Prime Minister and government.
In our Community
Please pray for : The Stanway Environment Group.
The medical and caring professions.
Other Christian denominations - the Tollgate Methodist Fellowship, Stanway Evangelical Church, The Kingsland Church, St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Church, Lexden.
Colchester Foodbank
Colchester CAP Debt Centre
Colchester Koban Project 
The StanWell Hub
All families with young children, and for all our schools. 
The elderly, vulnerable and those who have to isolate, and for all those who support them, especially their families.
Loganberry Lodge - all residents, staff and supporters and all who are in care homes and hospital at this time.
All our elected representatives - our MPs, county, city and parish councillors.
Those who have asked for our prayers: John Lemon, Karl, Sheila Bradfield , Joan Alexander, Debra, Daniel, Carol Harvey, Gordon Harvey, Keith, Ida Totham, Penny Miller, Daniel Butcher, Ann Booty, Marcus, Mark Claydon, Allison, Sophie, Jo and Richard, Doreen Hales, James Lay, Jenny Richardson, Brian Greenaway
If you have a particular prayer request there is a box in the church into which you can place a card writing the request or person's name on it. Alternatively you can send a message to the office.
The monthly prayer diary for September is on our website with printed copies in the church and distributed to those without access to the internet.
There is also the Church of England Prayer Line which is open 24/7 and is free:  0800 804 804
RIP 
Phil Oakley, Barbara Rippingale, Edna and Trevor Jones, John Bonham, Joan Watson, Frank Henry, Stephen Hogg, Aubrey Bradfield, Janet Cheverton, Philip Eley, Chris Whitehead, Esther Adeniyi-Benson, Patricia Jones, Patricia Stapley
We hope you find this bulletin helpful. If you have any contributions, comments or questions then please contact the office or any of the ministry team.
With best wishes,
Tony Bushell, Priest in Charge, vicar@stalbrights.org 07484 265258      
Wendy Pagden, Pioneer and Community Minister, pioneer@stalbrights.org 07816 039832    
Bimbola Adediran, Parish and Pioneer Administrator, office@stalbrights.org, 01206 370387
Penny Bonham, LLM, penny@stalbrights.org 01206 765641     
Morag Bushell, LLM, morag@stalbrights.org 01787 222487     
Clement Arde-Acquah, LLM, clement@stalbrights.org 01206 520087 
Pamela Higham, Spiritual Companion, Lay Funeral Minister, Churchwarden and Pastoral Assistant,  pam@stalbrights.org 01206 768817
Stephen Whitfield, Churchwarden s.whitfield07@btinternet.com  07833472766

David J. Tibbetts-Chaplin, Organist and Choirmaster david@stalbrights.org 07933 783683 (Deputy Churchwarden)]]></title>
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