Dear Friends,
I hope that in these high temperatures you have been able to stay comfortable and to look out for those around you who might be struggling with the heat. I am really conscious of how difficult these drought conditions are for our farmers and encourage us all to keep them in our prayers and in our minds as we take care with our own water usage.
The gospel reading for this weekend includes weather forecasting imagery (and Jesus' metaphor of bringing fire to the earth which I've grappled with a bit in my sermon) which is poignant when we are holding together the experience of extreme heat and parched land with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the flooding here in 1952. The details of the service at Lynmouth Church on Sunday and the memorial events on Monday are below. I am really grateful to Sheila Voisey and David and Bet Wilde for their skill in planning the Monday walk and service which we hope will help draw together the precious and raw memories of those who experienced the flood and its loss, thankfulness to those who responded then to rebuild and restore community life and gratitude for all that those of us who live here now are able to enjoy.
God bless
Samantha
6.30pm Sunday 14th August
An evening service of Remembrance in St John’s Church, Lynmouth.
Monday 15th August
A heritage walk starting from Middleham Gardens at 6.00pm.
This level walk of approx. 1 mile on mainly tarmac surfaces will proceed over Woodside Bridge, along Tors Road, over Tors Bridge, along Riverside Path. Crossing Countisbury Road where a wreath will be laid on the Flood Cross.
The walk continues along Lynmouth Street to the Flood Memorial Hall Garden where a plaque to remember the 34 flood victims will be unveiled followed by a 1 minute silence.
It will then proceed over May Bridge to the Manor Green
Here there will be a short remembrance service where relatives/friends of the 34 victims will ring a bell in their memory.
Along the walk will be pre and post flood photos.
People are welcome to join the walk at any point along its route or wait at the Memorial Hall or on the Manor Green
For further information please contact Sheila Voisey 01598 752436 [email protected]