Dear Friends,
I bet you like me have had “one of those weeks!” when everything that could go wrong does. Well I’m into week two at the moment so am just wondering what I have done to deserve it!! You know, one of those “why me” moments. Then I look out of the study window and see rain pelting down but in the background beautiful blue sky and the start of a rainbow and remember that it is surely a much worse week for so many others so what have I really got to grumble about!! If you’re in such a week remember all those who are infinitely worse off than you, however many problems you have, and ask God to let his rainbow shine on them rather than yourself.
August time is so often a time when things slow down a bit and so many people, families particularly, are away on holiday. For the church here in Capel however we have some big events which we hope you will come and support. It is the Classic car show run by the Friends of the Church combined with the Horticultural Show on Saturday 15th and we hope to be having a coach full of visitors to the show from our link church of Christchurch North Brixton. We have had members of that church here in Capel before but not for sometime so I hope we can make them feel really welcome.
The following day, Sunday 16th is our Praise in the Park service at 11am on the recreation ground just before the start of the music festival. Come along and join us and bring the family to join in a good lively service.
Some of you came to our meeting in church last month about creating a meadowland area in part of the church yard and I was delighted at the positive response and the number of people wanting to be involved in taking the idea forward. Along with the Parish Council we have also been considering the very important issue of space at and around the church for burial because there is probably only enough spaces to see the village through another couple of years at the most.
We do have ideas how to overcome the problem to ensure those who wish can be buried in their village churchyard for many years to come but we want to discuss our ideas with as wide a body of people as possible. So that we can seek the views of all interested parties in the village we have decided to hold a meeting in the Church on Tuesday the 18th August at 7.30pm jointly sponsored by both the church and the parish council. We do hope you will be able to come and hear about our thoughts and ideas.
I pray that you have a good, peaceful and relaxing time over the holiday period, whether or not you are able to actually get away, and look forward to all your support at our various events and meetings and, of course, especially look forward to seeing you at any of our services!
Yours in Christ
John Baxter