Thoughts from The Vicarage with All Souls, All Saints and a job advert
Greetings! Please open up Pews News giving you the week’s dates, prayers and readings. Diary dates are at the end of this email and I am now, due to public demand (!) including Christmas …
This week, we are very much looking forward to warmly welcoming the Revd Mary Harwood who will be preaching at All Saints’ Patronal Festival sung Eucharist at 10.30 at All Saints East Garston. All Saints’ is one of the most powerful celebrations as Christians remember that we stand on the shoulders of our Christian ancestors of the faith. We can draw strength from and celebrate the “great cloud of witnesses” and will be giving thanks for all the countless unknown souls who have been made saints, the holy ones of God who rejoice forever in Heaven.
The All Souls service on Saturday November 1st is when we remember and give thanks for those we’ve loved yet see no more. On All Souls’ Day we remember our own dead, those who shaped us and loved us, those who we belong to and who belonged to us, the people we miss day by day and week by week however long ago they died. Loving does not stop with death- neither does it become less profound or less powerful. Christians believe that God is equally the God of the living and of the departed. We are all held in his love and united in his light. In the service on Saturday we will be remembering those we love who have died and expressing our confidence and faith in the God who made us and loves us always.
The candles we will light call to mind those you love who’ve died and entrust them to the love and light of God. They remind us of the value we have in the eyes of God, that every life is precious not only to God but to our community as well. If you would like your loved one’s name read out during the please write their names on the sheet or let me know so I may add them. Our short gathering of about 30 minutes will be rounded off with refreshments in the Lady Chapel to which all are most welcome.
A great job opportunity: the Lambourn Alms Houses Trustees (of which I am one) are looking to appoint a capable and committed individual to help ensure the smooth running of this long-established local charity.
If you are well-organised, enjoy working with people, and would like to play a part in supporting a local charity that offers homes to those in need, we would be delighted to hear from you. 15 hours per week (flexible), £16 per hour Home working and at Isbury Almshouses. Start date: 5 January 2026. More details at www.lambournalmshouses.org/clerk Send your CV and a short covering letter to trustees@lambournalmshouses.org
I’m completing Walk 60 Miles in November for Prostate Cancer Research – do join me in this fund raising effort as we raise money for Prostate Cancer Research. If you are so minded please either contact me or if you’d prefer to sponsor me https://tinyurl.com/bdf6br52 is the link or, dare I say, on Facebook. Whatever – I would welcome your encouragement and of course prayers for Prostate Cancer Research. Thank you.
Finally words of comfort:
The Lord is near to the broken hearted,
and saves the crushed in spirit
Psalm 34:18
In the emptiness,the silence, the long days
Lord, be our comfort, our strength and our hope.
We trust that those we have loved are safe;
give us peace that we may leave them in your care.
Amen.
God bless
Julie
Revd Julie Mintern Vicar Lambourn Valley Benefice
Diary Dates
- November 1st 3pm – All Souls service St Michael & All Angels
- November 2nd 10.30 – All Saints Patronal Festival – only service in the Valley
- November 2nd 1pm – RBL Cake & Produce Auction Wheelwright Pub Lambourn
- November 8th 10.40 – Act of Remembrance East Garston War Memorial
- November 9th 10.45 – Remembrance Sunday St Michael & All Angels
- November 9th 10.45 – Act of Remembrance St James
- November 16th – Safeguarding Sunday
- November 30th – Advent Sunday
- December 14th 5pm – Carols & Christingles St James
- December 14th 6pm – Carol Service All Saints
- December 16th 6.30 – Jingle & Mingle St Michael & All Angels
- December 19th 3pm – Dress up Nativity service St Michael & All Angels
- December 21st 6pm – Carol Service St Michael & All Angels
- December 24th 4pm – Crib service St James
- December 24th 4pm – Christingle St Michael & All Angels
- December 24th 11pm – Midnight Mass St Michael & All Angels
- December 25th 9am – Christmas Day Communion All Saints
- December 25th 10.30am – Christmas Day Communion St James
- December 25th 10.30am – Christmas Day Communion St Michael & All Angels
- December 28th 10.30 – Holy Innocents Day Holy Communion (said) St Michael & All Angels