Dear friends,

Never had I imagined that my first message to you would be of such sadness: the country has lost a great monarch.

In this period of mourning each service on Sunday morning will be one of commemoration.
Cafe church in The Crown has been cancelled and the service in Capel will be held at 10:30h in St John the Baptist.
Ockley St Margaret’s will have a service of Holy Communion during the period of mourning at 09:30h

There will also be a Service of Prayer and Reflection remembering her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Details of this will be issued in due course. The weekly notes were ready for print but had to be altered. I will send them to you as soon as I receive them from our vicar.

The Church of England is encouraging online condolences which can be found on the Church of England website www.churchofengland.org. The link to submit your message of condolence is found on the home page. There is also an online ‘Light a candle for Her Majesty The Queen’ on the same page.
Importantly both churches will be open all day for quiet prayer and reflection, if wished flowers can be laid and candles lit. There will be books of condolence for those who have no access to the online condolences register.

We must remember the Royal family and pray that they find solace in their grief and comfort in each other. Let us pray that King Charles can find his own way to bring together country and family, guided by his creator.

Blessings,

Dineke van den Bogerd