As summer slowly gives way to autumn, we begin to notice the familiar
signs of the changing season. The mornings become cooler, the
evenings draw in, the fields and hedgerows take on their autumn
colours, and we give thanks for the harvest gathered in – especially
mindful that it has been a very hard year for farmers.
Autumn is a beautiful reminder that life is made up of different
seasons, each with its own character, blessings and opportunities. If,
like me, you share the Christian faith, you can be encouraged that,
whatever season we find ourselves in, God is with us and His
faithfulness never changes.
As we look towards the months ahead, we hope that our four churches
will continue to be places where people can find welcome, friendship,
prayer and a sense of belonging. Whether you are a regular
churchgoer, someone who comes occasionally, or perhaps have not
been to church for some time, you are very warmly invited to join us.
There will be a variety of services, special occasions and events taking
place across our four parishes during the autumn and winter. We
encourage you to have a look and see what is happening in your own
village and in the neighbouring churches. Some services will be our
regular pattern of worship, while others will offer opportunities to
celebrate, remember, give thanks and simply come together as a
community.
Please do join us whenever you can. You may find a particular service
or event that speaks to you, or perhaps discover an opportunity to
meet people you haven’t seen for a while. We would love to see
familiar faces, but equally we are always delighted to welcome those
who are new.
Autumn can also be a time when we become more aware of those
around us who may be lonely or finding life difficult. Perhaps we can all
take a little time to look out for a neighbour, share a cup of tea, offer a
helping hand or simply have a conversation. Small acts of kindness can
make a very real difference.
As we enter this new season together, let us give thanks for the beauty
of our villages, for the harvest and for the many people who make our
communities special. Above all, may we remember God’s presence
with us in every season of life.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
With every blessing and hope to see you soon.
Revd Jo ]]>
As summer unfolds around us, I enjoy the change of rhythm in village life. Gardens bloom with colour, the washing flaps on the line, there are children enjoying themselves outside, and neighbours pause a little longer for conversation in the sunshine.
Whether we are enjoying long evenings, tending our gardens, walking familiar paths, or gathering with family and friends, we can find signs of God’s grace woven through ordinary days.
Our churches continue to offer a warm welcome to everyone over the summer months – whether you come every week, visit occasionally, or are simply curious to step through the door. Church life, much like village life, is built on kindness, friendship, and supporting one another through every season.
I love that summer affords us plenty of opportunities to share companionship with our neighbours and those who may feel lonely. There are all sorts of things happening in our Benefice over the next few months that you can invite someone along to – in Stanton Harcourt there will be Festival Week – with Hymns and Pimms, open gardens, classic car show, scarecrow making as well as the Flower Festival; there is also the Beer Festival on the 25th July. These alone will be able to welcome tens if not hundreds of people over the course of the events. Other villages will have markets and plenty of other social events.
Have a think as to who you could invite along to something this summer. Who could you make feel welcome?
I look forward to seeing many of you at various events and activities, and of course at church over the summer.
With every blessing,
Revd Jo
]]>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 ]]>
As the nights draw in and winter begins to settle gently around us, our world
begins to shimmer with a quiet kind of beauty. And it is that shimmer that
carries through the winter months that I love. For I find there is something
comforting about the light at this time of year whether from the frost
glistening upon the hedgerows and rooftops, to the pale winter sun on a
clear day, to the evening glow of candles, firelight and twinkling decorations.
Somehow light in whatever form in winter brings hope during the short days.
In this stillness and sparkle, we are reminded of the radiant hope that came
into the world one holy night in Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus is the light
that pierces every darkness, the warmth that can melt even the coldest
hearts.
Just as the shepherds looked up to see the brilliance of the angels
proclaiming “Glory to God in the highest,” we, too, lift our eyes and hearts to
the promise of Emmanuel – God with us. His coming brings renewal, peace,
joy and light that no winter chill can dim.
This season invites us to pause and behold the wonder of God’s love made
visible in the manger. There is lots happening throughout our Benefice this
Advent and Christmas to celebrate Christ’s birth.
But amid the bustle of services, preparations and celebrations, may we find
moments of stillness to give thanks for the gift of Christ – the light that
continues to guide us, comfort us, and fill us with hope.
As we journey through Advent and draw near to Christmas Day, may the
warmth of faith, the joy of community, and the peace of Christ fill our homes
and hearts. Let us carry His light into the world, shining brightly for all to see.
With every blessing for a joyful and hope-filled Christmas and New Year,
Jo ]]>
As the crisp air of autumn begins to settle in and the leaves start
to turn their brilliant shades of red and gold, we are reminded
once again of the beauty of God’s creation and the changing
seasons of life. The squirrels are running around the trees and
doing their aerial acrobatics in the Rectory garden, chattering and
squabbling as they rush to eat the walnuts on the walnut tree!
The chimney has been swept and we (Matthew!) have chopped
logs ready for hunkering down and keeping warm as the days get
cooler.
This season invites us to slow down, reflect, and give thanks—for
the harvest and supplies in shops, for the blessings of community
and friendship, and for God’s ever-present faithfulness. It’s an
ideal Dme to reconnect with one another, and to look forward to
all that this new season will bring. Some folks do find this part of
the year hard as daylight becomes less, so let’s keep a look out for
them.
We have some special gatherings and worship opportunities
coming up this autumn, including our first Pet Blessing Service
(we hope beast and fowl will get along nicely!) where we hope to
see many familiar and new faces. Whether you’ve been with us
for years or are just stopping by, you are always welcome at the
churches within our Benefice.
May this autumn be a season of joy, gratitude, and renewed hope
for you and your loved ones.
With every blessing,
Jo
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As I write this we are in the middle of a long spell of
unseasonably warm weather. I have lost count of the amount
of washing loads I have achieved in the last two weeks!
Children and school staff are on their Easter break, and we are
about to head into Holy Week; Matthew and I are ramping up
the wedding preparations and it is a busy season all round. For
this article I need to put my head in a different space, to lay
aside thoughts of Maundy Thursday service, an hour at the
cross on Good Friday, celebrations on Easter Sunday and of
course all things wedding. This is quite usual for a priest. For a
day can have many seasons within it -whether that be spent in
joy with someone in the morning as they celebrate a new birth
into their family, and in the afternoon handing over tissues to
someone who is lost in the midst of grief at the death of their
loved one. One has to be adept at adapting! So now I have the
small luxury of gazing out of the window, looking forward to
summer, and to wonder what I hope for.
One of my hopes is that as the days grow longer and the sun
shines a little brighter, we’re reminded of the beauty and
simplicity of God’s creation. I hope that the summer will be a
time of growth, rest, and renewal—not just for nature, but for
our souls and bodies too.
Whether you’ll be tending a garden, taking a walk in a park,
going on holiday, sitting in your usual chair with a good book,
or gathering with family and friends – these warmer months
invite us to slow down and savour life’s simple blessings. I hope
that it will be a season of connection—hopefully spending
more time with friends, family and loved ones, perhaps
enjoying a barbecue, a weekend away, or just simply sitting out
in the garden together.
I also hope that we will be able to take time to reflect on the
many ways God is present in the everyday moments: as the
steaming water soaks into the teabag, in the birdsong at dawn,
in the laughter of children as we hear them on their bikes or
playing football, the vibrant colours of a sunset, the joy of
shared meals, and the peace that comes from a quiet morning
with a cup of coffee and a prayer. The extraordinary can be
found in the ordinary. It’s right there with us.
As Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “To everything there is a
season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
I hope that this summer season is one of warmth, joy, and
spiritual refreshment and of finding the extraordinary in the
ordinary.
With every blessing,
Jo ]]>
As I write this, the cold grip of winter seems to be firmly holding
us! But a walk onto the bank of the stream at the bottom of the
Rectory garden yesterday reminded me that the grip slowly
loosens and the first signs of spring are beginning to appear.
Snowdrops and tender petalled crocuses are springing up and
we are reminded of the deep connection between the changing
seasons and our Christian faith. Spring is a season of renewal—
when nature awakens from its slumber, bringing new life and
fresh beginnings. For many of us, this season of growth and
beauty carries spiritual significance, reflecting the hope that lies
at the heart of the Christian message.
The Christian faith is built on the foundation of hope—hope in
the resurrection, hope in the promises of God, and hope in the
transformation of our lives. Spring is a visual reminder of this
hope, as the barren branches begin to bud, the flowers bloom,
and the days grow longer and brighter. At the time of writing the
spring equinox is exactly one month and a day away.
In the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate
symbol of hope. After the sorrow of the cross and the darkness
of Good Friday, Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday brings the
promise of new life, not only for Him but for all who believe. We
can leave behind the old and embrace the new. Spring, in its
vibrant beauty, reflects this renewal that is offered to us in
Christ.
In our villages, we can draw strength from the simple yet
powerful reminder that, like the seasons, our lives have
moments of dormancy, moments of change and moments of
growth. Winter may bring hardship or challenges, but spring
promises the return of light, warmth, and new opportunities.
Similarly, in our faith, we experience both the difficulties of life
and the hope that comes from trusting in God’s plan for us.
I’m sure you’ve heard of or seen this –
Our lives never seem to work out the way we planned them.
Sometimes this change is scary, un-nerving, devastating; and
sometimes it can be exciting. Whatever the change, whatever
season of life we find ourselves in, God remains with us. He is
our constant and never changes. I can say with confidence that
my life has certainly looked like the lower half of that image, but
that God has never left my side and has seen me through the
hardest of times.
On a personal note, this spring brings much welcome change to
a certain couple in Stanton Harcourt (!). Matthew and I are very
much looking forward to our wedding day, and our new life
together as a married couple. We hope that as many of you as
possible will be able to join us at church to celebrate!
So this spring, let us embrace the message of hope, allowing it to
renew our spirits and strengthen our faith. As we tend to our
gardens and watch the flowers bloom, let us remember that we
too are called to bloom in faith, sharing the love and hope of
Christ with those around us. You will always be welcome to join
us at a service in one of our churches, or join us on Zoom.
Blessings to you all as we step into this season of growth,
renewal, and hope, Revd Jo ]]>
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