Autumn at the Vicarage In church last Sunday (14th September) I announced that I shall be retiring from my position as the house for duty priest in our villages. This will be in April 2026 and I have made this announcement early to help prepare for the interregnum that will inevitably happen when I go. As we move into the cooler days and nights and the darker evenings many of us will revert to a more sedentary lifestyle, as being outdoors holds less appeal. For some that may mean an indoor version of their sport and for some others it may mean watching favourite boxsets or increased reading. I wonder how many of us will pick up their Bible and read some of that? In my assemblies at school this week I was heartened when we returned to continue the story of Moses and, after several months break from the story, the children had retained what we had covered so far and were eager to listen to what came next. After 5 years here, beginning with the Rev’d Robb Challenges during lockdown and then my assemblies in school and stories at the Children Led Services; I’m happy that the children of our villages have a grounding in biblical stories and an understanding of the long story of God’s love for all of us. That understanding needs to be fed and nurtured in each one of us – too often the disruptions and worries of our world and the busy lives we lead distract and confuse our thinking and the way we act. Whatever our Christian beliefs, the Golden Rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” falls by the wayside in the way we treat others or respond to how we are treated. In this season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” I ask you to spend some of your time thinking about the way you interact with your family, friends and strangers – and what might be improved in your and their lives if you change that interaction. Late September and October is a time when things gather pace in our church and village life, noticeably as the inevitable build up to Christmas happens. We have our harvest services for each school in church on Friday 26th September Burton Leonard and Friday 3rd October in Bishop Monkton at 9.15am. Our Harvest Festival services in church are on Sunday 28th September at 6pm in Burton Leonard and 5th October at 6pm in Bishop Monkton , both services are followed by a bring and share supper and all are welcome to join the celebrations. All gifts of tinned and dried produce for harvest this year are once again being shared between the Harrogate Homeless Project and the Ripon Salvation Army Food Bank. I’m very happy to announce that we have appointed Scott Phillips as the Choirmaster for our revived Joint Church Adult Choir and the new joint Junior Choir which Scott will help form in the coming months. Scott is hoping to attend both services on Sunday 28th September so do come along and express your interest to him at the coffee after each service. Blessings, Robb
Bishop Monkton: St John the Baptist
