A Platinum Jubilee Celebration, and a lovely Pentecost Service as part of it

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Firstly, I must apologise for there not being my usual news for St Mary’s last week. I had been laid low since early Monday morning and although I had written the notices on Sunday, I had not sent them whilst waiting for an update, and then I did not feel well enough to even turn my computer on till late on Tuesday but by then I had missed the deadline! Well, I’m here now on Monday and this report will be on it’s way to the Chronicle very soon! I hope most people caught the main points on our Facebook page in time to show important weekend changes.

Our Sunday service was shared with the Salvation Army, in the Jubilee Marquee at 10am with the Rev Alex Wheatley and Major Christine McCutcheon having thoughts and meanings to the Celebration of Pentecost, which is also traditionally known as Whit Sunday. Many people came to the service to hear that Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks as described in the Acts of the Apostles. The Rev Alex provoked the thought of a feast, not only with what was to come with the Big Banquet later in the same marquee, but by cooking live and turning corn into “Pop Corn”, before our very eyes! This was eagerly finished off after the service by all the youngsters present, quickly eating the well known treat! The service continued with the singing of Salvation Army Pentecostal hymns, accompanied by their Band, and finished with the National Anthem.

Later on, as mentioned earlier, the ladies of St Mary’s Church Events Committee and many other helpers from the church, together with Clayton’s Butcher’s expert Hog Roast Team, provided a traditional roast dinner “Big Banquet” for every person who had booked their lunch. The marquee was very large, every seat was taken but everyone soon had a plate of delicious food in front of them, and this was followed by a range of desserts to choose from! Very well organised so congratulations to all who produced the meal, helped to serve it or cleared up afterwards. It was a really great effort and much appreciated by all present. Well done to all.

Next Sunday, our morning service of Holy Communion, will be conducted by one of our retired priest friends, the Rev Gillian Orpin.

NightLight Services 12th June & 3rd July, The NightLight Service scheduled for 5th of June had to be moved to 12th of June. It will then be back in it’s usual 1st Sunday of the month slot on the 3rd of July. Have you been to a NightLight service before? Why not try it? It’s a wonderfully calm and still time of prayer and worship. We meet in church from 7.15pm for refreshments, with the service starting at 7.30pm. We look forward to seeing you. This service will normally be broadcast using Zoom.

Now the fun of the Jubilee is over, the church groups, First Steps and Craft and Chatter will return to the church hall, at their usual times on June 10th. For more information, see next week’s “Sunday Link” newsletter, which has already been published last weekend and will cover the week’s 12th,19th and 29th of June. Also back on June 10th, we can hear our organist, Nick Wilson, giving his thought for the day on BigglesFM at 8.15am, 104.8 on the dial!

Services for Next Sunday, June 12th, Trinity Sunday

9am, St John’s Church, Cockayne Hatley Holy Communion

9am, All Saint’s Church, Sutton, Service of the Word

10.30am, St Mary’s Church, Potton, Holy Communion

7.15am, St Mary’s Church, Potton, NightLight,

Also with Zoom. Contact: s.e.banks@btinternet.com for Zoom Code