Dear AllIt has been a ‘get back’ to the routine of our week this week as a community - school is back, toddlers is back, normal working patterns restored, the prayer meeting was on again. Toddler Mums and Grans have been telling us how much they had missed our baby and toddler group, Jimmy’s over the holidays. I had missed Jimmy’s too. Two weeks seemed like such a long time.Our routines help us though don’t they to be ‘ok’ when the world around us is going mad, personally or otherwise. The weather is going crazy, sunshine, wind, torrential rain and hail (all in one day – Monday 15th) and I woke up this morning to see that Israel have retaliated and bombed Iran, and conflict continues in Gaza and between Russia and the Ukraine it feels as if the world is whirling into insanity around us…. and this reminded me of a piece of scripture…“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire….test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil and may God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through”. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22So, hold on to what is good and avoid every kind of evil and God will be with you. I hope you can see God working in your life in the small every day kindnesses you give and receive, the people who listen to you and who you listen to, and pray, pray continually. If it would help we have an online prayer meeting every Tuesday morning at 9.30 am (e-mail for the link) and remember, St James, High Wych and St Mary’s, Gilston are open every day for private prayer. I am available if you want to talk anything through, please use the contact info below.Every blessingAlison
Good morning to you allI am hopeful it maybe a sunny morning for you, wherever you are.I have been at Launde Abbey for a couple of days and it has been very wet, windy and cold so I am really happy to see a bit of sunshine outside my window today.As the Easter holidays draw to a close and school, Jimmy’s toddler group, and other groups that you maybe involved with start up again , I hope those of you who have had a rest or been away are feeling refreshed and looking forward to the new term starting. As many of you know I go into High Wych school on Tuesdays for Collective worship and I am looking forward to seeing all the children again. I’ve also missed seeing our lovely Toddler team for the last couple of weeks and our lovely toddler families, who are all fast becoming friends.We have something new that we are beginning to plan and advertise and which I would like to give you more information on.It is going to be called Wednesday Welcome. The idea has grown from delivering ‘small bags of kindness’ at Christmas to our elderly neighbours in High Wych, Gilston and Eastwick who live alone and getting to know them a little. We would like to offer them somewhere to go and some lovely people to meet up with.We are very fortunate to be able to hold it in a well-appointed venue; No 2-32 Mabey’s Walk in High Wych, CM21 0HN that has been offered to us by our local housing association. It is well decorated with lovely new furniture, is warm and has great kitchen facilities. There is parking available near the building. We are planning to run Wednesday Welcome every month on the first Wednesday of the month from here. The hope is it will create an inviting space to gather, meet new people, eat cake and do things that will be interesting and stimulating. Our first session is on Wednesday 1st May and this week leaflets will be going out to invite all the neighbours in that area, who are over the age of 55 and around during the day. I would like to extend the invitation to all our residents of High Wych, Gilston and Eastwick, for those who have elderly family members who would enjoy some company. Each session will run from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm and we hope to meet you there. If you would like to be involved from the very beginning and help shape what we will be doing at these sessions please come to this first one where we will be asking what things you would like to do. We do see this as a space that will evolve and be shaped by the people who come.We have a great team already and if you would like to join the team to help, just let me know.We have two services this Sunday one at St James High Wych at 9.30 am and another at St Mary’s, Gilston at 11.15 am, both services are followed by refreshments and by a time of getting to know each other better. It would be lovely to see you there.Also, this is a reminder to book your tickets for the Racketeers concert that is happening next Saturday at Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall from 7.30 pm. The Racketeers played at the Scarecrow Festival in the summer and this is your opportunity to see them again. You can reserve your tickets (£10 per head to include a ploughman’s supper and your first drink) by e-mailing myself or Christine law on christine.law2@btinternet.comLooking forward to seeing you again soon.Every blessingAlison
Good morningI have been away in Norfolk for a few days with Paul and I am looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at either our early BCP service at 8.00 am or the Family Service – breakfast at 9.30 am with a gentle start to the service at 10.00 am.You may feel that Easter is over, all your chocolate may have been eaten but we actually celebrate Easter for 50 days (7 weeks) after Easter Day as we remember the many occasions where Jesus appeared to his disciples before his Ascension into heaven and the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us at Pentecost.With this in mind, we will be looking at two different accounts of Jesus appearing to his disciples this Sunday.May God bless you this week with joy in your hearts, even if circumstances may be difficult.I hope you have put your fridge magnet in situ so that you can remember and learn:-Romans 15:13‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllAs you read this we are midway through Holy Week. Tomorrow is our Maundy Thursday service taking place at St James at 7.30 pm - this year, as last, we will be washing hands not feet.Good Friday sees us worshipping through Messy Church from 10.00 am to 12 noon at St James, and the Last Hour at St Botolph’s church, Eastwick 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm taken by Judith Denton.Easter Saturday sees us at St Botolph’s Church, Eastwick for Messy Church again from 10.00 am – 12 noon (may I remind you that St Botolph’s does not have any toilets).Also happening on Easter Saturday is our Easter Vigil of readings, poems and prosecco around the fire (weather permitting) this will take place at St Mary’s from 7.00 pm onwards – please bring a chair, a rug and a torch so that you can enjoy this time together. (Also, a reminder there are no toilets at St Mary’s).Our Easter Sunday service will take place at 9.30 am at St James Church, this will be a Family friendly Eucharist with a craft activity at the back of church for children.I hope I see most of you at one of these services and may I wish you all a Happy Easter. May we invite Jesus to share in your celebrations as you remember with joy all that he has done for us.Your PriestAlisonPS I will be out of the parish from Monday 1stto Saturday 6th April but be back for the BCP and Family Service at St James on the 7th April.Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.