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The true spirit of Christmas lives on in Ongar! The St Martin’s Church Christmas Bazaar held on 26 November in the Budworth Hall was a great success and once again showed the overwhelming generosity of the people of Ongar despite the current difficult economic times.
Gill Richardson, our Fund-raising Co-ordinator said “I should like to extend a big “thank you” to my fund-raising team, the shops and businesses who displayed posters advertising the event, all the stallholders but especially everyone who came and supported the event. I am delighted to announce that a magnificent total of just over £1000 has been raised and this is being shared with two of the community’s local charities “West Essex Mind” and “Ongar & District Bereavement Service”. The warmth in the Budworth Hall could be felt when entering –the true spirit of Christmas really seemed to surround us and it was lovely to see so many happy smiling faces.”
 |  | Mary with the ever popular raffle | Lynn sold all sorts of things and told visitors
about our church and its activities |  |  | Sarah, Sue and Sally doing a good trade in
home made cakes | Elaine, Sally, Christine, Julia & Pauline were
kept busy serving refreshments |  |  | Vivienne & Nick on the Bottle Stall | Angie with her beautiful hand-made cards |
 | Jean & Elisabeth on the glassware stall |
 | West Essex Mind is affiliated to National Mind and works to support people affected by mental health, and the people around them, on the journey towards recovery. Believing that with the appropriate support everyone has the potential to take steps that will improve their quality of life, the charity aims to achieve this by providing a range of different activities and opportunities. http://www.westessexmind.org.uk/ |  | Ongar & District Bereavement Support Service is a small group of trained volunteers working in Ongar and the surrounding area who help bereaved people deal with their loss. The charity does not charge for its services so rely on donations. http://www.odbss.co.uk/ |
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Ongar Friends of St Clare Hospice raise £2500!
Mary Love writes …
Once again, the generous folk of Ongar made our collection at the beginning of December something really worth doing. Our sterling band of helpers collected a magnificent £926.46p over the two days – thank you all so much! We are also extremely grateful to Sainsburys for allowing us to collect inside the store at this time of the year and for their continuing support of the Hospice. Thanks also to everyone at Senners Newsagents who let us use their shop as a base and, I understand, even supply a hot beverage to those collecting outside!
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Our ‘Light Up a Life’ service in St. Martin’s was attended this year by 60 people who were there to remember someone special and see the lights officially put on by Patrick Foster, well known in Ongar and who is also a Trustee at the Hospice. It was lovely that another local person, Martyn Pattie of Martyn Pattie Chartered Architects and Designers, generously sponsored the tree this year and we are very grateful to him, Art Nursery who supplied the tree and Central Electrics who loaned us a transformer. Lastly, but by no means least, thanks to everyone who helped with providing refreshments after the service and the men who erected the tree.
Pauline and I last week attended an evening put on by the 10K committee in High Ongar and received a cheque for £500 for the Hospice which was part of the proceeds of the run which took place in early July. As a Group, we are now able to send a cheque for £2,500 to the Hospice – this is the result of the coffee morning, the £500 and various other amounts raised. Well done everyone who has made this possible!
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Fundraising at St Martin’s & St Peter’s 2011
Gill Richardson
Chair of the Fundraising Committee | After a successful Christmas Bazaar last December (2010) which went into church funds, the fund raising committee decided to run a two-day flower festival with 50% of the profit going to charity. After much discussion "Help for Heroes" was chosen and the Essex co-ordinator of that charity - Marianne West was contacted.
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| Flower arrangers and stall holders were contacted and the event was held on May 14th and 15th with "Towns and Cities" being the theme for the flower arrangements with Wootton Bassett being the town chosen for "Help for Heroes" and Oxford, Cambridge and Westminster being depicted for the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. |  | | | Wootton Bassett was the town chosen for the "Help for Heroes" depiction |
It certainly was "a festival to remember" for just so many reasons. The flower arrangements were just some of the best we have seen in St Martin's and it stayed dry - if at times a little chilly - for both days.
Marianne West and her husband who manned the Help for Heroes stall received a cheque for £1400 - being half the proceeds for the two days.
| The St Martin's Church Christmas Bazaar 2011 |  | | The St Martin’s Church Christmas Bazaar held on 26 November in the Budworth Hall was also a great success and once again showed the overwhelming generosity of the people of Ongar despite the current difficult economic times.
I should like to extend a big “thank you” to my fund-raising team, the shops and businesses who displayed posters advertising the event, all the stallholders but especially everyone who came and supported the event. I am delighted to announce that a magnificent total of £1100 has been raised and this is being shared with two of the community’s local charities “West Essex Mind” and “Ongar & District Bereavement Service”. The warmth in the Budworth Hall could be felt when entering –the true spirit of Christmas really seemed to surround us and it was lovely to see so many happy smiling faces. Gill Richardson |
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Congratulations to Frances & Paul! | | | St Martin’s Day on 6th November was even more of a day to celebrate than usual as, at our 10.30 service we gave thanks for the marriage of Frances and Paul Calver who have been married for 30 years and who exchanged new rings to mark the occasion. A simple act of thanksgiving and prayers finished with spontaneous applause from the congregation on this happy day. | | | Frances & Paul |
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Julia & Ron installed as members of the Guild of St Martin
6th November was an extra special day in the life of St Martin’s and St. Peter’s when Archdeacon Martin Webster authorised, for a period of three years, Ron & Julia Frost to assist as Deacons of the Guild of St. Martin's in particular ways at Holy Communion and in the Ministry of Healing.
| | Julia & Ron with Martin Webster, Archdeacon of Harlow | At the invitation of the incumbent they may at Holy Communion prepare and clear the altar and distribute the Host, representing both the priest and Christ himself as He feeds His people. They may also, when invited by the incumbent, share in Christ’s healing ministry by laying on of hands (but not by anointing) and in prayers for healing.
After a short service of affirmation and commitment by Ron & Julia and the acceptance by the congregation of their authority to carry out the mission assigned to them, the Archdeacon blessed them and they both will be given a badge as a sign and reminder of the privilege and responsibility of ministry. |
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People & Events 
