Dear Friends

The Scarecrow Festival is almost upon us. This week I have seen crowds of Mr Men and Little Misses appear on the school railings, shoals of fish appear and larger Mr Men and Little Misses begin to appear up and down the road. All heralds we are getting ready…….

The church is being turned into an Enchanted Forest as I write this, the Village Triangle will show all the different themes from the last 10 years and later this week the scarecrows will appear and we will almost be ready!

On Friday we are asking people to come to the village playing fields, if they are able to, to help put up tents from 5.30 pm.

There will be a short service of thanks and blessing at 7.00 pm in the church.

What a busy week we are having as we prepare to welcome so many lovely people into our village.

I pray this weekend will be full of fun, laughter and pure joy as we explore all there is to see, hear and do.

Once again, we will have the Jimmy’s tent with some chairs for tired parents, and toys and small craft activities for toddlers whilst parents rest, along with lots of fun children’s games, lovely food to eat, music to enjoy, and interesting stalls to discover.

Our 9.30 am communion service will happen as usual in St James church, to which you are all invited, and as all the members of St Mary’s, Gilston will be on the village field running the children’s games the service that is usually at St Mary’s at 11.15 am has been postponed for another day.

Please see the attached for our Welcome sheet, notices and readings for Sunday.

Please let this e-mail act as a reminder that the Community Forum (where Places4People will explain the road network for the next few months) will take place at the Manor of Groves from 6.30 pm, tonight Wednesday 9th September 2026.

If you are still stuffing your scarecrow – God’s speed and I’ll see you all very soon.

Your Priest

Alison