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From our Team Vicar and the Team Rector, Fr. Bernard
Dear All, Hello once again at the start of a busy weekend in Linslade, and indeed for the whole Ouzel Team. There is so much happening this weekend, there really is something for everyone! In the first place, I should say that as well as the usual list of emails for those linked to St Barnabas and St Mary's, I am also emailing all the members of the wider Ouzel Valley Team. This is because we have all agreed that communicating between the different parishes of the Team is something we could do better, and so we are going to try and share our news sheets and weekly news more widely! So, to the news. Today, you really are spoilt for choice. In the first palace, there will be an extra working party up at St Mary's this morning from 10 am, to mow and tidy the Churchyard, weather permitting. Free tea, if you are lucky! Also today, the St. Leonard’s May Fayre is at 1 pm at St. Leonard’s Church Hall. Entry is free. There will be: a Fun Dog Show; a Grand Raffle; a Teddy Tower; Dancers; and many stalls. This is their main fundraising event of the year. Please support it if you can. Not content with that, St. Michael’s Eggington will be holding a plant sale from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, with refreshments served in Eggington Village Hall. Lastly, the Stewkley Singers are singing Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ at 7.30 pm in All Saints’ Church, accompanied by a full orchestra. Tickets (£17) can be purchased from Julia Sims (240671) or ‘Room 9’ on the High Street. Then tomorrow, at St Barnabas, Bishop Alan is coming to confirm six candidates, two from All Saints, three from St Barnabas, and one who is shared by both! He will celebrate our main 10 am All-Age Eucharist, when we will also be celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, and giving thanks for the Holy Spirit's exhalation of the Church, when the apostles were thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem to proclaim the good news of the Resurrection and salvation for all. Please pray for those going to be confirmed, and for the renewal of the Church throughout England and the world. I attach a copy of the 10 am order of Service for those who plan to live stream the service. There are two other particular notices to give out: the first is a reminder that Jo Sharplin's funeral is at 11 am this Thursday in St Barnabas. Please come if you can, and please pray for Jo and for her family. Also, a note about a job opportunity in the Team: the Church of the Good Shepherd, who worship at Astral Park leisure centre, is currently recruiting for a new Young Families outreach worker to work amongst the local community. It's a part time role, with some flexibility about hours worked. Applications close on 10th June, and you can find more information on the CGS website at goodshepherdsandhills.org.uk/jobs/. Finally, advance notice about some things coming up in the next few weeks. From Saturday May 25th - Monday 27th May, the Mentmore Arts Festival runs from 11 am – 5 pm each day, showcasing over 60 artists, including painters, ceramicists, glassworkers, textile artists and jewellers, with both returning and new exhibitors. Last year they donated £14,000 between Mind UK , Leighton Buzzard Mencap and St Mary’s Church in Mentmore, taking the total raised since the festival began to over £110,000. This year they will be supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind and MK:Act - a domestic abuse intervention service. The weekend is an opportunity to have a family day with refreshments available including light lunches and tea, coffee and cakes. There is a bar selling local beer and Pimms, and a raffle. Enquiries - www.mentmore-arts-festival.co.uk. Deborah Hall 07831 707023. On Saturday the 1st of June there will be cream teas in St Nicholas Hockliffe between 3 – 5 pm. On Friday 7th June the Bible Book Club meets at 7 pm in the Chesterfield Room, upstairs in the Dorothy Hall suite, when we will discuss the books of Ezra & Nehemiah. And on Saturday 8th June we will have our Summer Fair. As usual, we need lots of help both setting up on Friday afternoon and helping on the day. There is a list at the back of St Barnabas: please sign up to help and tick the relevant boxes. Also speak to Ann Tracey if you get the chance. We now need items for the stalls: Good condition bric-a-brac, toys, books, etc., and Raffle and Tombola prizes. Please bring items in and leave them under the tables at the back of church. Cakes, jams/chutneys and plants can be brought in the day before from 3.30 pm - 5.30 pm or on the morning of the fair by 10 am. Raffle tickets are available at the back of the church. Then on Sunday 9th June we will have St Barnabas' Patronal Festival in the morning, and the Leighton-Linslade Gala Orchestra ‘Midsummer Music’ concert will be at 3.30 pm for an hour. The music will have a bright and joyful midsummer feel, and will be fund-raising for a local charity. Tea and cakes will be available in the Church Hall after the concert, with those profits going to the Church. And on that subject, some thanks and a reminder. We are still in Christian Aid week: please return donation envelopes to the Parish office or to me. And huge thanks to everyone who bought Angharad's cakes last Sunday: she made £73 for Christian Aid, thanks to her hard work and your generosity. Thank you all, and God bless, Fr Bernard The Rev'd Dr B Minton Team Vicar of Linslade Ouzel Valley Team |