Happy New Year!

Hello all! I hope you had a great Christmas. I realise that we're already well into the New Year, but here are some pictures from over the Christmas period that I hadn't got round to sharing with you yet!

I'll post soon again about the up-coming Away Day and with lots more about the Mission. Until then, I hope you continue to have a happy new year!

Christmas

It's nearly Christmas. Don't panic. 

I particularly enjoyed how the Coop this year had this (or something approximating it) as their slogan, starting in November. You tell me in November that it's nearly Christmas, and I'm going to panic. That's just a given. Then there's a few weeks when you might get on Christmas and get organised and maybe, just maybe, you're feeling cool and calm. However, then we reach this point when someone points out that this time next week, it's Boxing Day, and you think about hitting them, and realise that you're probably panicking again. 

I realise that today, I am that person. Sorry about that.

Here's the thing though. The big secret. The one that no one with a million pound advert on this year would like you to know. If you overcook your sprouts, if you forget to buy that present for that person, if your Christmas tree is wonky, if that decoration just will not hang where you thought it would, if you don't get to go carol singing, if your crackers don't crack, if there's someone there who you'd rather was not, if there's someone missing who you'd rather was there...Christmas will still happen. Not only that, but neither can you stop it happening, nor can you ruin it. 

It happened already. Jesus was born. Nothing that can ever happen will ever change that. 

Nothing.

Not even if you don't feel Christmassy. Even if you're having a horrible time. He was still born.

And not just born. Born for us. 

What a relief. 

 From www.freebibleimages.com

I hope you have a very happy Christmas.

Christmas is coming...

I'm sorry. At least it's November. A certain member of the Benefice, who shall remain nameless, posted Christmas Countdowns in September. SEPTEMBER. That's even too early for me.

Christmas services are going up on the website TODAY and as they are done (ahem) the posters will be here too! Look out for all of the festive jollity.

Your first notice of Christmas cheer, however, is this:

Messy Church Christmas is on Wednesday 4 December, 4.30-6.30pm at Mistley. Tell everyone you know!

Hello October!

I'm not quite sure what happened to September. I'm sure I put it down here somewhere...

In case you weren't there, here is what you missed at the Digby Fairweather Concert, held at Mistley, on the last weekend of September.

A big, huge, enormous thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make it such a great night.

Wish you had been there?

Events events events

Have you checked the Events page recently?

Can we encourage you to check it? Regularly. Otherwise you might miss a gem.

Like Digby Fairweather.

Don't miss out. Book your tickets now!

Happy Summer

Hello friends!

Isn't the summer zipping by? I think that can be the only explanation for why I have somehow managed to go so long without posting here on the website!

We're currently enjoying a (slightly) quieter August- we hope you have been too. That said, we did have the Pet Service down at Mistley this month, and we couldn't let it pass without at least one photo!

There are many more photos up in Mistley- go and have a look, and have a lovely rest of the summer. Long may it last!

Who we are...

Have you heard about Tea & Support?   We are really proud to say that this is a definite part of who we are.

It was designed to meet a need for people in the community who might have been bereaved, or are alone, and having to cope with tasks that feel like a struggle.

It doesn't just meet practical needs (changing a fuse, a battery, a light bulb...contacting electricians, gardeners, accountants...filling in forms, dealing with brown envelopes...) but also is here to provide emotional support, making friends and having a listening ear.

Tea & Support meets on the third Wednesday of the month, from 2.00pm-4.00pm at Mistley Church Hall in New Road. Transport can be arranged and meetings are free of charge.

We're really grateful for Hunnaballs (Paskell's Funeral Service) who have worked with us on this since the beginning.

But if all that wasn't enough, they also go on outings. Yes. Below is a picture from their most recent outing on the Felixstowe Ferry which was followed by fish and chips.

Thank you Tea & Support-ers and everyone who helps to run T&S!