Colchester Garrison Church

Alpha is starting soon check out this trailer

https://youtu.be/fViYK_Xb3Wg?feature=shared

Tomorrow at 1030 we celebrate Epiphany when the Wise Men visited the infant Jesus
We’re going to be thinking about what it means to be wise? Do come and join us.

Hello! As we step over into a New Year these words from a famous poem never loose their poignancy….

‘The Gate of the Year’, is by Minnie Louise Haskins, a poet and academic working in the field of sociology. Though first published in 1908, it was made famous when George VI read it in his New Year broadcast in 1939.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill

Good morning, just a reminder of our services this Christmas

Christmas Eve Communion 2200
Christmas Day all age Communion 1030
( no service on 31 December)

May you have a Happy and Peaceful Christmas
Padre Antony

Here are some wise words I received recently……

How would you describe the year that was 2023? How about ‘tense’?

It’s not the whole story, of course, but over the past 12 months, Russia’s war in Ukraine has continued, fighting has persisted in Myanmar and countless African nations, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has dramatically escalated. Concerns about China have grown, natural disasters have occurred, and global temperatures have broken all records. In the UK, the consequences of Brexit continue to reverberate, and we’ve witnessed soaring energy prices, a cost-of-living crisis, strikes, and public services at breaking point.

Everything changes. Everything stays the same. The 1st-Century world into which Jesus was born was unbelievably tense, too. He grew up in an atmosphere of political conflict, upheaval, and social discontent.

The Roman Empire was dominant. Caesar Augustus was tax-hungry. Indeed, it was because he demanded a census be taken of all his conquered lands that Mary and Joseph were forced to travel to Bethlehem. The taxes of the poor – 90% of the population – were used to boost the wealth of rulers.

Herod the Great, appointed by Rome, ruled Judea, Samaria, and Galilee as a police state. He had a reputation for being a murderer and a thug. ‘If Herod wanted to do away with you,’ observed biblical scholar John P Meier, ‘he could slit the throat of anyone he wanted.’

It was into this world that the angels told a group of shepherds, ‘Do not be afraid’ (Luke 2:10). In Bethlehem, a Saviour had been born, and he (not Caesar, Herod, nor anyone else) was Christ the Lord. He would save his people from their sins. In the birth of Jesus, God cut through the tension and established a true and everlasting kingdom built on justice and righteousness.

It’s difficult to predict how 2024 will unfold. It’s unlikely that tensions will disappear anytime soon, not least with general elections taking place on both sides of the Atlantic. But the message of the angels to the shepherds in the 1st Century remains their message to us in the 21st Century: ‘Do not be afraid.’

In the birth of Jesus, a down-to-earth God comes to save us from ourselves. Jesus brings true peace and true freedom which, if we let him, will not only transform us but the world around us. This is good news of great joy for all people.

(From LICC)

Lot's to look forward to over Christmas at St Alban's!

Check out our latest news

Join us as we start the Advent season together on Sunday at 1030

Hello huge thanks to everyone who has delivered Christmas invitations across the patch
Just a few left… if you have any time this week let me know
Thanks
Padre Antony

Why not make the most of Advent this year with these Advent reflections into you inbox?

It’s nearly December. And that means that Christmas is coming.

But Christmas is for life, not just December.

At the heart of the Christmas story is Jesus, the baby whose arrival changes everything, for all time. The first Christmas is the moment on which all of history turns and in which all of creation is offered redemption.

Our new 25-day Advent devotional journey by Jo Swinney explores the significance of Jesus’ birth in the context of the whole Bible. Starting in Genesis and working through to Revelation, you’ll see how Christ came to a world worth saving, how human sin affects every part of life, how God promised to redeem all aspects of his creation, and how, in Jesus, he made good on that promise.

Throughout Advent, you’ll also reflect on how God is calling you to live in a way that contributes to his redeeming work in the world, ushered in by Jesus’ birth.

Sign up to journey with us through Advent – you can access the devotional journey on YouVersion or receive the reflections straight to your inbox: bit.ly/3QXF1hW.

This journey is based on Jo's book of the same name, published by BRF Ministries.

What does it mean for Jesus to be our King? Join us on Sunday at 1030 as we explore together

Bible Study at 20 Leas Road tonight at 1930, all welcome
Padre Antony

Lest we forget

This week we’re exploring how peacemakers find blessing, come along and join us at 1030 on Sunday

Check out these inspiring stories

Five inspirational stories for Black History Month – and a Christlike response to racism | LICC Five inspirational stories for Black History Month – and a Christlike response to racism Culture & Discipleship Understanding Culture I’m a white woman. I’m writing about Black History Month. You’ll likely have read heaps of articles about this very topic, but I wanted to share authentica....

Great evening welcoming lots of people for Treats Games and Cake

Here are details of Sundays and Socials over the next few weeks at St Albans, hope to see you soon!

Prince of Peace, we cry out to You today for the people of Israel and Gaza; these very lands You know so well.

A prayer for those who are grieving
First, we pray with all our hearts for those grieving the sudden loss of loved ones, those who’ve been captured, and those whose homes have suddenly been destroyed.

A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.
Matthew 2:18 (NIVUK)

A prayer for de-escalation
Lord, we also pray for a miraculous de-escalation of this dangerous conflict. Terrible things are being done, many hundreds have died, hospitals are overflowing, many are suddenly grieving. Violence is provoking violence but we pray for reason to prevail over rage and revenge. May those with a vested interest in escalating this crisis somehow be restrained.

These prayers come from Lectio 365 a daily prayer app

https://lectio365.24-7prayer.com/share?locale=en Pray the Bible every day

Lectio 365 Pray the bible everyday

This Sunday at 1030 we continue exploring the Beatitudes with what at first glance seems to be a very hard saying of Jesus - how can those who mourn experience blessing? Come and find out more

What does a beautiful life look like? This week we begin a series exploring the Beatitudes, or Beautiful attitudes. Our speaker this Sunday is Rev David Barrett Deputy Chaplain General.

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BIG thankyou to everyone who contributed to our collection for Beacon House https://beaconhouseministries.org.uk/
Everything was delivered and gratefully received

Home - Beacon House | Homeless Day Centre Our Day Centre in Colchester, Essex, provides a welcoming and non-judgemental environment which encourages a sense of belonging for people who are currently excluded from the wider community.

Great for a day out and organised by local churches

Come along for Harvest! Lunch afterwards

Come and find out this Sunday at 10:30 as we continue exploring the Lord’s Prayer together.

Come and join in blessing our community litter pick this Saturday 9th Sept meet at Community Centre at 10am