St Mary's Church, Hadleigh

Dear Friends
GOING BACK TO CHURCH
When Marion was invited to church by her friend Anne she thought 'Why not?' She said "I don’t think I have ever been to a church service where I have laughed so much.” After attending Back to Church Sunday at St Mary's in Haversham, Marion went on one of the courses they hold to explore the Christian faith. Back to Church Sunday changed the way she thought of church. She said “Churches to me were always cold, severe places in many ways, where you went and got preached at and told off on a Sunday - it wasn’t much fun. Now it’s different. There's a variety of speakers and approaches. It’s very welcoming. I don’t remember church being like that in my youth.” Now, Marion encourages those who've also stopped going to church or have never been to church to 'give it a try and go with an open mind'.

That’s the story of just one of the 82,000 people who went back to church, or to church for the first time, during last years Back to Church Sunday. There are all sorts of reasons why you may have been to church in the past, but now don’t go. Perhaps because of various things which have happened in your life, you just got out of the habit. Maybe you have had a bad experience there, perhaps one similar to Marion’s story. You may have been turned off by someone else’s comments, or entering the door of a church is a scary thought.

Back to Church Sunday is on 26 September this year. If you already go to church, then please think and pray about who you might invite to come with you that day. If you haven’t been to church for a while, or maybe have never been, then why not try it for yourself that day. There are main church services at St Mary’s Hadleigh at 10.45am, St Andrew’s Layham at 9.15am and All Saint’s Shelley at 10.30am. However, you might like to go to any other church that you know of. Wherever you go, you will be given a warm welcome and please be assured that you will not be put under pressure to return, if you don’t want to. You will be accepted just as you are, so please don’t feel that you need to wear your ‘Sunday best’ clothes if that would make you uncomfortable.

As ever, you are very welcome to speak to be about church and the Christian faith – or please contact any other church leader/minister that you know. See you on Sunday 26th!

With my love and prayers

Hadleigh URC

The United Reformed Church is a national, mainstream Christian denomination with its roots in the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches. We worship one God, expressed in Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We commit ourselves to Jesus in our worship and by loving and caring for all without exception. Here in Hadleigh we are part of Churches Together in Hadleigh and have good relationships with all the other Churches.

We meet every Sunday morning at 10.30am and worship in an informal, but reverent manner, balancing the best of traditional and modern worship. At the same time there are activities in Sunday Club for children and young people of all ages. At other times of the week we meet for prayer, Bible Study and friendship. We are also very much involved in our community through the many activities that take place in our buildings, and especially through our links with the Ansell Community Centre.

For more information call Jim on 827895, or log on to www.hadleighurc.org.uk

Salvation Army Hadleigh (Suffolk) corps

The Salvation Army is an integral part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible; its motivation is the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Its mission is to proclaim his gospel, to persuade people of all ages to become his disciples and to engage in a programme of practical concern for the needs of humanity. Its ministry is offered to all, regardless of race, creed, colour, age or sex.

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by William Booth, a Methodist minister, who saw that the church of the day was having little impact on the poor in society. He set out not only to preach the Good News of Jesus to them, but also to care for their physical needs such as shelter. Today The Salvation Army is at work in over 100 countries around the world, and is a growing movement.

We hope that you find one or more of our activities of interest; these and our worship services are conducted in a relaxed style combined with something to challenge our thinking. Our prayer is that you would find something of interest in our programme and one day you will pay us a visit and join us as we worship our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Regular Events
Sundays 10.30 am - Morning Worship led by Lt Chris Baker unless otherwise advertised (the Band plays during the service on the last Sunday of the month)
Mondays 7 pm - Keep fit – an hour of gentle exercise
Tuesdays 2 pm - CAMEO (Come and meet each other) a time of fellowship and discussion ending with a short time of worship
Wednesdays 2.30 pm - Home League – Ladies meeting

Hadleigh Catholic Parish

Parish Priest: Fr Michael Vulliamy (01473 823989)
Deacon: Rev. Andy Morton (01206) 263367

Sunday: Sacred Heart, Nayland: 9.15 a.m. Mass
St Joseph’s, Hadleigh 11 a.m. Mass with Children’s Liturgy followed by tea and coffee
Monday: St Joseph’s, Hadleigh 9.25 a.m. Mass (includes Morning Prayer)
Tuesday: Sacred Heart, Nayland 9.30a.m. Mass
Wednesday: No Mass
Thursday: St Joseph’s, Hadleigh 9.25 a.m. Mass (includes Morning Prayer)
Friday: St Joseph’s, Hadleigh 9.25 a.m. Mass (includes Morning Prayer)
Saturday: Sacred Heart, Nayland 9.30 a.m. Latin Mass

For any changes to the times of week-day Masses please consult the Parish Newsletter, or contact Father Michael or Deacon Andy.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available after week-day Masses, or by arrangement with Father Michael.