Dear People of St John’s
Now the Fête is over …
There’s always something going on at St John’s! As I write this letter for July, the Fête is yet to happen. After the cold and wet spell we’ve been having, let’s hope the weather on 2 July is as kind to us as it usually is.
The usual generous sponsorship from the local community assures us already of an encouraging result in the overall proceeds of the day. And of course the regular – and a number of new – people are gearing up to help with setting up and taking down the stalls, and to provide and sell all manner of goods in the time between.
This annual event in our Parish calendar not only brings lots of people to our church and grounds, it is also a means of generating that special family spirit for which St John’s is so well known.
And at the end of the day, it is my pleasure to host the after-Fête BBQ in the Vicarage garden. This is an enjoyable way to ‘wind down’ after the day’s effort, and again it is another opportunity to enjoy a meal, a glass or two of wine, and the company of our fellow-workers in building up the family of God in this place.
Now the Fête is over we look forward to our next project – the re-vamping of the gardens around the church.
Already the ground has been well prepared – old shrubs, trees and weeds have been removed, the soil dug over and compost laid. The landscape artist’s planting plan will soon be displayed in church for everyone to look over, and when this has been approved by the PCC, the first lot of plants will be purchased and planted.
We hope that all members of the Parish will want to share in this exciting project. Everyone will be invited to pay for individual (or more?) shrubs or trees, and also to help with the actual planting of them. The plants will be bought in batches, and then our landscape artist will be on hand to supervise the planting according to the approved plan.
We hope young and old will have a hand (literally!) in this project. It will be a living and long lasting contribution of the present gener-ation of St John’s parishioners for generations yet to come. It will also enhance the appearance of our church grounds, and be yet another opportunity for us to express that sense of belonging that is such an important element in being members of the body of Christ.
God bless and keep you all
Fr John