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Letcombe Regis: : Sparsholt:

NOVEMBER 2020

Revd Leonora Hill Rector of the Ridgeway Benefice [email protected] 01235 760112

Rest Day: Tuesday

Revd Andrea Colbrook [email protected] Tel: 01367 820553 Rest Day: Friday Study Day: Tuesday Dear Friends,

As summer has long shaken off her sandals and autumn leaves have been rinsed of colour, in Novembers’ darker days it can be difficult at times to hold on to light. This year with the structures which normally frame our lives rendered uncertain, short-lived and often uncomfortable, however secure we thought our lives were, we have all learnt that what we have is in the end vulnerable, reminding us to look for Light from God to help us make sense of the darkness. With All Souls and Remembrance Day during November we have the time to remember our loved ones who have died and to reflect on the sacrifices made by all who have lost their lives in war and conflict. As we take time to reflect and remember, the poet R.S. Thomas from his poem Pilgrimages, reminds us ….. “God will never be plain and out there, but dark rather and inexplicable, as though he were in here?”

May you find the light within and without to guide you. Debbie Webb Ministry Team Pastoral Co-ordinator for the Parish of

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The Harvest Challenge and what a wonderful Following our very successful response!! presentation by the Revd. Margot Hodson, we will begin a midweek

study group based on her book: We have received many stunning photographs of

‘A Christian Guide to local scenes, delicious produce and other Environmental Issues’ colourful examples of God’s creation, from both The group is open to anyone who local people and also visitors to our benefice. The would like to join us. The first photographs have truly captured a little of the meeting is on 4th November via amazing beauty of our corner of and Zoom, but if you can’t make that as there are too many to reproduce in Signpost, date, don’t worry just join in when copies have been made of them all. Each of our you can! six churches will have a display board so please For further details and/or a copy of take a moment to pop into the church on the day the book at the very reduced rate of it is open, to view the photos and to give thanks £3 a copy please do email Andrea. to God for his bounteous goodness. [email protected] Thank you to all those that participated in this We look forward to seeing you on Zoom! challenge. We will return with a further challenge in the New Year!

‘A Christian Pilgrimage is a journey to a significant place, made with the intention of encountering God in Christ. It encourages engagement with the surrounding landscape, offering space to reflect and pray’. https://christian-pilgrimage.org.uk/ So, with that thought in mind we are naming a walk around the benefice a Pastoral Pilgrimage, b eginning and/or ending at a church for prayer as well as praying along the way. The plan is to set off with no agenda other than being open to where God leads, what we see and who we meet , delighting in the chance of a conversation, the prompting of a visit, encountering Christ in the face or words of another. In anticipation, Andrea and I are planning a pastoral pilgrimage around the Ridgeway Benefice on Saturday 7th November and individually too at other times during the month…. Rector Leonora

Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCM) 2020 A number of people have stepped down from office in 2020. Churchwardens: Ann Brown and Rob Soames ( with West Challow), Tony McDonald (Letcombe Regis), Anthony Lee (Sparsholt with Kingston Lisle). Parochial Church Council members: Alison Boyd and Linda Soames (Childrey with West Challow), Jane Comyn (Sparsholt with Kingston Lisle). At our APCMs in October we had the opportunity to express our sincere thanks and gratitude for their dedication and service to the church. We were also delighted to welcome Churchwardens: Paul Beacon (Childrey with West Challow), Debbie Webb (Letcombe Regis) and Ruth Corfield (Sparsholt with Kingston Lisle) along with new PCC members Tania Watson and Mark Barclay.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES!! Saturday 28th November St Andrew’s Churchyard clear-up when leaves will be collected, the compost heap remade and grass and weeds, beyond the reach of the mower, cut from close to the memorial stones. Help would be appreciated if you can spare an hour anytime from 2:00pm. Please bring gardening gloves, a rake and\or garden broom and observe physical distancing from anyone not in your household. AND BY THE WAY...!! St Laurence West Challow would like to thank all those who donated food for the Food Bank during Harvest week. It is received with thanks from the food bank. St Andrews Letcombe Regis is sorry to say that due to current restrictions, they will not be able to hold their usual Gift Day and coffee morning this year. However, the Annual Gift Day letter will be distributed with details of how to give donations to the church. The Great Macmillan Cake Sale – congratulations to members of Childrey & Sparsholt WI who recently raised the magnificent sum of £392! Many thanks from Lee (their president) to all those who supported the event by baking, selling or buying! Thank you one and all! The Editor would like to thank all those who kindly deliver Signpost every month, it is so much appreciated. However, this is an enormous thank you to Bridget Benn who has carried out this task for Letcombe Regis for over 25 years! Bridget is now retiring and handing over “the reins”. Thank you Bridget for all you have done.

Morning and Evening Prayer via Zoom Advent Journey – Models of Mary & Joseph Do contact Andrea to access these services Zoom 9:30am – 4:30pm – and the Donkey will be travelling around the Morning Prayer Evening Prayer villages throughout December! We’re Mon Andrea Colbrook Andrea Colbrook looking for “host families” for each night. Wed Leonora Hill Leonora Hill If you would like to help please contact Fri Gill Thompson Mary Harwood BCP Sue : [email protected] or Andrea : [email protected]

Members of the Pastoral Team for the Ridgeway Churches Revd Leonora Hill - Rector 01235 760112 [email protected] Revd Andrea Colbrook - Curate 01367 820553 [email protected] Miranda Marsh (Childrey) 01235 751377 [email protected] Ann Brown (West Challow 01235 762358 [email protected] Debbie Webb (Letcombe Regis 01235 760973 [email protected] Gill Thompson (Letcombe Regis & 01235 760782 [email protected] Letcombe Bassett) Revd Mary Harwood (Letcombe Regis) 01235 769257 [email protected] Janey Nelson (Kingston Lisle) 01367 820392 [email protected] Helena French (Sparsholt) 01235 751992 [email protected]

Ridgeway Church Services: November 2020 1st 8th 15th 22nd 29th November November November November November The Second All Saints Day Remembrance Sunday before Christ the King Advent Sunday Sunday Advent Childrey 10:00am 8:30am With West Holy Holy Challow Communion Communion Childrey West Challow Letcombe 10:00am Regis Holy Communion Letcombe 8:30am Bassett Holy Communion Sparsholt 10:00am 6:00pm With Holy Advent Kingston Communion Carol Service Lisle (K/ Lisle) Zoom 10:00am 10:00am 10:00am 10:00am Worship Communion by Worship Holy Together Extension Together Communion

Evening Prayer : St Andrews, Letcombe Regis 3pm Mondays : Book of Common Prayer :

CHURCHES OPEN FOR PERSONAL PRAYER 9:30am – 5:00pm (throughout November) St Mary the Virgin, Childrey Saturdays St Laurence, West Challow Wednesdays St Andrew, Letcombe Regis Mondays The Church of the Holy Thursdays Rood, Sparsholt St John the Baptist, Tuesdays St Michael & All Angels, Fridays Kingston Lisle Letcombe Bassett

Our Prayer Stations this month will be on the theme of Remembrance. During week beginning Monday 2nd November (All Souls), there will be a short reflection at noon in the church that is open for personal prayer e.g. Wednesday 4th November, St. Laurence, West Challow.

Remembrance Sunday - Officials will gather at 10:45am for a short service of Remembrance in each village on 8th November. Members of the public who wish to observe the act of remembrance must observe the two metre distancing rule and wear face masks at all venues. Thank you for your co-operation.

Village Venue Advent Carol Service : 6:00pm Childrey War Memorial Sunday 29th November 2020 West Challow St Laurence Churchyard The Church of the Holy Rood Letcombe Bassett Church of St Michael and All Angels Sparsholt Letcombe Regis Church of St Andrew Come and listen to Advent Sparsholt War Memorial (churchyard) carols & readings as we begin Kingston Lisle War Memorial (churchyard) the season of Advent

Please send any items for Signpost by the 15th of each month to Chic Cook at [email protected] or ring 01235 751078