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The View

1 MARCH 2021

EDITION 39

Do the little things

A reflection by the Rt Rev Peter Hill

‘Do the little things….’ So said St David to his monks

in wild West Wales just before he died towards the

end of the 6th century AD.

As a Welshman this seems the only possible thing on

which to share a reflection on this St David’s Day.

Even more so after the Welsh Six Nations rugby

victory this last weekend. Clearly the French referee

was a Godly man!

In the traditions attached to the saintly David, who

evangelised Wales and beyond in the post Roman

history of these islands, a number of miracles are

recorded, but nothing has stuck with those who know

his story more than those four words, ‘Do the little

things.’ For that is what he himself practised each day

as a bishop and missionary with his followers. As we

continue through this Lenten season, what could be

more simple, powerful and transformational for us to

practise in the days to come.

News for clergy, churchwardens, LLMs and lay chairs

News for Clergy, Churchwardens, LLMs and Lay Chairs

It maybe that St David’s commitment to small acts of mercy and service harkens back to the words of scripture in

Zechariah 4:10: ‘Do not despise the day of small things’. There the prophet Zechariah speaks words of

encouragement to God’s people as they return from exile in Babylon and are faced with the huge task of

rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Small beginnings can become mighty in effect with God, as the prophet

underlines to their leader Zerubbabel in an earlier verse, ‘Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of

hosts.’

As we look back through Christian history what could be a smaller beginning than a baby born to a peasant couple

and laid in a manger in a hole in a corner middle eastern village? Or that baby grown to manhood and crucified as a

rebel on a rubbish tip outside Jerusalem: a small thing to the Roman rulers of the time.

We cannot know the full power and effect of small acts of love and care that our Lord uses in the lives of others.

Small things add up, especially when inspired by the Spirit of a very big God. So as you move through Lent and

lockdown:

Don’t despise the small prayers, by means of which God changes your heart.

Don’t despise the small thing of meditating on a word of scripture which calls you to more generous living and

giving.

Don’t despise the small acts of service in the community, by which people are encouraged and God is glorified.

Don’t despise the small thing of sending that card or making the phone call that makes a world of difference to

someone who is isolated.

Don’t despise that small seed of Jesus that you plant in someone’s life by word or deed.

As St David said, let’s ‘Do the little things …’ this Lent and leave the rest to Almighty God.

News and information

Bishop Guli’s Ministry in Chelmsford Diocese – Key Dates

Further to Bishop Peter’s Ad

Clerum last week, here is a

reminder of the key dates as

Bishop Guli begins her ministry

with us over the coming months.

11th March at 5 pm -

Confirmation of Election as Bishop

of Chelmsford

This prayerful and historic ceremony

makes Bishop Guli legally our

Diocesan Bishop. It will be presided

over by The Archbishop of

Canterbury and take place on Zoom.

It will not be live streamed, but a

recording will be made available for those who wish to view it later. In attendance will be members of Bishop’s Staff, Bishop’s

Council, The Diocesan Registrar, The College of Canons, Area Deans, Lay Chairs, Diocesan Office Senior Leadership Team and

the Vacancy and See Committee

12 March to Easter Day

Bishop Guli completes her ministry as Bishop of Loughborough. Legal authority for oversight of this diocese remains delegated

to Bishop Peter until 19 April.

19 April

Bishop Guli begins her ministry as Diocesan Bishop but will not fully move in to Bishopscourt with her family until the summer.

Early September

It is hoped to hold the public Welcome and Installation service for Bishop Guli in the cathedral.

Lent Bible Studies – Week 2 recording and resources now available Thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday evening’s Generous God, Generous Disciples Lent Bible Study led by

Archdeacon Vanessa. A recording of the session and material are now available here. Please feel free to make use of these

resources in your own context.

Week 3, Sunday 7 March 6pm, led by Bishop John This coming Sunday, Bishop John will join us to lead a study of 2 Corinthians 8: 1-15. Please register here.

Details of the final two bible studies are set out below:

• Week 4: Sunday 14 March, 6pm - 7pm Generous Loving – James 2:8-17 . Led by Archdeacon Ruth. Register here.

• Week 5: Sunday 21 March, 6pm - 7pm Generous Living – 1 Peter 4:7-11. Led by Bishop Roger. Register here.

Generous God, Generous Disciples Webinars Our Generous God Generous Disciples Webinar programme aims to equip parishes with practical tools and resources to

support stewardship and giving. The webinars take place on Zoom and recordings are made available on our website afterwards.

Diocesan and Parish Finance, 16 March, 7.30pm

Join Interim Chief Operations Officer, Maureen Cole and our new Finance Director, Michaela Southworth for an overview of

diocesan and parish finance. This is an opportunity to understand more about the diocese’s finances - including where the money

comes from and how the money is spent. If you have always wondered how your Parish Share is used then this is an opportunity

to find out! There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the evening. However if you have any specific questions you

would like answered, please click here to submit them beforehand so that we can include them in the presentation. Register for

the webinar here.

Thy Kingdom Come Launch Webinar

Tuesday 9 March, 2pm

Join this webinar to find out about plans for this year’s Thy

Kingdom Come and to hear about the resources that will be

available for children, families and individuals.

Find out more here.

Online Church Webinar

Join us tomorrow for the final webinar in our current series of Online Church webinars. We’ll be joined by the Revd Dr Peter

Phillips, Digital Theologian at Durham University who will discuss the emergence of hybrid church. As we return to

congregational worship in our church buildings over the coming months, how do we develop online church without losing the

intimacy and connectivity that many have found in online only worship during the pandemic?

Register here.

Thank you to everyone who participated and led workshops at the Bradwell Area Vocations Day on Saturday and particularly to

the Rev Marion Walford for organising and leading the day. Details about the Barking and Colchester Area Vocations Days are

set out below.

Barking Area Vocations Day, 6 March The Barking Area Vocations Day will take place on 6 March between 10am and 12 noon. Bishop Peter will give the key note

address, there will be presentations and testimonies about lay and ordained ministry as well as plenty of opportunity for

questions and discussion. Please join using Meeting ID 820 6465 9725, Password: Vocation.

Colchester Area Vocations Day, 12, 19 and 26 April The Colchester Area Vocations Day takes place across a series of three webinars. Each webinar starts at 7.30pm and lasts

approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The webinars explore the age old question “What’s my calling?” and are open to anyone aged

13 or over at any stage of life or faith. To find out more and register, please click here.

Chelmsford Cathedral has launched Good

Lament and Hard Hope with a group of

textile artists called the Material Girls. The

project explores the challenges of the

pandemic and wants to enable people to

express their grief and hope through

handmade fabric postcards.

The postcards will then be used as part of

an art installation in the Cathedral this

summer.

To find out more and discover how you

can get involved Click here.

Joiners, movers and leavers

Movers

• The Venerable Elwin Cockett will be seconded to the role of Archdeacon at Bishopscourt and acting Senior Chaplain to

Bishop Guli for a period of six months. At the same time the Revd Canon Jeremy Fraser will serve as Acting

Archdeacon of West Ham.

• The Revd Jane Bradbury is to become Vicar of St Peter, South Weald having served as Priest in Charge at St Peter South

Weald. She will remain as Area Ordination Advisor.

• The Revd Andy Brown will become Assistant Curate at Church of Our Saviour, East Springfield having served as

Assistant Curate at St Mary Widford

• Jo Bluck will become Interim Executive PA at Bishopscourt, working alongside Jane Carter. Hillary Henry will step up to

full time to cover Jo’s day to day work at Barking Lodge.

Leavers

• Mary Kersys has left her role as Executive PA to the Bishop of Chelmsford following her move to Ripon

• The Revd Tony Francis Burford is leaving his role as Associate Priest at Grays Thurrock Team Ministry

• The Revd Paul Grover is leaving his role as Associate Priest at the North Hinkford Team Ministry

Please join us in praying for all those who are leaving, joining or moving between roles in our diocesan family.

Good News - churches prepare to welcome people from Hong Kong

At least 130,000 people are expected

to migrate to the UK from Hong

Kong this year and many churches

are preparing a warm welcome.

In our own diocese, St Luke’s in

Canning Town are planning to host

joint services over Easter with the

Revd Harry Ching who is Assistant

Vicar for International Ministry at St

Martin in the Fields in London. St

Luke’s will also make a welcome

video based in Canning Town to

ensure that people settling in the area

are given a warm welcome.

The Revd Harry Ching has sent us a

number of resources to help those

who want to join in the welcome

effort.

• The Hong Kong Ready Churches Launch Event Video

• A short 15 minute video explaining why large numbers of people from Hong Kong will be migrating to the UK this year.

• The Hong Kong Ready Churches website

The Revd Harry Ching pictured with the Bishop of London at St Martins in the Fields