This months's Parish Priest's News
My dear friends,
September 5th will mark another milestone in our Parish life as we reintroduce singing at our worship . As with the easing of restrictions last month we continue to be aware that each of us has a different comfort zone, so if yours is to remain masked even when seated please feel free to carry on so doing and sing softly thus protected. I am pulling together an organist rota: when we have one there will be three hymns and a setting, when not we shall have the hymns and say the rest of the Mass.
One positive outcome of the last eighteen months is that we shall continue to produce a Mass book for each Sunday thus saving the need to handle three items, namely Bulletin, Mass and Hymn Book. This will mean you will need to retain the monthly newsletter to unite your prayers at home with those of the Mass Intention.
Also on September 5th we shall be holding a Parish Lunch. It will be possible to book a table for your family group or friendship group if that makes you feel safer or you may wish to join another table that will have a maximum of 4 people. To facilitate this we shall need paid bookings and table requests by August 29th at the latest.
Three weeks ago I was delighted to receive a call from ‘The Sycamores’ that has led to us resuming our weekly Communion Service there from the first Tuesday of the month.
You will see on the back page that we have booked a Wagner Group Pilgrimage to Walsingham next year, this was not easy as many parishes are catching up with their visits “home.” It has meant that we shall have to hold our “Stay and Play Week” a week earlier and to this end when school is back I shall be inviting some people to begin planning this. On the subject of the Wagner Group I am delighted that Fr. John and his folk from S Barnabas’ (Hove) have joined us.
The Wardens and I believe it is time to think about our Fund Raising and a date for those who plan the Fayres will soon be announced but please keep November 27th free.
I would draw your intention to the Diocesan Walsingham Celebration at S Paul’s on October 2nd. This will be a good opportunity for many of you to meet Bishop Will for the first time.
Lastly for this month’s letter I would ask your prayers for Eli, Aondonamyuadoo, Megan and Riley who will begin preparation to receive Holy Communion for the first time on All Saints Day. For them and others in Key Stage 2 or the early years of Key Stage 3 the provision of their own sermon time will resume on most Sundays from the beginning of September.
On that positive note I will sign off.
With my love and prayers,