Good afternoon friends,
Harvest celebrations
Harvest celebrations are under way … as we remember that …
2020 has been a worrying year for many, with the panic buying earlier in the year leaving people who have to live and budget on a day-by-day basis struggling to find affordable and nourishing food. And now, half way through October, here we are going into another period where we may well be facing further restrictions.
The weather this year has also been disastrous for some crops in the UK. With more than fifty per cent of our food ‘home grown’, this places a considerable responsibility on our farmers and farming is no easy task.
And this is taking place throughout the world. Last Sunday St James the Greater Eastbury held a joyful Harvest Festival with Jenny Powell and the young people of the village selling the bread that they had made earlier in the day alongside jams and preserves. A good sum was raised for ‘The Friends of the children of Tanzania’.
This Sunday at 11am St Michael & All Angels Lambourn will be celebrating at an All Together Harvest Eucharist. As we celebrate we remember our farmers – throughout the country – and all the work they do, in all weathers to bring food to our tables. We remember too those who are less able to feed themselves and their families than us and we will again be collecting for the West Berks food bank – please bring gifts for the Foodbank and please give as generously as you are able – thank you!
Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday will soon be upon us. Provisional plans are under way for a short service of remembrance at the War Memorial. We are planning to use knitted and crocheted poppies to surround the War Memorial this year. So far I have knitted 11 only and plus the one Keith has knitted – that makes 12 poppies.
Please help
Please help if you can ! I have attached both a knitting and crochet pattern with this letter – do please have a go or pass on the pattern to someone else who can knit!! 12 poppies will look very bare around the memorial. I am asking school if they can spread the word as well!
There will also be spare copies of the pattern on the church railings and on the Co-op notice board. Red wool is available at the Hardware stores plus knitting needles – if you want help please ask me! Please pop your poppies through the Vicarage letterbox or leave them in church – it’s open from dawn to dusk every day 😊.
Poppies
Poppies will be on sale from Saturday October 26th. As there are changes to the way in which they are being sold this year please do look out for selling both in the shops and at St Michael’s Lych Gate on Fridays – Market Day and Saturday mornings from 8am.
Thank you
Thank you to the Williams family who contributed to the Church at Home service from Oxford Diocese last Sunday with beautiful prayers. It was great to catch up and see the family at prayer – apparently the dog needed quietening down and even Dad was on senior camera holding duty!
If you are shielding and wish to worship online the Diocesan service is here https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19-2/livestream/
If you would prefer live stream worship I suggest St Paul’s Wokingham whose link is very reliable.
Lambourn Valley Benefice services
This Sunday our Lambourn Valley Benefice services are:
- 8.00 St Michael & All Angels BCP communion
- 9.30 St James the Greater Eastbury Family Communion
- 11.00 St Michael & All Angels All Age Harvest Festival Eucharist
Vicar on Tour
The Vicar will be on Tour and looks forward to seeing you – all are welcome. East Garston Monday 19th October 2.30 – 3.30 & Eastbury on Tuesday 20th October 2.30 – 3.30.
Finally…
Two further APCM dates for your diaries. This is a chance to look back on the last year, to elect Wardens and representatives and to approve the accounts and to really understand the direction and health of the Church.
- All Saints Church Tuesday October 20th 7.30pm in church
- St Michael & All Angels Lambourn Sunday October 25th at 11.00 following Sunday Eucharist (no sermon that day) in church.
Do also please think if God is calling you to stand for election as a PCC Member or something else – many thanks. Thanks especially at this time to our officers; Church Wardens, PCC secretaries and Treasurers.
And really finally …
Do join Belinda churchmouse, Keith and I and please knit a poppy!
With prayerful best wishes for the week ahead,
Julie