Reflections Blog

COMMUNITY LUNCH

The next Community Lunches will be on Wednesdays 4^thJuly,

1^stAugust and 5^thSeptember from 12.45pm. till 2.00pm.  (Serving time

              12.45pm. till 1.00pm.)  Cost £4.  Everyone welcome.

BIKE RIDE - Saturday 8^thSeptember

The Bike Ride 2018 in aid of Beds. and Herts. Historic Churches is on Saturday8^thSeptember this year.  As usual we would like people to ride in aid of St. Ippolyts and all the other historic churches in Beds. and Herts.  I have all the details of the churches which will be open, and sponsorship forms.  It is a good idea to get planning early so that you see the maximum number of people who might sponsor you.

If you are not into riding around the area, you might like to help with the organization of the event in St. Ippolyts.  I would very much like someone to help me with the actual organization - this involves getting helpers to man the church on the day, and sorting out the drinks and biscuits for the riders.  (Not a massive job to be honest.)  We also need volunteers to be in church to hand out drinks and biscuits to the riders, and to sign their forms and make sure they sign our form - that description takes longer to write down and read than it does to actually do it!

My contact details are Shelagh Cox, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 01462-432445 or 07884-406523 (texts only on the mobile please unless it is an emergency).

                                                                                               Shelagh Cox

You may recall that when I joined the Benefice in August 2016, one of my first services was the Horse Blessing Service at St. Ippolyts - a great start for someone who was terrified of horses!!  I managed it though and came away feeling quite chuffed that I had not only coped but that I had also managed to conquer my fear enough to feed the horses a carrot or two!

Deciding that horses were not quite as scary as I had first imagined, I undertook the service in 2017 with gusto, confidently stroking the horses, and even making the local paper which ran an article on the service.  Such was my euphoria at managing to make great strides in overcoming my fear that my mouth seemed to run away with itself and I boldly declared that ‘next year I will be taking the service on horseback’!!  Well, next year is now this year and as I am never one to run from a challenge, I will do my level best to do just that this August (oh why, oh why, do I say these things!)

Anyway, I have actually had my first horse-riding lesson!  I say ‘riding’ but it was more ‘sitting terrified on a horse that was walking’, but it was a start!  Thanks to Jackie at Courtlands Riding Stables, who promised not to let go of the reins, I found myself on top of a moving horse and I lived to tell the tale. Dear Ringo, the horse, was very tolerant and stood quietly whilst I desperately tried to clamber on.  I thought I heard him sigh a little when I whimpered ‘how do I make him go’ and then shrieked when he slowly ambled forward. It felt a bit like sitting on top of a wobbly step ladder when you think you are going to fall at any moment and have nothing to grab hold of - and I really was so glad to get off!

I did manage to lead Ringo back to his stable though and found myself gently running my hand through his mane and marvelling at how beautiful he was - so

I think I’m getting better.  I plan a few more lessons before the Horse Blessing Service on 12^thAugust and I’m really hoping to be able to do as I promised and lead the service on horseback.

Please put the date in your diaries - Sunday 12^thAugust 2018 at 3.00pm. in St. Ippolyts Churchyard - the service is very short and there will be tea and cakes afterwards for humans and carrots for the horses!  If you have a horse of your own then you are more than welcome to bring him/her along for a blessing or if you prefer two feet to four, then come and see the 15 or so horses that Courtland’s Stables bring.  

All the money raised in the collection goes directly to Riding for the Disabled to enable people with disabilities to experience the joys of horse riding.  It is a fabulous charity and one which is greatly supported by Courtlands Stables - plus, you may just get to see your Vicar on horseback which has got to be worth a giggle!!

With love - Ginni

Last month we had the pleasure of having Bishop Michael of Hertford visit the Benefice.  Bishop Michael wants to personally visit each of the parishes under his care and spend time worshipping with the congregations and engaging with the communities - no mean feat as I think there are some 250 + churches for him to visit!

It was lovely to have Bishop Michael celebrate our services at St. Ippolyts and Little Wymondley on Pentecost Sunday, with an added trip to the plant sale at Great Wymondley!  He then came back the following Tuesday for a packed day of activities which started with the all-important task of taking me to lunch in The Bull - it’s a hard life being a vicar!!  We then headed to St. Ippolyts School where the children led us in worship and spent time talking to Bishop Michael about their faith, how they prepare worship and a whole host of other things which really made him think on his feet! The children really were a credit to themselves and their school and the Bishop was bowled over by the depth of their knowledge and faith.

Following on from the school we headed to Wymondley Nursing and Residential Care Home for a service of Holy Communion, ably assisted by our Benefice singers, aptly named the Melodic Miracles!  We raised the roof with some rousing hymns and Bishop Michael was able to spend time chatting to the residents before we hot-footed it back to The Vicarage for tea and cakes with the Ministry Team.  (I told you it was a hard life but at least you can now see why I struggle with my weight!) Then it was off to St. Mary’s, Great Wymondley to take a look at the recent renovations and have a chat with one or two people before we headed - yes, you’ve guessed it - to the Green Man pub for supper with the Churchwardens!!

The day was rounded off with a joint meeting of all 3 PCC’s in Great Wymondley Village Hall where Bishop Michael led us in a short Bible study and challenged us to think about what we want our churches and communities to look like in the future.  It was an encouraging and useful exercise in focussing on our goals and aspirations and identifying the steps we need to take to get there.

All in all, it was a hugely enjoyable time for all of us.  Bishop Michael was very positive and encouraging and reminded us of just how much our Benefice is already doing to demonstrate the love of God to those around us. I think we all came away realising that the love and hard-work that everybody puts into our parishes, both church members and those who work alongside us in our communities, is of great value and doesn’t go unnoticed.  We look forward to a return visit from Bishop Michael in the future!

With love - Ginni

ST. IPPOLYTS OPEN GARDENS - Sunday 24^thJune

Can you help us?

Open your garden- a couple more gardens would be lovely.  If you live on Waterdell Lane, Mill Road, Mill Lane from Mill Road to the High Street, Gosmore High Street, Maydencroft Lane, The Crescent, Townsend Place or Orchard Close and have a garden you would like to share please contact me.

Grow us some plants- We will be having a plant sale so if you are sowing seeds or dividing plants please grow a few more for us if you are able to.

Advertising- Could you put up posters in a local village or give flyers out at the groups that you attend?  If so please contact me.

Help on the day- we will need people to sell programmes, make tea and coffee, sell cakes and man the car parks.  If you could spare a couple of hours on the day please contact Mary Hooper on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01462-457350 or look out for sign-up sheets at the back of the church.

Cakes!!- We can't have Open Gardens without beautiful, homemade cakes.

Could you be a friend?- One of our garden openers would very much like to have some company and reassurance as she welcomes visitors to her garden, if you could spare some time contact me.

Finally- put the date in your diary and come along to visit our beautiful gardens (and perhaps bring a friend or two!)

           Barbara Thomas - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01462-421647

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Do not forget our wonderful open gardens event on Sunday 24th June.

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Today we welcomed the Rt Revd Dr Michael Beasley, Bishop of Hertford to St Ippolyts and Little Wymondley. The Bishop gave a stimulating sermon in which he managed to have the congregation singing (well sort of) a song inspired by thermodynamics! 

See the gallery for more photos!

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Holy Communion, 11:00 on Wednesday 16th May 2018 at St Ippolyts - CANCELLED

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We are welcoming the Bishop of Hertford, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Beasley to our church and Little Wymondley church this coming Sunday 20th May 2018, Whit Sunday, the day of Pentecost.

The Bishop will be leading the 09:15 Service at St Ippolyts and the 11:00 service at Little Wymondley.

Please do come along and listen to our Bishop and support our church on this special Sunday.

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