FROM THE RECTORY Dear Friends, freely of their time, and most of those ‘volunteers’ Well, we have made it half way through the year and are of a certain age where they may be considered vulnerable. what a year it has been! Some of us are beginning to emerge from the As I write, Grateley and Quarley churches (the cocoon of self-isolation, whilst others have not had smallest in our Team of seven) are open for private the opportunity to hide safely away. We are so prayer. St Peter’s Over Wallop will be open by the thankful for the sacrifices made by all our key time you read this, and hopefully St Andrew’s too workers. And then there are the forgotten heroes, (check the church websites). those who are shielding for the sake of their families. Funerals may take place inside the church building, I am reminded that one of the fruits of the Spirit is but only if we can get the right measures in place, patience (something I generally struggle with) and and will still be limited in size. Each funeral will be also of the psalmist who reminds us that God’s days assessed independently. In the meantime we are are unlike ours (or should that be hours?) discovering just how beautiful, and perfect, a graveside service can be. In the midst of this slow opening up come new Whilst church doors may remain closed, the church challenges. We still need to take precautions, ‘stay alert’, and it can be frustrating when announcements itself remains open. Sunday services are available on come from Downing Street that we just aren’t YouTube and Facebook, as well as Compline (Night prepared for. This pandemic has moved swiftly! Prayer), and a daily letter is sent via email to anyone who wishes to opt in (email [email protected]) Early in June it was announced that churches would or on the website www.stpetersoverwallop.co.uk . A not be open before the 4th July, then a week or so weekly letter is posted in the Village Shop window. later it was suddenly announced that church buildings could be opened for private prayer. How We want to remain in touch, so perhaps this is also a wonderful, except that not all our churches are good time to let you know that my phone number usually open, that risk assessments need to be in has changed to 07720 258 999. place, and the building itself adapted to enable ‘social With love and blessings, distancing’. Add to the mix, that we only currently have one paid member of staff, everyone else gives Vanessa CHURCH OFFICERS Please note that Vanessa takes Friday as the ‘Sabbath day of rest’. Matthew is normally available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Team Vicar Vanessa Cole 07720 258999 [email protected] Associate Priest Matthew Grayshon 07960 299434 [email protected] Team Administrator Dawn Dearden 07495 085906 (M,W,F, 9-12) [email protected] Licensed Lay Minister Geoff Wortley 01264 889426 Lay Worship Leaders Stephen Baldock (783540) Marilyn Childs (783435) John Searles (781301) Pastoral Visitor Jean Hicks (781000) St Andrew’s Nether Wallop St Peter’s Over Wallop Churchwardens Emma Todd (781517) (vacant) PCC Secretaries Janet Herring (781126) Hugo Deschampsneufs (781690) Treasurers/Gift Aid John Waits (782110) Janet Baldock (783540) CHURCH WEBSITES www.standrewsnetherwallop.co.uk and www.stpetersoverwallop.co.uk 1 FROM THE RECTORY Dear Friends, In the Wallops we have the most amazing churches, with Since the announcement that churches may now open for a history of prayer and of ‘doing business with God’. I worship, I am sure you are wondering what is happening wonder how many of you were christened or married in with your local church. Well, once more I have to give either St Peter’s or St Andrew’s? How many people have you a caveat that I am writing this half way through the you said farewell to? How many Christmases and Easters month in order to reach the deadline, and by the time you have been celebrated over the years? When the church read it everything may have changed. doors were locked we wondered what that would mean for worship, and we have been so surprised to see so Both the churches in the Wallops are now open for many more people join us. It has been a delight to share private prayer, although occasionally have to be closed those first services for Easter, and all the ones since. It again for cleaning if, for example, a funeral has taken has been a reminder to me that God cannot be restricted place in the church. Yes, funerals can now take place in to any particular building or space, but is wherever there church again, with a limited number of people present is a heart that wants to connect. and no singing. Weddings and baptisms can also take place once again. Connecting with God in many ways seems to have been easier, connecting with humans has not. We miss you, we We are opening up slowly, we do need to adhere to miss shaking hands and hugging during the peace, we precautions, sitting with a 2m-gap between ourselves and miss singing as a group of people, and we miss coffee and other ‘households’, using hand sanitiser etc. It is looking cake afterwards. Hopefully, by the time you read this we as if the first steps will be to hold compline once a week will have a plan in place. Keep checking the church within the churches. This has been livestreamed on websites (www.stpetersoverwallop.co.uk Facebook, evenings at 6pm, since the lockdown began www.standrewsnetherwallop.co.uk ) for details, or sign up (there are also services on YouTube you can join in with to the daily letter by emailing the administrator as well, search for The Walloping Vicar and compline. [email protected] Compline is a beautiful gentle service to end the day with, and has been incredibly popular across the country during Throughout the lockdown I have clung to the words of the last few months. one of my favourite Psalms, Psalm 139: Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee In between my writing and you reading, the Team from your presence? Council and your local PCC are meeting to discuss what If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed the implication will be for Sunday worship. Please do in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the check the church websites to keep up to date with news. morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, So much has happened during these past few months; I even there your hand shall lead me, and your right really never expected to set up a YouTube channel, or hand shall hold me fast. celebrate Holy Communion with a camera! I have been With love and blessings, wonderfully surprised to see how many people tune in to Vanessa watch Prayer Bear lead Little Angels Live – our toddler group. CHURCH OFFICERS Please note that Vanessa takes Friday as the ‘Sabbath day of rest’. Matthew is normally available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays Team Vicar Vanessa Cole 07720 258999 [email protected] Associate Priest Matthew Grayshon 07960 299434 [email protected] Team Administrator Dawn Dearden 07495 085906 (M,W,F, 9-12) [email protected] Licensed Lay Minister Geoff Wortley 01264 889426 Lay Worship Leaders Stephen Baldock (783540) Marilyn Childs (783435) John Searles (781301) Pastoral Visitor Jean Hicks (781000) St Andrew’s Nether Wallop St Peter’s Over Wallop Churchwardens Emma Todd (781517) (vacant) PCC Secretaries Janet Herring (781126) Hugo Deschampsneufs (781690) Treasurers/Gift Aid John Waits (782110) Janet Baldock (783540) CHURCH WEBSITES www.standrewsnetherwallop.co.uk and www.stpetersoverwallop.co.uk 1 THE WALLOP PARISH NEWS TEAM Editor Christine Deane 01264 782819 [email protected] Monthly Adverts Janet Baldock 01264 783540 [email protected] Cover Adverts (Jan-Dec)* Pepe Keightley 01264 781418 [email protected] Saye House, Orange Lane, OW, SO20 8JB Subscriptions Stephen Baldock 01264 783540 [email protected] EDITORIAL COPY DEADLINE: 6.00pm on 15th of previous month (includes weekends). Late copy not accepted. MONTHLY ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: 15th of each month – for copy and payment. COVER ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: September 30th. Enquiries to Pepe Keightley as above. Colour printing will be available for 2021. FORMAT FOR EDITORIAL COPY: Contributions MUST be submitted in WORD to the Editor, who reserves the right to accept or reject material. ALL articles must be signed. Images should be provided as JPEG or PNG files or photographs. Flyers are NOT ACCEPTED. FORMAT FOR ADVERTISEMENTS: Please supply text ads in WORD and those with images as JPEGs. The magazine is printed in black and white. Please avoid colour photographs and white text on a dark background as these do not print well. Copy should be emailed to Janet. Space limitation means that adverts may occasionally have to be reduced in size. Neither advertisements nor editorial copy appearing in The Wallop Parish News represent Church, Parish or Editorial endorsement. The objective of the Wallop Parish News is to provide residents with articles of interest and useful information about events, societies and local services and to promote a sense of community. Contributors are asked to avoid material which might offend individuals or groups. If the Editor decides the submitted text may cause offence or needs to be significantly changed for another reason, the contributor will be provided with a suggested amendment or given the option to withdraw the article.