April 2022

We are firmly in Lent, so we look at a flowerless altar, the only colour is on

the altar frontal, which for Lent is purple, and ours resembles a 70’s duvet,

did we have duvets back then? The simpleness concentrates the mind as

the Easter season approaches. We have Palm Sunday on 10th April, and we

hear the importance of the donkey and significance of our palm crosses. On

Easter Sunday we are pleased that Rev Nick Grew can return to lead our

holy communion service. This Easter Sherfield English will have several

more communicants as the previous week 15 people from Sherfield and

Wellow, and Lockerley, East & West Tytherly, and East Dean (known as the

Thorngate Benefice) will be taking the decision to be confirmed into the

Church of England faith at St Leonard’s church with the service taken by

acting Bishop of Winchester, Debbie Sellin, and Rev James Pitkin, our Area

Dean. Some are teenagers and some adults, but we are delighted to been

given the opportunity to host this rite of passage, it is decades since the

last time we held such a service, we think the 70’s. Is that why we had a

new duvet, sorry altar frontal? We even get to enjoy a joint choir from the

two benefices, I am sure Bishop Debbie will be mind blown by what we can

all achieve in a small rural parish church!

There has been much discussion by the “knit and knatterers” about a

display in the church for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations at the

beginning of June. Their woollen scenes are going to be complemented by

royal flower arrangements to totally bling out the church. I am not sure

how you can knit or crochet St Edward’s crown, I have no knitty or sewy

talents, but I have heard it is possible. Those involved always find

enthusiasm and joyfulness in their arty projects and sharing that with

enthralled family and friends is a delight for St Leonard’s to be part of in

this village. We will be hosting a quiz in the church on the Thursday

evening, a coffee morning on the Saturday and a special jubilee and

communion service on the Sunday with Rev James Pitkin leading us.

Hopefully you can drop in to admire the villagers’ talents at St Leonard’s as

well as celebrate at other village jubilee events.

Julia Noble, Churchwarden

February 2022

At St Leonard’s we had a very enjoyable and well attended Christmas

season. The church was festooned in the colours of Christmas but now it is

all packed carefully away. The decorations never seem to squeeze back in

behind the organ quite as they should, but now baby Jesus, wrapped in his swaddling clothes, or “onesie” in modern parlance, can relax all year with

the woolly nativity characters watching over him.

We welcomed Epiphany in January and as the clock light shines out in these dark evenings, it is certainly a star to behold for all the wise men and

women looking up – you know who you are! I discovered this year, as Clare

and I are kept on our toes writing some of the services, that it is never

mentioned in the bible how many wise men there were, just that as there

were three gifts presented to Jesus, there must be three Kings. Facts and figures eh!

In February we have a regular pattern of services with Communion on the first Sunday, and the Family Service on the third Sunday with our theme of

“Saints”, and no, probably not football themed I am afraid. We are also bringing back the coffee morning on the first Saturday of each month, 5th

February, from 10.30am – 12 noon, and it will be a great opportunity for people from the community to meet over a coffee and a cake. Do join us!

As you will know we are in “Vacancy” (without a Rector), and although the

informal consultation has finished, we now enter the formal consultation.

The “Pastoral Scheme” suggested by The Diocese involves Wellow and Sherfield English, currently one benefice, joining with Thorngate benefice (Lockerley, East and West Tytherley and East Dean) to make one benefice of six parishes although each parish church retains a committee to run and finance the church. At St Leonard’s, not only do we have to maintain the

building and pay the bills, but we also should pay the Diocese about £10,000 annually. This amount is not reduced even if you are in “Vacancy”.

Obviously, with covid around, we, like a number of other churches have not paid this target amount. We are relieved then that our fundraising can start

up again, so if you are free for coffee and a cake on 5th February do come

and swell the coffers, as well as meeting your friends. We are delighted that St Leonard’s has been chosen to host the Confirmation Service of the area’s candidates with the acting Bishop of Winchester, Debbie Sellin, taking the service on Sunday 10th April. We have

several parishioners making this important step in their Christian life, and if

you would like to do the same then please let me or Clare know as soon as

possible. Julia Noble, St Leonard’s Churchwarden

December 2021

The Christmas season at St Leonard’s – we hold our Carol Service at 6pm on 12th December when the church will be decked out in the colours of Christmas. We are delighted that we have been invited to sing carols outside The Hatchet on Monday 13th December at 7.30pm, so do come and join us, why not book a table for some food to add to the fun, and enjoy the chance to sing. We pray for fine, and crisp and even weather – but not too crisp maybe! On Christmas Eve we hold our Midnight Communion at 8pm, so much more sensible to be at that time we say, and James will be leading this special service as we think about what a year we have all had, and celebrate over this Christmas season by being kind to those around us.