Notes for Sunday 3 March 2024
Dear friends, This message comes to you from sunny Dutchland, where we are on a trip we had to postpone from last January. Next week is Mothering Sunday and we hope to welcome many children of all ages in our churches, either to cafe church in St John or a more traditional service in St Margaret’s. The picture today is of some tiny patches of moss gracing a Capel gate post. God bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240303.pdf Weekly Notes 20240303-reading.pdf Weekly Readings Post expires at 1:42pm on Sunday March 2nd, 2025
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Welcome to the March issue where we look at Lent, Easter and Mothering Sunday. “Each morning we must raise the sails of our boat and go where the Spirit leads. He brings the wind and He governs the speed and direction, but we must co-operate by ensuring that we join Him on the journey.” Anon. March24_autocolour.pdf Post expires at 7:13pm on Saturday March 1st, 2025
Dear friends, My apologies for the lateness of this message. I was on a mission yesterday and totally forgot to post. Our quiet day last week was a great success. The location was inspirational (see attached photo) and we learnt a lot about reading the bible in a listening mode. Rev Jo took us through the process step by step and the serious nature of the subject was broken up by good companionship and moments of laughter and joy. Please consider coming to St John on Wednesdays in Lent to enjoy homemade soup for a donation to charity. God bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240225.pdf Readings-20240225.pdf Post expires at 5:44pm on Tuesday February 25th, 2025
Dear friends, You receive this message a bit later than normal because some of us have been at the quiet day retreat yesterday. I’m sure you will be hearing about it after the event. The picture today is of our happy hens roaming the garden in the mild weather. God bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240218.pdf Weekly Notes Readings-20240218.pdf Weekly Readings Post expires at 4:23pm on Sunday February 16th, 2025
Dear friends, The quality of today’s picture leaves much to be desired but I could not resist sharing the blue tits feeding at the newly installed feeder. A robin has been to visit as well but he/she is a bit more cautious and would not be captured. The after school club is doing really well. We must all congratulate the volunteers for making this initiative such a success. What a wonderful way to reach out to the wider community. The volunteers and children will start preparations for Easter after a much deserved break this half term. God bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240211.pdf Weekly Notes Readings-20240211.pdf Weekly Readings Post expires at 9:43am on Monday February 10th, 2025
Dear friends, All around us spring is showing. Snowdrops and daffodils have started to flower and the picture attached is of the first crocuses in our garden. What a joy to behold! Lent isn’t far off and there are quite a few activities planned. Some are for our own benefit (discipling the core) and others for the wider community. The Lent lunches will start on Wednesday the 21st of this month with soup, bread and cheese provided for a donation to the Bishop’s of Guildford Communities Fund: www.cofeguildford.org.uk/mission/growing-community/bishop-of-guildfords-communities-fund/bishop-of-guildfords-communities-fund<www.cofeguildford.org.uk/mission/growing-community/bishop-of-guildfords-communities-fund/bishop-of-guildfords-communities-fund> We hope to see many of you at these events. God bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240204.pdf Weekly Notes Readings-20240204.pdf Weekly Readings Post expires at 11:22am on Monday February 3rd, 2025
Our 80th issue and this month we look forward to Lent 2024 and all that we have on offer to mark it as a Parish. All the usual features plus a NEW monthly quiz! No man ever said, at the end of his days, ‘I have read my Bible too much, I have thought of God too much, I have prayed too much, I have been too careful with my soul.’ J. C. Ryle February24_autocolour.pdf Issue 80 – February 24 Post expires at 1:25pm on Saturday February 1st, 2025
Dear friends, The year has gone off with a flying start for our churches. The already popular after school club and preparations in full swing for the revival of ‘Open the Book’, the Lent course and the Quiet Day. Read more in the notes attached. Lent lunches will be back this year following the success from last year. More information will follow soon. The dates are already in our website calendar together with all the latest information for all the PCC activities: www.capelandockleychurch.org.uk/events-calendar/ The pictures today are from two different walks, both quite nearby: Leith Hill and Beare Green to Anstiebury Farm. We are so lucky to live in this beautiful part of the world. God Bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240128.pdf Weekly Notes Readings-20240128.pdf Weekly Readings Post expires at 11:43am on Monday January 27th, 2025
Well I hope this letter finds you well?! January was a really nasty winter month for those pesky winter germs, coughs, and all sorts, as well as the cold weather. As we come into February I am sure we will be encouraged by the growth of the early flowering spring bulbs and blossoms. February for us at church looks to be quite a busy month. The season of Lent is early this year beginning with Ash Wednesday on the 14th of this month and of course it is also Valentine’s Day! This year we are invited for a special service of Holy Communion with what is called the Imposition of Ashes (you get a lovely black mark on your forehead!) at St Peter’s Church Newdigate. Then we will be running a Lent Course this year called ‘Be Still’. The course is about prayer and explains how we don’t necessarily have to be physically still in order for our hearts to be still and how even in the midst of a full, busy life, we can all spend quiet time with God. I am really looking forward to doing this course! Each of the five sessions takes about an hour and… 
Dear friends, That was a short sharp spell of winter weather! The pictures this week were taken on a walk in Warnham Nature reserve. What a privilege to have that little gem on our doorstep: a wildlife oasis hemmed in between Horsham town and two busy roads. The attached notes give details of several Lent initiatives so please read. Next week we will also be starting the campaign for the Lent lunches. These proved very successful last year and we hope to attract even more people this time around. We look forward to a time of looking inward and go out into the community. God bless, Dineke van den Bogerd notes-20240121.pdf Weekly Notes Readings-20240121.pdf Weekly Readings Post expires at 11:28am on Monday January 20th, 2025