Dear friends,
It is with great sadness that I read the news that Eric Sutcliffe died in the early hours of this morning. He will be greatly missed. Please remember Jessie and all the family in your prayers.
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 9:35am on Sunday June 14th, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 15 June 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
Pollen are a major source of food for bees. For that reason this hydrangea is a major attraction for them in late spring.
We hope to welcome many of you at our café church event in the Weald school Sunday morning. Coffee will be ready around 10:45 for the service to start at 11:00.
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 4:10pm on Sunday June 7th, 2026
The post [weekly-notes]Notes for Sunday 8 June 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
This Saturday we saw the tail end of the Rhododendrons near Leith Hill Place. We also finally visited the house. It was lovely to look around the place that was once the home of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
I’m sure you probably all know this but I had to think what St MM meant when I read attached notes: St Mary Magdalen. This is obviously just for those who are as unobservant as I am! Do please make an effort to come to café church in the Weald next week and support this work in the community.
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 2:40pm on Sunday May 31st, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 1 June 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Pentecost issue
‘To be filled with the Spirit is to have the Spirit fulfilling in us all that God intended him to do when he placed him there’
Lewis S Chafer
Post expires at 8:40pm on Saturday May 30th, 2026
The post InSpire June 2025 Issue 93 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Liz’s Letter
June is a particularly joyful month for us this year as we continue our Easter celebrations. The Easter season concludes in June, and we’ll mark this with the celebration of Pentecost—the fulfillment of Christ’s promise with the arrival of the Holy Spirit, which completes and crowns the Easter Festival.
We’ll be holding a special Pentecost Holy Communion service at St Margaret’s, Ockley on the day itself. Following that, our Cafe Church will meet at The Weald School from 11am, where we’ll enjoy a joint school and church family picnic. Everyone is warmly invited—please do join us!
Later in the month, we’ll be attending Gill’s ordination service at Guildford Cathedral—appropriately named The Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit! This marks the culmination of Gill’s three-year journey of training for ordination, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone with her.
Gill will first be ordained as a Deacon, and then, a year later, as a Priest. This is the journey for all clergy— we all begin as Deacons and all are essentially Deacons in heart. The Deacon year is especially focused on service, symbolised by the stole worn diagonally across the body, echoing Jesus’ example of washing His disciples’ feet. It is a time of living out our calling to serve, and to share God’s love and grace with the community we’re placed in.
Everyone is warmly invited to attend the ordination service at the Cathedral. However, please speak to me in advance, as parking is limited and seating must be taken by a specific time.
After the service, we’ll be holding a special bring-and-share lunch at Ockley Village Hall from 1pm, and everyone is most welcome to join us there too!
This June, we mark 10 years of the Dorking Food Bank. While it’s not a celebration in the traditional sense—since the need for food banks is a sobering reality of modern life—it is an opportunity to recognise the vital support it offers to so many. For those facing hardship, the Food Bank is a lifeline, offering not only practical help but also a warm welcome and a comforting cup of tea.
I recently visited one of their sessions and spoke with a client whose life has been significantly impacted by the care and support received from the Dorking team. Their presence has played a key role in her journey toward better health.
Vouchers for the Food Bank are now available online, or you can speak with me or Sylvie Beckett, our Pastoral Assistant—we both have vouchers ready to distribute.
To honour a decade of service, our parish is launching an initiative called Donate 10. This could be 10 food items, 10 carrier bags, or a £10 donation. Feel free to get creative—every contribution, large or small, helps. Whether it’s food donations or funds to allow the Food Bank to purchase supplies in bulk, your generosity makes a real difference.
You can drop off food donations inside St John the Baptist Church—just place them in the collection box and we’ll ensure they reach the Food Bank. For monetary donations, feel free to speak with us directly or give online at www.dorkingarea.foodbank.org.uk <www.dorkingarea.foodbank.org.uk/>.
Thank you in advance for your continued support!
Meanwhile I pray that you will know the love and peace of Christ through the Holy Spirit and know that we as your parish churches are here to love and serve you.
With my love and prayers
Liz
Revd.Liz Richardson
liz@hostmyserver.co.uk
Post expires at 4:45pm on Friday May 22nd, 2026
The post June joy appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
On our way to the Netherlands two weeks ago we had a visit from this young seagull, whilst waiting for the ferry. He was very comfortably sunning himself on the bonnet of our car. His mate was looking at us through the transparent roof.
We finally had some rain last night. Not quite enough to satisfy the garden plants but very welcome indeed. The slugs like it too but we desperately needed this rain. It’s unfortunate that it comes on bank holiday weekend but the temperatures are good so let’s make the most of it!
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 11:15am on Sunday May 24th, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 25 May 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
What a gorgeous sky we had last Wednesday at our B&B. I don’t recall ever having seen a stripy sky like this before. It was like an irregular zebra crossing all the way to the horizon.
Tomorrow I will set up the LOAF stall again in church. I hope you will bring some cash or credit cards to purchase some of the lovely goods on offer.
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 10:35am on Sunday May 17th, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 18 May 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
This week my 40 year old niece died.
She was severely disabled but anyone who would talk across her would do so at their peril: she had a keen intellect. It saddens me that I feel the need to explain this to people. With all the progress we have made as humankind many of us still haven’t learned to look past what we feel is the norm. We should not hesitate to take the plunge and interact with people who act, look or sound differently. We should all know by now that we are all God’s creatures, loved equally by Him and we should follow where He leads.
Please note that cafe church is in St John tomorrow. The weather is gorgeous but still a bit cold for our guitarists.
Today’s picture is of our balloon flight 2 weeks ago. It took us from Billingshurst to Petworth in perfect weather.
God bless
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 8:25am on Sunday May 10th, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 11 May 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
In the Netherlands May 4 is remembrance day, the eve of liberation day when the country was completely freed of German occupation by English, Canadian, American, Polish and Dutch forces.
The Polish and Dutch forces may surprise you but during the occupation many young Dutchmen escaped across the North sea and trained to fight. Many Polish lads made their way to the UK as well via various routes and fought alongside the English. Also, the south of the Netherlands was liberated almost a year before the north giving southern lads the opportunity and incentive to fight.
On May 4 the national flag is flown half mast from all official buildings and many private houses. The orange pennant must be omitted for this occasion as it is for Royal family occasions only. Most churches will be ringing a single bell from 19:45 till 19:59 and at 20:00 is the time for the two minutes silence. After the silence the flag is raised to full until sunset. On 5 May the flag is raised again in celebration, without the pennant, and the celebrations begin.
The picture today is of the climbing rose we bought several years ago and feels quite at home, mixed with the Wisteria next to it. It’s called Maigold and always flowers early May.
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 7:20pm on Sunday May 3rd, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 4 May 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear friends,
In the Netherlands May 4 is remembrance day, the eve of liberation day when the country was completely freed of German occupation by English, Canadian, American, Polish and Dutch forces.
The Polish and Dutch forces may surprise you but during the occupation many young Dutchmen escaped across the North sea and trained to fight. Many Polish lads made their way to the UK as well via various routes and fought alongside the English. Also, the south of the Netherlands was liberated almost a year before the north giving southern lads the opportunity and incentive to fight.
On May 4 the national flag is flown half mast from all official buildings and many private houses. The orange pennant must be omitted for this occasion as it is for Royal family occasions only. Most churches will be ringing a single bell from 19:45 till 19:59 and at 20:00 is the time for the two minutes silence. After the silence the flag is raised to full until sunset. On 5 May the flag is raised again in celebration, without the pennant, and the celebrations begin.
The picture today is of the climbing rose we bought several years ago and feels quite at home, mixed with the Wisteria next to it. It’s called Maigold and always flowers early May.
God bless,
Dineke van den Bogerd
Post expires at 7:20pm on Sunday May 3rd, 2026
The post Notes for Sunday 4 May 2025 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Notes-20250615.pdf