September and Autumn beckons once more. I always say this is a favourite time of year for me. Apart from the beautiful Autumn colours, I enjoy the changing of the seasons but I like that September is very much a season of new beginnings too. A new academic term begins and children and young people everywhere will be starting new schools, new classes or college for the first time. Our eldest granddaughter is starting secondary school this year which seems unbelievable! So lots of new things begin in the Autumn don’t they and I am sure there is a lot going on in our community groups and organisations to encourage us all to do something new perhaps?

Talking of which… we are doing something new this Autumn in our churches. We are recognising properly for the first time ever, the season known as Creationtide. The season begins on September 1st, World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, to October 4th, the feast of St Francis of Assisi. In order to assist our celebration of this season we are using resources from an annual ecumenical global movement to pray and act to protect our world. This global movement has a different creation theme each year and for this year, 2023, the theme is ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’ for which you will see the logo below. The theme is based on the words of the prophet Amos who cried out to the people of his time ‘let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream’. (Amos 5.24) So too we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to embrace climate and ecological justice. Our prayers must call out for justice not only for human beings but for all creation. I wonder if we ever think of justice for creation? A mighty river is chosen as well because it represents biodiversity at risk. The urgency of these matters is growing as we all know and we are called to make peace with the earth. I love that idea of making peace with our earth….

Anyway, challenging stuff, but in our own way we are going to reflect on these issues through different readings from scripture about creation throughout the month. We will be including a special Pet Service this month at Ockley plus we will be celebrating two Harvest Festivals as well! I’m hoping there will be some creativity to look at too! Another prophet Isaiah also said this. ‘listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.’ (Isaiah 43.19). Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find a way forward to really help our planet and protect the future for our children and grandchildren? Do come and join us in our celebrations, help us bring in the harvest, pray blessings on our beloved animals or just come and let the river of justice and peace flow over you!
With my love and prayers as ever

Revd Liz

Dear friends,

Nest week, on Saturday 19 august, is the Capel show and I am very pleased that Rev Liz will once again be stepping in to edit the notes as I will be very busy this week preparing for my part in it. I hope many of you will look in on what promises to be a fabulous show at the bargain price of £5 pp (children 12 and under go free). The car show is full with 700 classic exhibits and the horticultural show will be brimming with entries.

The main picture today is of a Gatekeeper. One of the more common butterflies and my butterfly book informs me that it is most active and abundant at the hight of summer. There were loads of them on my walk last week. The second picture was taken from a motorway in the Netherlands last weekend. It doesn’t do the sky justice and it reminded me of two of the things I miss living in the UK: wide open spaces and water.

I am coming to the end of a year of editing the weekly news sheets and this email and I am hoping one of you will be taking on this fulfilling task. Please get in touch if you feel so inclined.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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Weekly Readings

Dear friends,

Last week I could not finish the notes in time before leaving for a long weekend away.
Rev Liz kindly agreed to finish them for me, wherefore thanks. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to post them on the website but here they are and I hope you find them better late than never!

Today’s picture is of an early bunch of Lords and Ladies I met on a walk this week.

I am coming to the end of a year of editing the weekly news sheets and this email and I am hoping one of you will be taking on this fulfilling task. Please get in touch if you feel so inclined.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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notes-20230806.pdf

Dear friends,

Rev Liz is on a well-deserved holiday and Eric and Richard have kindly agreed to prepare this Sunday’s parish service. Please come and support them. There will also be an opportunity to buy LOAF goods after the service, whilst you drink a lovely fresh brew/coffee and have a chat.

The August edition of Inspire magazine is available now to read or download on www.capelandockleychurch.org.uk/inspire-magazine/<www.capelandockleychurch.org.uk/inspire-magazine/>. If you would like to subscribe to receive your church’s publications regularly via email please follow the link below to register. There are also hardcopies in our churches.

The picture today is of the beautiful Surrey countryside. It was the view of where I would have been on my walk home from Tanhouse farmshop before I reached Aldhurst Farm if I hadn’t got lost ….

I am coming to the end of editing the weekly news sheets and this email and I am hoping one of you will be taking on this fulfilling task. Please get in touch if you feel so inclined.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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Another packed issue including news from The Diocese of Guildford on the appointment of the new Bishop of Dorking.  Enjoy August wherever you are!

Hebrews 10:24-25

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and
all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

August2023_autocol.pdf

Dear friends,

Tomorrow is the first of two parish services in a row. We hope top see quite a few of you in St Margaret’s and if you do come, please consider buying at the new LOAF stall: organic, free trade coffee, tea, sugar, honey and biscuits and much more to aid the PCC’s efforts towards becoming carbon net zero.

Today’s pictures were taken on a walk from Parkgate. The first in a Capel field of a mushroom species I am not familiar with. The second of some very successful parents. One brood of 8 ducklings and another of 6 moorhens in a pond in Newdigate. I could not get them all in one picture and I have never seen such numbers of young ducks and moorhens in a single brood reach near-adulthood. It was lovely to waste some time watching them.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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weekly notes
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weekly readings

Dear friends,

As I write, I feel the need to check my diary because it looks a lot like autumn has arrived!
With our continental neighbours experiencing extreme heat we are bracing ourselves for rain, thunderstorms and wind gusts of over 45 mph. Quite a contrast with last weekend too.

The picture today was taken last Sunday in Wales: a small but feisty mother duck watching over her resting brood at the canal edge.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
Readings-20230716.pdf

Dear friends,

This email is later than normal as I’m away to Wales. Our choir has taken part in the Eisteddfod in Llangollen on Saturday. We didn’t make it to the choir of the world competition on Saturday evening but I enjoyed singing in two classes on Saturday morning: very exciting!

Unfortunately, Rev Liz is struggling with a dental infection and can not take the service on Sunday. All are more than welcome to join in with Café church at 10:30 in the Crown at Capel. Coffee and croissants will be provided as well as thought for the day, beautiful music and much more.

The pictures today are from the fundraising event at the military show last weekend. A lot of effort by a lot of volunteers so let’s hope for a good result (a little birdie tells me that it’s likely to be more than last year!).

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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weekly notes
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weekly readings

Dear friends,

In haste because I am already late for my shift at the military show to serve church teas and cakes.

The picture today is of a fledged blackbird that is waiting to be fed by its parents: good luck and Godspeed little one!

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
Readings-20230702.pdf