Dear Friends,

The end of August brings a very enjoyable day-the Open Gardens event at Durrance Manor hosted by Gordon Lindsay. The Church has once again been asked to provide the teas and the cakes for this event. This is a regular highlight of the year and one that raises a good sum of money for the Church. We are therefore appealing for cakes once again. People have been most generous in providing cakes for this event in recent years, so let’s make an even greater effort this year. It all takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 25th August from 12-6pm, so please be willing once again to be available if you can to serve the teas and to set up and clear away before and afterwards. Many thanks in advance for giving your time!

The life of a Parish Church is full of a very varied set of relationships, activities and events, like providing refreshments at the Open Gardens event. At the heart of our life is the worship Sunday by Sunday of the believing people. From this radiates out a whole web of contacts and concerns encompassing the local parish and further afield. As a parish Church we are part of a diocese (Chichester), which is part of the Church of England. The Church of England is part a world wide family or communion of Anglican dioceses across the globe, some of which originated in missionary activity, which are now self governing provinces. One of the main tasks of the next Archbishop of Canterbury will be to serve as the head of this Anglican Communion and to support these churches and encourage us all to support one another in our common tasks of worship, mission and service. Beyond that, we can remember that we are part of what the creed calls the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, having been founded by St Augustine of Canterbury, sent from Rome in 597 AD to convert a people gradually becoming known as English. Within this wider context, every parish in the Church of England needs to see its place. So within our activities we are also pointing people to our place in the wider reality of God’s worldwide Christian Church.

The celebration of the saints is also something which links us to the rest of the Church as we remember the saints who are revered by all across the globe. On Sunday 7th September we honour our patron Saint, Saint Mary the Virgin on the Sunday nearest the feast of her birth, 8th September. This gives us the opportunity to celebrate the life of our parish Church within the wider Church. To celebrate this feast the Sung Eucharist will be at 10am as usual and and, in order to round off the day with God’s praises, Evensong will be at 6pm.

Meanwhile, this Sunday (17), we have our Family Service, this time thinking about the varied experiences people have in August. I’m still seeking someone to read at this service, so if you would like to, let me know. If you’ve not read in Church before, this might be your chance!

With my prayers and best wishes,

Your friend and parish priest, Chris