The monthly letter from Fr Yenda.

August 2011

My dear people of S Mary’s

It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were clearing the snow off the paths, and taking down the Christmass decorations! Now the sun is here (at least as I write it is!) and the children are all off school, and no doubt the local mothers are getting more and more stressed!

August is perhaps the best example of a month in the year when everything winds down and stops – albeit not as much as it used to be. I am told that a decade or so back, for two weeks in August Vauxhall’s would shut down, and everyone seemed to go away en masse. Now of course holidays tend to be something of a moveable feast – those without children often go away outside of the school holidays to get cheaper prices. I have written several times about the scandalous way in which prices are put up by tourist companies when the children are on holiday, but suffice to say that for most of us now, with busy lives, holidays are no longer simply a luxury. Holidays are, in fact, a necessity, because that fortnight away when we can re-charge our batteries, and simply have a different place to look around, does pay dividends.

August is also, of course, the month of our Patronal Festival – the Feast of the Assumption of Mary – the greatest of the Marian feasts, and therefore the day which we use for our Patronal. This year the preacher will be Fr Paul Butler, the Rector of S Paul’s Church in Deptford. I very much hope that many people will again be able to come along for our feast day this year.

There will as always be a buffet in the church hall after the service for those who have joined us for the service before hand in church. The refreshments for the Patronal are always excellent, and as always I want to extend a very big thank you to all those who help with this side of things.

A church feast day each year gives us the opportunity to welcome visitors from other churches and from other places who can come and see our lovely church, and enjoy the worship which is offered here.

Last month we had our first (I hope of many annual) church summer fete; and it was a lovely occasion. People worked very hard indeed, and lots of people came along.

During the course of the year we have a number of events, from coffee mornings to concerts, and plenty in between! So I do hope that readers of the magazine will keep an eye open for things that are happening.

I do hope we all have a good summer, and if you are going away, I hope it is a super time, and that you come back very refreshed.

As always it is my very great joy and tremendous privilege to serve as your parish priest.

With all good wishes

Fr Yenda