church letter

Dear Friends,

July often brings a shift in pace. The days are at their longest, gardens are in full bloom, schools begin their summer break, and for some there is the promise of holidays or time with family and friends. For others, life continues much as before, perhaps with added pressures as routines change around them. Either way, summer has a way of gently reminding us that time does not stand still.

In the Christian tradition, rest is not seen as a luxury or an afterthought, but as something built into the rhythm of life itself. The idea of “Sabbath” speaks of pause and restoration—a time to step back, breathe, and remember what really matters. Bishop Mary has recently commended Nicola Slee’s book Sabbath: The Hidden Heartbeat of Our Lives (Kindle Edition), which reflects on this very idea. It suggests that rest is not simply about stopping work, but about recovering a deeper sense of balance, meaning, and connection in our lives.

Jesus himself understood the importance of rest. In the Gospel of Mark, he says to his friends, “Come away… and rest a while” (Mark 6.31). Even in the midst of busy and demanding times, there is wisdom in stepping aside for a moment to be renewed.

Of course, summer is not restful for everyone. For those who are coping with illness, bereavement, loneliness, financial worries, or caring responsibilities, this season can sometimes feel heavier rather than lighter. If that is your experience, please know that you are not forgotten. Many people in our community are thinking of you, and you remain in the prayers and care of the local church.

July also offers the chance to notice the world around us. Whether it is a garden, a park, a walk through the countryside, or simply a moment at a window, there is much to observe in the life of creation. Growth, colour, and abundance can invite us to pause and appreciate the everyday gifts that are often overlooked.

In the midst of all this, small acts of kindness continue to matter greatly: checking in on a neighbour, sharing a conversation, offering help where it is needed, or simply taking time to listen. These ordinary gestures help hold a community together.

As we move through July, perhaps we might each find moments—however brief—to rest, to notice, and to reconnect with what gives life its depth and value.

With best wishes for the month ahead,

Revd Annette

PRAYERS FOR TODAY
1    Shine on us, O Son of God, with grace unfailing, granting us the gift of wisdom, the power of faith and the endurance of hope. Amen.
Ethiopian Orthodox

2    "I thank Thee, Lord, today
For Thy unfailing presence Along life's rugged way.
Guide me, O blest Redeemer,
Teach me to do Thy will,
And Thine own perfect purpose In me each day fulfill."
Avis Christiansen

3   "God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief in Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ."
Wilda English

4    The Lord’s Prayer – Gnostic Order of Christ Version:
O Giver of All Life, Who Is in Heaven and in Earth,
In Whom We Live, Move, And Have Our Being,
Holy Is Thy Name,
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done in Earth, as it Is in Heaven.
Give Us this Day Our Daily Bread, And Forgive Us Our Trespasses
As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us.
Keep Us from Temptation, Keep Us Ever Mindful of Thee.
For Thine Is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory,
Forever and Ever. Amen.

Church Contacts

Benefice Administrator: Tamara Laing, part-time at the Benefice Office Email: wbboffice@gmail.com 07359 327072.

Churchwardens:
Inkpen: Charlotte Bampfylde (tel. 669285), email: inkpenchurch@outlook.com.
Combe: Tina Fiertz (tel. 668529), Katherine Astor (katherine@kirby-house.co.uk).

If you would like to make a donation towards the running of Inkpen Church, please go to the Parish Giving Scheme on www.parishgiving.org.uk Enter Inkpen in the search box, then click on Find your Church. Click on Give Now beside Inkpen St Michael All Angels and then on Regular Giving or One-off Gift (we pay a 1.5% transaction cost for one-off gifts so Regular Giving is preferable). Your gifts are enhanced by having tax refunded through Gift Aid.

Inkpen graveyards on-line

For anyone wishing to view the details of Inkpen's graveyards, including burial details, grave stone inscriptions and the location of the graves, please click here.  Inkpen Burial, Marriage, Baptism and Birth records covering the period 1607 to 1837 can be found on the Inkpen history website, here.

NEWS FROM ST. MICHAEL'S

We at st Michaels just wanted to reflect on Anita’s recent retirement letter which some of you may not have been fortunate enough to have seen:

Dear Friends,

With retirement now firmly in the diary, I wanted to write to you personally. Serving you as your vicar has been a privilege. We have shared baptisms full of hope, funerals edged with resurrection, harvest celebrations, packed Christmas carols, and countless ordinary Sundays made holy by faithful worship. You have allowed me into sacred moments of your lives, and I carry that with deep gratitude.

In September, the benefice will enter a vacancy. I am genuinely at peace about that. We are fortunate that Curate Alison hopes to remain, offering welcome continuity, while Patrick, our retired priest, and members of the Ministry Team are ready to help. The wardens, PCCs, Patron and Diocese will guide the process carefully and prayerfully as they seek the person God is calling to serve here next.

I am not anxious for the benefice. The Church was here before me and, by God's grace, will flourish long after me. If I am honest, my deeper questions are more personal: who am I when I am no longer "the Vicar"? For many years the rhythms of parish life have shaped my days and my sense of purpose. Retirement is not simply laying down duties; it is laying down an identity woven into everyday life. I suspect there will be Sunday mornings when instinct tells me I should be somewhere specific, doing something particular.

I know I am not alone in that. Some of you are approaching retirement yourselves. Others have already stepped away from careers that once defined you. There can be a surprising sense of loss when responsibility eases and the diary empties. Perhaps this season asks all of us the same gentle question: where does our worth truly rest?

Henri Nouwen wrote, "The question is not, 'How much can I accomplish?' but, 'How much can I love?'" That feels like a faithful compass, not only for clergy retiring, but for anyone learning to live without the scaffolding of a job title. Our identity is not secured by productivity, but by grace.

This will be a time of learning for me: learning to sit rather than lead, to pray without organising, and to encourage without carrying oversight. For those of you navigating similar transitions, be gentle with yourselves. God's purposes do not retire.

Thank you for your kindness, your patience, your humour, and your faithfulness. If I wobble slightly as my time with you draws to a close, you will understand why. It is not regret, simply the holy reshaping that comes with any new chapter. With affection and deep gratitude,

Your retiring Vicar

church services FOR INKPEN, COMBE and West Woodhay

Other Services in the Benefice are on the Website which is www.walburybeaconbenefice.org.uk

INKPEN
Sunday 5th July - Compline at 6pm
Sunday 12th July - Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) at 8.30am
Sunday 19th July - Parish Communion at 9.45am

Sunday 2nd August - Compline at 6pm
Sunday 9th August - Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) at 8.30am
Sunday 16th August - Parish Communion at 9.45am
Sunday 30th August - Benefice Service of Thanksgiving for the Ministry
Followed by a Reception at Manor Farm Barn, Inkpen at 5pm
A very important date for your diaries is the service on Sunday 30th August at 5pm which is Annette’s last service. Afterwards there will be an opportunity to celebrate with Annette and Dave at Manor Farm Barn, Inkpen by kind invitation of Richard and Jackie Atherton.

COMBE
Sunday 19th July – Holy Communion at 11.15am

WEST WOODHAY
Sunday 12th July – Morning Celebration at 11.15am
Sunday 26th July – Holy Communion at 11.15am

CHURCH SERVICES AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HUNGERFORD

Our Lady of Lourdes, Priory Road, Hungerford RG17 0AF Parish Priest - Fr Zbigniew Budyn 01635 40332
Sunday Mass - every Sunday at 9.00am
Weekday Mass - every Wednesday at 10.00am

BAPTISM ANNOUNCEMENT

OBITUARIES

A victorian view - now and then

The images of St. Michael's past and present are shown here