Thoughts from The Vicarage with Harvest, mental health & Christmas
Greetings on this World Mental Health Day – a subject which is close to so many of our hearts! We should all be talking and acting on this issue every day. Please don’t suffer in silence, reach out, talk to someone you trust and remember it is a sign of strength to ask for help …. not a weakness. As Rachel says ‘Mental, physical & spiritual health are intrinsically linked-make sure you look after yourself’. And to help you I’ve attached a small photo generously shared by my friend Rachel and adapted specially for me. Thank you Rachel. Let’s pray that together we can keep talking about these issues.
Looking ahead to the weekend all are welcome to the St James Harvest Festival on Sunday at 4pm. Should you be from our local farming community please feel especially welcome!
The children will be baking in the morning at Jenny’s home (mega thanks Jenny) and bring their fabulous bakes along. This year, the PCC chose to donate all gifts, (non perishable please or monetary gifts) to the West Berks Foodbank. In addition to distributing food the organisation also offers support with other issues, including housing, finance and homelessness.
Speaking of which today is also World Homeless Day, and a chance to reflect and think about people across the country at the sharp end of the housing crisis. Having a safe place to call home is a human right, and I’m proud to work with a colleague from West Berkshire to help end homelessness in this small corner of the kingdom.
Good news for all those who worship in St Michael and All Angels; our regular heating engineer has attended and the boiler is now working. On checking the heating time controls, it transpires that somebody had tried to help but inadvertently reset the system to its original factory settings. Because of this the heating has been on for six hours every day since last Monday! The system has now been reset for our regular requirements. If you should need extra heating, pressing the ‘Boost’ button will turn the boiler on for an hour (although it takes about 15 minutes for the system to get hot enough to activate the fans). Please bear in mind the heating of St Michael’s costs £25 per hour. No matter how well meaning, please do not touch any other buttons or controls.
All Saints Patronal Festival on Nov 3rd at 10.30 when we will be welcoming Revd Canon Peter Moger, Subdean of Christchurch as our preacher. This is a Benefice service when all 3 churches get together for worship. A post service meal at The Queens has been organised and if you are interested in attending please contact Paul Tame 07748 104840 for more information and to reserve a place. Places will, out of necessity, have to be limited but all are welcome!
Upcoming dates:
- Oct 13th 11.30 following the service St Michael’s parishioners meeting to elect churchwardens
- Oct 13th 4pm Harvest Festival St James
- Nov 2nd 3pm All Souls’ service ‘A Time to Remember-A Time to Give Thanks’ St Michael’s
- Nov 3rd 10.30 All Saints Patronal Festival Preacher Revd Canon Peter Moger Sub Dean of Christchurch, Oxford.
- Nov 9th 10.40 am East Garston Remembrance Service @ War Memorial
- Nov 10th 10.45 Act of Remembrance & Service St Michael’s
And for those who like to get the dates of the extra Christmas events early here is a preview!
- Dec 8th 4pm Christingle @ Eastbury
- Dec 15th 6pm Carol Service @ East Garston followed by refreshments
- Dec 17th 6.30pm Jingle & Mingle @Lambourn followed by refreshments
- Dec 18th 6.30pm Carol singing for all followed by refreshments
- Dec 20th 3pm Dress up Nativity @ Lambourn followed by refreshments
- Dec 22nd 6pm Carol Service @ Lambourn
- Dec 23rd 6.30 Carol singing for all followed by refreshments
- Dec 24th 4pm Crib service @Eastbury
- Dec 24th 4pm Christingle @ Lambourn
- Dec 24th 11pm Midnight Mass @ Lambourn
- Dec 25th 9am Christmas Day Communion @East Garston
- Dec 25th 10.30 Christmas Day Communion @ Eastbury
- Dec 25th 10.30 Christmas Day Communion @Lambourn
Finally, a prayer
Merciful God, whose love sets no boundaries and whose strength is in service;
grant to the leaders of the nations wisdom, courage and insight at this time.
Give to all who exercise authority,
determination to defend the principles of freedom, love and tolerance,
strength to guide the world into the paths of justice and peace.
Amen
God bless,
Julie