We have had a lot going on this last month in the parish of Capel and Ockley. Our last fundraising event of the year – the Murder Mystery play and supper was performed to great acclaim at Ockley Village Hall and Capel Memorial Hall. For the first time ever tickets were nearly sold out for Capel shortly after the booking line opened – a bit like Oasis!! Thank you to all who bought tickets, helped behind the scenes, prepared wonderful food and puddings, provided raffle prizes and of course the cast of Murder in the Library directed by our own Sylvie Beckett. A wonderful time was had by all! Harvest Festival in Capel was also a great occasion which we shared with our Scott Broadwood School. Much was gathered in the way of foodstuff for Dorking Foodbank who are so grateful and depend on our Harvest thanksgivings. Wonderful to have the church full of all ages too!

It has been a beautiful Autumn on the whole and I have loved those wonderful paintbrush colours of red and gold as I have travelled around our local area. It has gone far too quickly though and I so wish the beauty of Autumn could last longer but November is already here and with it a full diary for this month church wise. Four out of the five Sundays in November mark rather special occasions. We begin with All Saints and All Souls, Remembrance Day, Christ the King and finally Advent Sunday!

Our annual parish service of Comfort for the Bereaved will be held on the afternoon of 2nd November at Capel Church and this is always a very gentle time together to remember those we have loved and see no more. A candle is lit for every name given to us and we generally light about 100 tea lights. We leave them to glow softly in the darkness of the Chancel as we enjoy refreshments afterwards. The following Sunday is Remembrance Sunday and we look forward to welcoming many in our communities to our Remembrance services that day. Ockley have their service at 10.45 so we can join in live with the 2 minute silence at 11am. Capel’s service will be at 3pm in St John’s church and finishing with the laying of wreaths at the war memorial. We are also looking forward to the Scout’s presentation of their recent trip to Belgium on a journey of remembrance. It sounds very interesting indeed and will form part of our remembrance day service.

Christ the King is a relatively new festival in the life of the Church of England. It is the last Sunday in Ordinary Time before Advent begins and prepares us for that season of Advent as we acknowledge that Christ is King and is Lord of earth and heaven. A new Church year begins with the next Sunday – Advent Sunday – the beginning of the lead up to Christmas. Goodness, how I wish these wonderfully rich weeks before Christmas would slow down!!

Finally you may have noticed that there has been much work going on in our churchyard at Capel. The new Garden of Remembrance for the burial of ashes has now been completed. Do please come and have a look and if you would like to contribute in memory of someone do let us know.
We are very pleased with the finished result and hope that you can see how it is designed in the shape of the Celtic Cross. We are working on providing benches for seating and it will provide we hope a peaceful sanctuary for all in our busy world.

So to finish, a prayer for November and All Saints, All Souls and Remembrance
Hear us, O merciful Father, as we remember in love those whom we have placed in your hands.
Acknowledge, we pray, the sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Enfold them in the arms of your mercy, in the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and in the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

With my love and prayers as ever

Liz

Revd.Liz Richardson
liz@hostmyserver.co.uk