WORSHIP IN SEPTEMBER
As you can see from the calendar, worship this month follows the usual pattern every week. A special event comes at the 10 a.m. Parish Eucharist on September 19, when we will re-dedicate the renovated Church Clock. Members of the Town Council and the Friends of St Swithun’s, who have both supported this project, have been invited, and all are welcome to join the celebration.
CHILDREN’S WORK
Following the meeting held in July, a further date has been set for a gathering on Wednesday September 29th at 7.30 in the Rectory Room. This is open to all who help with children’s work at St Swithun’s, and all parents of children who attend worship and activities here. Please come so we can think together about how we can best minister to our young members, and make plans and rotas for the coming months.
STUDY GROUPS
Whether or not you have come to Bible Study group, or Lent and Advent Courses in the past, all are welcome to attend a gathering we are planning for Thursday September 16th at 7.30 p.m. (venue to be decided depending on numbers). The aim is to spend some social time together, and also to chat about what sort of Study Courses Church members would value in the coming months, so that we can plan for the autumn, Advent and further ahead. If you would like to attend, please let Rosemary Hooker know (Tel. 691435) Thank you.
10 YEARS IN SANDY
Although it feels (to me at least) impossible that it has been so long, I will complete ten year’s service as Rector here on September 5th 2010, exactly a decade on from my Institution on that date back in the year 2000. I don’t know where the years have gone, or how they have passed so quickly. Perhaps it has something to do with the way time goes by more swiftly as you age. Although it’s not an occasion that demands a tremendous fuss, I would just like to record my thanks to all the people who have made this decade of my life a rewarding time. To the clergy, lay ministers, churchwardens and PCC members, church musicians and volunteers, and above all those who have come to worship with me week by week – my tremendous thanks for your support and collaboration. I shall give hearty thanks to God on Sept. 5th for all the blessings he has given me here over the years.
WHY NOT COME TO….COMMUNION IN THE WEEK
Following on from the invitation to give Sunday Evensong a try in the last edition of Pinnacle, let me suggest our weekday Communion services as another possible opportunity to come to worship. On Wednesdays at 9.45 a.m. we have a 30 minute Modern Language service in the Lady Chapel which is both quiet and reflective, and very friendly too. The congregation of 10-12 folk will welcome you warmly, and probably invite you to join them in the Drop-In Cafe afterwards for a chat and something to drink. On Fridays at 7.30 a.m. we have a very small and peaceful Traditional Language service for the ‘early birds’, and when there is a PCC on Tuesday evenings it is preceded by a short service at 7 p.m. to which all are welcome. These times won’t work for everyone, of course. But if you can’t make church on a given Sunday, and don’t want to miss making your communion that week, or if you would be helped to pray in the calm way they provide, you’ll be very welcome to join us if you can.
Derwyn.