Frances White has asked us to inform you that her husband Stephen passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 8th.Reverend Stephen arrived as our priest in charge of Dunsfold and Hascombe in 2012 and was with us seven years. In recent times he had retired to Sutton.Stephen was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. He opted to follow a programme of palliative care and has been living in a hospice. Frances has her family staying with her as they come to terms with their loss.Please include the White family in your prayers at this sad time. May Stephen rest in peace and rise in glory.
Following the news shared by Buckingham Palace that His Majesty the King is being treated for cancer, bishops and churches have shared messages of good wishes and prayer for the health of the king, as well as others who are living with cancer or affected by a cancer diagnosis.You can find the short prayer attached.The Bishop of Worcester, John Inge, said: "May the healing touch of Jesus be on His servant King Charles to enable to swift and full recovery."The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, wrote: "Praying for His Majesty, for his treatment, and the Royal family as they support him." and the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley posted "Our prayers and best wishes for His Majesty from @NclDiocese"The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, wrote: “Along with many others, praying for His Majesty the King this evening, and also for all who are affected by a cancer diagnosis”. The Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, who wrote “Like many others I will be praying for King Charles and his family in the coming days. May he swiftly return to the life of service at which he so excels.”
After two years we knew Reverend Rutton Viccajee’s time was up as our interim minister and that it was time to say goodbye.But that didn’t stop a high level of sadness pervading his last service at St Peter’s Church, Hascombe and the celebratory lunch that followed it in Hascombe Village Hall.The people turned out in force to offer their thanks and wish Rutton and his wife Kate every happiness in their future life. The Holy Communion service went well, the arrangements for the farewell lunch were exemplary. The chefs of Dunsfold and Hascombe produced an array of fine food to feed the grateful diners.Gifts were presented, Rutton and Kate saluted and our departing priest offered prayers for the challenges that all parties would face going forward as the interregnum began.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) takes place each year from the 18 to 25 January. This special week provides an opportunity to focus our prayers on Christian unity, as well as speak about and experience Christian unity personally, in our village, town or county as well as engage with what happens at a national level.This year the theme ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27) has come from an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso, facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf Community (CCN). They have reflected on the familiar story of the Good Samaritan, and all are encouraged to Go and do likewise. It is a story about crossing boundaries that calls our attention to the bonds that unite the whole human family. Brothers and sisters from the Catholic Archdiocese of Ouagadougou, Protestant Churches, ecumenical bodies and the CCN in Burkina Faso collaborated generously in drafting the prayers and reflections.Each January individuals pray, and churches and ecumenical organisations celebrate the WPCU in a variety of ways. These include events large and small, a simple prayer meeting, an ecumenical breakfast, a prayer walk, speaker events, online prayer relays, preaching swaps in villages and towns, using social media to share online reflections and prayers from church leaders as well as joint services bringing together Christians from across the traditions in prayer and worship.Please remember in your own prayers Christians throughout the world, many of whom are persecuted because of their faith.
