Dear friends,

We haven’t seen many butterflies this season as it has been so wet and windy. This ragged beauty visited our garden last week and I hope we will see a few more in the next few days with the forecast being quite good.

Let’s not forget to support the local food bank this summer. Many young families are struggling in holiday periods when the children don’t have access to school meals.

Dorking Area Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis<dorkingarea.foodbank.org.uk/>

If you follow the link and look closely you will recognise one of their volunteers in action!

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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Dear friends,

In the high season of strawberries I share with you the picture of a present my brother received for his birthday last week. He doesn’t like strawberries. Can you believe it?

Dik and I have both come down with Covid and just like previously I feel awful with a high temperature and he has a light cough. Ah well, we will get through this.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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Weekly Readings

Dear friends,

The last week has been very busy for me, culminating in helping at scrutinising the counting of votes for the constituency of Dorking and Horley. It felt like a great privilege to be involved in this but I got home from that 5am on Friday and had to get ready for the wedding on the same day of good friends, which took place near Windsor. Tiring but I would not have missed it for the world.

Today’s photo does not do the new window in St Margaret’s in Ockley justice. If you haven’t already you really must go and see this beautiful stained glass window. When you are there, have a look at the progress of the toilets too.

God Bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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Welcome to the August issue.  This month sees the start of the 2024 Olympics.  Canon Paul Hardingham reflects on the writer of Hebrews 12:1-2 who when describing the Christian life as a ‘marathon race’ challenges us to finish well.  We also have articles celebrating the athlete Eric Liddell who the film ‘Chariots of Fire’ was based upon and celebrate ‘Sea Sunday’ on 14th July where we remember seafarers everywhere and give thanks for all they do.

It is also holiday season!

“Sand between your toes …
ocean breeze … blue sky …

Glorious gifts from a generous God”

July-24-autocolour.pdf

Once again the parish came together as a community; this time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D Day, and what a wonderful weekend of events it was. From assisting Brigadier Roger Hood for the lighting of the beacon on the recreation ground, I with everyone else enjoyed watching the wonderful Morris Dancers, a fabulous barbecue outside the pavilion and the hospitality of Capel Cricket Club and The Crown; it was a great start. Brigadier Roger helped us to imagine what it might have been like to have been one of those young soldiers at that time, waiting to cross the channel; I cannot imagine what that must have felt like…perhaps ignorance was bliss on that occasion as so soon they would be plunged into the brutalities of war. Our church bells rang as so many did all around the country earlier that evening as we gathered to remember those brave soldiers and airmen who landed or flew in Operation Overlord. There were many who sacrificed their lives for our future today and we will always remember them and thank them. I am confident that elsewhere in the magazine all the other wonderful events have been recorded so I will only say this – a huge thank you to the D Day Committee who once again put on a great selection of commemorative events – it was brilliant!

At church we have begun our wedding season and it is such a joy to celebrate with our couples their special day. Likewise we have some Christenings to enjoy this summer too! It is somewhat of a sporting fest in these next few weeks with the Euros (football) currently playing, Wimbledon (tennis) and the Paris Olympics beginning at the end of this month. Our Cafe Church in August with some other local churches will take place at the Okewood Hill Show ground and is on an Olympic theme where faith joins with sport in our lives being ‘A Marathon not a Sprint’. Please do read Bob Cranham’s article ‘Chariots of Fire’ for more information and the amazing story of Eric Liddell. We hope you enjoy reading the story of Eric Liddell ‘Running the race of your life’ which will have been delivered with your magazine this month!

It is always such a privilege to give help to those who need our churches at particular times in their lives, whether that is with a bereavement – there have been several sadnesses recently – or for the very joyful occasions of weddings and Christenings. Please do use our churches – they are always open for quiet prayer and reflection and provide something of a respite during times of need and also high summer temperatures outside! We look forward to seeing some of you at the Capel Military Show at the beginning of this month as we will be raising funds for our parish with our popular refreshment stall. In the meantime, keep running the ‘race of your life’ and hope we can all enjoy some summer weather this month.

With my love and prayers

Liz

Dear friends,

I hope you have all registered to vote and have encouraged your family and friends to do the same. Suffrage is a hard-won right and we should exercise it for the good of our neighbours.

The little guy in the picture is definitely an insect (6 legs) but I have no idea of its name. I have come across similar beasties looking like leaves or pieces of wood and I think they are amazing creatures.

Enjoy the much improved weather.

God Bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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Dear friends,

Every year this is what I look forward to in the garden the most: our rambling rose. It’s a riot of tiny blooms, smelling heavenly and covered in pollinators. It flowers for up to two weeks and gives me great joy. It has grown a lot these twenty years even after regular heavy pruning and one day it will take the shed down if it doesn’t prop it up! Photo credit Dik Hoogmoed.

My apologies for not posting the notes last week. I hope to do so later this weekend.

God bless,

Dineke van den Bogerd

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Weekly Notes
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June – a lovely month where we move from Spring into Summer and as I write this in the middle of May already some of my roses are blooming! A wonderful sight along with the burgeoning abundant green we enjoy in our villages.  Were you one of those who saw that other amazing sight the other night – that of the Northern Lights?! Sadly we seemed to be oblivious to it.  I think I thought we wouldn’t see it here in Capel. How wrong can you be!  I underestimated obviously and could only wonder in awe the next day when the photographs appeared on social media.
Incredible pictures taken from the streets all around us.  One of our family lives near Tolworth and they took a wonderful picture of the landmark Tolworth Tower as the backdrop to the Northern lights. Just imagine – instead of travelling to northernmost Iceland and Norway, with no guarantee of them appearing, you now can see them at Tolworth (!) Or Capel even!!  I jest of course.

Well I am waiting to see in the next few months whether we will see them again. Its a strange phenomenon though that our mobile phones pick up the colours of the light more clearly than the human eye.  It reminds me a bit of God’s Holy Spirit who of course we cannot see but yet is there all along guiding and helping us.

We have just celebrated Pentecost in church where the Holy Spirit was poured out on all the disciples and essentially is thought of as the birth of the church.  To give a quick resume, Jesus died on Good Friday on the cross, rose from the dead three days later, appeared to many in real and unreal ways until finally he left earth and ascended into heaven.  He promised that he would not leave his sorrowing disciples alone, that God the Father would send his Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.  God the Holy Spirit is our advocate, comforter, counsellor, helper and is also like a ‘first responder’, ready to come alongside us when we are especially in need.  He or she is the third member of the Holy Trinity.  Confused?!  Well don’t be – just know God is always with you and has even gone before you preparing your way.  If you would like to know more then I am planning to run some sessions where you can explore what Christianity is all about.  Please email me on liz@hostmyserver.co.uk <mailto:liz@hostmyserver.co.uk> or telephone 01306 711260 for more details.

We are really looking forward to the special D-Day village celebrations and hope you may wish to remember D-Day at our Anniversary D-Day Café Church in the Crown Garden on Sunday 9th June at 10.30am. Do hope you will join us!  Let’s not underestimate the positive possibilities in life then as we remember the incredible achievements made by our forbears. Keep looking out for incredible sights whether seen or unseen by the human eye!

With all blessings, love and prayers

Liz