Is it really December again?

So soon!! Winter is here. Did you know that in Finland they begin preparing for winter in July. Winter arrives very suddenly and nearly half the year is spent below zero getting down to minus 10. Summer temperatures can shoot up towards 30. Very extreme then so you need to prepare for that kind of winter. I have been reading a beautiful book called ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May which explores the power and rest of retreat during difficult times. I thought it might be useful as we continue to live through difficult times economically which can affect all our lives at one level or another. Katherine May explains in her book that ‘wintering’ can happen at any time of the year though and describes it as a season in the cold, a fallow period in life when you’re cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress or cast into the role of an outsider. It can result from illness, a life event, a period of transition or anything which feels like you have temporarily fallen between two worlds. Wintering can creep up slowly or come upon us suddenly.

Interesting stuff! When we know winter is coming we can prepare like the people of Finland and no doubt all the others countries in the top of the Northern hemisphere. I guess we know winter is coming and is here, although outside temperatures as I write are pretty mild still. So I wonder how can we prepare? My son recently alarmed me by going through our outgoings at home and has already saved us a considerable amount of money on things we can certainly do without. It was a bit like one of those money saving programmes or like ‘Eat Well for Less’, but more painful as I faced the realisation that I have wasted money! I am so aware though that for some in our community there isn’t even that option – that there is no money to waste….

To that end at church we try to assist those in need through various means and not just at Christmas. I am an agent for Dorking Foodbank and so can authorise vouchers – just give me a ring 01306 711260 or email me on liz@hostmyserver.co.uk. If you have never used a food bank they are amazing places and will provide you with much needed stores for your cupboards. Likewise those who are better off can and do donate goods to the Foodbank and you will find a collection box inside Capel Church for this and for the Leatherhead Start scheme. Donations are currently down which is of course a sign of the times, but lets hope we can do something about this.

At church this month we prepare for the birth of Jesus the Saviour of the world. Named Emmanuel, God with us. God with us, literally, as we travel through the seasons of our lives whether it be spring, summer, autumn, or winter. That first Christmas was full of such seasons – joy but sorrow too. You may think you know the story inside out, but why not come along to one of our Advent and Christmas services to discover something new! In the meantime I wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

With my love and prayers
Revd Liz

Dear friends,

One of the advantages of longer nights is that I come to appreciate the beauty of sunsets much more because they fall at a time when I am active. This picture was taken east of Capel. On my way home from Newdigate I kept looking and hoping for a good spot to stop the car to capture the moment. By the time I could stop the colours were already fading but still had that crisp autumn quality with the kind of blue you don’t often get.

Please note that café church will be in St John for the winter period, starting this Sunday. A new feature in this email is the menu for café church as attachment in addition to the lectionary readings of the blue sheets. The readings from the blue sheets are not always at café church and we thought some of you might like to have a look.

Bob has asked me to purchase your tickets for Green Matthews online at Green Matthews – A Brief History of Music – The Capel Box Office www.capelboxoffice.co.uk/product/green-matthews-a-brief-history-of-music/ if you can so he has a better idea how many will come. Ticket sales are steady but it would be great to have a full house.

With this email going out today there is just time to promote the Capel litter pick tomorrow morning (10am start at Capel Parish Hall) and the re-scheduled Ockley bonfire night tomorrow evening. I am reliably informed that all possible measures have been taken to ensure that no hedgehogs are harmed in the making of it!

God bless,

Dineke

Dear friends,

What a gorgeous day we had on Friday! After the (much needed!) rain the days before it was great to have a full day of sunshine. The rain had made some watercourses difficult to cross as you can see in the first two pictures but the sun really made for some beautiful vistas.

This week I would like to draw your attention to the Green Matthews concert on Saturday November 19. Having seen them last year I can thoroughly recommend them and it would really help if you could pre-book your tickets if you are planning to go:
www.capelboxoffice.co.uk/product/green-matthews-a-brief-history-of-music/

Also, please don’t forget to bring some money to purchase Traidcraft goods after service in Capel.

Last but not least: the Ockley bonfire night has been postponed for a week and will now be held on November 12th. This gives you another week to purchase your tickets!

God bless,

Dineke

Sent from my iPhone

Dear friends,

I have just realised that the clocks change tonight. It’ll be a shock to the system when it’ll be dark an hour earlier in the evening. Sometimes I wish we would keep the clocks on summertime but practically: time to get the candles out!

Suzanne has just let me know that next week, the first Sunday in November, there will be Traidcraft after the morning service in Capel. It will be in the notes for next week but now you know, you can make sure to bring some extra money!

I was asked to remind you of bonfire night in Ockley on November 5th. Please look up details in the local magazines or on the Ockley website.

The picture was taken by Dik 7 years ago during one of my sister’s visits. I don’t even remember where it was but isn’t it a great example of the glorious English countryside? We have many of these to fall back on when I haven’t taken a photo in the week.

God bless,

Dineke

Remembrance 2022  – Many of the usual features together with articles commemorating Remembrance including a personal memoir and prayers.

Also see Rev Liz’s letter:

“I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining
I believe in love when I feel it not
I believe in God even when he is silent”

Dear friends,

Last week I was reminded of the Creation Care website (see below). Some of you may remember I reported on this award scheme for households in the early days of COVID. This week I reviewed my answers and it came as no surprise that we had dropped out of the golden zone quite dramatically. The tumble was of course caused by our flight to Norway in July to attend my niece’s wedding. As was the case for many, we did not travel by plane (or much at all) from March 2020 onwards for two years. Also, living in the countryside necessitates a fair bit of car travel, which adds to the carbon footprint in the travel category. All this doesn’t stop us from reducing our car miles as much as possible.
In the other categories our score was relatively unchanged and quite high so we still came out as ‘highly commended’. It would be lovely to see some more uptake of this award scheme in our churches.

Welcome to Creation Care | Creation Care<creationcare.org.uk/>

The picture this week is of ferns growing on an established tree. The photo reminds me of the biblical image of us being grafted like shoots into Jesus, the true vine, by the Father.
God bless,

Dineke

I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining
I believe in love when I feel it not
I believe in God even when he is silent

These words above are based on some lines which were found written on the wall in a cellar in Cologne after World War II. At the recent Annual Service of Comfort for the Bereaved held in our church at the end of last month, the choir sung a setting of these beautiful words set to music by Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arnesen. The original lines are these:
I believe in the sun, though it be dark;
I believe in God though He be silent;
I believe in neighbourly love, though it be unable to reveal itself.

At the time these words were written, some underground passages beneath old buildings were being used as refuges for people hiding from the Gestapo. At one point, nine Jewish fugitives hid there for four months without ever being caught. The emergency housing was fully equipped with kitchen, bedroom, living room, radio, a small library and oil lamps. Meals could only be prepared at night so any smoke or smell wouldn’t attract the Gestapo’s attention. Food had to be supplied by friends who willingly gave up a portion of their rations to help those people living for weeks in utter darkness. The inscription itself is written on the wall of one of these underground rooms.

This month of course is the time when we remember all those who died in the World Wars and of course sadly more recent conflicts. Thankfully we are not living in such conditions ourselves but Ukraine remains very much on our hearts and minds I am sure. I think these beautiful words above speak to us of a great hope which we all need to hang on to in difficult times. A hope that despite what we may be experiencing or facing in the future, the sun is still shining, God is there, as is love. It’s like flying in a plane high above the clouds, the sky is blue and the sun is shining, even though the weather below is grey and raining. In those weather conditions, it doesn’t mean the sun has gone away, it’s still there somewhere. The author of these words cannot see the sun and he can’t hear Gods voice. Yet he still hangs onto these items of faith, perhaps because of his trust in the love and compassion being shown to him in secret.

So as winter begins in earnest, I pray these words may give you comfort, as we all face the cost of living rises and of course higher energy bills. Neighbourly love is something our community does very well, but we need to know which of our neighbours needs a helping hand. I don’t know whether we are planning any warm spaces in the village, but I am pretty sure as the colder weather bites if there’s a need we will find a solution in Capel! In the meantime, you are assured of a very warm welcome at one of our heated church services or events so come and join us soon!
With my love and prayers

Revd Liz

Dear frieds,

Once again my apologies for being late publishing the notes.
This week was particularly unnecessary as the notes were ready and printed on Thursday! I have now created an entry in my diary to remind me every week. The lesson: never expect a different outcome when doing the same thing over and over again.

The picture attached was taken two weeks ago in our field. It was a real surprise to suddenly see eight youngstock grazing where I expected one horse. It made for a pretty picture though and the situation was soon rectified by the farmer next door.

God bless,

Dineke

Dear friends,

Better late than never: I nearly forgot to send the weekly email to you this week. I will never become a person of habit!
We have a very good year for mushrooms in all shapes and sizes. What an abundance and what great weather we have again.

Please consider the plea for helpers and don’t hesitate to ask around what is involved in the roles we are seeking to fill before you decide. It’ll be lovely to see some new faces busying themselves in church on a Sunday.
God bless,

Dineke