November 2026 (taken from The Link Magazine)
And its that time of year where the pace hots up with so much looming. In reflection, what an amazing harvest festival we have had at Holy Cross. How I love all the autumn colours in the church – a huge thank you to the Flower Guild who I know start early in the week to get it all ready. To walk into church to such a blaze of colour is truly spectacular. The junior church play was always very enjoyable and makes the Harvest season so special to us all. Well done Junior Church. And then the Harvest Lunch. WOW what an amazing turnout for the lunch. 90 of you all fed and watered and thank you for all the amazing thank you’s following it and the help especially clearing up. Jo, Francis, Glen, Jenny and Elizabeth – thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you too to the Choir who took on the raffle with those funds going towards the Organ Fund. I think we have the formula right to provide a buffet lunch – far less hassle.
Moving on and we are looking straight at the Christmas Fayre on the 21st November – with appeals for good quality bric-a-brac, items for the £2 stall, sweets for the sweetie tombola and bottles for the bottle stall. We do set the bar high for our Fayres so every bit of help is appreciated. Will be road testing the new BC cookers….watch this space hopefully for a lack of frustration….to put it mildly….lol.
Something different on the 22nd November. Simon, Lucy and myself have been attending this year a new version of the Bishops Certificate and we have formed strong links with a variety of churches in our area so thought to celebrate coming to the conclusion of our studies by inviting our group and guiding ministers to a Choral Evensong. Every session starts and ends with prayers and it has been a very rewarding path to follow in our faith journey. This invitation has now been extended to all participants in the Diocese for this course so potentially 100 plus have been invited with of course refreshments and nibbles to follow. Please if anyone is able to help me with these (tea, coffee, cake, savoury nibbles), I would be truly grateful. Also would be lovely if more of the home team can come along so we can raise the roof in songs of worship. I never forget the joy of going to Salisbury Cathedral for evensong whilst Pa was studying there and listening to 100 male voices filling that Cathedral with their renditions of hymns.
I am as you know a Trustee for the Foodbank and I have to share that their funds are getting below a sustainable support level with decisions being made of having to cut back on how generous we are. I am finding out about a regular donation form where even £2 - £3 a week/month could make a difference. I totally get that donations of food have dwindled – with the ever rising costs of essentials hitting all of us hard in the pocket. Also with the advent of more of us online shopping, the temptation to just pop one extra thing in the foodbank collection boxes, is just not there when it is all delivered. But the Foodbank always was a Christian outreach locally for those in need and is greatly appreciated. Referrals I make are always genuine and gratefully received. Would direct giving appeal to any of you? Also they are in need for volunteers to join the team on hand out days (Tuesday and Fridays 11.45 to 2.15 ish) – again let me know. A quick thank you to Terry Hall who takes our donations down to the “shop”.
I haven’t thanked the Cleaning Guild for a while – our church now gleams week in and week out, smells fresh and not musty with lovely shiny brass to boot. What an amazing team and I am so very grateful for all their graft and elbow grease. Mary Fox must be smiling up in heaven.
A quick congratulation to Alex our server who got engaged recently to Mills Rose. Lovely to share good news.
And lastly thrilled to report that Sarah and I welcomed the birth of Jemima into the family last week – a lovely daughter for Matthew and Jess at last safely here. So very blessed to extend our family and congratulations to a new family member.
That’s it for now.
Take care and God Bless.
Dee xx
Ps Welcome back Father John and Cathy…..where did that time go to!!!