It’s September, Harvest Festival is nearly upon us, the Christmas catalogues have arrived and winter, it seems cannot be far behind. However, let’s not rush towards the end of the year too fast. Yes, I’m sure winter clothes have been in the shops for months, but still we may hope for an enjoyable autumn first [and possibly better pray for a mild one, as the church heating is in a parlous state having been condemned for effect, though the cause still seems to be a mystery.]
Our Harvest Thanksgiving this year falls on 24th September. We shall celebrate with an All Age Eucharist on the theme of Water and the lack of it. It will be followed by our Harvest Lunch in the Crypt to which everyone is invited. Lists for numbers and offers of food and drink will be on the noticeboard soon. Our Harvest gifts will go to the Simon Community in Malden Road as always. They appreciate store cupboard food for their community and the soup runs, and basic toiletries. We’ll be asking for help with packing up and delivering the food on Monday 25th September. Last year we needed 3 cars and with 2 people per car it took 15 minutes to pack – once we get there the members of the community are usually around to help unload.
Events gone and events to come
Music abounds – two concerts and one talk this month and advance notice of more events later. The drama group are beginning rehearsals for their November production of A Tale of Two Cities and, just to show how busy they were during the summer, we have two reviews, one of Julius Caesar and one of The Lark.
Arrivals and departures
Sian and Ed Price’s baby, Francesca, arrived on 24th July and we hope to see them all soon. Lewis Brito-Babapulle will, sadly, be leaving us to take up his new position as Assistant Organist at St Michael and All Angels, Croydon. He has done sterling service over the summer guiding us through the congregational mass settings and accompanying our voluntary choir who were in good voice for four of the Sundays in August. [I don’t mean they weren’t in good voice on the fifth, I mean that they didn’t sing!]
Sadest of all, of course, for the parish was the loss of Sir Alan Goodison and much is written about him in the following pages. His absence will leave a huge hole in our lives for a long time to come.
The Railings were completed by the end of August – and don’t they look good. Much thanks to everyone who donated, and also thanks to Robert Ingham who has done much to clear the north side of the churchyard and render their newly repainted splendour visible.
Judy East
PS Did you know that Michaelmas [29th September] is positively the last day for eating blackberries – the devil overlooks them until them but after that……. It’s not completely silly, blackberries picked in October, if you can find them, do tend to be hard and bitter, a nasty surprise after the sweetness of the earlier crop.
September
Judy East