Thoughts from The Vicarage with Remembrance, cleaning and an extra attachment
Greetings and looking forward to a weekend of Remembrance services across the Benefice. Please see Pews News for further information. You and yours will be very welcome at the Acts of Remembrance. At St Michael & All Angels War Memorial we will warmly welcome Father David be joining us for the 10.45.
St Michael’s Christmas Fair is on December 4th with doors open at 4pm. We still have space for stall holders, please either ring 07338 085015 or email secretarylb@lambournvalley.org
More info on the updated, fully comprehensive St Michael & All Angels Church Near You with all you need to know about services and events right up to the New Year. Do take a look here Events – St Michael’s and All Angels Lambourn – A Church Near You.
Thanks very much to church warden Doug who’s also organised the second St Michael’s yard and Church tidy up. All welcome tomorrow Friday, any time from 10am to 4pm as we prepare for events inside and out. Whilst Doug won’t be with us, please feel free to join in on Saturday if you are able. We will concentrate on the Memorial garden tidy up and path to the south door outside. Inside a deep clean of the Lady Chapel and a sweep and dust around the Chancel & Nave. For more info & which tools to bring ring Doug 07946 364232.
Next week is Safeguarding Sunday when we remember that the care and protection of vulnerable adults, children & young people is everyone’s business, the responsibility of the whole Church, not only the Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSO) of each church. We have three experienced PSOs, Emma from All Saints, Jenny from St James and Doug from St Michael’s. Please make contact with them or myself should you have any concerns or queries about safeguarding – it is everyone’s business. Similarly if you personally need support following abuse please don’t hesitate to be in touch.
Finally, many thanks to the All Saints ‘team’, the choir and the Revd Canon Peter Moger for a wonderful All Saints service at which Peter preached of ‘each one of us being a daughter, a son of God and therefore a family’. It was just the context, within a family gathered together to worship God that I shared my thanks to all and also news of my retirement – which I have attached to today’s Thoughts. Please forgive me for not sharing this individually but I felt it was better to let everyone, or at least as many as possible know at the same time. We all know about Chinese whispers … Keith has already been accosted with a ‘is it true …..’ that’s villages!!
Most importantly, a prayer Archdeacon of Oxford, the Ven Jonathan Chaffey, former Chief Chaplain for the RAF, has written this prayer for Remembrance Sunday.
Most Holy God and Father,
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace,
and all who yearn for justice.
Help us, who today remember the cost of war, to work for a better tomorrow;
and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict,
bring us all to the peace of your presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
With every blessing,
Julie