church letter

Walking the Easter Story (with muddy boots and hopeful hearts)

One of the things I love about Easter is that it refuses to stay tidy. Just as we think winter has had the final say, Easter arrives — along with muddy paths, lighter evenings, lambs in the fields, and the first brave shoots in the garden. New life has a habit of turning up when we least expect it.

I’m always reminded of this when I’m convinced something in my own garden hasn’t survived the winter, only to spot green pushing through what looked like lifeless soil. Easter faith says that this is not just gardening optimism — it’s theology. Christians believe that God is in the business of renewal, not only in souls, but in the whole of creation.

The Easter story begins on Palm Sunday, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. It’s joyful, hopeful, and slightly chaotic — much like life itself. In Inkpen, we hope to welcome donkeys again this year, reminding us that God often arrives not in power and polish, but in humility and gentleness. As one hymn puts it, “Ride on, ride on in majesty… meekly on to death He goes.”

But the cheering doesn’t last. Good Friday takes us to harder ground. In Kintbury, we will mark the day with a short Walk of Witness, carrying a cross made from our old Christmas tree. I find that deeply moving: the wood that once held lights and celebration now shaped into a cross. The child born at Christmas is the same Christ who walks the way of suffering. Or as the hymn says, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Later that day, there will be a meditative Good Friday service in Inkpen — quiet, spacious, and honest. And then comes Easter morning.

Across the benefice, churches will celebrate the resurrection — the astonishing claim that death does not have the final word. In Kintbury, after the 9.45am service, there will be an Easter egg hunt, because Easter joy is not meant to be sensible or restrained. As another hymn reminds us, “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son.”

Easter does not deny suffering; it walks straight through it. It says that despair is real — but not ultimate. That endings are not the end. That new life is possible.

Whether you come every week, haven’t been for years, or are simply curious, you are warmly invited to walk this Easter journey with us — and perhaps to ask what it might mean to live as if hope were still possible, trusting that new life can emerge even from places we had quietly written off.

With my prayers and every good wish, Revd Annette

PRAYERS FOR TODAY
1    Shine on us, O Son of God, with grace unfailing, granting us the gift of wisdom, the power of faith and the endurance of hope. Amen.
Ethiopian Orthodox

2    "I thank Thee, Lord, today
For Thy unfailing presence Along life's rugged way.
Guide me, O blest Redeemer,
Teach me to do Thy will,
And Thine own perfect purpose In me each day fulfill."
Avis Christiansen

3   "God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief in Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ."
Wilda English

4    The Lord’s Prayer – Gnostic Order of Christ Version:
O Giver of All Life, Who Is in Heaven and in Earth,
In Whom We Live, Move, And Have Our Being,
Holy Is Thy Name,
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done in Earth, as it Is in Heaven.
Give Us this Day Our Daily Bread, And Forgive Us Our Trespasses
As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us.
Keep Us from Temptation, Keep Us Ever Mindful of Thee.
For Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory,
Forever and Ever. Amen.

Church Contacts

Benefice Administrator: Tamara Laing, part-time at the Benefice Office Email: wbboffice@gmail.com 07359 327072.

Churchwardens:
Inkpen: Charlotte Bampfylde (tel. 669285), email: inkpenchurch@outlook.com.
Combe: Tina Fiertz (tel. 668529), Katherine Astor (katherine@kirby-house.co.uk).

Inkpen graveyards on-line

For anyone wishing to view the details of Inkpen's graveyards, including burial details, grave stone inscriptions and the location of the graves, please click here.  Inkpen Burial, Marriage, Baptism and Birth records covering the period 1607 to 1837 can be found on the Inkpen history website, here.

NEWS FROM ST. MICHAEL'S

‘Lent is for Giving, not just for Giving up’

We would like to appeal to the generosity of parishioners to make a Gift to the Church this Lent.

You might come to Church regularly or occasionally or would like to use it for Weddings, Baptisms or Funerals. You might just like to contribute to the maintenance of this beautiful, historic building at the heart of our community.

Please use a Gift Aid envelope which can be given to your Bulletin deliverer or dropped off in the secure bucket in the Crown & Garter Café.

Better still, sign up online to the Parish Giving Scheme on www.parishgiving.org.uk

Enter Inkpen in the search box, then click on Find your Church. Click on Give Now beside Inkpen St Michael All Angels and then on Regular Giving or One-off Gift (we pay a 1.5% transaction cost for one-off gifts so Regular Giving is preferable). Your gifts are enhanced by having tax refunded through Gift Aid. Thank you!

LENT LUNCH
There will be a Lent Lunch by kind invitation of Meg Atkins at her house on FRIDAY 20th March from 12 noon. It will be a simple soup and cheese meal with donations going to the Loose Ends Charity which provides clothing and hot meals for the homeless in Newbury. Please let Meg know if you are coming, phone 07769 695325.

MOTHERING SUNDAY
For Mothering Sunday on 15th March, we are trying something a bit different. Rather than making posies for mothers beforehand, the children will make them during the service with flowers provided.

PALM SUNDAY
With luck, Janie Grievson’s donkeys will again be cooperative and make the symbolic journey to the Church from Totterdown via Sadlers and the Drove in time to start the Palm Sunday service outside the Lych Gate.

Holy Communion at Home
We are now offering parishioners Holy Communion at Home. This might appeal to those who are unable to come to Church. Contact Annette 07708 823285, email: revannettes@aol.co.uk

DONATIONS URGENTLY REQUIRED TO COVER BULLETIN COSTS
Each year it costs c. £1,200 to print the Bulletin and even with Elon Musk’s chainsaw methods, it’s hard to cut them further. The Parish Council contributes £400, the Church £250 thus, c. £550 per annum is required. I won’t labour the fact it would make our job (and the distributors) infinitely more efficient if residents could consume the bulletin via email, this website or Facebook as it would cost, give or take, a tarriff busting £0. We will continue to print assuming funds roll in from this appeal.

Please either send monies to
1. St Michael’s Church, Inkpen – Sort code - 60-11-28 Account number – 73133078. Please put ‘Bulletin’ as reference.
2. Or write a cheque made out to St Michael’s Church, Inkpen and drop into the Crown and Garter or the Bakery.

church services FOR INKPEN, COMBE and West Woodhay

Other Services in the Benefice are on the Website which is www.walburybeaconbenefice.org.uk

Other Family Services coming up:

Rogation 10th May – outdoor service at a Farm
Pentecost 24th May – flying kites on Combe Gibbet.
Pet Service 28th June – bring your pets for a blessing.

INKPEN
Sunday 1st March – Compline at 4pm
Sunday 8th March – Holy Communion at 8.30am
Sunday 15th March – Mothering
Sunday Family Service at 9.45am (making posies)
Sunday 29th March – Palm Sunday Family Service at 9.45am (outdoor service at the church with donkeys)
Friday 3rd April – Good Friday at 11.30
Sunday 5th April - EASTER DAY Family Communion and lots of eggs at 9.45am
Sunday 12th April - Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) at 8.30 am
Sunday 19th April - Parish Communion at 9.45

WEST WOODHAY
Sunday 8th March – Morning Prayer at 11.15am
Sunday 22nd March – Holy Communion at 11.15am
Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday Family Communion at 11.15am

COMBE
Sunday 15th Marh – SERVICE CANCELLED
Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday Holy Communion at 11.15am

MASONS FARM
Sunday 1st March - Youth Alpha Team at 5pm
Sunday 8th March – Youth Alpha Team at 5pm

CHURCH SERVICES AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HUNGERFORD
Our Lady of Lourdes, Priory Road, Hungerford RG17 0AF Parish Priest - Fr Zbigniew Budyn 01635 40332
Sunday Mass - every Sunday at 9.00am
Weekday Mass - every Wednesday at 10.00am

BAPTISM ANNOUNCEMENT
Olive Elizabeth Ball, daughter of Alexander and Laura Ball, baptised 16 November 2025 at St Michael’s Church, Inkpen. Granddaughter to Wayne and Linda Ball and Tim and Jo Kempster of Inkpen.

OBITUARIES

A victorian view - now and then

The images of St. Michael's past and present are shown here