Sunday 17th October we have two Harvest Festivals as follows:
Weobley Ecumenical Harvest Festival at 10.30 am
Sarnesfield Harvest Festival at 11.00am
Climate Sunday
We will be holding a Climate Sunday Service on 31st October 2021 at 10.30 am, St Mary’s Church,Staunton-on-Wye.
Please do join us as we celebrate the Season of Creation.
ALL SOULS SERVICE
A time to remember
3pm, 31st October, Church of St Peter and St Paul, Weobley
We are holding a special service of remembrance and thanksgiving to remember those we have loved and lost. It seems that for many people undertaking the journey of grief, the few past years has been made even more difficult due to the restrictions of the Covid pandemic. This service provides an opportunity to gather and remember, along with others who have been on the same journey.
Our service will be a simple one, with reflections, readings and music. There will be opportunity to give thanks for those we have loved, to light a candle, and to seek solace. Refreshments will be available after the service, should you wish to stay.
The service will take place 3pm Sunday 31st October 2021, at the parish church of Weobley, Church Road, Weobley, HR4 8SD.
We hope you can come along.
Best regards,
Rev’d Philip Harvey
Rector of the Weobley and Staunton Group of Parishes
HARVEST FESTIVAL AT BYFORD 5pm SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER
Join us this Sunday 5th September for tea, coffee and cakes from 2,30 – 5 pm at Broxwood Court.
Its our annual Pet Blessing Service at Byford on 5th September at 4pm – all pets welcome from tigers to tortoises!
The First Harvest Festival of the Benefice is at Staunton-on-Wye on 12th September at 10.30 am – everyone welcome,
Kington and Weobley Deanery are holding several workshops which you may find of interest.
Below is the timetable with time and location – everyone welcome to attend.
| Title | Date | Place | Leader | Who is this for? |
| What do we want to hear from the pulpit? 1 | 7.00-9.00 pm Wednesday September 8th | Kington church | Rob MacCurrach[1] | Everyone who has ever listened to a sermon and knows what they like and what they don’t! |
| What do we want to hear from the pulpit? 2 | AND 7.00-9.00 pm Wednesday September 22nd |
Kington church | Rob MacCurrach | Everyone who has ever thought that just possibly they might like to say a word in church |
| Everything you ever wanted to know about being a PCC Treasurer or Secretary | 7.00 – 9.00 pm Wednesday September 8th | Pembridge Village Hall | Chris Smith[2] Penny Halcrow |
For all our faithful and hardworking PCC Treasurers and Secretaries -and those brave souls thinking about offering themselves |
| Everything you ever wanted to know about being a PCC Treasurer or Secretary | OR 7.00 – 9.00 pm Wednesday September 22nd |
Pembridge Village Hall | Chris Smith Penny Halcrow |
For all our faithful and hardworking PCC Treasurers and Secretaries -and those brave souls thinking about offering themselves |
| Living in Love and Faith | 7.00 -9.00pm Tuesday 14th September | Weobley church | Neil Patterson | For everyone. The Church of England will decide next year about same sex marriage in church. Living in Love and Faith is about how we learn to make good decisions |
| Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the Church of England | 7.00 -9.00 pm Wednesday 20th October | Winforton church | Guy Wilkinson[3] | For all who are frustrated or baffled by the Church of England, who sometimes love it and sometimes hate it, but never understand how it works |
| Creative Ideas for Advent and Christmas in Churches | 10.00 – 12.00 Saturday 13th November | Norton Canon Village Hall | Tessa Wilkinson[4] | For all who want to make the most – and the best – of Advent and Christmas in church and are looking for new ideas |
Summer Teas at St John the Baptist, Letton
Sundays 2- 4 pm
8th– 29th August
Enjoy tea and cake in restful, quiet surroundings.
Bric-a-brac, books etc
All welcome. Parking available.
Donations in aid of Letton Church urgent (leaking) roof fund.
For a list of services in September please click on the week by week, services tab.
Children’s Holiday Club – Lego building
Over two mornings our church in Weobley hosted its first ‘Big Lego Build’ holiday club. The children who came had a great time with games, stories, songs and constructing original Lego projects in response to stories from the gospels. Thanks to all who helped support over the two days, and particularly to Rev’d Linda from Kington for bringing along your amazing Lego kits!
WEOBLEY FETE JULY 21
Our Weobley church and village fete was very well attended and supported last Saturday. Despite the gloomy forecasts, he weather was kind to us and we had a lot of fun! A huge thank you to Alan Jones and his team for organising the event, and all those who supported on the day. we raised just under £3000 and £180 for the ShelterBox Charity
NEW DATE for Weobley Summer Church Fete – 24th July 2021
With some confidence we can say….if nothing else changes, that the Weobley Church Summer Fete will now be on Saturday July the 24th at 2pm. It will be held in gardens around our imposing church and apart from the usual attractions, (cakes, plants, games and delicious cream teas), there will be ‘The St. John’s Brass Band’ Weobley’s own ‘Alive n Pickin’ bluegrass band, displays of classic tractors and bicycles as well as classic car trips around the village and a rare chance to climb the fantastic Church Tower…see the bells, see the clock, see the view. Come and celebrate freedom……we hope!
CHURCH OF ENGLAND SERVICES
ng Prayer
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8150195366?pwd=ZWtsSnkvbTNaWWtVb0FNT01vWmk5QT09
First Services in the Benefice for Rev’d Philip
Rev’d Philip held his first service in the Benefice at Norton Canon on Sunday May 2nd, followed by Weobley Church where the congregation gathered under blue sky and sunshine to sing hymns in the churchyard.
The Institution of the Rev’d Philip Harvey
It was a great joy to see Rev’d Philip instituted on Monday evening at Byford. As ever, the church and the wardens, Maggi Denaro and Sue Hubbard were wholeheartedly welcoming and full of the sense of hope and optimism for the future we, the congregation also share with Philip and Penny.
In front of an ecumenical congregation reflecting the significance of partnership and harmony, Bishop Richard and Archdeacon Derek Chedzey led the service. But in a spirit of partnership many members of the congregation – representing our clergy, schools, local councils and and parishes of course – had rolls to play in welcoming Philip and the overriding feeling was one of the Benefice uniting in support of our new incumbent. For the duration of the interregnum, the mantra for the future was always’ Our New Rector’ and now he’s here among us, and busily getting to know the parishes.
The service was also live-streamed to the Group’s Facebook site – were it can still be viewed – and it was comforting to know that in addition to a limited audience in the church, Philip’s family, friends and former congregants were able to celebrate the occasion. Rev’d Guy Wilkinson was rightly thanked for not only organising a fine service, but also, with Tessa his wife, laying on the live-streaming.
Philip’s first services will be this Sunday morning when he will be at Norton Canon at 9 am and then in Weobley at 10.30 am. Let’s make him wholeheartedly welcome.
A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday April 26th 7pm – Institution Service for the Rev’d Philip Harvey
The Rev’d Philip Harvey will be installed by the Bishop of Hereford as Rector of the Benefices of Weobley and Staunton on Wye on Monday 26th April at 7.00pm in Byford church. Because of the Covid restrictions, we have sadly had to limit to 35 only the number of people who can be there, although we will have a good representation from the schools, parish councillors, clergy, Deanery and more.
The service will be livestreamed to the Weobley and Staunton group of parishes Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/weobleyandstaunton/ . I do hope that as many as possible will take that opportunity to engage with Philip and Penny as they begin their ministry with us. Below is the link for the order of service which will help everyone to follow the service from wherever they are.
It has been a while since we have said ‘put the date in your diary’, but here we are…..Weobley Church Fete 26th June at 2pm …….more details to follow but we already have a brass band, dancers, Weobley’s very own ‘Alive n Pickin’ bluegrass band as well as tours of the tower,,, see the bells, the clock and of course……that view! Lets have a celebration of returning to a social life here in Weobley.
Sunday 18th April Services
Letton – 10.30 am Holy Communion BCP
Evening Prayer via Zoom 5.30pm.
Sunday 11th April Services as follows:
Staunton-on-Wye Eucharist CW 10.30 am with Rev’d John Thewlis
The Death of HRH Prince Philip
There will be a special service of prayer in St Thomas Catholic Church, 20 Kington Rd Weobley this Sunday, 11th April at 4pm to pray for the divine repose of Prince Philip and the divine consolation of HM Queen Elizabeth and her family. All welcome. Covid restrictions will apply to this event.
Online Services
There is also an online (Zoom) services this Sunday:
- 5.30 pm – Evening Prayer led by Rev’d Susan Verwey.
Service sheets for these services can be found on the ‘Week-by-Week’ pages under the Services tab.
The Zoom link is:
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14th March Evensong at 5.30pm – online Zoom Service with Rev’d Susan Verwey and Bishop Richard
Rev’d Susan will lead the Holy Communion BCP Evensong and Bishop Richard will provide the Homily. The link for the Zoom is:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81946640814
Everyone welcome and we hope you can join us.
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#LiveLent – 2021
#LiveLent – we will be discussing the weekly topic after our Evening Prayer Service every Sunday during lent (apart from March 14th as Bishop Richard will be joining us).
If you do not have the booklet you can download the app and join in.
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Introducing Rev Philip Harvey
Penelope and I are looking forward to our move into the Hereford Diocese, getting to know you and writing this next chapter of ministry in God’s service together.
I grew up in a large Christian family in Sydney, Australia and worked as a teacher of English, History and Drama in several schools before teaching and leading in international schools in Germany, Oman and Luxembourg. While in Luxembourg I was sponsored by the Diocese of Europe and undertook my ministry training with the Eastern Region Ministry Course and Durham University. I then served in Sprowston, an urban parish of Norwich. My travels and experiences have been across a range of churches, cultures and spiritual traditions.
I like outdoor pursuits that put me in touch with the natural world: gardening, walking and cycling. My musical tastes are diverse, ranging from baroque to jazz and I play the guitar, flute and harmonica. My favourite areas of reading include history, theology and biography, while my favourite foods are Mediterranean and almost anything cooked slowly in red wine. I tend to be experimental in the kitchen, which is occasionally a good thing and sometimes not so good.
Penelope (also a teacher) and I have two adult children. Our son Blake lives in Canberra and our daughter Caitlin lives in Bristol. We also have three young grandchildren, who are a source of real joy.
We would value your prayers and support as we make this transition, and look forward to meeting many of you in April.
Above is our Facebook livestream video for January 24th 2020 – we hope you enjoy it.
Fifth Sunday – Group Service
Next Sunday – January 31st – we had scheduled a Group Service at Byford but we can no longer do this and so instead, and to try and retain the group dynamic, we will be ‘hosting’ just one morning service which will be pre-recorded and with contributions from all the parishes and then broadcast on YouTube and our Group Facebook site. We will publish the links for this service in People & Steeple next week and we hope that as many of you as can will engage with the service, and of course we’d be happy to hear your thoughts about it after the event. These are new and exploratory times; with light from you all we can map the best way forward.
January 17th
We are live streaming on our Facebook page from Weobley Parish Church this morning (24th Jan) at 10.30 am – you can find us at https://www.facebook.com/weobleyandstaunton/
We will upload it to the website shortly afterwards.
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Wearing Face-coverings in Church
We have just received guidance from the Church of England that the wearing of face-coverings in church is mandatory . Our feeling is that this is a matter that touches on personal responsibility.
For updates on Weobley, Letton, Byford, Norton Canon, Monnington and Sarnesfield parishes please visit their pages on the ‘Churches’ tab.
Please visit our Week-by-Week tab for details of our weekly Zoom Services and accompanying service sheets. Below is a link for a little taster of one of our Sermons that Rev’d John Thewlis gave us for Trinity Sunday.