Dear Friends
A very worthwhile weekend
Huge thanks to Clare Curran for organising our church’s contribution to Heritage Weekend. Clare writes, “We were pleased to welcome around 50 visitors to the church and graveyard at the weekend, all keen to learn more about the important place that St Nicolas has in Bookham’s village history. My thanks to all those who helped bring the display together and to greet those who came into the church: Joy, Angela, Chris B, Chris and Barbara, Vicki, Romey and Tina. Thanks to Sean too for hanging up the bunting!”
This coming Sunday
We look forward to welcoming Martin Breadmore, Archdeacon of Dorking, to our 10 o’clock service this Sunday. Martin will be our preacher; it will be great to have him with us. On a similar note, I am intending to be at evensong at Guildford Cathedral at 6.00pm this Sunday where Mike Branscombe, who until very recently was vicar at St Andrew’s Cobham, will be installed as Canon Missioner. If you would like a lift, please let me know.
Harvest is near
Our harvest service takes place at 10 o’clock on Sunday 27 September. We’ll be collecting gifts for LeatherHead Start and so please do contribute if you can. A list of suitable gifts is available in the tower. This is not to be confused with our harvest lunch which falls a couple of weeks later on Sunday 11 October. Please see details in our weekly notice sheet.
Our Stewardship month begins on 1 October
The PCC and Ministry Team discerned God’s leading for a focus on stewardship, particularly financial stewardship. And so we have designated October our stewardship month. For those on the electoral roll, we’ll be inviting you to receive a personalised letter. For those not on the electoral roll, a similar letter will be available. Accompanying the letter will be an informative leaflet, response form, and small envelope in which to place your response.
Bishop’s Prayer Network
Bishop Paul has made intentional prayer one of his three foci as our Acting Bishop and has invited all those willing to pray with him for our diocese to join the Bishop’s Prayer Network. This will entail receiving a prayer bulletin every two months, invitations to pray online with Bishop Paul, should you so wish, six times a year and to join him in two half-nights of prayer. All are welcome to join; please click here.
If you can help, we’d be very grateful
We have a couple of pressing needs – you may be exactly the right person to help. The first is for a new Parish Safeguarding Officer. We are so grateful to Roland Martin for all he has done in that role but, due to his ongoing demands as a busy Head Teacher, he needs to hand this responsibility to another. The second is for someone to open and close the church on a Tuesday. Please do let me or one of the wardens know if you are willing to explore either of these roles.
A long story…
A long story very much shortened is that I no longer have a landline. However, I am still very keen to talk with you! If you wish to get hold of me, either phone the Parish Office (01372 450709) and leave a message, or send me an email and I’ll ring you.
Keeping up to date
Our weekly notice sheet is available online (click here) and in church. Excerpts from our 10 o’clock service last Sunday are available here. Thank you to both Gill and Charlotte for masterminding the weekly email the last two Thursdays whilst Suzie and I were away.
And finally…
Whilst we are aware of our own impending vacancy at St Nicolas, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that there is currently a vacancy for Bishop of Guildford. Please therefore make use of the following prayer which has been written with that vacancy is view.
God of our salvation,
as we journey through our centenary year of the Diocese of Guildford,
help us to look back with thanksgiving and forward with expectation.
Continue to renew our hearts through the work of your Holy Spirit,
as we seek to be ever more faithful in our discipleship
and effective in our work with children, young people and all our communities.
Give grace to all involved in the discernment of a new diocesan bishop.
Bless them with the gifts of divine insight, unity and wisdom.
Raise up, we pray, a chief pastor who is rooted in your Word
and able to lead us in our mission of transforming church, transforming lives.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Wishing you much grace and peace.
Alan
Alan Jenkins
Rector
