Dear AllThis feels like the last week of the summer before everything starts again.Our schools will open again next week, Jimmy’s baby and toddler group will start again on 5th September, Wednesday Welcome will again be on 4th September 2024, from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm – (please bring a friend or family member or neighbour), and our new Youth venture Jim’s café will begin on Monday 9th September at 4.00 pm in the Coffee Lounge, not to mention all that still has to happen to make the Scarecrow Festival a success. Its going to be a very busy time for us all. All these things need prayer so please join us on Tuesday morning if you can or pray for these activities/events in the quiet of your own home, please pray that all these things will lead people into a closer relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.We will be looking at Prayer in an 8 week Bible study run by the 24-7 prayer team. It is truly inspirational. Here is the link to give you a bit more information about the course – the dates are printed out on your Welcome sheet and as previously they will take place at the Rectory with a start time of 7.30 pm. There will be a sign up sheet at the back of St James church (or e-mail me) so that I can understand how many of you will be coming – if we get a lot of people signing up I may run this course in the afternoon as well as the evening.Here is the link for you to find out a little more about the course…..The Prayer Course – Trailer | 24-7 Prayer (youtube.com)This Sunday we have the 8.00 am BCP where Judith Denton will be unpacking the scripture readings in her homily and our Family Service will take place at the normal time of 9.30 am for breakfast with a soft start to the service at 10.00 am. We are hoping to be mostly outside this Sunday, as we explore how we see God in creation that is all around us – the weather is looking promising.Both these services will be taking place at St James, High Wych and I look forward to seeing you soon.We also have a churchyard tidy-up scheduled for after the service – so if you can stay to help please bring your own gardening implements. Refreshments will be served. We have an Interment of ashes at 12.30 pm in the churchyard extension so if you are still busy can you please stop any mechanical equipment and take the opportunity to have a cuppa to give the family the special time they will need.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllThank you so much to everyone who was involved with our children’s Scarecrow Festival workshop on Wednesday 21st August. It was so obvious that lots of work had gone into making this event a success. The snail table was a roaring success and it was really odd to see my children’s socks repurposed in this way – each sock had a bit of a story!! (obviously not the black humdrum ones)😊The crafts available for the children to do were fun and varied from beaded caterpillars with googly eyes, sparkly dragonflies, creature badges, not to mention the very popular tin can aliens and as always the cake looked yummy and was well received. It was a fun morning with no rain so the aliens were able to be outside throughout.Robyn Richards came along to help us again (she was part of our team for the Easter Messy church and our Christmas services at St Botolph’s and St Mary’s and goes to St Botolph’s as she lives right next door! She is currently practising for the Shine Walk on 21stSeptember with her colleagues from St Elizabeth’s, when she will walk a marathon overnight (just over 26 miles) in aid of Cancer research. If you are able to support her – please use this link….https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/robyns-giving-page-328This link will take you to the Cancer Research webpage and you will have to put in Robyn Richards name and then follow the instructions.Also, this weekend we have a couple of new things to support..As well as our normal 9.30 am service at St James, we will have our first Family service at St Botolph’s at 11.15 am and we will also have our first Community dog walk from the Queens Head at Allen’s Green. You do not have to have a dog to walk, just come and have some fun and meet a few new people.Please pray for these new ventures, that the weather will be fine as they are both outside events, and that people will come and enjoy themselves with us.Hoping I see you on Sunday at some point.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllI am aware that although we are in August, there is so much planning and preparation for this September.Many of us are working hard to get ready for the Scarecrow Festival – 7th/8th September, and we also have lots of other things happening in September.Our new Jim’s café will be starting in the Coffee Lounge on Monday 9th September at 4.00 pm – just for new Year 7 children.Jimmy’s Baby and Toddler group will be returning on Thursday 5th September.And this September we are going to be looking at the book of Romans in depth both in our Sunday services and also in our bible studies on Wednesdays (dates to follow next week).This Sunday we have our 9.30 am service at St James and we are very fortunate that Glyn Barker will be preaching for us again and of course, not to forget it is Derek’s bbq in the afternoon – 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm. This is shaping up to be a brilliant afternoon with good friends and new friends, of entertainment from John Sharples and also ‘The Racketeers’ and wonderful food with all the proceeds going to St James Outreach Fund, so I hope to see you at one or both of these.Every blessing on your week.Alison
Dear AllI attach the Welcome sheet and readings for this week.My hope is that you and your families have not been directly affected by the civil unrest we have witnessed on our TV screens and in our papers or on our phones. Nevertheless, it is something to be concerned for and to pray about.Please join me in saying this prayer:-Dear GodProtect all our citizens from violence and attacks of hatred.Protect our streets and communities from civil violence and unrest, damage and looting.Protect our police force as they deal with assailants.Help our communities to show the love for their neighbours that you call us to.Let love triumph over evil, bringing your healing calm by the power of your Holy Spirit into our midst.We ask this in the name of Jesus. AmenI am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday either at our 9.30 am service at St James, High Wych or our 11.15 am service at St Mary’s, Gilston – both of which are communion services.Please also pray for the baptism family who will be bringing their children for baptism at St James at 2.30 pm.Every blessingAlison
