October 2024 Letter
God’s Great Banquet – Heaven on earth – The Big Party -
based on Luke 14
I was in school this week talking to the children about the
great big party that we are all invited to, God’s great big party in
heaven. God’s selfless generosity invites
everyone to come to this party and I had a real sense as I stood on High Wych
playing fields during the Scarecrow Festival, walked around the village and
spent time in the church that what I was witnessing was a little bit of heaven
on earth. I want you to imagine a time when we can all be together, all
different ages, having fun, enjoying each other’s company where there will be
no more pain, no more tears, no more sadness, no more heart break, just deep
and pure joy.
In the Lord’s prayer we ask for; ‘God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in
heaven’ and we, every now and then, are granted a glimpse of this. As I sat at the Scarecrow Festival in the
Jimmy’s tent with tired parents of small children and watched the joy that
playdough, simple colouring and playing with duplo and other toys can bring,
and looked at all the games that were provided for children and the new play
ground, it filled me with joy that we had been able to bring this joy, not to
mention the joy of scarecrows to look at, mini beasts and bugs to marvel at in
the church and great music to listen to and friends to chat with. What a great weekend and my heartfelt thanks
goes out to all that played a part in making this possible.
As with all things, we also look forward to what
Sept/October still has to offer us as a Benefice, again all opportunities for
us to come together as a community.
1 Jimmy’s
baby and toddler group 1st birthday party
2 Jim’s
café session at The Coffee Lounge in High Wych every Monday 4.00 – 5.00 pm for
new Year 7 students (see flyer)
3 We
will have our new Family Service at St Botolph’s on 22nd September
at 11.15 am (see flyer).
4 Our
Harvest Service at St James will be at 9.30 on 29th September
2024. This year we will be supporting
the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal - Thrive: Nutrition and Sustainable
Agriculture in Sri Lanka in partnership with The Leprosy
Mission. The Appeal will support a project which helps families affected
by leprosy to start their own vegetable gardens. The project brings people
together for community meals to learn about nutrition and break down the stigma
against people with leprosy. The money
raised will provide plants, seeds, coconut trees and tools so that families can
grow their own food and build a sustainable income and will also support
community meals. All money raised at
this service will be sent to the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal.
5 After
the service on the 29th September we are inviting you all to our
post Scarecrow community feedback and thank you brunch at 10.45 am, where we
hope you will join us for an opportunity to discuss the triumphs etc, of the
Scarecrow Festival and afterwards for simple, wholesome food and drink to
celebrate the harvest (see flyer).
6 Later
that day we will also have our Harvest Service at St Mary’s Gilston at 6.00 pm
followed by a yummy evening supper in the church. 7 Our
Family service at St James is on 6th October, starting with
breakfast at 9.30 am (see flyer)
8 As
we move into October we have a Community Dog Walk from St Mary’s at 2.30 pm on
13th October 2024 (see flyer).
9 A
churchyard tidy up at St Botolph’s on Saturday 19th October at 2.00
pm (see flyer).
10 You
may also want to ‘save the date’ for Sunday 3rd November as this
will be our All Soul’s service this year at St James at 4.00 pm.
These are all opportunities for us to come together as a
community to bear witness to those ‘heaven on earth’ moments and to know that
God has a plan for each one of us. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”
Jeremiah 29:1.
My question I leave you with today is this:-
Are you going to accept the invitation to God’s Great
Banquet? If you want to talk about this
with me give me a ring and we will find time to chat together.
Every blessing
Your Priest
Alison
Online
prayer sessions - Tuesday mornings at 9.30 am –
link below https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84557900182?pwd=MDhIR2ZBSFc4RXdxWW4zL3FJRGx0dz09 Meeting ID: 845 5790
0182 Passcode: 640464
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