Thoughts from The Vicarage with Valley initiatives and Funeral thoughts
Greetings on this damp November afternoon especially to our ‘newly added readers’!
Please find attached Pews News for this Sunday and the week ahead. It’s full of services, readings for Sunday, prayer requests for both the living and those who have recently died along with thanksgivings and the Collect for the week.
Thoughts this week begins with my sharing good news about some of the amazing initiatives taking place within the Lambourn Valley. If you know someone or you yourself would like to get involved with any of these or would like to join in please do let me know – I’ll link you up with the right people.
The Lambourn Youth Group met for the first time this week and was a super success with a fantastic turnout on Tuesday evening. The young people ranging from Year 5 to Year 9 enjoyed their first session in the British Legion 6.30-8pm. If you have, or know of, young people in that age group all are welcome and can sign up before hand at https://tinyurl.com/lyj-signup or you can simply turn up on the evening and register with a sign-up form. If anyone would like to know more, please do ring me on 07749 844600.
The Dementia café met ten days ago and was well attended in the Lambourn Memorial Hall. There was a lot of laughter and joy as we all worked at seated exercises which were apparently helping us use both sides of our brain at once! The next café will be on Wednesday 24th November and all are welcome. Do ask if you’d like further information.
Warm Welcome is once again what it says on the can. If you or anyone you know may benefit from a hot lunch in a warm location there is a new project Warm Welcome. It begins Thursday 10th November at the Walwyn Hall from 12.15 pm. The hope is to encourage those who could do with a hot meal, a bit of company and warmth to come along for lunch. If transport is a problem then Lambourn Drivers are available to give a lift. If you would like to know more, either ask me or book on 07770 394123.
In the life of the nation November is a month of remembering and as we move on from All Saints and All Souls we look ahead to Remembrance Sunday on Nov 13th.
This theme has set me thinking. What follows may not be a note for everyone but in November where there is so much of a focus on mortality I have, in the past, encouraged people to think about their own funeral and plan it. It’s not morbid to think about our own lives or to think about our funerals and it can be an amazing gift to your family or loved ones. If you would like to think about this, and have a chat with either myself or Christine about it.
And finally, the eagle-eyed readers amongst you will have noted the prayers for the Anglican Church of The Congo with which Bishop Olivia has now linked having met Bishop Achille & his wife Gertrude at the Lambeth conference. There are book-marks and prayer cards in each church to help us remember those in severe need. Why not look up an atlas with the family and find out exactly where the Congo lies in Africa and use this prayer.
O God, loving parent of all, comfort your children displaced, wounded or orphaned by conflict in Congo; and give the people of that country courage to seek enduring peace with justice and freedom, that their children might grow up without fear; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Find out more about how you can pray and act with the Anglican Church of Congo at https://oxford.anglican.org/congo-appeal
Finally, thank you for all your good wishes – next week will have Remembrance service news. Looking forward to greeting you on Sunday, meanwhile.
God bless
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern