SEPTEMBER  Letter  

  I seem to be spending quite a bit of time in churchyards for one reason or another at the moment, just today I have been in two out of the three in our Benefice.    
Today I met a lovely couple of ladies in St James churchyard who were there to visit a relatives grave – imagine my surprise when they told me they had been knitting for weeks for the Sea World exhibition that will be in St James, High Wych during the Scarecrow Festival. A big bag of dolphins, mermaids and sharks, (beautifully knitted), have been delivered, to mention just a few things that were in that bag!! So thank you ladies, and thank you to everyone else who has taken up their knitting needles or sewing machines to make this exhibition once again spectacular.    
This reminds me of all that we do as church in the wider sense.  Meaning the Church as an integral part of our villages, whether we live in Eastwick, Gilston or High Wych.  When we come together for Quiz Nights, art exhibitions, murder mystery evenings, musical evenings, or Sunday worship. Our aim is to love our neighbour, have fun together and serve our community with any needs they have.    
At the moment all eyes are fixed on the Scarecrow Festival as this is an important part of our community calendar in High Wych and the money we raise also funds things that we do in Gilston and Eastwick too.      


The Bible verses that spring to mind are:- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.    
This is truly what it means to ‘love our neighbours’.  This can include family, neighbours, community members, and fellow travellers.    
So whether you knit sea creatures, put up marquees, tidy up churchyards, make endless cups of tea, bake cakes, run the toddler group, help at Wednesday Welcome, help at Jim’s café, or Messy Church, serve willingly on Village Hall committees, Parish Councils, pick up litter to keep our villages tidy or plant flowers to keep our villages looking beautiful, you are showing love and it is well received.  Thank you for all that you are and all that you do.  Thank you.  You are all part of this great, big beautiful thing we call community.  God calls each of us to be in community with each other and with himself.   

  If you would like to explore what being part of the community of God is – then get in touch. I will be starting another Alpha course after Christmas (a simple introduction to the Christian faith) and I would love to journey on it with you, finding out about the call that God has on your life.    
We are all on a journey, growing in faith, growing in hope and growing in love. Let’s journey together. Your Priest Alison 
+++++++++++++++++++ 
Jim’s Café - The Coffee Lounge - High Wych
  Calling all Year 7’s in our villages. 
Last year as a church group Charlie in the café allowed us to take over her café on a Monday after school (termtime) to welcome the new Year 7’s as they began secondary school.  We continued until the weather improved (After Easter). 
We met every week with those Year 7’s who wanted to hang out with us, of course they got great milkshakes and snacks made by Charlie but we also played games, had fun together and got to know each other too.  We created a place of friendship, a place to go and meet up with your old friends from primary school  and make new friends too. By Easter time, we had a great group of young people who want to stay with us as we move into this year.  So we may have a few Year 8’s who want to help mentor you in school and help you find your feet if you decide to come along. We have a great team, Rachael (who this year will come with Asher, new baby), Gemma with Jack, Cath and myself, we look forward to welcoming you to the café and creating a space where you feel you can belong. 
Alison                                                 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++