Author Archive

Dear all Well hello from ‘panto-land’ – three performances down and three to go. So far, so good; it seems everyone who has seen Ali Baba and the forty thieves has thoroughly enjoyed it and so too are we performers I think! I have really enjoyed how the Ockley Dramatic Society production encourages people of all ages and abilities to tread the boards and especially the children who really make the pantomime special by their acting and dancing. It has been great fun. As I write this letter I am looking forward to Candlemas next Sunday which brings to a close the season of Christmas and Epiphany. Epiphany means revelation and all the themes of our services in January are all about revelation from God about whom Jesus was and is. St Margaret’s decided to keep their Christmas tree and other festive decorations up for the whole of January in church at Ockley – something which maybe has not been done before. This is perfectly in order as many churches all over the world do the same as technically Christmas doesn’t end until the beginning of this month. I can hear some of you scream in horror at the thought!!… Read More

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It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that I write to you this month. There is an overriding sadness at the loss of two of our most celebrated and loved parishioners – Tony Goddard and Canon Christopher (Chris) Drummond, who have both died within a month of one another. However, I was so touched at both services of Thanksgiving for their lives and the feeling of great joy that we all felt for having known them. Continued in the attachment Issue-24_February2019.pdf Post expires at 4:36pm on Sunday February 2nd, 2020

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Dear all Happy New Year! I hope you had a good Christmas and are now raring to go into 2019?! Oh dear, January is a tough month isn’t it. The Spring seems a long way away but at least the nights are already drawing out which is amazing. Light is such a marvellous thing isn’t it – we long for it in the darkness of these winter days and in the darkness of some areas of life too. So light is my theme for this month’s letter because before Christmas I went on a family trip up to the West End in London to see the Christmas lights. This turned out to be very exciting as I haven’t been to see the lights in town for many, many years and I had forgotten just how magical they are. The trip included a visit to Hamley’s toy store in Regent Street, which was suitably manic, with Christmas elves singing Jingle bells outside the store and being bombarded by bubble machines as we entered the shop. Never mind we survived even that! There were Christmas lights everywhere – more than I ever remember – but perhaps that’s because of LED now? The… Read More

The post Let there be light! appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. 1 Timothy 4:7 Issue-23_January_2019.pdf

The post January 2019 – A Happy New Year to all our Readers and Sponsors appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

Wishing all our readers a joyous and peaceful Christmas.  “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift”  2 Corinthians 9:15 Inspire-December-2018-Web.pdf

The post Issue 22 – December 2018 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

Dear all On putting pen to paper so to speak, as I write, the weather has turned very cold! What a shock to the system after our beautiful autumn and the generally mild temperatures we have enjoyed. The central heating is definitely being turned up a bit! I wonder what this next month of December will bring? It is such a busy time of the year, although I think it’s busy in Capel and Ockley all year round with the amazing range of activities, events and groups that offer such a wide and varied programme. However, as we approach Christmas it always seems there is virtually no time in December before the 25th and so this month we I hope will enjoy the various Christmassy events on offer. The churches in Capel and Ockley will be hosting and supporting much of these so do study the December services and events list in this magazine to find the detail. Everything is also on our Capel and Ockley website too. If you haven’t visited it yet here is the address www.capelandockleychurch.org.uk So if your Christmas has to include donkeys, carols, Christmas trees, excited children, nativities, cribs, Father Christmas, mulled wine and mince… Read More

The post Strange preparations appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

What a lot we have going on in our Parish this November. So many events to suit different tastes! Our inaugural Spanish Fiesta takes place next weekend on 3rd and 4th (see advert inside, although ticket sales have now closed). We have our annual Children’s Society Coffee morning on Saturday 10th and of course several important services including Remembrance Sunday and All Souls. This year’s Remembrance will be particularly poignant as we mark 100 years since the end of World War 1. November_2018_webversion.pdf

The post November 2018 Issue 21 – We Will Remember them appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

Dear Readers, As we enter the month of October and the days start drawing in, we have much to celebrate in both our churches with the two Harvest Festivals, Church teas continuing, Messy Church and the Spanish Fiesta in early November to look forward to. Read all about it in InSpire October-2018_website.pdf

The post InSpire October 2018 Issue 20 – Celebrating Harvest appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.

Dear all This month I will have been your vicar here for seven years which I can hardly believe. Where has all the time gone?! It certainly doesn’t seem like seven years; the time has literally flown by, yet these seven years have shaped our parish of Capel from one where I was appointed as a self-supporting minister under an arrangement of ‘House for Duty’ to a new united Parish and a full time Stipendiary role. (A Stipend is the ecclesiastical word for regular payment to clergy). Basically it means I am now paid! I was extremely happy to come here under House for Duty arrangements as I had other family commitments to honour as well as serving the church and community here. Those of you who know me and the work of clergy also know that ministry is rarely part time, so it was with great thankfulness that a couple of years ago Capel PCC agreed that they could fund a half stipend for the ministry I do. Now with the opportunity to join with St Margaret’s at Ockley, all agreed that this should be a full time stipendiary position which is wonderful. It is good for me of… Read More

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We have recently commenced work on the west boundary wall of the church yard. The appointed stonemason, Shawn Williamson was able to give us some time in September to make a very meaningful start on the wall. If you haven’t seen the impressive work he has done, you should take a walk through the church yard to see for yourself. If not, there are before and after photos attached. As Shawn had some free time we made a start on the wall to show our intent and what can be achieved to restore the lovely handcrafted wall. He has completed approximately 1/3 of the west wall. Money for this month’s work has come from the boundary wall fund. Shawn is proposing to return in November, weather and funds permitting. We have applied to the Capel Parish Council for partial funding and if that comes through we will be able to do a further section of the wall. Further donations from the parish and wider community are needed. Shawn would like to teach local people the art of stone masonry and we would welcome volunteers to come along in November to learn and assist. If you are able to do so… Read More

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