Vicar's Letter - November
Dear friends,
As we begin the month of November we embark on a time of remembering, of remembrance.
On Sunday 2nd November, at 6pm, we will be holding our annual All Souls Service of ‘Thanksgiving and Hope’, for the commemoration of the faithful departed. It is an opportunity to mark, in a special way, the passing of a loved one, whom we dearly miss; to give thanks for who they were and all that they meant to us. If you would like the name of a loved one to be read out, as part of our ‘Act of Remembrance’, then please do let us know, either by adding their name to the list at the back of Church or letting me or one of the wardens know either by phone or email. Thank you.
On Sunday 9th November, we will once again come together, as a community, to remember and give thanks for those who have lost their lives in conflicts and wars, and at 11am we will fall silent for two minutes. It’s important that we remember, with thanks, the names carved on our village memorial.
This year, things will be a little different. Because we will not have the support of the police, (a national funding decision), to close any of the roads around the roundabout, where our war memorial is located, we will be holding the outdoor service in St Stephen’s Church Car Park, looking out onto ‘The Memorial’. This change will be upsetting for some people. However, The Royal British Legion, The Parish Council and St Stephen’s Parochial Church Council are unanimous that the safety of everyone must be a priority, and in addition, we do not have the authority to close roads. We will still have a procession of wreath bearers walking over to the memorial, and the service, in all other respects, will remain the same. All are most welcome in the church hall from 10:30am for coffee and for the service in St Stephen’s Church after our ‘Act of Remembrance.’
