Reflections Blog

BIKE RIDE

It’s not too late to take part in the annual Bike Ride in aid of Beds. and Herts. Historic Churches Trust.  The ride takes place on Saturday 14^th Septemberso there is plenty of time to get a pack from me which will have a sponsor form and details of the churches in Herts. and Beds. which are open for you to visit.  Then you’ll need to find friends and family - and maybe some church members - who would be happy to sponsor you. Half of the money you raise comes back to our church and half goes to the Trust and is then distributed to churches which are fund raising for repairs or renovations.  You choose your own route from the list of churches and you should find someone at the churches;  some have loos and lots have drinks and biscuits.  You should be able to sign in at any church from 10.00am. to 6.00pm.

I am Shelagh Cox and I can be contacted on 01462-432445, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or for texts 07884-406523.  The mobile phone is rarely answered in time because I never know where it is, but I am quite good at texts!  I will give anyone who wants to ride an information pack, and I have done it myself so I may be able to answer your questions.

                                                                                           Shelagh Cox

QUIZ NIGHT - Saturday 26^thOctober at 7.30pm.

We are all set for another Quiz Night in St. Ippolyts Parish Hall. Why not join us for an evening of fun and perhaps an opportunity to tax your brains.  Make up a team of 6 to 8 friends or family and enjoy a Ploughman’s Supper washed down with wine, beer or soft drinks from the bar.  Doors open at 7.00pm. for a prompt 7.30pm. start. Tickets will be on sale from the end of September available from Jane Veasey (H.434254) or Mary Hooper (H.457350) at £10 per person. 

                                                                                             Mary Hooper

COMMUNITY LUNCH

The next Community Lunches will be on Wednesday

4^thSeptember and 2^ndOctober from 12.45pm. till 2.00pm.  (Serving time 12.45pm. till 1.00pm.)  Cost £4. Everyone welcome.

                                                                                                 Anne Steel

FRIENDS OF ST. IPPOLYTS CHURCH

Friends will not be meeting on Tuesday 10^thSeptember.  The new date for our meeting is Wednesday 18^thSeptemberat 10.30am. for coffee/tea and an 11.00am. start. This will be at Little Almshoe House, St. Ippolyts.  We look forward to seeing you on that morning.

                                  Frances Williams, Carol Scott and Joan Pinkstone

CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX APPEAL

As well as being the month that marks the beginning of autumn and a new academic year, September is a time when our thoughts turn to events like harvest and the start of our Christmas shoebox preparations. Once again we will be supporting ‘Link to Hope’ the Sussex based charity who send shoeboxes to Romania, Moldova, the Ukraine and Bulgaria at Christmas.  As in previous years the choice will be whether to fill a shoebox for a family, or whether to do one specifically for an elderly person.

HOWEVER, just when we thought that we had got the hang of how to do them, the charity have revised their requirements based on the actual needs of the people they have been giving the boxes to.  As a result, they are requesting that everybox should contain 6 specified essential items, plus 5 (or more) others.  This is not as complicated as it sounds and is all made very clear in their new leaflet.

By the time that this article appears, leaflets and empty shoeboxes will be available in all of our churches, so do pick up one of the leaflets and have a read.  If you think that you might like to fill a box, just help yourself to a leaflet and a box (if you don’t already have one).  Due to people’s generosity we already have a number of items that you may find useful to put into your box.  These are freely available, so please help yourself.  We will aim to bring a selection of them to most of the 9.15am. services at St. Ippolyts from early September.  (Should you have any queries or need any help just ring Christine and Arthur Sibun on 

01462-459145).  Completed boxes should be returned to church for onward transportation.  Further details and deadlines etc. will be

 published in next month’s PAX.

                                                                                            Arthur Sibun

5

SUMMER TIME

I can’t believe it is September already!!  The last couple of months seem to have whizzed by and I always feel that once the children go back to school I’m on a countdown until Christmas.....I think it’s a vicar thing!!  I’ve had a good summer though, busier than usual but with plenty of high points that have made me extra-thankful that I do what I do.

I am writing this article shortly after our annual Horse Blessing Service.  It was one of those high points (literally!) as I sat upon Ringo the horse, looking across the churchyard which was filled with horses and people and thought that ‘Vicar School’ simply doesn’t prepare you for this!  Last year was the first time I had taken the service on horseback and I was petrified, but this year I was a lot more confident and I confess that I actually enjoyed it!  It was lovely to see so many horses and riders gathered outside the church along with lots of other people who joined us for the service.  There are plenty of photos on the church website if you’d like to take a look - although I’m rather hoping that the extremely unflattering one of me, taken from behind, mounting the horse with my cassock lifted high has been removed, after I all but begged the editor to do so.  No-one needs to see that!!

There’s plenty to look forward to as well;  our Benefice Service at 9.30am. on Sunday 29^thSeptember will be held in The Vicarage garden and followed by breakfast - at least I think it’s something to look forward to.....my cooking isn’t that bad these days!!!  We’ll be praying for a dry morning, bring a chair and let me know if you’re coming so I can get enough sausages in!!  

On Sunday 6^thOctober, we will be joining forces with Wymondley Baptist Chapel again for a joint Harvest Service (at the Chapel) followed by a Harvest Lunch and there will also be the return of our much-heralded Beer and Hymns service in the Buck’s Head - date to be confirmed - look out for posters!  And following on from last year’s successful Light Party on All Hallows Eve, we will be hosting it again this year

  at St. Ippolyts Church. 

2

Another date not to be missed is the ‘Evening with Eric Knowles’ on Tuesday 15^thOctober at the Priory Barn in aid of St. Mary’s Church Great Wymondley Restoration Fund.  This promises to be a wonderful evening and tickets are selling fast so if you’d like to join us please do buy your tickets as soon as possible. (Details on page 7.)

I hope that you have all had a good summer and have managed to spend some time with those you love.  My prayers are with the young people in our Benefice as they return to their schools after the holidays, and especially those who are starting at a new school.  May they start the new school year refreshed and full of enthusiasm and anticipation.

            With love - Ginni

SEND A COW

John and Audrey Burr would like to thank everyone who supported the Send a Cow Coffee Morning held at the end of June.  An amazing total of £517 was raised on the day and from donations after the event.  Send a Cow has

a project to provide coffee plants and training to rural families in Rwanda so that they can grow this profitable crop and further increase their standard of living.  Thank you all.

.

Our annual Horse Blessing Service was held this year on the afternoon of 11^thAugust. In spite of the high winds and scurrying rain clouds we had a remarkably dry service on the freshly mowed grass outside the church. A group of about 50 attendees waited expectantly to see not only how many horses would bring their riders to the service but also to see Revd Ginni astride a charger.

The spectators were not disappointed with 24 horses coming along to be blessed. Ginni did not disappoint either as she was soon up into the saddle and confidently parading down the footpath to her chosen location to conduct the service. She looked resplendent and the other horses whinnied their approval.

After a short reading, the hymn ‘Morning has broken” and prayers Ginni proceeded to bless each of the horses and riders. Each horse was given a special treat of a carrot. 

A collection was taken for the two North Herts Riding for the Disabled groups and a total of £345 was given to split between them.

Thank you to all the horses and riders, all the ladies who baked the cakes sampled by everyone, of course, to all those who came to enjoy the service and spectacle. 

Upon departure the horses left a few presents, which the churchyard maintenance crew will have to tackle!

To see more photos look in our gallery.

.

Sithney, the patron saint of mad dogs; a Breton legend has it that God asked him to be the patron saint of of girls seeking husbands, but Sithney replied that he would rather be the patron saint of mad dogs and get some rest!

.

.

Don not forget our annual horse blessing service which this year will be held at 15:00 on Sunday 11th August 2019 at St Ippolyts Church. All horses and donkeys etc etc welcome, please bring along as many humans as possible.

All money collected will be given to "Riding for the Disabled"

Next Sunday, 28th July 2019, we welcome Revd Don Dowling who will be standing in for Revd Paul Lanham for our 09:15 service whilst Revd Ginni will be at Great wymondley.

.

.

.

CHRISTIAN AID

As many of you will know this year was the last year that we will be doing door to door collections in Hitchin.  I thought that I would take the opportunity to thank everyone that has been involved with me over the last 11 years.  (Everyone that I have an email address for!!)  Over this time many people have helped, many for the whole time but in total 41 people have pounded on doors raising £10,699 - not a bad sum so well done to all of us!

Next year I plan to organise a Tea and Cake afternoon so keep your

eyes open!  Thank you all again.

Barbara Thomas

BIKE RIDE

This year's Sponsored Bike 'n Hike for the Beds. and Herts. Historic Churches Trust is happening on Saturday 14^thSeptember.  I have been the local church organiser for many years and would like someone to replace me so, this year, if you would like to help with something in the church/village this is your opportunity to do it with some help - next year you might be inspired to take it 

on yourself once you have found that it really isn't too difficult! 

If you are inspired to burn some calories in a good cause the Bike or Hike aspect might attract you.  You choose your own route - a list of the churches in this area that are open is provided, and you plan the route accordingly and then head out to do it! 

Either way - to help with organising, or participating, please contact me,

Shelagh Cox by phone 01462-432445, text 07884-406523 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.and I'll give you all the details.

                                                                                                Shelagh Cox