Christian Events and Organisations
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Picture, People at Worship
The church exists first to offer worship (honour) to God and to thank him for the gifts he gives us, and secondly to honour and support each other because we're all fellow creatures of God, and so by honouring each other we honour him too.

As well as the Seasons and Major Festivals which help us worship God, the church celebrates several 'Special Days' throughout the year to remember, honour and support each other and our work in God's world. Celebration of the "Special Days" is usually optional, Christians chose which they want to remember, including: (Return to top)
The 'Special Days'
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July Sea Sunday
August  
September Racial Justice Sunday
Harvest Festival
October Disability Sunday
Animal Welfare Sunday
Hospital Sunday
November All Saints Day, All Souls Day
Remembrance Sunday
December Nine Lessons and Carols
Christingle Service
Education Sunday
For much of its history, the churches have been leaders in education. The monasteries in particular kept education alive in the so called 'Dark Ages' when the average person received little or no schooling. They kept libraries and taught the monks to read and write, about healthcare and life in general, and of course about the Christian faith. They often took in children, initially to educate them in the hope that they would join the monastery as monks, but later to give an education to the children of patrons, etc. (Return to top)

Education Sunday, as the name implies, is a national day of prayer on the ninth Sunday before Easter to focus on the world of education and has been celebrated as a 'Special Day' for well over a hundred years. (Return to top)
Church and School Links
Picture, Round Plaque
Plaque in Dymock Church presented by the headmaster of Dego-Thim School, Kenya during his visit to Dymock
Some churches use the designated Sunday to focus on some aspect of education, or to think about and pray for the local school or college or, if they have one, a world-wide school link, or to invite the local school into their church to share in the Festival. For several years Dymock Church and Ann Cam School supported Dego-Thim School in Kenya. (Return to top)

Other churches put off the celebration in order that they can hold a special service at another time, such as the beginning or end of the local school's term, its Speech Day, or the beginning or end of the academic year. (Return to top)
Celebrating Education Sunday
Plans for celebrating the Festival, along with ideas for the content of the celebration, are sometimes produced by the local church but are also available nationally, produced by an ecumenical steering group representing the Association of Christian Teachers, the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the National Society, the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist Union, the Salvation Army, the Student Christian Movement and the United Reformed Church under the auspices of a body known as 'Churches Together in England'. (Return to top)