Thoughts from The Vicarage with Stir up Sunday and Warm Welcome
Greetings, and welcome to our new readers from both Lambourn and Eastbury whom I’ve met this last week.
Thoughts are a bit later today having just returned from ‘Warm Welcome’ at the Walwyn Hall in Lambourn. It’s a brilliant venture offering just what it says on the can. A warm space where a super two course lunch is served with a veggie option if you prefer. If you, or anyone you know could do with a cooked lunch (with seconds!) in the warm with some good company please book in either via Helen on 07770394123 or let me know and we’ll get you booked in.
It’s Christ The King this week and we have services in Lambourn and Eastbury. Please find attached Pews News for times, readings, prayers and much more. In fact, some people call this Sunday Stir Up Sunday as it features one of my favourite Collects that begins; Stir up, O Lord . . . and in days gone past this was the day when your Christmas pudding was made with much stirring! Mr Vicarage usually begins his Christmas cake on this day but won’t be so doing this year as he is off to Australia in December to visit our two new grandchildren and I hardly need a whole cake to myself!!!!
But first … Advent. This year we’re going to be sharing thoughts from ‘Image of The Invisible: Daily Bible readings from Advent to Epiphany’ by Amy Scott Robinson. Copies are available from The Vicarage at £7 each. Please let me know asap if you’d like one and if you think you’d like to come along. Please do get in touch if need be. Advent groups will begin on:
- Tuesday 29th with Christine at her home in the afternoon;
- Wednesday 30th with myself at The Vicarage in the early evening;
We’ll let you know precise timing next week.
December diary dates . . .
Being conscious of diaries becoming quite busy during December here we go . . . and if you’d like to join in and help out at any of the following please let me know.
- St Michael’s Christmas Fayre 2nd December 5.30-8.00
- Carol singing Thursday 15th and Tuesday 20th from 5.30pm-6.30 pm Meet at the vicarage and return there for drinks and nibbles; carriages at 7.30.
- Dressed up Nativity Thursday 22nd December 4pm for all children and those young at heart – come ready dressed as shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph or donkeys etc
- Christingles Dec 4th Eastbury, December 24th Lambourn both at 4pm;
- Crib service 4pm Dec 24th Eastbury;
- Carol services Dec 11th East Garston and Dec 18th Lambourn both at 6pm.
Pousada is the Brazilian word for an inn like Mary & Joseph found in Bethlehem. We use a nativity set which travelled round the Valley last year! Rather than doing the usual Pousada, we are planning a virtual Pousada this year. The idea is that you sign up on a day of your choice in Advent and send in a picture of your nativity, or draw a picture of the nativity story, maybe Mary and Joseph, angels, stars, shepherds, whatever you like (!) and then we have them on display in church as we travel through Advent together. The actual physical set will be travelling into school and will appear from time to time around the Valley. Simply email me with the date you would like to do so we can start to fill-in the timetable. Advent begins on Sunday 27th November and ends on 24th December.
Finally, there will be Children’s Society Christmas cards on display on Sunday in St Michael’s with order forms. It will also be possible to buy them at St Michael’s Christmas Fayre on the 2nd December.
Really finally, last but not least, thank you to all those who contributed in any way to the Acts of Remembrance throughout the Valley.
Looking forward to greeting you over the weekend, meanwhile,
God bless
Julie