The fourth Summer Heat Wave is upon us and that familiar chink of the green sunlit churchyard, framed within a medieval South Porch, made an uplifting picture for us sitting in the Nave within, during last Sunday's 10am Parish Eucharist. Reverend Liz's homily focused very much on the month of August when so many are taking a break and the question was raised concerning how we use this calendar space, a time to unblock our ears and to see things differently and when people take holidays. This commonplace word has derived from the term, Holy Days, when we can put our lives right with God. We can consider God afresh and we can treasure all things that belong to God. We can recognise God in everyday things and we can thank our Creator for this continuity of faith, a big jigsaw with pieces that have a place because God has a plan.
Throughout the week which commenced on the 11th, Holiday Club has been in full swing with over 170 children, supervised by experienced and protective adult volunteers and the presence of neatly set out marquees gives evidence of a well drilled set of exciting activities within a safe and familiar space where creative ventures have taken place and some concepts well learned. The special Holiday Club Service will be taking place this Sunday at 11am, always a vivacious experience and fully inclusive where young people can showcase their acting talents and explain what they have learned. The annual Barbeque will soon follow in our well trodden church grounds.
Today, Friday, 15th August, it is VJ Day and a Service will take place in the Market Square, starting at 10:45am, when Biggleswade along with places of settlement throughout Great Britain and indeed, all over the World in their own time differences, will remember those to whom we all are indebted for their valour and sacrifice in ensuring that war was at an end in 1945 - 80 years ago - in the Far East and so the so-called Second World War came to an end. Whether you have forebears who were involved or indeed, you are a veteran who was there, such individuals and families are welcome and all are welcome whatever your personal backgrounds.
On Saturday, 16th, between 10 and 12, Coffee Shop will be in the Chapter House and in particular, if any of you have a Craft, please come along with your current project perhaps and have a chat whilst carrying on with whatever you are making in convivial surroundings. On Sunday, before Holiday Club's special service, there will be Parish Eucharist at 9:30am, a slightly earlier than usual act of worship.