Dear Friends
Play is good for you
Clergy in the local deanery meet nine times a year to share news, to learn and to encourage one another. Our Quiet Day on Tuesday took place at the Cobham Bowling Club and was led by Dr Margaret Branscombe, a specialist in embodied learning. Our focus was ‘Play is good for you: the importance of our bodies in play and worship’, and our reflection was put into practice in games of bowls on the beautiful Cobham bowling green. In the photo alongside Gill and me is Leah Bates, Rector of St Mary’s, Fetcham, and Renos Pittarides, Rector of St Martin, East Horsley and Area Dean.
Continuing The God Story
As our journey through The God Story continues, this Sunday we arrive in the New Testament. And so this week we’ll be reflecting on The Son and how 400 years of silence were broken by the cry of a baby boy. The Word through which the whole world had been created had truly become flesh.
Giving thanks for Angela Smith
We heard on Monday that Angela, long-time member of this congregation, died last Sunday. As many of you know, getting on for three years’ ago it was thought that Angela may have only six months left to live. And so the fact that she continued to attend Thursday communion (ably assisted by her daughter, Alex) and engage with family and friends until pretty much the end of her life, was an added blessing. She will, of course, be remembered for many things including her long marriage to Jim, her needlecraft, and her active participation in the life of this church. Her funeral will take place on Monday 17 August c. midday (exact time to be confirmed).
Thanksgiving for Jim Watts: Livestream details
The Service of Thanksgiving for Jim Watts takes place in St Nicolas at 1.00pm on Monday 27 July. You are all warmly invited. Although it would be great to see you in person, if you cannot be present the livestream link is available here. If you open the link, you will already see the fronting screen for the service. The order of service will also be available via this link.
Appointing a new Rector
A key date for your diary is 7.30pm on Tuesday 1 September. This is when our Archdeacon, Martin Breadmore, is coming to St Nicolas to explain the process and to answer questions. Through this email over the coming weeks, I’ll also seek to explain a few key facts. Meanwhile, for those who are really keen, this link will take you to a document on our diocesan website, the Parish Vacancy Pack, which explains pretty much everything you may wish to know!
Keeping up to date
Our weekly notice sheet is available both online (click here) and in church. Excerpts from our 10 o’clock service last Sunday, including the latest sermon in The God Story series, are available here.
And finally…
I receive regular emails from The Marriage Foundation, which does research and provides useful data in relation to marriage. Dr Harry Benson, who heads up The Marriage Foundation, has recently graduated from the University of Bristol with a PhD in the psychology of marriage and commitment. His research has been driven by a simple question: does marriage itself make any difference to relationship stability, or are the apparent benefits simply explained by the kinds of people who choose to marry? His research suggests previous influential studies have significantly underestimated the impact of marriage. “In short,” he writes, “marriage appears to do more than reflect commitment. It helps create it.”
Wishing you much grace and peace.
Alan
Alan Jenkins
Rector
