This week’s service considers God as a generous provider, even in challenging circumstances. Join the Harvest service with our online community at 9am on Sunday.
Click the read more link to go to the service on the Church of England Website.
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Dear Friends,
My goodness what a contrast to last week, the gales on Monday rampaged through the garden, taking with them many of the late flowering annuals that had been giving such a good display. Autumn has definitely arrived!
Another sign of Autumn is the Harvest Festival services, Ockley had theirs last week, I have attached a couple of photos of their decorations which look magnificent. This Sunday it is the turn of Capel, I have just been delivering to the church where everyone is hard at work creating a stunning array of flower arrangements so do please take a look even if you can’t join us for our service at 10.30 tomorrow. There are also harvest teas in the church from 3-5, so join us for cake and tea and see the beautiful decorations.
Suzanne and Stuart Cole will be bringing their Traidcraft wares to church in Capel this week and to Ockley on 31 October when we shall be having a joint service at St Margaret’s – the first in almost 2 years!
The October issues of InSpire are now in our churches, do pick up a copy and circulate it around your friends. The popularity of InSpire has grown, such that we are now having to print more copies to satisfy the demand. Would you be able to sponsor or part sponsor a month next year? In general each month’s issue costs us £95.00 to print, with gift aid this reduces the cost of sponsorship to £82.50, but if we were able to get two sponsors for each month we could increase the print run further and so for a sponsorship of £50 for two people we would be reaching more of our community. Do let me know if you are interested.
Many of you were saddened to hear of Dick Girling’s death last week, his daughter has written to say that his funeral will be on 15 October at 2.30pm at Fountain of Life church in Ashill, Norfolk. I attach a lovely picture that she also included, which was taken about 6 years ago.
Two items coming up for your diaries:
6,7 and 9 October Ockley dramatic Society are putting on ‘Pass the Butler’ at Ockley village hall. Ring 01306 868588 for tickets which are £10.
17 October 10.30am – instead of the normal service at Capel we will be having ’Songs of Praise’. Please put your favourite hymns on the list at the back of the church and Anthea will endeavour to play as many as possible.
Lastly, thank you to everyone who has offered to help at the Christmas Fair 20 November 12-4 – more helpers are always welcome even if you only have an hour to spare. We are also looking for raffle prizes to go into hampers on the following themes: culinary, gardening, wine and food, and pampering.
With love and prayers
Debbie von Bergen
debbievonbergen@icloud.com
07774 784008
Post expires at 3:34pm on Sunday October 2nd, 2022
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“Do not measure success by today’s harvest. Measure success by the seeds you plant today.” Robert Louis Stevenson
All the regular items including God in the Arts, Puzzles and High Days & Holy Days plus News from the Pews and much more! This month we celebrate Rev Liz being with us in Capel for ten years! Thank you Liz for your Ministry and friendship and may God bless your continuing service in our Parish.
Post expires at 3:32pm on Sunday October 2nd, 2022
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A recording of the Harvest Festival Service held at St Margaret’s Church, Ockley on 26 September 2021. This video has been produced for those who are currently either unable or not ready to come to church services at this time.
Officiant: Rev Liz Richardson
Readers: Gill Christie, Shirley Dean-Webster, James Lee-Steere
Intercessions: Rev Liz Richardson
Hymns:
‘We plough the fields and scatter’
‘For the fruits of all creation’ (tune is Ar Hyd Y Nos)
‘For the beauty of the earth’ by the Cambridge Singers.
‘Great is thy faithfulness’
Compassion UK YouTube video: https://youtu.be/5mbWUYOIXl0
Compassion sponsored children from a remote village in Northern Thailand have their letters hand-delivered by Kari – the mail runner. Join Kari, a former sponsored child, as he makes his seven hour journey twice a month.
To sponsor a child and partner with us to release children from poverty in Jesus name, visit
https://www.compassionuk.org/sponsors…
Post expires at 3:39pm on Monday September 26th, 2022
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Take time and space to reflect on God’s generosity. Join us from St Gabriel’s Church, Greystones, as Bishop Guli delivers the sermon from Chelmsford Cathedral.
Click the read more link to go to the service on the Church of England Website.
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I probably say this every year but I do love the Autumn! The changing colours, the trees and bushes just letting in that much more light as the leaves begin to fall. This year, in fact this month I will have been here in Capel as your vicar for ten years! Hard to believe as time has generally flown in this amazing role. I can recall how when we first moved into Capel we were struck by how dark the village was at night with very few street lights. A torch was a very necessary piece of equipment to guard us from falling down the ditch along the street having picked up fish and chips from the van at the village hall! We were warmly welcomed by you all and I could trade for quite a while on the fact that I was the ‘new vicar’. I think I have earned my stripes now so sadly I cannot use that excuse anymore!
Serving in rural or semi rural ministry is such a joy and it is lovely to be able to belong and be part of these communities. It is a huge privilege. It has also been so interesting to watch many of the children grow up from 5 year olds to teens in one of the best parts of my job which is to be involved with our village school. Then of course there have been the wonderful (I think!) Vicarage Fetes in our back garden. A childhood dream come true! And what a garden it is. Norman and Margaret Greenwood have helped us to look after it for a number of years now. Without them it would be something of a jungle I fear. It has been so special to have welcomed everyone into this lovely garden and especially the children from our schools to entertain us with country dancing and musical performances. Great team work beforehand and on the day ensured that these ‘fetes’ arrived and left as if by magic!
And so, what a joy it is to have such beautiful ancient churches to worship and preside in. Both St John the Baptist and St Margaret’s have stood the test of time with faithful worshippers and supporters over the year which continues to this day. However, I guess what we all fear is who will carry the baton on when numbers quite naturally will decline in the coming years?
I have three years left in Capel and Ockley before age means I shall have to retire from full time ministry. How amazing would it be then, if by October 2024 we found those people who would carry on that baton?
These churches are here for all children, young people and adults of all ages. You have continued to welcome us in your lives over these last ten years. Let us continue in welcoming you too, by helping you discover the sacred in this ever-changing world. Perhaps you will be one of those who will help us build on the strength and faithfulness of the past? A past which has given life and solace to so many in our communities as they discovered the God who never changes but always meets us where we are.
With my love and prayers
Liz
Post expires at 7:32am on Monday September 26th, 2022
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Dear Friends,
We went to see the Archbishop of Canterbury speak this morning at Dorking Halls. It was a really interesting occasion, he speaks well, has a lovely sense of humour, and wasn’t afraid to tackle some of the more difficult questions posed by the audience who were a mix of both believers and non-believers.
His overriding message was to keep asking questions, keep seeking the answers and see where that path leads you. God wants us to enter into discussions with him about the difficulties we face. The Archbishop used the book of Job to illustrate this – a brave choice, as poor Job loses everything, family, possessions, and his health, however he continues to talk to God throughout, lamenting his losses.
I do hope you have also had a chance to hear him speak during his visit to our diocese.
Sadly, Dick Girling died this week, for those that knew him and want to write Eileen has given permission for me to pass on her address, which is: Capella, 44 Ashburton Road
Ickburgh, Thetford Norfolk IP26 5JA.
This coming week also sees the funeral service at Capel of Bill Ball, who was the organist for many years. The service will be at 12.30 on Tuesday followed by refreshments in the church.
Tomorrow is Ockley’s Harvest Festival at 9.30am which will be followed by a ploughman’s lunch from 12 noon. If you would like to attend the lunch but haven’t yet booked your place, please phone Shirley Dean Webster on 01403 822967. Capel will have morning worship at 10.30am.
The photo of the week is from a lovely walk from Newlands Corner to St Martha’s church, the weather was fine with just a touch of Autumn in the air, the perfect day for walking, I do hope you too have managed to enjoy the gentle change in our seasons.
With love and prayers
Debbie von Bergen
debbievonbergen@icloud.com
07774 784008
Post expires at 7:30am on Monday September 26th, 2022
The post weekly news sheet 26 September 2021 appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear Friends,
What a glorious day for a wedding, the sun is out and the church at Capel looks amazing. Congratulations to Corinne and Michael who are ‘tying the knot’ early this afternoon. The flower arranging team at Capel have done an outstanding job, not only with the normal decorations but the stairs leading to the bell tower as well. For those who don’t know, Corinne and Michael are both bell ringers and will ring the bells at their wedding! A huge thank you to Joy Harman, Helen Berry and Betty Mitchell for such a beautiful display. Do go and have a look even if you can’t make it to our service tomorrow morning. Today’s photo is just one of many I took this morning.
Harvest Festival will soon be upon us. This year St Margaret’s will celebrate it next Sunday with a service at 9.30am followed by a ploughman’s lunch at 12 noon. There is no need to bring anything all food will be supplied, but please let Shirley know if you are coming so that she has an idea of numbers. Her phone number is: 01403 822967
Capel’s harvest festival will be a week later on the 3 October. The service will be at 10.30 and Harvest teas will be served from 3-5pm.
In both cases the collection will go to Compassion UK for their appeal for Haiti. Food donations will go to Dorking Foodbank who have produced a list of items they would like. This was given out with the weekly sheets last week but I have attached it again to this email and there are a few fliers left in each church.
Thank you to the select few who walked the Rotary club walk last weekend to raise some money for our churches. The four who walked were: Buzz Warner, Dineke van den Bogard and Debbie and Hugh von Bergen. If anyone would like to do retrospective sponsorship, your donations would be most welcome!
Our services tomorrow are as follows:
9.30am Morning worship with baptism at Ockley
10.30am Family communion at Capel
We would like to extend a warm welcome to David Grant who will be preaching at Capel this week.
Please don’t forget that you can sign up to see the Archbishop of Canterbury at Dorking Halls next Saturday at 11.30. The link is here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-questions-with-the-archbishop-of-canterbury-dorking-tickets-162238043355
17 October Songs of praise service 10.30am at Capel: Please write your choice of hymn down on the sheet at the back of the church. Anthea can’t promise to do all of them, but she will try!
Lastly, whilst Capel Church was being cleaned yesterday a gentleman’s signet ring was found. It has no crest or name on it, but if you know who it might belong to please contact Rev Liz or Joy Harman.
With Love and prayers
Debbie von Bergen
debbievonbergen@icloud.com
07774 784008
Post expires at 6:17am on Thursday September 22nd, 2022
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Join us to pray for those impacted by global warming and other extreme weather events in this week’s service. Led by Rev Canon Giles Goddard, the service focuses on the climate emergency.
Click the read more link to go to the service on the Church of England Website.
The post Climate Sunday appeared first on The Parish of Capel and Ockley.
Dear Friends,
After the glorious weather during the early part of this week, we are now back to the grey skies we have been so used to this summer. The weather has meant that our gardens continue to look glorious – the plants have loved the damp weather, and most of the flowering plants here are much taller than normal.
We cut our wild flower areas in August, and continue to cut them until the end of October to reduce fertility as much as possible on our rich soil. Some of the areas have been treated like this for 20 years now and we are beginning to see increasing populations of orchids along with the typical native plants of this area. These sections of the garden are a joy to me and have revolutionised the way I garden.
I’ve been a keen gardener since my early twenties and have gardened organically since we moved here almost 25 years ago. The increase in the bird population over that time has been enormous, but it wasn’t until we put more and more of the lawns to long grass that we noticed a real explosion in insect life. We’re lucky to have a couple of acres to play with so can incorporate large areas of long grass and a wildlife pond (which has all three of our native newt species), but even when we move to a much smaller garden I will continue to look for ways to increase diversity and I will never buy pesticides or insecticides again. As you can tell I’m an enthusiast!
We all have our own areas that we enjoy, for me gardening and being in nature are fundamental to my being, for others that joy can be found in painting, music or needlework or looking after their animals or even their cars! Whatever it is, it helps to bring us closer to the essence of fulfilment that we all crave and for which many of us find is complete when we affirm our faith.
You will have heard much talk about the Archbishop’s visit to our diocese on the weekend of 24-26 September. We have now been told that anyone can come along to hear him answer questions on Saturday 25 September 11.30-12.15 at the Dorking Halls. So please do book a ticket here: <www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/big-questions-with-the-archbishop-of-canterbury-dorking-tickets-162238043355>
This week we have the following services:
9.30am Matins at Ockley
10.30am Cafe church at the Crown Capel
The Friends of Capel church are also holding the AGM and an EGM to change the articles of association at 11.45am in Capel church. Please do come to hear what it is all about – this meeting is open to everyone in the parish.
Harvest Festival will soon be upon us. Ockley will be celebrating their harvest on 26 September and Capel a week later on 3 October. This years collection from these services will go to Compassion UK for their appeal for Haiti. Food donations will go to the Dorking Foodbank, please see the attached flier to see what they would like.
I hope you will include Ella and Tom who are getting married at Ockley on Sunday at 1pm in your prayers, they have had to wait such a long time, may their marriage be full of joy and love.
Lastly, photo of the week this week is from a sunny walk on Leith Hill on Monday.
With love and prayers
Debbie von Bergen
debbievonbergen@icloud.com
07774 784008
Post expires at 12:48pm on Sunday September 11th, 2022
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BLUE-3-Oct21.pdf