In recent years we have supported the work of overseas charities through our harvest gift collections. One of the reasons for this has been the difficulty of finding willing recipients for the more traditional harvest produce.
This year we will be pleased to support the work of the Cambridge Foodbank (organised by Emmaus and Jimmy's Nightshelter) who can collect and distribute donated and surplus food to 74 voluntary and charitable organisations across East Anglia.
This means that once again we can welcome the more traditional harvest produce. This year the Cambridge Foodbank is also making a special appeal for surplus cookery books.
Harvest Festival Services take place on Sunday 26th September at All Saints', Lolworth, at 3.30pm; on Sunday 3rd October at St Mary's, Fen Drayton, at 9.30am and 3.30pm and also at St Andrew's, Swavesey, at 11.00am and 6.30pm, and on Sunday 10th October at St Mary's, Conington, at 6.30pm.
A Christingle Service, when we celebrate the coming of the Christchild as light into the world and support the work of The Children's Society, is always one of the highlights of the year.
This winter there will be Christingle Services at St Andrew's, Swavesey, at 4.30pm on Sunday 5th December and at St Mary's, Fen Drayton, at 4.30pm on Sunday 16th January 2005.
If you are looking for an opportunity to explore more deeply the meaning of Christian faith or to make your own the profession of faith that was made on your behalf by your godparents at your baptism, then perhaps a course of confirmation classes due to begin later in the autumn are for you.
Classes will be offered both for adults and for young people who will be at least 11 years old by the time of the confirmation. We will be working towards a confirmation service which will be held in the North Stowe Deanery on 14th April 2005 and at which the Bishop of Ely will be presiding.
Further information from the Vicar.
The Lolworth Christmas Bazaar will be held in the Village Hall from 11.00am until 1.00pm on Saturday 20th November with mince pies and mulled wine and lots of Christmas gifts.
It is 50 years since the village schools of Conington, Boxworth, Elsworth and Knapwell were combined in a new building at Elsworth.
Jubilee celebrations will begin on Friday 8th October with an exhibition of the past 50 years in school from 1.30pm and the ESFA (Elsworth School Friends Association) Bonfire and Celebration at 6.30pm.
Rehearsals for Harvest Festivals are now well advanced and we shall be singing an anthem at the 11.00am service at St Andrew's on 3rd October and a further anthem and settings of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis at 6.30pm. We look forward to seeing a large congregation at both services.
The following Sunday, 10th October, we visit Conington for Harvest Festival Evensong at 6.30pm.
During the summer period, eleven members attended the Choirs' Festival in Ely Cathedral in May and the Choir has sung at five weddings, including one at Conington.
Keith Lofts
Babies and Toddlers (and their carers) are warmly invited to come to St Andrew's, Swavesey, on the second Monday of each month at 11.00am for BATS - a new Baby and Toddler Service.
Each month there will be songs, activities, prayers, music making and a story for all ages (with the emphasis on the rather young) - and also biscuits, squash, tea, coffee and an opportunity to natter.
Full details and leaflet available from Caroline Stevens on 01954 231433 or caroline@overroad.co.uk .
We start on Monday 11th October - all are welcome!
Thank you to everyone who helped to make this September's Fen Drayton Flower Festival 'A Rhyme in Thyme', the Festival Concert and Festival Service such wonderful occasions.
The Flower Festival has provisionally raised over £1,000 and the concert a further £500 towards the costs of repairing and restoring St Mary's Church.
A few copies of a new book of 'Recipes from around Fen Drayton' produced for the Festival are still available. The 49-page book can be obtained, price £5.00, from Jenny Lee on 01954 206186. There are some very old recipes as well many described in contemporary terms.
The Vicar is always happy to offer the sacrament of Holy Communion to the housebound at home. Please ring him on 01954 231903 to arrange dates and times. The Vicar is also always ready to talk with parishioners, whether regular churchgoers or not, about arranging weddings, baptisms, funerals, and services of thanksgiving for all kinds of occasions.
There is no special Sunday for baptisms, though usually only one service each month in each parish will include a christening. Which Sunday this is tends to be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. So do get in touch with the Vicar early.
Before a baptism we have a Service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child. This can take place during a Sunday Service or on another occasion but preferably as soon as possible after a baby's birth.
But, of course, it doesn't have to be that you're trying to arrange a church service of some sort; the Vicar is happy to talk on almost any matter, but especially about spiritual or related concerns.