A big thank you to our Dunsfold church family for the generous harvest festival food donations last Sunday. The Godalming Minster Foodbank team were extremely grateful to receive Dunsfold's contributions, when we delivered these on Tuesday. The Foodbank, which runs from the St Mark's Community Centre on the Franklyn Road, Godalming, currently supports over 100 clients a month. Demand is expected to dramatically increase as we head into cooler months and towards Christmas. Your kind donations will really make a difference to struggling families in our area. Thank you.<br>And thank you also to the church flower team for the beautiful harvest decorations adorning the church. They provided a festive backdrop to Fr. Shane's first Harvest Festival service, and his homily on the meaning of Jesus's famous declaration (recorded in John 6:35) : "I am the bread of life". Surrounded by colourful harvest abundance, we are reminded of the deeper hunger that bread cannot satisfy, and the enduring fulfilment to be found in abiding with Jesus.
Please ensure you have secured your tickets to the church's Harvest Supper and Quiz <b>by this Thursday 25th September </b>so we can finalise numbers. It promises to be an evening filled with laughter, generosity and friendly rivalry. Each ticket includes a hearty two-course meal and quiz entry. All profits from the evening will go to support the work of the church.<br>Don't miss the fantastic raffle on the night (please bring cash)! Prizes will include a very special hamper, two tickets for DADS November production of Murder on Cue, Crafty Ales, a test drive at Dunsfold Park, a gift from Chiddingfold butchers, a meal for two from Cook, £50 towards a meal at Pizza Express and vouchers generously donated by M&S and Wild & Green. Wow!
Our parish Harvest festival service will be held this Sunday (September 21st). We hope as many of you as possible will be able to be with us at our 10am Holy Communion service at St Mary and All Saints' Church, Dunsfold.The Harvest season gives us the chance to give thanks for the abundance of God's gifts and good ness in our lives and to celebrate the community we live in. We also must focus on those who are less fortunate so we ask for parishioners to bring their gifts of food and sundries that we will take to the Godalming Minster food bank.Please leave your donations of goods at the back of church before Sunday or bring them in person to our Harvest festival service. It would be great to see you.If you click on the attached document you will discover the goods the food bank particularly need at the moment. They include UHT milk, tinned goods, pasta and rice, toiletries and sanitary products.If you are unable to get to church but have donations you wish to make to the food bank please call Jules on 07537 847243 and she will arrange collection.
The Pet Service continues to grow as it returned to its former glory with a bumper turn-out last Sunday outside the Sun Inn.There were 63 people in attendance including 14 youngsters, many from our Funday@4 group. It was certainly a great Pet Service debut for Fr Shane Griffiths who preached at the service which was led by a member of our laity, Catherine Diamond.There had been some debate over hymn selection when a relatively modern piece called the Butterfly Song was suggested. It's a favourite with school children of many ages and while we knew we could rely on the enthusiasm of the Funday@4 gang, there were worries whether the more reserved (older) members of the congregation would join in.Those concerns were quickly alleviated when Catherine gave the congregation a run through of the song including actions and dance moves and the hymn took off brilliantly. Even the many pets, and toy pets, in attendance seemed to enjoy that one. And there was special mention for the admirably named tortoise making a second appearance at our service. He's called Tortellini.Father Shane spoke powerfully about the role of animals in creation and our relationship with them. A particularly pertinent point given this is the season of Creation-tide in the Church of England.Thankfully after a few days of rainstorms the morning was dry although the hot drinks supplied in the Sun after our service was very welcome so a special vote of thanks to Elle and her team.
