Well done you amazing group of people.

What an amazing Scarecrow Festival we pulled out of the hat again this year!!

I know most of you are probably exhausted as all week we have been drying out marquees and tents and today has been a day of taking down all the Mr Men and boats and sorting out the church, getting ready for our sale of the Enchanted Forest items on Saturday from 10.00 am till 1.00 pm, and all other tidy up things.

At Jimmy’s toddler group session it was obvious how tired we all were but yet we still managed to provide a lovely, warm, baby and toddler session for the many new Mums and Dads who joined us this morning.

The week has carried on much as usual with PCC meetings, sermons to write, Welcome sheets and notices to prepare but we are still looking forward to our very first Messy Adventure in High Wych school woodland area on Sunday (20th) afternoon at 3.00 pm. We will be able to park in the school car park and make our way in through the gate onto the playing fields – but if you arrive at the church someone will show you where to go. We are looking forward to welcoming you all to explore the beauty and usefulness of trees as we look at linked stories from the bible. We will have a picnic tea as usual if the weather permits.

As many of you know the road to Eastwick the C161 will be completely closed for 7 weeks from 21 September to 7th November and this will make it difficult for us to have our services at St Botolph’s in Eastwick. With this in mind and after our meeting last night this is the proposed change:-

27th September we will still have a service at St Botolph’s at 11.15 am but it will not be a Family Service or a Communion service. Rosemary, Robin and the team will be offering a relaxed service as they think and explore ‘How God speaks to Us’.

Then on 25th October we will cancel the service at St Botolph’s and move it to St Mary’s, Gilston at 11.15 am which will still be accessible for all and this will be a Communion Service.

November services will swop as usual to have the Act of Remembrance at Eastwick Memorial on the 8th November followed by refreshments in St Botolph’s and our parish communion service will take place on Sunday 22nd November at St Mary’s, Gilston.

December services should be back to the normal pattern. More news of this to follow.

Rehearsals and plans are still moving forward for our very first Sunday evening contemporary service Sunday @ 7 on 27th September (see attached flyer). Hope you can come and bring an interested friend.

This Sunday we will have a communion Service in St James at 9.30 am. This will be followed by a short meeting for those who are interested in coming on the St James Pilgrimage in October 2027, please fill in the form you will find at the back of church if you are interested before that meeting.

I hope I see you over this weekend

Your Priest,

Alison