Good morning friends
Last Sunday…
was St Michael’s Patronal Festival and I write this with the memory of the morning fresh in my thoughts. We celebrated St Michael & All Angels with the doors wide open and bird song joining in our celebration which was held amongst magnificent flower displays in what amounted to a mini flower festival! The Michaelmas daisies were abundant in the graveyard and angels were present in those ancient walls as the flowers rejoiced in the glory of God.
Thank you
The previous day we’d welcomed many into church via the Lych Gate Gift Day. Thank you … to all those who came along and to each and every one of you who has given so generously in order to replace the defunct boiler! We were all were blessed with a beautiful weekend – none more so than the bride as she, the groom and their guests arrived for a wonderful wedding in church on Saturday afternoon.
And yet …
all this was held amidst a time when everything is provisional, a time when Covid-19 has taken many lives and challenged our relative comfort with a reminder of fragility as isolation and social distancing have become the norm. These are hard days we are living in. You don’t need to put on a brave face. Not with God, anyway.
Bishop Steven of Oxford
acknowledged the hard days in a letter he sent earlier this week. “Living with COVID-19 will be hard for everyone this winter. The Prime Minister has asked us all to observe the Rule of Six. There are lessons and challenges that we can all draw from this number to help us live well in these times”.
I have attached his letter to these thoughts along with a link to further reflections and thoughts about Living well through the next six months.
Watch a video and read the letter from Bishop Steven – and let me know what you think.
I have to admit that as I listened to the Prime Minister speak about the next 6 months, I called to Keith what date is next Easter? The Bishop was thinking the same as you can see as he wrote about the horizon!
This Sunday services will be,
- 9.00 St James the Greater Eastbury, BCP Holy Communion
- 10.30 St Michael & All Angels, Eucharist
- 12.00 St Michael & All Angels, Baptism of Amelia Beacham
The Vicar will be on Tour and looks forward to seeing you – all are welcome.
- Eastbury on Tuesday 6th October 2.30 – 3.30
- East Garston Monday 5th October 2.30 – 3.30
Harvest will be celebrated across the Valley. Due to building work, there will be no service at East Garston on October 11th but all are welcome to travel up the Valley.
- 4pm October 11th St James the Greater Eastbury
- 11am October 18 St Michael & All Angels Lambourn
With prayerful best wishes for the week ahead,
Julie