Welcome to the St. James' Newsletter on Friday, October 22nd, 2021

Last Sunday evening the Choir of St. James’ sang a Choral Evensong to mark my imminent resignation from the Parochial Living of Weybridge – and also my retirement from full-time ministry in the good old Church of England. I was so honoured to be offered this beautiful gesture from the choir and not a little humbled by it. Ah! To share the worship of heaven with all the angels and saints - surely a foretaste of the Beatific Vision! As the music wafted in the evening air of Autumn you could almost hear the angels sighing with delight, inspired by such a wonderful offering of traditional Anglican worship. After many months of uncertainty, enforced change and a certain erosion of confidence, the choir showed that it had indeed been gently nursed back to health and community by Lindsay Bridgwater, as ever willing to share his musical skill and knowledge for the good of the Church and for the offering of excellence in our Parish Church of St. James. I am so proud to have served in a parish church which treasures good music and does not let itself be blown away by passing trends and fashions. Standards are high where passion and belief is profound and I take this opportunity to thank the choir for their music, their dedication and their friendship to me during my time here of nearly 18 years.

Onwards and upwards, dear friends, and don’t ever think you are not doing what is needed and beloved. Continue to sing with the Spirit and with the understanding Also. With my love and prayers, Brian Rector (pro tem.) Editor’s Note: If you missed the service, you can watch it on Facebook here on and YouTube here. _______________________________________________________________________

Upcoming services in Church

Sun. 24th 8am Holy Eucharist (said) 10am Parish Eucharist (sung; Sunday school; refreshments after the service) Wed. 27th 10am Holy Eucharist Please note there will be no 8 am Eucharist on Sunday 31st October.

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Harvest Donations

The final total for all money contributions towards our Harvest appeal, including GiftAid, is £965.71.

This is an absolutely amazing sum, and will ensure more help can be given by our Foodbank to local families in need. Thank you.

Brian’s last Sunday

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From our Registers…

Baptisms

16/10 William Yang

17/10 Jack Hearn

Annual All Souls Memorial Service

This will take place on Wed 3 November at 10am, a list for the names of those to be remembered will be available at the rear of the church, or can be emailed direct to Louise at revlouisebishop@btinternet.com

Foodbank needs

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Access for All Appeal

UPDATE: Our current total is £96,800! We now have a fundraising thermometer at the back of the church which will track our progress as donations arrive.

It would be wonderful if we could get over £100,000 in the next week or so, to mark the retirement of a certain priest...

To make a donation online, please use the CAFdonate link here.

__________________________________________________________________________ Can you offer a lift?

If you could offer a parishioner a lift from Addlestone to church and back for the 10am Sunday service, please speak to Jill or Louise. ___________________________________________________________________________

Financial donations towards the ministry and mission of St James’ can be made by cheque sent to the Parish Office or online via our website.

We thank you and deeply appreciate all gifts given at this time.

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Help needed

It’s wonderful to see our church getting busier, and with Christmas coming up fast, we know we are going to need more helpers to keep things running smoothly.

We urgently need more volunteers to make and serve coffee after services, and to be part of the welcoming team for 10am services.

You can offer to help for just one day a month, or more if you'd like! Please contact Jill or Louise.

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Covid booster and flu vaccines

Booster jabs for Covid and annual flu vaccines are beginning to be rolled out; please watch out for your invitation. Walk-in clinics, no invitation needed, are listed here

https://www.surreyheartlandsccg.nhs.uk/covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-centres2 ________________________________________________________________________ Prayers requested Please remember in your prayers the following who are in need (first names only are given, for data protection reasons):

Don, Derek, Graham, Paul, Jennifer, Amelie, Stella, Sally, Olivia, John, Barbara, Trevor,

Penny, Mike, Alan, Robert, Keith, Ted, Roy, Tim, Barbara, Mark, Cath, Dave, Ansar, Bernie, and Jeanette

We continue to hold in our hearts and prayers the souls of the recently departed: Mary Sharps

And in the year’s mind: Alan Gilding, John Cave Priest, Christine Veitch, Alice Bellerby.

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___________________________________________________________________________ The Collect and readings for the last Sunday after Trinity

Collect

Merciful God,

teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,

that trusting in your word

and obeying your will

we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 7,verse 23-end:

Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (10.46-end)

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

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Endnotes

We live stream and record our 10am Eucharist on Sundays. News and further information is also available online.

Find us:

on Facebook, You Tube or via our website at www.stjamesweybridge.org.uk. To subscribe to this newsletter, send an email to dpo@stjamesweybridge.org.uk

Parish Office hours – Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9.30am to 1pm.

Please print and deliver a copy of this email to people you know who can’t access electronic communications – or let us know at the email address above and we will arrange it.

Jill Wilson jillwilson133@gmail.com 01932 842069

Louise Bishop revlouisebishop@btinternet.com 07974 018160.

This newsletter is brought to you by the communications team at St. James. They are the Reverend Louise Bishop, Jill Wilson, Howard Freeman, Gretchen Spalt, Donna Miller and Victoria Scott. Comments and items for inclusion are welcomed.