Thoughts from The Vicarage with Ride & Stride, GCSE and Radio news
Greetings on this August afternoon on the day that many young people and their families will be receiving GCSE results and thinking about the next steps in their young lives. Please be assured of our thoughts and prayers. I know that the emotional energy of results today is always a testing time.
If you know someone getting their results, please let them know that they are amazing, whatever the grades say. Results are, of course, important but not as important as loving and being loved, of knowing that God walks alongside them in whatever comes next. Praying for opportunities that bring them purpose, joy and flourishing in their lives.
Ride & Stride participants will soon be coming amongst us looking for sponsorship and encouragement. If you haven’t done it before why not join up with friends and walk, ride, jog or even run between a couple or more Valley churches. Each will be open with drinks available. St James will be holding their Gift Day on September 14th along with welcoming Riders and Striders – so do please come along. There will be local produce, baked goods and much more on sale!
Thank you to all those who came along to support the Lambourn Angels at the Flower Show. The children loved entertaining you despite being fewer in number than expected with one or two being unwell along with those on holiday. We will be meeting next Tuesday 4pm in St Michael’s and all are welcome! They already have another invitation to sing and if you would like to hear them, tune into Four Legs Radio tomorrow Friday between 9.30 and 11.30.
- Dates for your diary Please pop them into your dairy and support the activities of the Lambourn Valley Benefice. Any query simply ask.
- Saturday September 14th Ride & Stride event for each Parish and Gift Day at St James
- Saturday September 21st 9.30 – 1.30 Benefice away day at The Village Hall East Garston
- Sunday 29th September 10.30 St Michael & All Angels Patronal Festival
- Sunday 3rd November 10.30 All Saints Patronal Festival with the Sub Dean of Christchurch, the Revd Canon Peter Moger preaching.
Finally, and with danger of repetition I was given Christian greetings from sisters and brothers from the church of St Michael’s, l’Église St Michel in Esperaza in the Aude region of France. Conversation flowed following their service of the word. There was no priest available to lead a Catholic Mass. Please pray that Priests will be raised up to serve the rural areas. The relatively small congregation were keen to learn more about our churches and will be praying for us as we will pray for them. They also added the names of our most recently bereaved to their list for prayer. As ever it was so encouraging to share our faith across cultures within the Body of Christ.
Very finally a prayer … for our young people.
Thank you loving God for the doors you open and close. Give us wisdom, dignity and hope in the challenges and opportunities before us today. Amen
God bless,
Julie