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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following websites gives details of grants that they may be able to apply for if the increasing
cost of living is causing problems.
You simply put in your postcode and it lists available
grants in that area. https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
Are you on a low income do check to see if you might be eligible for Council Tax support. https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/benefits-and-financial-support/council-tax-support
And a reminder if anybody living in a property in bands
A-D has yet to apply for their £150.00 energy rebate from the Council then now
is the time to get that done too. https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/governments-ps150-payment-towards-energy-bills