Thankfulness and Hope Dear friends, If there were medals for faithfulness and the ability to draw out love in every situation, the most we could hope for is silver. The gold would invariably belong to our animal companions, be they feline or canine. Let us give thanks to the Creator of all things, who uses the smallest creatures of the world to…

Dear friends, Enjoy the sunshine. Enjoy the end of the school year. Don’t worry about your life. (Matt 6:25) Be content with what you have. (Phil 4:11) Don’t worry about tomorrow. (Matt 6:34) The New Testament is full of wisdom, and hope. Why not add it to your summer reading list ? If you are lucky enough to be going away, do…

School’s (almost) out Dear friends, The school year comes to an end a week on Thursday. At Checkendon, we give thanks for the distinguished service of Headmistress Mrs Gillian Seymour. At Stoke Row we pray for a safe delivery for Headmistress’ Mrs Charlotte Whittle, expecting her second child this month. Both schools have been amazing throughout the pandemic, and both communities owe…

July already! Dear friends, Thank you all so much for your support and care in so many ways throughout this pandemic. We are making plans now to move (?forwards?) as the regulations change or fade away. Many of the staff team will be taking long overdue leave throughout the coming holiday period and so our provision will reflect this. For August the…

Plague and pest Dear friends, Here’s a rather tedious fact; just because you’ve had a double jab won’t prevent you catching delta-covid. The jabs should prevent you getting seriously ill, or going to hospital. They won’t prevent you testing positive, needing to self isolate, feeling rough, having to change your plans, inconveniencing your entire household and possibly passing the infection on to…

Missing Summer? Dear friends, I must apologize for mentioning the good weather last week. It appears that summer has now been quarantined and the cold/wet of last month has resumed. However there are reasons to be cheerful, or at least cheerfully resolute: live worship is happening once again, and weddings recommence from this weekend; congratulations to Kim and Alex, who will be…

Thank you ! Dear friends, The fine weather brings us all outside. Thank you to everyone who came to the working party last Saturday morning in Checkendon Church and Churchyard. A wonderful effort, and a great spirit, led to a great result, of church and surrounds being thoroughly gingered up ready for the recommencement of daily opening yesterday, and short services from…

Working Party Dear friends, In advance of our reopening, please come along to our working party this Saturday (12th) morning between 10am and noon, to either help in the churchyard, or inside with cleaning. Masks will need to be worn indoors. Please bring any equipment with you. Thank you!  Checkendon church will thereafter be open daily from Monday 14th June. There will…

The Back of May Dear friends, It has been a cold, wet month. The grass is long, and lush. Footpaths turn to mud, and lanes to rivers. Spring plants which should be romping away are sulking and unsure of themselves. It is hard not to have a dampened spirit, either, despite all the good news on the wider health front. But ….…

A series of milestones Dear friends, Yesterday saw a much heralded relaxation of the rules for gathering in public places, although the fish and chips of freedom came served with a good shake of the salt and vinegar of caution. These new regulations will not make much if any difference to our churches plans or practise; pretty much everything we can or…