This month celebrates Trinity Sunday, the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, World Ocean Day and Refugee week.

The series ‘Spiritual Disciplines’ continues and this month’s article looks at ‘Simplicity’ …  ‘Always remember the essence of Christian holiness is simplicity and purity: one design, one desire: entire devotion to God.’(John Wesley).

June2023_issue73_autocol.pdf

Dear friends,

The pictures today are all about crimson clover. I had not come across these pretty plants before last week. These pictures were taken last Tuesday on my walk home from Newdigate.

Unfortunately I will not be able to run the LOAF food stall tomorrow after the service as I have a chest infection and am running a temperature. Look for me at the next cafe church on June 11th in the Crown.

Lastly, I am very pleased to say that half of those who receive this email are now signed up to receive it via our website. If you haven’t got round to doing this, please look at the instructions below. It really makes the life of yours truly much simpler if you do.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
Readings-28-May-2023.pdf

Weekly Readings

Dear friends,

This morning, when digging some well-rotted manure from our muck heap to feed the roses, I first unearthed what I thought was a huge earth worm. Closer inspection revealed it was a smallish slow worm, probably a young one. Shortly after I came across some leathery egg shells, most likely from a grass snake. They were empty so probably last year’s but still a very exciting find. A Facebook friend remarked that I had a reptilian morning.

May I remind you that next Sunday 28/5 will be the launch of our LOAF stall, with fair trade organic biscuits with our after-service coffee to give you a flavour of what will be on sale. Most of the offerings will be both Organic and Fair Trade. There will be coffee, several teas, sugar, honey, biscuits, cocoa and more.

Lastly, please sign up for baking cakes and serving at the Military show the first weekend of July and also consider helping at the salad wrap stall at our very own Capel Show on 19 August. Both are tremendous fundraising occasions for our churches and an opportunity to be visible in the local community.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

notes-20230521.pdf

weekly notes
Readings-21-May-2023.pdf

Weekly Reading sheet

Dear friends,

The weather hasn’t been very sunny and the mushrooms feel distinctly out of season. Luckily the rose offers much needed compensation and cheers me up no end. Let’s just hope that last year’s empty reservoirs get a good top-up!

Tomorrow’s cafe church in the Crown has a theme of Christian Aid. If you are planning to come, our coffee offering will be more like a continental breakfast. We hope that many of you will come and make a generous donation to Christian Aid for a generous offering of assorted fresh pastries, home-made bread with jam and honey (some for sale too!), fruit and other delights.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
Readings-14-May-2023.pdf

Reading Sheet

Dear friends,

As I write this email, the coronation is not far away and there is a steady drizzle but I am sure that the damp weather will not dampen the festivities all over the land.

Our villages are decked in flags and bunting and tomorrow looks to be a fun-filled day in Ockley on the Green with teas provided throughout the day by St Margaret’s folk. In Capel the flower festival in Aid of Scott Boadwood pre-school will be worth visiting all weekend with teas provided. Look in the notes for opening times.
Yesterday’s Capel ‘s got talent was a roaring success and Beatrice, who won the competition, received many accolades and a standing ovation for her moving performance.

Next Sunday is the start of Christian Aid week and Cafe church, at the Crown, will see a more elaborate breakfast with lovely pastries and we hope that many of you will come to enjoy what’s on offer and donate for this good cause.

I have attached the lectionary readings but please note that these will not be used in the coronation services. The picture today had to be of bluebells. They are in their full glory now so please use some of this long weekend to enjoy them. They are everywhere.

God bless

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly notes
Readings-7-May-2023.pdf

Dear friends,

It’s finally starting to warm up. The cold spring has meant a prolonged flower display and it has been wonderful to see the long season of flowering blackthorn, daffodils and other spring flowers. Don’t forget to go on a bluebell walk this week. The display has just started and it is glorious. Mike Reeves sent in a couple of photo’s he took on a visit to RHS Wisley. Many thanks Mike for attached tulips.

We are now getting very close to the coronation weekend and I hope you can fit in a visit to St John’s flower festival. The opening times are in the notes and Joy and team will be serving tea, coffee and cakes throughout. All donations will go to Scott Broadwood, our great little pre-school.

It is now possible to sign up for regular giving to your church online:
Give to your parish – Parish Giving Scheme<www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/?keyword=RH5+5HP&parishName=&distance=1&registeredOnly=>
Please consider this (if you haven’t already signed up) as it makes our treasurer’s life infinitely easier to receive regular donations this way: PGS sorts out all the Gift Aid for those who have signed up for that option and all regular income comes in one report. You stay in control though and any changes (frequency, increases, decreases, opt out of Gift Aid or cancellation) are easy to sort out yourself online or by phone. Any amount helps the financial planning of our parish.
We still have packs for those who prefer to fill out a form. Just send me an email or ask someone when you are in church next time.

A reminder: please consider signing up to receive the weekly notes (and Liz’s letter and Inspire!) via the website. 30% of subscribers have done so in the last year and I am considering adding some additional features that can only be viewed when signed up this way. See below how to subscribe.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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weekly notes
Readings-30-April-2023.pdf

A packed issue focussing on Pentecost/Whit Sunday and the forthcoming Coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort, Camilla.

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’.  Romans 15:13

Wishing all our readers an enjoyable May and particularly the Coronation celebrations!  God Bless King Charles III.

May-2023_issue72_autocol.pdf

We are at church enjoying what is known as the Great Fifty Days of Eastertide during which the tone of joy created on Easter Day is sustained through to the Feast of Pentecost at the end of this month. So May is very much a month of celebration which is very appropriate for the Coronation of King Charles III.

We will be holding special Services of Commemoration at both Ockley and Capel, on Sunday the day after Coronation Day. In Ockley the service will take place outside in the Coronation Marquee on Ockley Green at 9.30am preceded by coffee and croissants from 9am! Later that day the village will celebrate with various fun events and Ocklympics on the Green.

Then it will be a quick dash for me to Capel for our Service of Commemoration in church, where we will be joined by Brigadier (Ret’d) Roger Hood, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. Brig. Roger is looking forward to being with us on this occasion and we are especially keen for children and their families to join us too as we would love them to take part in a special ‘royal parade’ within the service. Please do encourage any young, and if they would be either happy to make a crown, and/or dress up in appropriate costume that would be wonderful and Brig. Roger will be there in his special uniform too! Following the service there is to be a chocolate treasure hunt in the church grounds!

As many of you hopefully are aware, before all of this, there is to be a special screening of the Coronation Service on the Saturday in the Village Hall, preceded of course by Capel’s Got Talent on Friday evening. Yours truly and her Pastoral Assistant will be performing…. comedy of course!! Do check the rest of this magazine for all the various events happening over the Coronation weekend at our so aptly named wonderful pub, The Crown.
Bank Holiday Monday then is an opportunity for us to help out as encouraged by His Majesty and there will be a working party to tidy the school front garden and a litter pick. Details elsewhere in this edition.

Finally of course we are looking forward to welcoming you into St John the Baptist for a wonderful Flower Festival – obviously a Coronation theme! From what I am hearing it sounds as if it will be marvellous and several village groups are taking part. Refreshments will be served throughout but again do check the church events page for timings.

Please do join us if you can – we are so excited about all the lovely events which will be rounded off at the end of this month as we celebrate the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit on those celebrating Pentecost all those centuries ago in Jerusalem, which enabled the Church to truly take form.
I will finish my letter with a prayer for King Charles as he is crowned King.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,
bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles,
and all who are in authority under him;
that they may order all things
in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace,
to the honour of your name,
and the good of your Church and people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.da
Amen.

Dear friends,

Tomorrow is an important date in the life of our churches: the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). The accounts and annual report are attached. There will be some printed reports available but if you can bring your own (electronically using a tablet or smart phone or printed out) that would be most helpful.

Yesterday I met some friends at the Extinction Rebellion manifestation in London. It was a great event, very well organised and very peaceful, with some inspired speakers. I met many people I know from the Guildford Diocese and other organisations. Our group was in front of the DEFRA offices, highlighting the plight of our rivers and seas (and everything that tries to live in them) and other urgent issues that are the responsibility of DEFRA.

With the pictures we continue the spring theme with tadpoles in the pond and sloes on a walk.

Happy Earth Day and God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

notes-20230423.pdf

Weekly Notes
Readings-23-April-2023.pdf

Weekly Readings
Final-Accounts-2022.pdf

Final Accounts 2022
annual-report-202122.pdf

2022 Annual Report