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January 2018 January 2018

One of the great privileges of being a Parish Priest is to conduct those special
occasions, Christenings, Weddings and Funerals. At a Wedding service, or DATES FOR
sometimes before, I suggest to the bride and groom that each anniversary that
comes along is an opportunity to take stock of how God has blessed their union in
th
the past year. Just recently, on November 20 , Her Majesty the Queen and Prince YOUR DIARY
Philip celebrated seventy years of marriage – a remarkable achievement! What is
so wonderful is to see the love bond between them change, yes, but grow and
deepen through the years. Now we have heard that Prince Harry is to marry 2018
Meghan Markel in the Spring of 2018; we wish them every happiness in their life
together and may their common concern for many suffering people in our world January
keep them truly close to each other.
17th WI - New Year Party
The turn of the year, while ‘ringing out the old and ringing in the new’ brings us all,
at whatever stage of life we are at, to take stock of how God has blessed us in
2017. Of course, for some looking back, there will undoubted sadness in the loss February
that they have suffered and for others there will have been enormous challenges, 13th WI - Pancake Day
but even if this is the case for you, I hope that you have found comfort in the love 16th Pop in Place, Fun Quiz
of family and friends and indeed from God in the comfort and support shown you.
As there have been a number of funerals this year that I have been asked to lead, 21st WI - Hotch Potch, Food Allergies
I should like to thank family members for giving me the privilege of doing so. I
sincerely believe that the Christian Church can offer the best both in Weddings
and Funerals! However I hope that most of us, whatever the challenges will have March
been, can look back in thankfulness for many blessings. Hopefully too we can feel 30th Pop in Place, Easter Bonnets Parade, Easter Egg Raffle
that God’s love is an ever greater reality in our lives. And Hot Cross Buns, Upper Hall 10.00am-12.00noon

Our World – and particularly its media communications - seems to have a
penchant for concentrating on all the bad things and certainly there is much in April
our world that could cause us deep concern; I will not list all those countries where
civil war brings so much physical pain and mental torture. Our world leaders too
frequently seem better at causing division rather than cooperation. It strikes me May
time and time again, that as we so often turn our backs in our own country on the
teachings of Jesus, that we drift further into mess. Well, I am an optimist and, more 4th Pop in Place AGM, Lower Hall 10.30am
importantly than that, I am a man of faith and I believe that if as Christians we are 16th Pop in Place, Village Quiz, Upper Hall 7.30pm
more willing to proclaim the truths that Jesus taught, all could be well. So my
resolution this January will be to pray for a coming back to God for our nation and
indeed for our World...indeed his World! June
21st Pop in Performers Summer Show, Muscial 6.00pm
As I wish you all a very happy New Year, I pray that it will be one of greater 22nd Pop in Performers Summer Show, Muscial 7.00pm
peace, joy and above all, God’s love.
23rd Pop in Performers Summer Show, Muscial 2.00pm
Your loving Vicar and Friend,
July

August

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