From the Rectory – March 2026

Dear Friends,
This newsletter is written in the church season of Epiphany, and is in
circulation during Lent, Easter and Pentecost – a veritable feast of
church seasons! On the day this letter was written, Matthew and I
were enjoying our breakfast when we heard the newsreader say
rather gloomily that we have now had 35 consecutive days of rain.
Oh joy. The grey skies have been stubbornly persistent. Swans are
swimming in what were just last week, fields. And not a partridge in
a pear tree to be seen!
That same day, on a wander around the garden and later the village,
I noticed that the first signs of spring have definitely begun to appear
around our fields and gardens – buds on the hedgerows, snowdrops
on the banks, lighter evenings, and the welcome song of returning
birds. What a lovely reminder that the quiet turning of the seasons
brings with it the promise of renewal. The grey skies will eventually
give way to blue.
We are heading towards Lent, a church season that invites us to
pause and reflect. I read recently that Lent is a quieter road that we
must walk. A time for reflection and an invitation to deepen our
discipleship – to make space for what truly matters. Just as the earth
rests before new growth appears, this season encourages us to slow
down and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.
Easter Day when we remember and celebrate Christ’s resurrection
reminds us of new beginnings. It reassures us that even after the
darkest, wettest winter, life returns, light grows stronger, and hope is
never lost. In our village communities through simple acts of care,
friendly conversations, and shared moments of
worship – we see these signs of renewal every day.
May this springtime bring peace to your homes,
encouragement to your hearts, and the quiet
confidence that new life is always beginning.
Jo