church letter

Light in the Darkness - What are the things that really matter to you? Is it someone’s kindness you remember, or their wise words when you really needed them?

My dad was in the First World War and was in the Somme. He was invalided out after a mustard gas attack, which nearly killed him. It profoundly affected who he was and the way he lived his life. He was invariably kind and thoughtful to whoever he met. He met mom between the wars, when she had been left with two young children to bring up on her own. No easy task then, never mind now. She went on to have a further two boys with him, but he treated all of us exactly the same.

As we grow up, and reach our teens, we can easily discard what our moms and dads teach us, thinking we know more than them. But to be honest, as I have grown older many of my dad’s wise sayings have come back to me, and I find them so useful in my day-to-day life.

When I remember him now, I realise he lived a life of thankfulness. It would have been easy, I would have thought, for him to be resentful and perhaps embittered. He was sent as a young man of seventeen onto the battlefields in France, into the living hell that was trench warfare. Yet the only comment he made, when I asked him about it, was that he felt a deep sorrow for the friends he had lost on that battlefield. He was also eternally grateful, that for a reason he didn’t understand, he survived it and lived.

In the darkness he had found the light that John talks about in his gospel, when he talks about Jesus. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5 N.I. V.).  May we too live in that light and not allow the darkness that can exist in this world to overcome us.  John Seabridge

PRAYER FOR TODAY
Among our worries or despair, you are there.
Among those who are anxious or frail, you are there.
In the times when we care, you are there, and in the times when we fail, you are there.
In our calling, open our minds and our hearts to your ways, so that we may know how to help those in distress. Enable your Church to be a voice that can be heard, a people who bring hope to those who feel hopeless, and to have the courage to face challenges together, by the power of your Spirit, 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).
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 either the envelope that was enclosed in the March Bulletin 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.

Click on Find your Parish and enter Inkpen, then click on Inkpen St Michael All Angels on the map and then on Give followed by Regular Giving or One-off Gift. Your gifts are enhanced by having tax refunded through Gift Aid. Thank you.

The Annunciation
The Annunciation is when the angel Gabriel tells Mary she will become the mother of Jesus, a moment of trust and acceptance. It highlights the power of saying "Yes" to the unexpected and embracing new beginnings. This year it falls on 25th March. This is beautifully depicted on the south chancel wall in another painting by Ethel King Martin executed in 1910 after the major rebuilding of Inkpen Church which began in 1896 and gave us most of the layout and features that we see in the Church today.

CHURCH FUNDING
We are again appealing to the many people who have given generously in the past and to others who would like to support the upkeep of our church. If you would like to donate to St. Michael's Church Inkpen, please do so using the secure website www.parishgiving.org.uk.

Your donations are vital to the upkeep of our beautiful church which so many rely on for weddings, baptisms, funerals and memorials as well as regular services. Thank you.

church services FOR INKPEN, COMBE and West Woodhay

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

INKPEN
Sunday 6th April – Compline at 6pm
Sunday 13th April – Palm Sunday Family Service at 9.45am
Sunday 20th April - Easter Day – Holy Communion at 9.45am
Sunday 4th May- Compline at 6pm
Sunday 11th May - Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) at 8.30
Sunday 18th May - Holy Communion at 9.45
Sunday 25th May - Benefice Rogation Family Service at West Woodhay with tractors 9.45.

COMBE
Sunday 20th April – Easter Day – Holy Communion at 11.15am

WEST WOODHAY
Sunday 20th April – Easter Day – Holy Communion at 11.15am

On 6th April there is our quiet contemplative service of Compline at 6pm.
Palm Sunday is on 13th April. This will be an outdoor service at 9.45 with Janie Grievson kindly walking her donkeys to the Church from Totterdown. And at the Easter Day Family service on 20th April at 9.45 there will be lots of mini eggs!

ELECTORAL ROLL REGISTRATION
Thank you to all who have filled in and returned new electoral roll forms so far. As you may know, all parishes are required this year to prepare new electoral rolls before their APCMs. Everyone who wishes to remain on the electoral roll will need to reapply, as will anyone wishing to enrol for the first time.

If you don’t have an electronic form, please email me and I’ll send a form and return to tim@godsondesforges.co.uk We can accept scanned images or photos of printed forms (feel free to return them also via WhatsApp / message to Tim at 07767778650). If filling in electronically, please just print your name in lieu of your signature. The deadline for returning forms is 15th March. Many thanks. Tim des Forges

catholic services

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

OBITUARIES

A victorian view - now and then

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