A big thank you to all who supported the Harvest Supper and Harvest Festival at Great Blakenham last weekend. The donations for the Lighthouse Women's Aid are very much appreciated; our collection remains open until early December when the items will be delivered.
If you are looking to go along to the Henley Puzzle Evening on 31st October, you only have until Wednesday to book your place. (see poster attached)Congratulations to the C&B Church quiz team of Jonathan, Adrian, Debbie, Graham, Bev and Terry on winning the annual John West Memorial Quiz last week (and thanks for sharing your prize!)If you are interested in going to the Eastern Angles Christmas production at the John Mills theatre in Ipswich on Friday 28th November with the group which Helen Aldous is organising, please contact her as soon as possible as there are still a few tickets available - Email: [email protected] . If you have already booked, the ticket price is now confirmed at £16 so can you please let Helen have the money either in cash or by bank transfer. (She isn't in Church this Sunday but will be the rest of the month)
Helen has also asked me to thank everyone who sponsored her for the Ride and Stride last month. Her efforts raised a wonderful £255 which will be split equally between the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and Barham Church
Please note that the start of the Tuesday evening Pilgrim Course at Henley Church has been put back a week to 28th October. The Wednesday afternoon course at the Rectory will still start on this Wednesday - 15th October. To join either of these 6 week courses please contact Rev Tracey (email [email protected])
Please note in your diary that the next Celtic Worship, Sacred Places, will be on Sunday 19th October at 3pm at Barham Church and then the third Sunday every month apart from December. The following Sunday (26th) is the annual Departed Loved Ones service also at 3pm
On the next two Thursdays Brett Aggregates have hired Barham Church Hall between 11am and 8pm to hold a public exhibition of their proposals to seek planning permission to extend the current sand and gravel quarry towards Barham Church. We would encourage everyone with an interest in Barham Church to attend to understand exactly what is being proposed to enable you to respond appropriately to the plannig application.
We are pleased to say that we have been successful in getting a £250 grant from our two district councillors' locality budgets to cover our costs of heating etc at the weekly Friday Drop-ins in Barham Church Hall over the next 6 months
Weekly Update for 5th October
Harvest thanksgiving continues this weekend with celebrations at both Gt Blakenham and Henley with Harvest Gifts invited for Women's Refuge and FIND respectively. We give thanks for the efforts of lots of people who give their time and skills to prepare services, beautifully decorate our Churches, and prepare food which all comes together to help us celebrate and give thanks for another harvest of plenty.
"It is hard to believe that, 25 years ago, Jenny and I walked into Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, and a little while later, walked out as Reverend Jenny and Reverend Cathy! (or Tweedledum and Tweedledee as Reverend Tom Broadbent used to call us!).So much has happened since, as Jenny and I have shared the joys and sorrows of ministry. We have been very lucky (and grateful) to have shared our journey with our fellow priests, Readers Elders and Evangelist in this Benefice.It was lovely, and deeply moving, on Sunday evening, to celebrate those years of ordained ministry with so many friends from across the Benefice and beyond. I am truly grateful to all those who gave time and effort to decorate the church, providing the fabulous food and drink – and for the service and the music. I was really touched by the many gifts, and all the messages in your cards and emails.‘Thank you’ to you all somehow doesn’t seem enough, but my gratitude and sense of privilege is heartfelt and genuine. How lucky I am to serve you and God in this benefice. May God bless you all. Cathy"
You may have seen on Social Media or in the Press that Brett Aggregates is preparing a planning application to extend its sand and gravel quarry towards Barham Church. Brett have hired Barham Church Hall to hold a public exhibition of their proposals on 16th and 23rd October between 11am and 8pm. See notice attached.
