CANDLEMAS

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Our weekend started well with a busy Potton Parish Lunch, the monthly event to raise funds to help the St John’s Hospice at nearby Moggerhanger. Last Friday was the day for the lunch for January, our first for 2023, but it was also the day when we present the annual cheque for the funds raised in 2022, to the representatives from St John’s. This year we were very pleased to handover the cheque for £5500, our highest amount ever, to the fund raising team from St John’s, Donna and Nick, and guide dog Emma. We were so pleased with this result and meeting the team from St John’s once more, that we failed to realise what was going on across the road in the church, which is about 50metres up a small hill and is not entirely sited from the church hall. Someone had entered the church, cracked the safe and stolen our entire silverware collection and other items. This really put a dampener on our afternoon and it will of course, cause other problems. But life goes on and we were back in church this morning to commiserate our loss and enjoy a Holy Communion service led as usual by the Rector, the Revd Alex Wheatley. Revd Alex had the awful task of telling the shocked congregation about the theft. Today’s sermon was given by our Reader (Rdr) Simon Gutteridge, about the origins of “Candlemass” and how we should give Light in the modern world in the way that Christ did in his times. It was a very interesting talk.

Next Sunday, February 5th, is our favourite service of “Friends and Family” when the children get involved in all sorts of hand crafts to illustrate the theme for the month, which this time is “Candlemass”. The service is open to all ages and there are also activities for those who come for quiet comfort and prayer. Refreshments are served throughout the practical part of the service. All are welcome at 10.30am.

Social Events. Saturday evening found over 50 of us enjoying a Burn’s Night in the church hall, suitably decorated for the occasion. The meal and the usual ceremony of the evening was as well done as the average “Sassenach” can manage, it was all very serious, but also a lot of fun. The meal was superb with our kitchen team bringing out a top class dinner for the occasion, with such as: roast Scottish beef, the haggis of course, served with a “wee dram”, neeps and swede with mashed and roast potatoes and carrots, all served with a beautiful thick gravy. Starters had been a choice of leek and potato soup, salmon mousse or smoked salmon and to follow, an amazing selection of at least six different deserts. It was a really great evening with much fun and enjoyment for a most splendid meal. Thanks go to our home grown master chefs and their talented sous chefs, who worked really hard to produce the amazing food both in quality and quantity, costing each participant just £20, a bargain evening all round! More events are planned throughout the year so watch out for our advertising!

Services for Next Sunday 5th February. 3rd Sunday before Lent

9am, All Saints Church Sutton, Holy Communion

9am, St Mary’s Church, Potton. Morning Prayer

10.30am, St Mary’s Church, Potton. Friends and Family, All age Activity Service