Rector's Letter

Weekend of 26th / 27th September 2020:
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Dear Friends,

As the Autumn weather closes in a little and temperatures drop, it is cheering to still be receiving pictures of your amazing sunflowers.  This week’s 8 ft triumph is shared by Martin West-Gaul.

It has come as a disappointment (if not entirely as a surprise) to us all that the Government has found it necessary once again to tighten the restrictions on our freedom in order to control the spread of Covid-19. Although we will continue to celebrate small Services of the Word in person in our churches unless informed it is unwise to do so, we do ask that you exercise caution and observe social distancing, wearing a mask and using the hand sanitiser provided. This weekend our 9am service will be at St John’s.  To attend you will need to book a place by going to our Services page. You will be asked for your contact details for Track and Trace purposes.  If you have a smart phone, you might also like to scan the QR code at the door which is linked to the new NHS Track and Trace App. Taking these small steps helps to protect our community from the spread of disease and is an expression of care for one another.

In challenging times, it is always good to have something to celebrate and I am therefore delighted to share with you the news that the marriage of Grace Collins and Ben Fry is to be brought forward to this Saturday at 1pm.  Grace and Ben had to postpone their wedding at Eastertide due to Covid-19, and are keen to make the most of the window of opportunity this weekend offers before restrictions become even more stringent on Monday.  Although, sadly, only a small number of invited guests are allowed to join them inside the church, if you would like to celebrate with them outside in a socially distant manner, they would be delighted to see you. I am sure you will join me in praying God’s Blessing on their marriage, and I hope to share some photos next week.

Looking ahead, Sunday October 4^th, will be Harvest Sunday and we will celebrate in person at 9am at St Vigor’s.  Alex Firman, from our mission partners Root Connections/Dairy House will be our guest speaker, and there will be a collection of harvest offerings of dried or tinned goods to give to The Dairy House and Food Bank.  More information on exactly how this will work will be available next week.

Do listen out for the welcome return of St John’s Church bells which will ring for Grace and Ben’s Wedding on Saturday and then for the permitted 15 minutes prior to our 9am Service on Sunday.  For those who are unable to join Freda and Peter in church, our Zoom Service of Morning Prayer will be at 10.30am.

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Every blessing,

Esther