Memorable Moments

Dear friends

Whether it was the sight of the massed parade on Buckingham Palace Lawn giving three cheers for the King, or the blind pianist Lucy capturing everyone’s heart at the Coronation Concert, there have been many hundreds of moments that will linger long in memory from the weekend just passed. Many thousands of people have spent many thousands of hours, and the result has been an astonishing reminder of what can be achieved by working together with a common purpose. An outpouring of creativity, love, and hope, to set our new King on the throne. The commitment to service by His Majesty was humble, and profound, and, surprising even ourselves, we are finding that we are responding with affection. We had thought her late majesty Queen Elizabeth to be unsurpassable in faithfulness, dedication, and Christian charity. This may indeed be so. But over the last few days however we have been gently reminded that King Charles has been serving and caring for over fifty years, and is gracious enough to admit that he was blessed to have had the best of teachers, not only in his mother, but also his father. May their wisdom be ever with him in his reign.

Worship Services for Sunday 14th May

9.30am Morning Prayer at St John’s, Stoke Row with Revd Canon Kevin Davies

11am Holy Communion at St Peter and Paul, Checkendon with Revd Canon Kevin Davies.

Midweek zoom service: Wednesday Evensong at 5.00pm  410 935 129

Thank you to everyone involved in our own Coronation celebrations: the bellringers, who rang on both Saturday and Sunday, the flower arrangers, whose wonderful work will remain in the church for a few more days, Mary our organist, and Tilley and helpers who provided tea and excellent cake on the green for the whole of Sunday afternoon. We were able to share in village festivities organised by the parish council, and also welcome many bank holiday visitors and walkers on the day the sun shone. Being hospitable is not particularly difficult, but it does need planning, and teamwork. A large group of walkers who stopped on the green for their sandwiches were plied with tea and cake, much to their joy. They welcomed an impromptu tour of the church; they’d walked from Nettlebed, and were heading back there in a circle. But they’d driven out from Ealing to get here. It was a reminder to me that we should not take the beauty of our environment for granted, and also of the opportunities that we are given once we step out of our comfort zones.

May the Lord bless you, and those you care for.

Canon Kevin

PS Right up there with all the “memorables” for me was Bryn Terfel singing Kyrie Eleison in Welsh. This simple and ancient prayer is used near the beginning of a communion service as part of what we call the “confession”. It is normally kept in the original Greek: “Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison,” which means “Lord, have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.” However it is one of those prayers which is so simple it really doesn’t matter which language it is in. Everyone needs God’s mercy, without exception.