From the Rectory
The news is undeniably bad. Our papers are filled once more with pictures of war and destruction. There is tension in government about the official attitude to the conflict in the Middle East and the implications for all are grave, as the West does not seem able to understand that there is more than one point of view. Political commentators delight in telling us that the great wars of the last century began in the summer months. The local news has not been too good either. Several of our neighbours and some of our congregation at All Saints have to deal with difficult illnesses and bereavement it would be easy to lose faith and ask where is God in the midst of all this pain?
But as I drove through the village in blistering heat and out into the countryside, I could see God all around. In the colours of the corn and the incredible blue of the sky; in the hedgerows and along the verges, which despite the heat and drought still have luxuriant growth and, later, in the amazing arch of the rainbow which is our promise from God that he will never desert us. I can see God too in the cheerfulness of those who are sick in the acceptance of His power to love and care for them, whatever the outcome of their illness that is a true blessing.
I also saw God in the shape of two happy little girls, both dressed in pink, holding hands and laughing as they ran through the Lych Gate and up the church path to get into choir practice as quickly as possible. And in the young mother who doubted that she had any faith at all but who made me feel ashamed when she talked about her prayer life and her desire to learn more.
God is all around us, alive and well and busy but He often goes unnoticed! August should be a time for rest, for recreation and for rejoicing. We cannot rest from prayer both for the world situation and for those locally who need our prayers. But recreation will ensure that we dont become so upset by the problems of the world that we are useless to do anything positive. And as for rejoicing let us look around and see where God is and be thankful!
Yours in Christ
Jo
Please pray for
The situation in the Middle East
All in our parish who are sick
For refreshment for those on holiday.
Advance notice
Harvest Festival this year will be on Sunday 1st October and the Harvest Supper on 6th October. We hope once again to have an auction of produce in one or other of the village pubs date to be announced later. Turvey Lower School Harvest will be on the morning of 4th October in church.
Water Aid
I have had a lovely letter from Water Aid thanking us for the gift of water to several villages where there was previously no water 'on tap'. Our children collected their own money to make the taps in church run. Each tap represents a tap in a village somewhere in Africa or Asia. Thank you, too, to several adults who added to the fund, making our gift even more useful.
I am very proud of our children for sharing their 'sweetie' money so that other children in the world can enjoy a better standard of life.
Jo Spray
Coffee Mornings
The July coffee morning raised £220 towards church funds. Many thanks to David and Sandra Nightingale for hosting a very enjoyable event and to everyone who helped with and supported it.
We now have our August 'break'. The coffee mornings will resume on 9th September at 21 High Street, Carlton, by kind invitation of Mike and Winifred Pratt. Meanwhile if any of you would like to host a coffee morning next year, please contact Anne Claypole White (881662) or Gill Betts (720615). We would be delighted to hear from you!
Thank you
We would like to say "thank you" to the number of people who have given generous donations to the church in the recent past, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous. In particular, however, thank you to Mr E Sugars for his very generous donation given last month.
New Mothers' Union Branch in Sharnbrook Deanery
Do you care about family values? Are you worried about poverty in the third world?
These are some of the issues being tackled by the Mothers' Union. We are proposing to start a new branch, which will cover the whole of Sharnbrook Deanery. This is not to replace the only existing branch in the Deanery at Pertenhall, but in addition to it.
The Mothers' Union has over three million members in seventy-six countries. Though the lives and experiences of different members differ widely, we are united by a shared belief in the importance of the family life in God's world. The Mothers' Union exists to share Christ's love by encouraging and strengthening marriage and family life.
Simply, if you are a Christian who believes in the importance of family life you should join the Mothers' Union. Men and women, married and unmarried, parent or not - all can and do join the Mothers' Union.
If you are interested or want to know more, speak to Caroline Evens on 01234 782000 or Jane Bass on 01234 219812