Thoughts from The Vicarage with Bats, Bells and collections
Greetings and please find attached Pews News for this coming week – there’s an important change at All Saints East Garston on Sunday with a BCP Communion Service at 9am with Harvest Festival at 12.00. You are very welcome at either of these services or indeed at the 10.30 sung Eucharist at St Michael & All Angels in Lambourn.
We continue to add our ongoing prayers to those of our Archbishops and broader faith communities for all who have been affected either directly or indirectly through the terrible violence and horror perpetrated through acts of terror. Amidst the profound sense of shock and loss our hearts cry out to God for comfort, security and the rebuilding of communities so badly rent asunder.
There will be retiring collections for Christian Aid this week should you wish to contribute.
Looking further ahead …
All Saints Patronal Festival is on October 29th at 10.30 when we will be welcoming The Reverend Canon Dr Sally Welch as our preacher. Please do support this special service for All Saints.
A Beginners’ Retreat is to be held on 18–19 November at St Mary’s Convent, Wantage. Led by Sr Lizzie Ruth this retreat is for anyone who has never been on one before or who would value some extra guidance on how to use the space and time in retreat. Find out more and book your place. If you are half thinking about this but not quite sure – please do have a chat with either Christine or myself – it is an excellent opportunity in wonderfully calm and comfortable surroundings.
East Garston History Society will be presenting an illustrated talk, ‘Restoring the Bells of All Saints’ Church’ in the Village Hall on November 16th. The Social Club bar will be open at 7.00 and the talk begins at 7.30. Tickets are £6.00 from Karen Sperrey on 07860 693309 or karen@kado.cloud. All proceeds will go towards the Tower Restoration fund.
The Bells remind me that we have bats in our Belfries here in the Valley. Thanks to equipment loaned from Bats in Churches (https://batsinchurches.org.uk) we have been informed of the species of bats which visit inside All Saints and St Michael’s church. Mr Vicarage received the certificates (attached) which reveal the species detected in each church. This adds to the other detective work which has taken place outside the churches on various occasions.
Bishop Olivia will be holding a service of confirmation on Wednesday November 28th at 6.30pm in St Michael & All Angels Lambourn. Please do put this date in your diary, come along and support all those being confirmed – it will be a very special occasion! It’s not too late if you or someone you know would like to be confirmed – please simply text or ring me.
Finally, a prayer from Canon Alan Deboo, which amidst the ‘busy-ness’ and turmoil of life I offer as a reminder of the light of Christ in a world so very much in need of hope.
Almighty God,
all things have their beginning
in your creative power;
all things are made perfect
in your redeeming love.
We look in hope to a new heaven
and a new earth
when all creation will be free
to praise its maker,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God bless,
Julie