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beneficebacton@gmail.con
St. Andrew’s Parish Church is the Church of England place of worship in the ecclesiastical parish of Wickham Skeith; it is part of a group of churches known as the "Bacton Benefice" which includes Bacton, Cotton, Wyverstone, Wickham Skeith, Old Newton and a chapel at Gipping.
From April 1st - Rev Daniel Cant
The Rectory, Church Road, Bacton, Stowmarket, IP14 4LJ 01449 503369 Email - bionic.revd.dan@gmail.com
Wardens: Liz Davidson 766622 and Margaret Jones-Evans 767121
Dec 7th 10am Bacton Family Café Service
2.30pm Gipping BCP Evening Prayer
6.30pm Wyverstone Praise in the Community
Dec 13th, Saturday 4pm Wickham Skeith Carol Service
Dec 14th 10am Bacton Benefice Holy Communion
Dec 16th 7pm Gipping Carol Service
Dec 21st 9.30am Wickham Skeith Holy Communion
Christmas Eve 9.00pm “Midnight” Holy Communion
Christmas Day No Service at St Andrew’s - please join us 10am at Wyverstone for a Benefice Holy Communion
28th December 10am Cotton Benefice Holy Communion
Jan 4th 9.30am Wickham Skeith Holy Communion
10am Bacton Family Café Service
2.30pm Gipping BCP
6.30pm Wyverstone Praise in the Community
Jan 11th 9.30am Cotton Holy Communion
11.15am Old Newton Café Church
Jan 18th 9:30am Wickham Skeith Café Church
9.30am Bacton Holy Communion
Jan 25th 9:30am Cotton Family Service
11:15am Old Newton Holy Communion
Our charity collection this Christmas, at the carol service and the Christmas Eve service, will go to Children in Need who support many small charities throughout the country working to help children facing physical or social difficulties.
The card reader at the back of the church will continue to support church funds.
Would all our ‘decorators’ please have everything in place for the Carol Service on 13th and leave them if possible until after the service on January 4th. Many thanks for all your efforts, they are greatly appreciated by everyone attending our festival services or visiting the church.
Weekly Email and News – if you would like to sign up to receive our weekly news email, please contact the churchwardens.
We have reached the time of year when a new rota needs to be prepared. If you would like to volunteer to join, or if you need to be removed from the list, please let Liz Davidson know by December 15th eadavidson42@gmail.com. We do not have as many volunteers as a few years ago so new people will be welcome. Each pair will have 2 or 3 sessions of 2 weeks in the year when they provide fresh flowers for the altar vases in season and do as much cleaning as time and energy allows. It is not an arduous task, you do not need to be a regular churchgoer to ‘qualify,’ just care about preserving a historic building - every effort helps to keep our lovely building in good order. If you are not sure just ask Liz to tell you more. All help is greatly appreciated – could you find time to lend a hand?
Dec 7th & 14th Miss M Jones-Evans & Mrs A Palmer
Dec 21st & 28th Mrs J Kemp & Mrs S Merriam
January dates on the new rota!
Discovering the Meaning and Magic of Christmas, Together
Ah, Christmas! The time of year when even your neighbour’s inflatable snowman seems to smile a little brighter. But beneath the twinkling fairy lights, questionable jumpers, and enough mince pies to feed a small army, lies the deeper meaning of Christmas—especially for Christians.
For Christians, Christmas is far more than just a festive knees-up. It marks time when the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated, an event that symbolises hope, love, and the promise of peace to the world. It is a reminder that, in the hustle and bustle of life, there is something extraordinary at the heart of it all: the gift of God’s love. Taking time to reflect on this can be as warming as a mug of spiced mulled wine.
But let us be honest—Christmas is not just for the devout. It is a season for everyone, regardless of where you come from or what you believe. Whether you are there for the carols, the camaraderie, or because there might be free biscuits, the doors are open.
This brings us to the great British institution: the church service. If you have never attended one, why not give it a go this year? Churches are not just places to sit quietly and reflect—they are vibrant hubs of community. You might overhear stories, meet new friends, or accidentally join the choir because you were standing too close to the organ (it happens more often than you think).
So remember: Christmas is a time to come together, to celebrate, and to find peace. I pray for a peaceful and joyful Christmas—and may your gravy never be lumpy!
Merry Christmas. Revd Dan Cant Benefice Rector
Display of Christmas Cribs
from the tiniest upwards will be held in Church from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December. Refreshments will be available and entry will be free. Donations will be welcome for the tower roof, to keep the bells dry.
Any queries to Margaret
Like every other organization the church has to consider the data protection legislation, so St Andrew’s Church and the Bacton benefice need your permission before they keep your name and details on file. The information will be used to send the weekly pew sheet, to record you as a voting member of the church on the Electoral Roll, for the Rector to know who the members of the church are so he can visit and get to know you etc.
You may have received an email with a form to fill in, or a paper form dropped through your door. Do please fill one of these in if you would like to be involved with the Church in this village and send to our new Rector, the Rev’d Daniel Cant. He is eager to get to know the people in the churches and villages in his new benefice.
If you haven’t had a form through your door or via email do please ask for one from Liz Davidson or Margaret Jones-Evans
Keep safe everyone – Margaret Jones-Evans
