Sunday 19th December 2017
On behalf of the congregation, Cheryl presented Joyce Parkin Grant with a wood carving to celebrate the many loyal years she has helped at St Gregory's Church.
As Cheryl said, it is going to take 36 people to replace Joyce as she takes a well earned retirement from her many church activities!
There was a cake to share with the congregation as they all wished her the very best and thanked her for all her unselfish and hard work.
Pilgrimage to Ely
On Saturday 14th October 28 people took part in a pilgrimage to Ely Cathedral. We celebrated the Eucharist at the High Table , followed by lunch in Powchers Hall.
The afternoon started with a pilgrimage walk around the Cathedral , culminating in the Lady Chapel. We had time to look further around the cathedral - or the town- before we attended Sung Evensong.
Harvest Festival was taking place the next day and the cathedral was alive with displays of local produce, animals, machinery and people all reflecting the wonderful harvest of the area.
The harvest tea was delicious!
The floral arrangements in the church were wonderful.
Thank you Tom for arranging the entertainment
Harvest High Tea
Sunday 24th September in St Gregory's Church
In a new venture for the church, Harvest was celebrated not only with services in the morning, but with High Tea in the afternoon. About 80 people joined together to enjoy the sandwiches, scones and cakes and many thanks to the young people who acted as waiters and waitresses for the afternoon. After the meal Tom Cogan organized an array of entertainment including Anne Chorley on the flute, the choir singing "The Owl and The Pussy Cat", David Phillips talking about the Suffolk dialect and Cheryl reciting a poem by John Betjeman entitled "Blame the Vicar". Thanks must go to Maggie Cogan who organized the event and to her willing helpers. A retiring collection was taken for Water Aid - our Harvest Charity.
Volunteers to clean the church
We tried to get into every nook and cranny!
Many hands make light work!
After all the hard work on Thursday 3rd August there was a reward of tea and cakes!
There was a duster on the end of the pole!
Some of the dusting was done sitting down.
Sunday 10th July 2017
Today we said a fond farewell to Rev. Helen Mitchell who has been at St Gregory's Church for the last eight years. After the service Nick Webb spoke of her time at the church and how she had supported us all with her great faith and love of Christ.
Helen was given a wall hanging containing photographs of her time with us at St Gregory's as well as a keepsake box filled with the thoughts, good wishes and prayers from members of the congregation. We all wish her and Robin all the very best when they move to Petersfield.
Ordination at Bury St Edmunds
Lynda Sebbage, standing beside the Bishop, who was our Reader, was ordained as a Deacon on Saturday 24th June 2017. We all wish her well in her future ministry.
Prayer Walking Sudbury
for
‘Thy Kingdom Come’
During the period between Ascension Day and Pentecost a small but faithful band went out every day to pray for a different section of our town, including the industrial estates and shopping areas as well as residential areas. Prayer Walking has been described as ‘prayer on site with insight’. As we go, we ask God to open our eyes to the needs of particular areas as we ask for God’s blessing and protection for them.
It was a privilege to pray for our town in this way, and I certainly saw parts of the town I hadn’t visited before. I am also grateful to those people who, while being prevented by infirmity form physically walking with us, prayed for us and with us in Spirit. The effects of prayer walking are not necessarily immediate or dramatic, but I believe God has been working with us during this time so that we can serve our community even better.
Here are photos of the intrepid band at the end of a couple of our days of walking. Despite appearances, Margaret Tracy was the only person who committed to walking every day with Cheryl which was much appreciated, she just managed to avoid having her picture taken by always being the photographer!
Confirmation Service on the Feast of the Presentation of Christ to the Temple.
5th February 2017
Four candidates, Ellen,Susan, Amy and Samantha were confirmed by The Right Revd Mike Harrison, Bishop of Dunwich at a service at St Gregory's church.
