What a wonderful month May is with the hedgerows covered in the flowers of the blackthorn and the road verges spilling forth blowsy displays of cow parsley. And so it is in the churchyard if you go and have a look. ‘No Mow May’ has seen a proliferation of beautiful wild flowers in the village churchyard this month. Our maintenance team keep a few paths and areas clear, but the rest of the spaces at the back and sides are left for nature to run riot. There’s nothing quite like it and it’s lovely that these beautiful wild flowers are prominent in the floral displays inside the church too.
Sunday 25th June is a special day. At 10.30am Rev Katie our curate will be ordained at Dorchester Abbey. It would be lovely for the congregation to support her and follow up with a picnic in the Abbey Gardens. At 6.00pm the Benefice Holy Communion service will be held at St Mary’s and – unless “baby” has other ideas – it will be Rev Katie’s first communion, so do make sure you can attend!
The preparations for the Flower Festival are well underway and I believe the theme this year is to be centred on well known films. There will also be the ‘Living Churchyard’ which so many people enjoyed last year. Do get in touch if you have a story to tell about any of the graves and the people who lie at rest – not everyone is aware of the part some people played in village life and how interesting their stories are. This all happens on the weekend of 17th and 18th June and the church will be open each day from 10 to 4 p.m for a wander around, a cup of tea and a piece of cake along the way.
Spread the word amongst your friends and please bring some cash for the refreshments as we are not yet connected to the internet for cards.
On the Sunday at 6 p.m. we will hold a Songs of Praise service led by Jeremy where we will have readings and hymns which relate to the creators of the displays in the church. If you would like to read a poem yourself or suggest one which you think would be appropriate, again, please let me know and we will endeavour to put it in the programme.
Services continue with Holy Communion on the 2nd Sunday at 11.am. and the 4th Sunday for Evensong at 6 p.m. At Holy Communion this month we will be welcoming two little people, Jacob and Mollie for baptism during the service. Please try and join us all in support of this family and their friends as Jacob and Mollie begin their journey of Christian faith.
Another wedding on 24th June brings Anna and Paul to St Mary’s for their special day. Anna lived in Mill Lane when she was a little girl so has very fond memories of village life in Black Bourton, so we are very pleased to welcome her back for this momentous day in her life. Let us wish them a long and happy future together.
And finally, we have now received a ‘faculty’ from the DAC (planning office), which means we can officially proceed with the loo and kitchen project – grants and donations allowing!