Weekly and Monthly Newsletters

The Parish Pump, Debden's village magazine, is published monthly except in January. A letter from the Reverend Lynda Sebbage, our Team Vicar, is appended below. 

An online copy of the current Letter from the Reverend Jeremy Trew, our Team Rector, and current and back issues of the Grapevine, which includes Team Services and events, can be viewed using the links below:-

The Team Rector's Letter

The Grapevine (Weekly Newsletter)

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Letter from The Rectory – May 2025

Dear Friends,

As we step into the beautiful month of May, I can’t help marvelling at theabundant burst of colour along our hedgerows, gardens and churchyard. The warm,sunny weather has made an enormous difference, especially after such an extendedperiod of heavy cloud and rain that was our winter.

May is my favourite month of the year. It’s a time that is rich with spiritual and cultural significance. Named after Maia, the Roman goddess of growth, May symbolises renewal, fertility, and the blossoming of life. It is a time when nature fully awakens, reflecting the interrelation of all living beings. But it’s a busy month! Not only have we (actually Peter, not me!) been very occupied in the rectory garden planting our vegetables, but I have been establishing an Eco Church Project in the churchyard to ensure that nature comes first, so encouraging wild areas for our bees and butterflies, installing bird boxes, hedgehog houses, bee and insect hotels - and even two swift boxes high up under the eaves of the church tower! We are delighted that we have been awarded a bronze award from A Rocha UK for our hard efforts, but we have a lot more to do, so watch this space!

During this month, our church and community has much to reflect upon and commemorate. 8th May is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, which is being marked across the nation - a momentous occasion which signified the end of World War II in Europe. Celebrations will be held with events and community gatherings, and here in Debden we shall be marking the day with a street party in the village hall and the lighting of the beacon, accompanied by a short service. I do hope as many people as possible will come along to pay their respects as we remember those who died - being mindful and hugely grateful to all who fought for our freedom and who gave their lives so that we might have peace. It’s an occasion to also reflect on the resilience and unity that defines our nation. In a world that is full of immense turmoil, wars and natural disasters, where dictators seek only to glorify themselves, let us find encouragement from the beauty of God’s creation that is all around us, in the knowledge that there is only one true God, who wants us all to be people of peace and love.

As we journey through May, let us find joy in our shared history, faith, and the beauty of the world around us, praying that it will be filled with peace, hope, and the promise of new beginnings. And in the spirit of Jesus' teachings, let us remember His words: "Love one another as I have loved you"; (John 15:12).

With every blessingRevd Lynda