Greetings from The Vicarage on this beautiful Friday lunch time!
The week ahead of us has very much an outdoor feel as we celebrate Churches Count on Nature week. All are welcome to come along to the churchyard at St Michael & All Angels Lambourn on Saturday 11th June 10-12.30 where Christine will be on hand to guide and share along with you. A special poster is attached along with the weekly Pews News.
Everyone is invited to enjoy this green space and see what grows or lives here. Wildlife guides will be available if you want to identify what you find. We do ask that children should be accompanied by adults to ensure their safety. Most importantly refreshments will be available!
And in Eastbury there is a Butterfly Count outside St. James 12.30 till 13.00 p.m on Saturday that Deborah will be organising this event and suggests you may like to follow the link to download your free iRecord Butterflies App onto your smart mobile devices to use for identification and photographic purposes.
https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/recording-and-monitoring/irecord-butterflies
Once again all are welcome to join in and have fun!
During the week the school will be coming down to explore the churchyard again and we look forward to welcoming them on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
Of course, it doesn’t take a special day to say how welcome you are to explore the churchyards across the Valley! You are always welcome and why not pop into explore our beautiful churches while so doing!
And of course, was it only last week we celebrated the Platinum Jubilee? Thank you to all those who contributed in any way to the wonderful success in the Valley of a whole myriad of events in our communities, all culminating in the Civic Service.
Wasn’t it wonderful to hear the combined ringers from Lambourn and East Garston as they rang out at 11.30, only a week ago to celebrate! All 8 bells were rung with call changes including Queens, Reverse Queens and Whittington’s. For further explanations please speak to Bruce!
This week I have been away at the Diocese of Oxford clergy conference and had a great few days with some truly engaging speakers. Some of the conference talks are available on YouTube and are worth watching and listening and praying through. Bishop Steven led a reflection on passages of 2 Corinthians, from comfort, to clay jars, to being a new creation.
Other speakers included The Rt Hon Paul Boateng and Dr Isabelle Hamely, secretary for Theology and Ecumenical Relations and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops.
And finally, thank you for all your good wishes – I am still on a phased return, managing the long covid and taking things carefully but it is certainly a joy to be out and about once again!
With every blessing
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern