Good afternoon dear Friends of The Valley
Thank you to all those who’ve been asking after our break away in Lundy – an island off the North coast of Devon now managed by the Landmark Trust. And for those who are wondering … we stayed in one of their properties The Vestry of St Helen’s church (right). Home from home!
We had a beautiful sun filled day, days of sunshine and showers as we explored the island and gale force winds at 60mph for two days which called for helicopters to transport those who were due to be leaving, off the island. It was a great adventure but walking and staying upright was a challenge during the gale!
It was a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy the surroundings with plenty of wildlife, including vast numbers of sea birds, Soay sheep, lambs, goats, seals and cattle not to mention the botanical rarity of Lundy Cabbage – pictured left. Only found on Lundy and not looking anything like cabbage!
Churches Count on Nature week
All this talk about nature reminds me that the Churches Count on Nature week is getting nearer! If you’d like to join in and help or simply come along and spot wild life, plants and lichens in the village grave yards you’ll be very welcome. You are welcome at either St James on June 5th from 10 – 12.30 or St Michael’s on June 12th from 10 – 12.30. Each Berkshire church taking part is on this link which includes a beautiful photo of The Lambourn!
https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/get-involved/love-your-burial-ground-week/berkshire/
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday
Being the 5th Sunday of the month we will celebrate all together as the Benefice in St Michael & All Angels, Lambourn.
The Trinity celebrates the relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
By coming to us as the Son, revealing to us the Father, and sending to us the Spirit, Jesus revealed the deepest mystery; that God is not distant and alone, but is three in one, a communion of love who longs to make His home with us. The Rublev icon shows the Trinity, the Three in One inviting us to share in that communion.
We are each made in the image of God, as beings in communion with one another in the name of that Holy and Undivided Trinity whose being is communion, then we will find reflections and traces of the Trinitarian mystery in all our loving and making.
A Sonnet for Trinity Sunday
In the Beginning, not in time or space,
But in the quick before both space and time,
In Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace,
In three in one and one in three, in rhyme,
In music, in the whole creation story,
In His own image, His imagination,
The Triune Poet makes us for His glory,
And makes us each the other’s inspiration.
He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,
To improvise a music of our own,
To sing the chord that calls us to the dance,
Three notes resounding from a single tone,
To sing the End in whom we all begin;
Our God beyond, beside us and within.
Malcolm Guite
Looking ahead … June services
June services will be:
June 6th
- St James 9am Holy Communion (BCP)
- St Michael & All Angels 10.30 Eucharist
June 13th
- All Saints 9am Holy Communion
- St Michael & All Angels 10.30 Eucharist
June 20th
- St Michael & All Angels 8am Holy Communion (BCP)
- St James 9.30 Family Communion
- St Michael & All Angels 11 All Together Eucharist
June 27th
- All Saints 9am Holy Communion
- St Michael & All Angels 10.30 Eucharist
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who supported the Eastbury May Fair on Sunday 23rd – despite the uncertainties of the inclement weather it was a very good afternoon. Even the police drove past to ‘see’ how we were getting on – I waved with enthusiasm and a smile! Thanks to all who organised such a lovely afternoon with everything from ducks to Crodon Bleu cakes to bric a brac via other delights too numerous to mention. And of course there was the Art competition and it was a joy to congratulate all those who took part.
Looking further Ahead
In the Autumn the Church of England will be getting fully into the conversation around the Church’s approach and welcome to those who are LGBTIQ +. The process of conversation is informed by the Living in Love and Faith book and resources which are very full and long. If you want to find out more, do look on the Diocesan website for the dates of the launch of the LLF Process locally- the Berkshire date is Wed 16th June and everyone is welcome to book a place to find out more https://www.oxford.anglican.org/llf-living-in-love-and-faith-resources-launched/
And finally … Your Thoughts are welcome
Please do let me know what you think!
- What two things have you missed most about Church life?
- What two things have you not missed as much as you expected?
- Does our common life need to look different moving forward? If so, why? If not, why not?
- What are you learning about God and the Church at the moment?
Looking forward to seeing you very soon, meanwhile, God bless
On Lundy in a gale!
Julie
20210530
