Advertisement
Published: July 28th 2015
Edit Blog Post
It's now been some 7 weeks since we enjoyed our restful summer holiday in Tenby, South Wales, and we wonder where those 7 weeks have gone.
Summer has been very pleasant here in the UK with some warm days. One of our garden customers took a 3 week break in North Wales and we were asked to look after the garden including the new vegetable plantings. With the warm weather the garden required a daily water plus it's amazing how lawns grow so quickly. Another garden customer was due to host a summer garden party on
Saturday 11th July and therefore required the gardens and lawn edges to be just right. Work at the menswear shop has also been busy due to staff holidays. We have also been busy with our roof top garden which has lots of colour and 4 tomato plants.
Saturday 27th June saw the first wedding at St Chad's since the completion of the renovations. The bride was a local from Boningale and walked from home to the church. Jess was asked to ring the bells at the end of the service just as the Bride & Groom walked out of the church.
Wednesday 8th July saw us attend our first Deanery Synod meeting and we were impressed at the professional presentations especially those relating to the Diocesan finances, which we have to say seem to be in great shape.
On
Saturday 11th July Albrighton held its annual Summer Fayre with this year’s theme being 'Alice in Wonderland". The day included a Pram race along the High Street, the Crowning of the Rose Queen & Decorated floats in a street parade which included Alice, the Mad Hatter and The White Rabbit plus a marching band, an array of school children, vintage cars and military vehicles. Most of the shops and community organisations had stalls along the High Street selling a wide variety of goods and food. The Menswear shop held a car park sale which attracted a large number of customers. The weather of course played it's part, warm & sunny.
Around 6.00pm on
Sunday 12th July the Churches Together Albrighton group organised the local Salvation Army Band to play on the village green, a very special time.
On
Wednesday 15th July at 7.30pm an event, that we had been waiting for since we arrived back in Albrighton in November 2014,
took place. The Revd. Mary Wade was inducted as the Vicar of the Albrighton United Benefice. Revd. Mary had been the Curate here during our 6 month stay in 2013 and the process of installing her as Vicar was a long and complicated process, especially as a Curate does not normally become Vicar in the Parish where they have served their Curacy.
This service was something we had not been involved in before or even been present at so it was very special and indeed a great honour to be asked to participate in the actual ceremony which was conducted by the Rt. Revd. Mark Rylands Bishop of Shrewsbury. During the service Evelyn was one of two representatives of the congregation that presented Mary with a copy of 'Daily Prayer' (the gift carried by Evelyn) and a loaf of bread. These gifts welcomed Mary among us as our Vicar. Jess was asked to read a prayer during Prayers of Intercession.
As the Service at St Chads on
Sunday 19th July was not a Holy Communion service we attended the 8.00am Holy Communion service at St Mary's which was Revd. Mary's first ever service as our Vicar - very
special to attend.
Since completion of the renovations at St Chads there have been some discussion on how best to utilise the new space God has provided us with. One idea that has moved forward is the offering of the Church and School Room for 'Quiet Days' This would eventually be offered to the wider Christian Community as a rural day retreat.
St Chad's PCC, along with Revd. Mary has asked us to move forward with this new Ministry. We now know that this is why God sent us back to St Chads and the Albrighton United Benefice.
Our first organised 'Quiet Day' was held on
Friday 24th July for members of the United Benefice. The day’s theme was 'The Power of Prayer' and was attended by 24 people. We started at 10.00am breaking for lunch at 12.00 noon. The morning session included 90 minutes of silence allowing those present to reflect and re connect with God. After a great lunch which was supplied by members of St Chad’s congregation we assembled back in the church for the afternoon session which started at 1.15pm until 3.00pm. This session included another 75 minutes of silence.
The whole
day went off as planned and from the feedback forms we know that those present felt the presence of the Lord and gained an inner peace.
We are now busy planning some packaged 'Quiet Days' including costing. We are so thankful to God for leading us to this opportunity and new Ministry.
Sunday 26th July was a Service of Holy Community at St Chads and the first to be held at St Chads by our new Vicar the Revd. Mary - How special for us.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.158s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0793s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb