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It seems incredible to me that I have almost been here for a full year. I am enjoying the beauty of the Thetford Forest and the wonderful, friendly communities in the villages around.  We are beginning to see the trees of the forest displaying their rich autumn colours.

In early August, I was able to re-connect with old friends in South Africa. I have also learned to know new friends and made contact with family members here.

During October, many people in the villages around here have arranged events to support Macmillan, and raise funds to care for people living with cancer. This is a wonderful effort, and hopefully will raise much-needed money for a worthwhile cause.

During September and October, many of our churches and communities have also arranged harvest thanksgiving celebrations. As I move around between villages, I am struck by the amount of work going on in the farming community, and the enormous machines being moved from farm to farm.

It also seems to be a popular time for weddings, and we have seen some very happy celebrations of the love between two people, often also bringing restoration, and healing of past hurts.

The schools are also  open for a new school year, a time for celebrating past achievements and looking forward with hope to the future.                                                         

Whether we face pain or joy at this time, God invites us to bring our feelings and circumstances to him, trusting him as we go forward into the future.

Rev Linda Lubbe

Associate priest in the Mundford, Hilborough and Oxborough groups of churches. Rev. Zoe Ferguson is currently on long term sick leave.

It is a beautiful Summer day as I write this. The squirrels are very active. Mind you, they have not really been absent all winter.  It is wonderful to appreciate the changes in our rural landscape, in the trees and flowers.

Our church buildings are part of the landscape and history of our villages. Many of our church buildings have a long history. They were built to last, often during the Middle Ages.  They are still the focal point for many community and family celebrations, for baptisms, marriages and burials, for remembrance day and for Christmas celebrations. They are special places, associated with rich memories for all.

 We face the continual challenge of funding maintaining and repairing our ancient church buildings, paying for heating, electricity, gas, etc.

Of course, the church is composed of people, and should not be seen primarily in terms of buildings, but it is the buildings which are the visible focus of our presence in the community, representing the presence of God among us.

Please continue to support coffee mornings, soup lunches, spring teas and other occasions, which not only raise much-needed funds, but are a lot of fun and  build up our communities and our sense of belonging to one another.

Rev Linda Lubbe

Associate priest in the Mundford, Hilborough and Oxborough groups of churches. Rev. Zoe Ferguson is currently on long term sick leave.

We are enjoying beautiful Summer days. I am learning about local birds and wildlife, including otters which have decimated the inhabitants of my neighbour’s fish pond population in recent months!

During June, the Church celebrates the important festivals of Pentecost, on 9^th and Trinity Sunday on the 16^th.  Pentecost was the Jewish feast held fifty days after Passover, when they gave thanks for the wheat harvest. It was one of the important Jewish pilgrim feasts, when all adults who were able to would travel to Jerusalem for the festivities. This is why Jerusalem was filled with people of many nationalities when the Holy Spirit came on the first Christians, empowering them to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection to the crowds in the streets.

We are told that about 3,000 people responded and joined the believers, and the church was born. So, Pentecost is the birthday of the church. We give thanks for the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and among us, and celebrate his empowering and gifts, given so that we are able to serve one another and build one another up.

Trinity Sunday reminds us that God is beyond our understanding, and reveals Himself to us as three persons, who live together in perfect harmony and work together in creation and in our lives.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy month of June

Rev Linda Lubbe

Associate priest in the Mundford, Hilborough and Oxborough groups of churches. Rev. Zoe Ferguson is currently on long term sick leave.

Signs of spring are everywhere. As a newcomer to England, I am particularly enjoying the snowdrops and daffodils sprouting in our gardens and along the roadside.

In the Church, the period of Lent began on the 6^th March. It is a time of preparing ourselves for the celebration of Easter. In the early church, new Christians were baptized at Easter, and were given special teaching and preparation for a six week period beforehand. This is the origin of the tradition of keeping Lent.

Many of us remember being told to “give up” something for Lent, such as sugar in our tea. This is fine, but Lent could be more positively seen as a time to “take on” something of value, such as caring for a neighbor in times of illness or distress.

During Lent, many of us will be sharing a soup lunch on Saturdays at the Mundford Bowls Club and/or on Wednesdays at the Foulden Village Hall. This is a time for fellowship and sharing, and all are welcome.

Easter is a great celebration of life in Christ. Many special services are planned in the villages over this time, and all are welcome to participate.

The rejuvenation of nature around us after the winter reflects new life and hope for the future.

May I wish all of you a joyful Easter.

Rev Linda Lubbe

Associate priest in the Mundford, Hilborough and Oxborough groups of churches. Rev. Zoe Ferguson is currently on long term sick leave.

Signs of spring are everywhere. As a newcomer to England, I am particularly enjoying the snowdrops and daffodils sprouting in our gardens and along the roadside.

In the Church, the period of Lent began on the 6^th March. It is a time of preparing ourselves for the celebration of Easter. In the early church, new Christians were baptized at Easter, and were given special teaching and preparation for a six week period beforehand. This is the origin of the tradition of keeping Lent.

Many of us remember being told to “give up” something for Lent, such as sugar in our tea. This is fine, but Lent could be more positively seen as a time to “take on” something of value, such as caring for a neighbor in times of illness or distress.

During Lent, many of us will be sharing a soup lunch on Saturdays at the Mundford Bowls Club and/or on Wednesdays at the Foulden Village Hall. This is a time for fellowship and sharing, and all are welcome.

Easter is a great celebration of life in Christ. Many special services are planned in the villages over this time, and all are welcome to participate.

The rejuvenation of nature around us after the winter reflects new life and hope for the future.

May I wish all of you a joyful Easter.

Rev. Linda Lubbe

Associate priest in the Mundford, Hilborough and Oxborough groups of churches. Rev. Zoe Ferguson is currently on long term sick leave.

Dear Friends,

I wanted to say an enormous thank you to everyone in our community who supported us through the event of our Church Gift Day for St Leonard’s Church in Mundford. Your generous contribution to the work of the church in serving the community in this place is invaluable and helps us to keep a ministerial presence and the love of God through His people alive in the village of Mundford and surrounding villages, enabling a continuing worshipping presence, the joy of bringing people together in marriage, baptizing new Christians and supporting the dying and bereaved.

Many of you will know that sadly I have been unwell since last July. I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to so many people who have and continue to keep me in their thoughts and prayers, and have supported my family and myself in very practical ways as well.

It has truly been a very difficult time but I am slowly making progress in my illness with the love, support and encouragement of so many people, and hope very much to be serving my communities again as your parish priest in the coming months ahead.  You have all remained very close to me in my heart and I feel truly blessed to be a part of the wonderful community of Mundford along with the various villages that I am called to serve. Please do continue to pray for me and for my family, and I look forward to being active again in ministry alongside you all and sharing in the abundant love of God at the very heart of His people.

Every love & blessing,
Your parish priest,
Zoe

Rev. Zoe Ferguson (Priest in Charge of the Mundford, Hilborough & Oxborough groups)
Currently on long term sick leave.