Orchard Baptist Church, Colchester
Notices for the month of October
In our services for October our theme will be Prayer, and will be led by guest speakers.
Our Harvest Service and Fellowship Lunch is on 5th October. For Harvest we are going to support the Food Bank for practical items and BMS World Mission Refugees Welcome appeal for those who would like to make a monetary donation.
People can bring store cupboard items for the Food Bank. A full list of items they need can be found on the Colchester Food Bank website.
The BMS World Mission's Refugees Welcome Harvest appeal supports a welcome centre that provides refugees in Cyprus with essential services such as a food bank, help with processing paperwork and computing classes.
More information about where donations go, can be found on the BMS website.
Following our Harvest Service we will be having a bring and share fellowship lunch. This will be not only to celebrate this special time of year but to say a fond farewell to our dear friends Linda and Brian as they embark on the next chapter in their lives, in Nottingham.
Budget Planning: We are beginning budget planning for 2026, so people might like to have a conversation with their Group/Activity Leader in the next 2 weeks about plans for 2026, to see what resources / expenditure may be beneficial. We will then ask Group/Activity Leaders for their budget inputs in mid October.
Deacon's Meeting: Please be in prayer for the Deacons Meeting on Tuesday 7th October at 10am.
Prayer Meeting: Wednesday 8th October at 7.30pm
Church Work Day: Saturday 18th October from 10am until 4pm. If you can spare any time during the day to help it would be greatly appreciated.
The aim is to tidy outside ready for the winter and continue with our efforts to generally tidy the church, re-organise our storage and bring the upstairs rooms back into use. Refreshments will be provided.
Prayer emails: Thank you for praying together in response to the prayer requests sent by email and to those who have informed us of matters for prayer. It is so good that we can pray together to bring people and situations to God as they arise.
Ruth has begun sending out the regular fortnightly prayer emails. As well as the urgent prayer requests, it will be good for us to pray together for less urgent situations and for ongoing needs. If you would like to be included in the Prayer emails, or you have any items you would like included, please let Ruth know or email prayer@orchardbaptist.co.uk
Birthdays in October: Susanna's birthday is on the 14th, Anna's is on 25th and Heather's is on 31st, wishing you every blessing in the year ahead.
Dates for your diary:
Saturday 4th October 2025 at 6:00pm Cantus Firmus Choir Event, a Taizé service to be held at St. Theresa’s RC Church, Clairmont Road, Colchester, CO3 9BE. The event is in conjunction with the Green Christian Group and is entitled ‘Peace with Creation’, a presentation about Creation and taking care of our planet which will commence at 4:30 pm. This will be followed by a discussion session and a buffet tea before the Taizé service. Please reserve your place for the tea by contacting laudatosilexden@btinternet.com
Our regular activities:
Craft & Crochet Club meet Mondays 1.30 – 3.30pm at the church; contact Hilary for more details.
Discoverers meet Tuesdays 1pm at the church; contact Jennifer for more details.
Tuesday Homegroup 7.30pm in Abberton; contact Paul or Linda R for more details.
Wednesday Homegroup 7.30pm in The Willows; contact Hilary for more details.
Little Pips Toddler Group meet Thursday's 9.30 -11am; contact Julie for more details.
Cake & Cuppa meet Friday's at the church 1.30-3.30pm, contact Annette for more details.
Prayer Requests: If you have an urgent prayer request, please phone the Church mobile: 07354 450399 or email prayer@orchardbaptist.co.uk
November Notices: If you have any notices for the month of November please email notices@orchardbaptist.co.uk by 29th October.
If you would like the notices emailed to you rather than obtaining a printed copy, please see Jan.