Dear FriendsWelcome to you if this is the first time you have received our Welcome sheet and readings for this Sunday.Hopefully, you will see it is full of all that you will need to worship with us, pray with us and join in the fun things we do also.I am attaching a new poster for Debbie’s organ recital which now has the correct link and QR code if you want to book tickets online. You can turn up on the evening and ‘pay on the door’ though if you find online things too complicated to manage.As we are in August, this is a quieter time for us now as we develop and organise all things to do with the Scarecrow Festival, and the many ministries that will begin again in September. Some things have carried on throughout the summer and last week we had our August Wednesday Welcome complete with ice creams and singalong holiday songs and Edie’s famous quiz! If you know someone who would like to come along to Wednesday Welcome, bring them with you, or let us know if we need to organise a lift.If you want to get more involved with the Scarecrow Festival just give me a ring and we will be able to help you join in with the fun.Today I have just finished off a Youth Alpha course with a young lady who is going to be baptised in a couple of weeks. Please encourage her if you see her in the church. Earlier this week I also finished off the adult Alpha course. I will be running this again so let me know if you or a friend of yours would like to do the next one.This Sunday we have one service at 9.30 (this is a communion service) that is taking place at St James, High Wych.I hope to see you at the service or around in the parish and don’t forget I am always around at the end of the phone or on e-mail.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsPlease find attached the information you will need for our services this Sunday.I hope you have settled into a different pace of life for August. The days are still long, the weather is, as usual, unpredictable but generally warm.As a ministry team we are using this time to wisely look forward to the Scarecrow Festival and all the fun and busyness of Autumn. As I mention the Scarecrow Festival – I know we are looking for donations of books, Brick-a-Brac and tombola prizes and Sealife creatures to be knitted, crocheted or sewn (patterns in the back of St James church). Thank you all to the many contributions we are receiving to our Sea World exhibition – it’s going to be wonderful in church again this year.This Sunday our services are:-9.30 am communion at St James11.15 am at St Marys, GilstonI hope to meet you at one of these this Sunday.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsWhat a week of contrasts.Wednesday saw 10 people taking part in an away day – The Alpha Holy Spirit Day. What an amazing day, so enjoyable, it was a joy to be with people talking about the Holy Spirit and praying for the Holy Spirit to be with us, it was wonderful. The place we went to was truly beautiful with lovely gardens to walk in and a lake to sit beside. I am hoping we can find other occasions to use this venue.Today has been the funeral and thanksgiving service for Audrey Collins, a church member for over 70 years. Although funerals can be very sad occasions, Audrey herself chose the hymns and readings that were very uplifting for her thanksgiving service and John and the choir finished it beautifully, it was very moving.As we move into the weekend, we have our said BCP Communion service on Sunday at St James for early risers at 8.00 am, followed by breakfast at 9.30 am followed by our Family service starting at 10.00 am.I hope you may be enjoying a more relaxed pace as we are now in the summer holidays, I hope you have time to enjoy your days, I am loving the lighter evenings and being able to walk Bean later too.My hope is that I see you over this weekend if you are not away on holiday.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllLast Thursday I was invited to celebrate the official opening of Julie’s Woodland shelter and 10 years of the Woodland garden at Jacobs and Gardens Neuro Centres on the site of the Rivers Hospital.It was a lovely event and a truly lovely garden has been created for the residents of the Neuro centre to sit in and enjoy.I have been in conversation Sheila Henderson since and they have requested help with:-1. They have several residents who never have visitors – a friendly face for an hour or so once a week or even every few weeks would be so welcome.2. They have a wonderful music and movement therapist who does a session in each centre (Thursday and Friday pm). Many of the residents need one-to-one help to participate in anything. Ella would love some assistance – could be one day only and doesn’t need to be every week.3. They always need help in the garden/woodland – even a one off session would be helpful.I know you are all busy – but if you had some time available it would be gratefully received.Last night I was invited to the Installation of the Reverend Dr Sara Batts-Neale as the new Vicar of St Mary’s the Great in Sawbridgeworth, please say ‘Hello’ to her if you see in and around Sawbridgeworth.Moving on to this Sunday, the services are as follows:-9.30 am St James (Communion service).11.15 am – St Botolph’s, Eastwick, Family service.We also have a baptism of Madison Ivy Fletcher at 2.30 pm – please pray for her and her family that they will continue to grow closer to God and become regular attendees of our Family Service.Hope to see you over this weekend.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllWell after a wonderful retreat – I hit the ground running but what a lovely weekend we had last weekend.The Jo Cox creative morning was a huge success – lots was achieved and it was such a joyful atmosphere in High Wych Memorial Hall. Many thanks to all who got involved and made it such a fun morning.The wedding of Kieran and Hannah at St Botolph’s was beautiful with such lovely weather, and the first I have done in that church since I arrived.I quickly moved on to the ‘Paintings and Prosecco’ event at St Mary’s, Gilston – gosh, what a lot of work went into that to get all the paintings displayed and the art materials made available so people ‘could have a go’ for themselves. Not to mention the sausage rolls and homemade scones and cream and jam that we offered. Great fun and we raised some much needed funds for St Mary’s church. It was received so well we are already planning to do this again next summer – so watch out for the ‘save the date’.On this one day all our church communities and buildings were working hard to meet the needs of the community, creating lovely opportunities for us all to come together.This weekend, feels a little calmer and as it is a fifth Sunday we only have one service at St James, High Wych at 9.30 am.Many of us are then off to attend Sarah’s Ordination at St Albans Cathedral, which will be a lovely service full of joy and hope.For those of us who are going – the minibus will pick up at 12.45 pm in the High Wych Memorial Hall car park. May I suggest you bring with you a packed lunch and a bottle of water as it is promising to be a hot day and there will be very little time to grab anything when we arrive in St Albans and it will be very busy.I hope to see you on Sunday.Every blessingAlison