Dear FriendsPlease find attached the information you will need for our services this Sunday.I hope you have settled into a different pace of life for August. The days are still long, the weather is, as usual, unpredictable but generally warm.As a ministry team we are using this time to wisely look forward to the Scarecrow Festival and all the fun and busyness of Autumn. As I mention the Scarecrow Festival – I know we are looking for donations of books, Brick-a-Brac and tombola prizes and Sealife creatures to be knitted, crocheted or sewn (patterns in the back of St James church). Thank you all to the many contributions we are receiving to our Sea World exhibition – it’s going to be wonderful in church again this year.This Sunday our services are:-9.30 am communion at St James11.15 am at St Marys, GilstonI hope to meet you at one of these this Sunday.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsWhat a week of contrasts.Wednesday saw 10 people taking part in an away day – The Alpha Holy Spirit Day. What an amazing day, so enjoyable, it was a joy to be with people talking about the Holy Spirit and praying for the Holy Spirit to be with us, it was wonderful. The place we went to was truly beautiful with lovely gardens to walk in and a lake to sit beside. I am hoping we can find other occasions to use this venue.Today has been the funeral and thanksgiving service for Audrey Collins, a church member for over 70 years. Although funerals can be very sad occasions, Audrey herself chose the hymns and readings that were very uplifting for her thanksgiving service and John and the choir finished it beautifully, it was very moving.As we move into the weekend, we have our said BCP Communion service on Sunday at St James for early risers at 8.00 am, followed by breakfast at 9.30 am followed by our Family service starting at 10.00 am.I hope you may be enjoying a more relaxed pace as we are now in the summer holidays, I hope you have time to enjoy your days, I am loving the lighter evenings and being able to walk Bean later too.My hope is that I see you over this weekend if you are not away on holiday.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllLast Thursday I was invited to celebrate the official opening of Julie’s Woodland shelter and 10 years of the Woodland garden at Jacobs and Gardens Neuro Centres on the site of the Rivers Hospital.It was a lovely event and a truly lovely garden has been created for the residents of the Neuro centre to sit in and enjoy.I have been in conversation Sheila Henderson since and they have requested help with:-1. They have several residents who never have visitors – a friendly face for an hour or so once a week or even every few weeks would be so welcome.2. They have a wonderful music and movement therapist who does a session in each centre (Thursday and Friday pm). Many of the residents need one-to-one help to participate in anything. Ella would love some assistance – could be one day only and doesn’t need to be every week.3. They always need help in the garden/woodland – even a one off session would be helpful.I know you are all busy – but if you had some time available it would be gratefully received.Last night I was invited to the Installation of the Reverend Dr Sara Batts-Neale as the new Vicar of St Mary’s the Great in Sawbridgeworth, please say ‘Hello’ to her if you see in and around Sawbridgeworth.Moving on to this Sunday, the services are as follows:-9.30 am St James (Communion service).11.15 am – St Botolph’s, Eastwick, Family service.We also have a baptism of Madison Ivy Fletcher at 2.30 pm – please pray for her and her family that they will continue to grow closer to God and become regular attendees of our Family Service.Hope to see you over this weekend.Every blessingAlison
