Quiet Days in 2025 - St Mary’s Runwell & St Nicholas Rawreth

Reflect in the beautiful and historic surrounds of St Mary’s Runwell and St Nicholas Rawreth. St. Mary’s is often described by visitors and by regular worshippers as a powerful sacred space to which they have been drawn. St Nicholas provides times of quiet and reflection in a beautiful setting.

Themes for 2025 include: Rogation Days; A Path with a Heart; Sabbath; Our Lady; and Lancelot Andrewes (at St Nicholas).

 
All are 10.30 am – 3.30 pm. Runwell Rd SS11 7HS/Church Rd SS11 8SH.

• Wednesday 28 May – Rogation Days: Rogation Days precede Ascension Day. Traditionally, they are days of prayer and fasting observed with processions and 'beating the bounds’ when God’s blessing is asked on agriculture and industry, and were. Led by Revd Sue Wise.
• Saturday 28 June – A Path with a Heart: Seeking inspiration from the Nazareth Community - Silence and Service are at the very heart of the Nazareth rule of life. Led by Revd Catherine Duce, Assistant Vicar for the Companions of Nazareth, St Martin-in-the-Fields.
• Saturday 12 July – Sabbath: Explore Sabbath as both a day of rest and the coming kingdom of God. Led by Mike Tricker, LLM.
• Wednesday 13 August – Our Lady: Reflect on the experiences, inspiration and support of Our Lady, the Mother of Jesus. Led by Revd Sue Wise.
• Saturday 27 September – Lancelot Andrewes: Discover the influence and example of Lancelot Andrewes (who lived in Rawreth) who helped define Anglican doctrine, translate the Bible, and shape the liturgy. Led by Revd Jonathan Evens & Revd Steve Lissenden. To be held at St Nicholas Rawreth.

Cost: £8.00 per person, including sandwich lunch (pay on the day). To book: jonathan.evens@btinternet.com / 07803 562329 (28/06, 12/07, 27/09) or sue.wise@sky.com / 07941 506156 (28/05, 12/07). 

Parking available: Church Hall (Runwell) or Village Hall (Rawreth). Nearest station: Wickford (for Runwell) or Battlesbridge (for Rawreth).

http://wickfordandrunwellparish.org.uk/

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Bill Fay - The Healing Day.

Quiet Day: The Rhythm of Life

Quiet Day: The Rhythm of Life

Wednesday 20th September 10.30 am – 3.30 pm, St Mary’s Runwell

A day spent reflecting on Celtic Spirituality, its place in our history, its saints, prayer and worship, music and art. Reflect in the magnificent mediaeval building that is St Mary’s Runwell, and relax in its beautiful churchyard. St. Mary’s itself is often described by visitors and by regular worshippers as a powerful sacred space to which they have been drawn. Experience this yourself, while also exploring its art and heritage.

Led by Revd Sue Wise, Team Vicar, Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry.

Cost: £8.00 per person, including sandwich lunch (pay on the day).

To book: Phone 07941 506156 or email sue.wise@sky.com

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Caedmon - Caedmon's Hymn.

St Gilbert, Wickford SOS and Wick Green

It was great to celebrate St Gilbert's Day on Wick Green today with Wickford SOS, Revd Sue Wise and the Mayor of Basildon. Congratulations to Wickford SOS for securing Wick Green's future as green space.

Here's the brief reflection I shared before leading prayers:

It is a pleasure to be with you today celebrating the life of St Gilbert and celebrating Wick Green being placed under the protection of The Fields In Trust, for which many congratulations to all involved with Wickford SOS.

From small beginnings, St Gilbert built a chain of 26 convents, monasteries and missions. He was unique in his time being the only person in Medieval England to found a conventual order and to include women, as well as men, in his order. The Gilbertines became known for "the plate of the Lord Jesus", whereby the best portions of the dinner were put on a special plate and shared with those who were poor. This reflected Gilbert’s lifelong concern for people less fortunate than himself. As he inherited his father’s wealth, Gilbert could have lived a life of luxury, as many of his fellow priests did at the time, but, instead, he chose to share his wealth with those who were poor.

Wickford SOS will, likewise, have had a small beginning and yet became a movement sufficient to achieve the aim of having Wick Green placed under the protection of The Fields In Trust in order to protect local green space, wildlife and residents quality of life. Just as St Gilbert’s life and witness are an inspiration, so is the work of Wickford SOS.

The churches in Wickford and Runwell, like the Gilbertines, are seeking to support those most in need in our community through The Gateway Project, the Foodbank for Wickford and Runwell which is hosted by The Salvation Army. We remain grateful for all the ways in which people from the wider community support that initiative and, thereby, provide help to those less fortunate than ourselves. Then, like Wickford SOS, we are seeking to raise awareness of environmental issues and support for a planet that is threatened by human activity. Together, the churches are planning an Arts Festival from 13 – 26 May that will be called ‘One Beautiful World’ and that, through the Arts, will seek to celebrate our one beautiful world and draw attention to environmental issues and concerns.

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Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi.

Coming up in the Wickford and Runwell Team Ministry

 

The Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields in concert: Sunday 17 July, 3.30 pm, St Andrew's Wickford. The Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields strives to be amongst the leading voluntary church choirs in the UK, performing a wide range of sacred choral repertoire on a regular basis to a high standard. Come for 45 minutes of beautiful music by Palestrina, Victoria, Holst and Todd. A retiring collection will be taken.

Messy Church is a way of being church for families and others. It is Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration. Messy Holy Day, 2-4pm, 23rd July, St Mary’s Vicarage garden Runwell. Kids must bring an adult. Contact Revd Sue: sue.wise@sky.com or Emma: emmacdoe@googlemail.com. Date for your diary - Messy Harvest, 8 October.

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The Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Angels amidst the acetate

Paul Trathen will be leading a workshop on Angels amidst the acetate: Some glimpses of those we have entertained at the cinema as part of Entertaining Angels Unawares, the Exploring Prayer & Spirituality Day to be held on Saturday 29th September at All Saint's Hertford from 10.00am - 3.30pm.

Film is an allusive medium, well able to suggest realities just a little more subtle, mysterious and wonderful than the everyday. It is also a mass medium, telling accessible and powerful stories. This workshop - illustrated with a series of film clips - will explore iconography and narrative strands of a number of films and genres which might just glimpse the angelic …

There are accounts of the work and ministry of Angels throughout Bible and for many in our modern age that is where Angels remain - in history. Having had Angels captured by the

New Age spirituality that pervades society, the Exploring Prayer and Spirituality Day will seek to answer questions such as:

• If God used angels in the past, are they still here now?
• How do we understand and know Angels as part of Christian faith and practice today?
• What can we learn from Angels about the message of faithfulness and hospitality?

With workshops rooted firmly in the Scriptures, in the worshipping life of the church and in the teachings of our forebears in faith, the day has a range of Workshops to encourage exploration and delight in the calling that we should:

not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)

The Keynote Speaker will be The Reverend Canon Pam Wise MBE, Vicar of All Saint’s South Oxhey.

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John Tavener - Song of the Angel.