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…

The end of an era Dear friends, Last Tuesday saw the coming into law of the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (registration) Act 2019. The effect of this is to remove from Anglican clergy the powers to act as Registrar in the solemnisations of marriages, and to remove from parish churches the holding of the Registers of Marriage on behalf of the…

Checkendon Church to reopen from Monday 14th June Dear friends, I am pleased to let you know that Checkendon church will be reopening on a daily basis from Monday 14th June. Live worship will recommence with a short said service every Sunday at 9am from Sunday 20th June. Zoom services will continue at 11am until the last Sunday in July. The 9am…

St John’s Stoke Row to reopen from 6th June Dear friends, At the Church Council meeting last week, the decision was taken to reopen St John’s church for live worship on Sundays from Sunday 6th June. There will be a 9.30am service every week, which will be “said, short, and socially distant” and led by a member of the staff team.  Until…

Dear friends The funeral of HRH Prince Phillip gave pause for thought over the weekend. In a year when almost everyone has been touched by loss of one kind or another we offer our prayers and condolences to HM the Queen and her family, in gratitude for the Duke of Edinburgh’s lifelong service and commitment to not only her Majesty, but also…

Freedom? Dear friends, There was something of an irony in the snow yesterday morning. To remind us not to take any freedoms (new or old) for granted, God threw a blanket over much of the UK. Perhaps He was saying “go easy, on this road”. Freedom is actually a two way street, being “freedom from…” war, injustice, oppression, poverty, suffering etc, and…

Dear friends, These are days of wonder. Bulbs and the early blossom give us welcome colour. A splash of warmth brings on the seeds in trays. What are you planting this year? Birds are still on the feeders; yesterday we had a pair of siskins, vibrant yellow streaks on wings and tail, the male with black head. It has been at least…