Thoughts from The Vicarage with a bit of teaching and mellow fruitfulness
Greetings as we move into September and seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness. Please find attached Pews News and a letter from the PPG (Patient Participation Group) all about vaccinations – flu and coronavirus.
Before we look forward, I’m sure you’ll join me in saying how wonderful it was to hear the bells ringing out the Carnival message last Sunday! What a joyful afternoon was had as the carnival celebrated 50 years. Thank you to all those who organized, participated or contributed in any way to the celebration!
A celebration that continued on Sunday as the famous St Michael’s cream teas were served by a fabulous team of bakers, waiters, waitresses and tea makers, not to mention the washing up team! Not only was it a delight to welcome everyone but I am delighted to write that the Cream teas and Raffle made the grand sum of £659.00 in total. Very many thanks to all who worked hard to achieve this good result, donated cakes and raffle prizes, and came and supported the event. I even managed to sell off some marrows.
Coming Soon, and a request for help from Liz Jackson, the Assistant Archdeacon who has sent this email about learning to teach English as a foreign language to people from Ukraine and Hong Kong. Liz writes, “For those of you still interested in supporting newly arrived Ukrainians (and others) to learn English, our online English classes begin in September. To help you we have two training events coming up:
1) Learning to teach English as a foreign language:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84671324923?pwd=eXpqcW9Oa3ordm1MbS81b1htNGN2QT09
14th September at 7pm (online) – please follow the link above. The aim of this session is to give you an introduction to teaching English to people for whom it is a second language. We will cover some of the basics, some techniques for supporting students, adapting resources and do a bit of teaching practice too. You are welcome to join us.
2) IT for teaching online (using ZOOM) If you plan to teach online, you will need to build some basic IT skills. I will go through these on the 7th September at 7pm. You are welcome to join:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87204921601?pwd=NStHM2VKTEhjK3VYaEo5bmE2UDlyQT09
There’s a lot on this week, with the wedding of Sue and Richard on Saturday afternoon in St James and the Baptism of Teddy-Jack in St Michael’s. The week culminates with Ride and Stride on the 10th of September – for info on how to volunteer to help or how to sponsor those taking part please speak to Amanda Marchant, myself or see the poster in the churches. And on Thursday Stephen Holmes is playing a lunchtime organ recital at St Nicolas Newbury at 1. 10pm. Why not make up a party and enjoy a light lunch as well as supporting Stephen!
Last but not least, it’s a time of return to school or, for some, the first day of school! For some September gives a sense of new beginnings whilst for others melancholy signals the coming of Autumn as a ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’. I rather suspect that as someone who has lived most of her life in ‘school terms’ I’ve always veered towards the new beginning although I mourn the passing of Summer – I wonder if you do likewise.
There is little doubt that this year, as reflected in the news there will be challenges as Summer recedes. With rising fuel and food prices, a rise in interest rates and widespread industrial action we may be more likely to feel a bit ‘down in the dumps’ or ‘under a cloud’ as summer draws to a close. Should you feel a little melancholy for any number of reasons turn to THE reason for joy in 1 Corinthians 13:8 where the one reason for joy is that love never ends even though Summer does!
Finally, in village conversations several people have mentioned to me about feeling a little isolated or overlooked. Why not sit down for a second as you read this, think about the people who used to come to Church or those who you don’t see any more and then write them a card or put a day in your diary for you to visit them. Write a letter! Send a card! Pop in! Remind people that they are missed and not forgotten. And if it is you who feels a little bit out of things, then do speak to Christine or myself and we will arrange to either pop in or have someone friendly and warm to come and see you or to chat on the phone.
Services for this week are on the attached Pews News and it would be lovely to welcome you at either Eastbury at 9 am for a beautiful service of Holy Communion using the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) or in Lambourn at 10.30 which will be a sung Eucharist.
Every blessing for the coming week
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern