Dear friends,

An ancient curse goes ‘May you live in interesting times.’
We now live in a turbulent world with political uncertainties and a climate crisis unfolding.

Let ‘s remember psalm 121:
I raise my eyes to the hills: from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

… and be God’s hands and feet to work in His creation.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20260118.pdf
Weekly Notes
Readings-20260118.pdf
Weekly Readings

Happy New Year! 2026,

I can’t believe it!! I hope you had a relaxing if not enjoyable Christmas and that you have been able to find some time to stretch your legs and blow away the cobwebs? Its lovely if you can to have some New Year’s exercise – perhaps a bracing walk if you are able?
A walk means a change of scene, a breath of fresh air, a chance to leave the hearthside. But what route will you take or which path would you like to follow? The prophet Jeremiah said this: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies, and walk in it.’
Its quite a good way to start a new year isn’t it? Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths where the good way lies and walk in it!
Jeremiah’s words will resonate with anyone who has walked a historic woodland. At every cross roads there are often multiple paths. Which one to take? Trampled bracken might mean someone has blundered off to the left; a faint hint of marshy footprints could mean someone has attempted to turn right; while ahead, a broad, well trodden track beckons. ‘Ask where the good way lies,’ writes the prophet, ‘and walk in it.’ One of the temptations of the New Year is that of self-reinvention. New hair, new job, new relationships, new gym memberships?! Sometimes we can blunder leftwards or attempt rightwards while all the time what we really need to do is discover the ancient path. The one mapped out for us at Christmas in the birth of Jesus – the path of self-giving, the path of self-forgetting, the path of faith and of love. Many have trodden it before us. All we have to do is follow.

So I wonder in whose footsteps you hope to walk this year? How will you remain faithful to the path? We are running an Alpha Course towards the end of this month – perhaps you might like to start there? Its a chance to ask all those questions about faith you have always wanted to in a friendly, inclusive environment, with fellow travellers. Its a chance to eat and drink amongst new found friends and listen to their stories. We have been handing out invitations to Alpha throughout December so you may have one already. If not, pick one up in either Capel or Ockley churches. Call or email me or Revd Gill if you think you might like to try this path. I promise you don’t need to become a vicar or a ‘happy clappy’ or whatever brand of Christianity puts you right off!! Its just about exploring quietly and gently what faith, if any, might look like for you. It certainly would be one of the ancient paths…

With my love and prayers
Liz

01306 711250 vicar@capelandockleychurch.org.uk 07837408239

Much of my letter is drawn from pages 22/23 of ‘Twelve Joys of Christmas’ Meditations for Christmas and the New Year by Nicholas Papadopulos Dean of Salisbury Cathedral. Available in our churches.
Revd.Liz Richardson
liz@hostmyserver.co.uk

Dear friends,

What a start of the year it has been weatherwise!
We’ve had snow, ice, wind and (lots of) rain but also some glorious sunshine. I hope you are all keeping well and looking forward to the days lengthening again.

The picture today is of a car windscreen. Nature generates some amazing patterns. This looks like feathers or ferns and it’s beautiful.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20260111.pdf
Weekly Notes
Readings-20260111.pdf

Dear friends,

A happy new year to you all!

We started the year with family visits in Belgium and The Netherlands, and the picture today was taken only yesterday when we drove home: a very Dutch winter landscape with pollarded willows and sheep grazing in the snow.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20260104.pdf

Weekly Notes
Readings-20260104.pdf

Happy new year to all our readers!

A new life begins for us with every second,
Let us go forward joyously to meet it.
We must press on, whether we will or no,
and we shall walk better with
Our eyes before us
Than with them ever cast behind.

Jerome K Jerome

Jan26_churchwebsite_compressed.pdf

Dear friends,

The last issue of this year doubles for Christmas and the last Sunday of December with one set of notes and two sets of readings.

The weather forecast is looking good for the foreseeable future: a bit colder but we are due some sunshine so try and enjoy it while you can! I know that we are planning some outdoor time in between shopping, eating and laying jigsaws.

Have a lovely Yule tide and God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20251225.pdf

Christmas Notes
Readings-20251225.pdf

Christmas Readings
Readings-20251228.pdf

Dear friends,

This Sunday sees the Winter solstice around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

The picture today is of a sign of new life on the tip of a yew tree branch but isn’t it magical how new life already shows on trees and shrubs in autumn when they lose their leaves? Buds are showing as soon as the leaves have fallen, ready to burst open as soon as the conditions are right in spring.

Happy Christmas to you all and God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20251221.pdf
Weekly Notes
Readings-20251221.pdf
Weekly Readings

Dear friends,

The picture today was taken in Petworth House a week ago. Just one of many magical indoor displays. Do go and see if you have a few hours to spare.

I am one of many who are trying to overcome a severe cold, but glad that the flu has passed me by so far. Think of those who are in the throws of it and need hospitalisation and also of those who work so hard to care for them.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20251214.pdf

Weekly Notes
Readings-20251214.pdf

Dear friends,

This Friday we visited Petworth.
It was a beautiful morning with blue skies and a light haze in the distance. Things turned a bit wet later but we really enjoyed those few hours of sunshine. Today’s pictures were taken in the grounds. Inside the house has been decorated for Christmas and I have a few lovely pictures for you to accompany the notes in the coming weeks.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

Notes-20251207.pdf

Weekly Notes
Readings-20251207.pdf

As I write at the end of November, I am thinking about Christmas puddings! One of my favourite things at Christmas. This coming Sunday is known as Stir Up Sunday because one of the set prayers following Holy Communion, after we have taken bread and wine is this: ‘Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ This ancient prayer has become traditional in the proximity of preparing for Christmas – a good time to make the Christmas pudding – at least. Full of wonderful fruits and sugars and I seem to remember in my childhood it contained a sixpence or a shilling! I am sure we shouldn’t do that now!

December, the season of expectation and preparation as we wait for the birth of our Saviour Jesus. In the churchyard the community Christmas trees will be put up and dressed, the lights will be switched on and carols will be sung. In the church there will be more carols to be sung in our special services and once again we will be joined by children and staff from Scott Broadwood School in our traditional Nine Lessons and Carols on the 14th December. The following Sunday on the 21st Bob and the Band will be upping the tempo somewhat with their upbeat very jolly renditions of Christmas carols and music. You will see all the details for our December services in the calendar.At home at the vicarage our nativity scene will once again appear, probably for the last time as this Christmas will be my last one in the parish so do make the most of it! I will be retiring next October after 15 years of ministry here – time goes so fast and I can hardly believe it. In the meantime there is lots to do in preparation for the vacancy that will follow as the parish begins the appointment process for my successor.

So what happens after the celebrations then, and January welcomes us into another new year? Well there are a few things that might pique your interest and one is that we are planning to run an Alpha Course beginning towards the end of January. An opportunity to join together to explore life, faith and meaning. Running over several weeks we look at a different question around the Christian faith so its a good opportunity to meet new people, grab some free food, get to know each other and have a completely open conversation about what we will see and hear, sharing our thoughts if we wish to and hear what others say. Invitations will be handed out at all our Christmas services plus invitations for you to invite others along as well. We will also be giving you a lovely booklet ‘Twelve Joys of Christmas’ to enjoy. It contains short meditations for Christmas and the New Year and guess what the subject is for Day 1 – Christmas Day? Its all about the Christmas Pudding!!! Its a lovely little booklet and I do hope you enjoy it. They will be available in our churches throughout December. Now I must go shopping and buy my ingredients for I have to make my Christmas Pudding and by the way may I wish you every blessing for Christmas and the New Year!
With my love and prayers
Liz

Revd.Liz Richardson
liz@hostmyserver.co.uk