It’s hard when those we love die. As Christians we believe in resurrection and eternal life. We will be holding a service of music, reading and prayers at 7pm on Monday 2nd November 2015, at which we will especially remember those who have died during the past year. If you would like to come along, and perhaps light a candle to remember your own loved ones, please do. Afterwards there will be coffee and tea in the Church Hall.

After hearing the Gospel reading in which Jesus heals the daughter of a foreign woman, and opens the ears of a deaf man, and also the letter of St James in which he reminds us that “faith without works is dead“, we thought about our response, as a church.

We decided to pray, and although we can do this individually, there will be an opportunity to pray together on Thursday 10th September at 9.30 am in church. Holy communion will follow as usual at 10.30 am.

We decided that we would donate clothes. We have a local group “Salisbury solidarity for Calais Refuges” so if you drop your donations at church by 12 noon on Saturday 12th September, we will transport them to the central collection point. You can see what kind of things are needed from this photo.

We decided that we would also send a donation of money to the Red Cross, so that it can be used wherever it is most needed. The collection we take in church on Sunday 13th September will be used for this donation.

We also thought it would be a good idea to tell our local MP Claire Perry, and our local County Councillor Chris Williams, that we feel very strongly about helping refugees, wherever they come from, and so we decided to lobby our local and national politicians.

We are well aware that there are all kinds of need, all over the world, some from natural disaster, some from wars. We know that there are local people who are hungry and homeless, and we will continue work locally as well as nationally and internationally.

At our Good Friday workshop, we talked about the way that seeds have to die to produce something amazing – and here’s what one of those seeds produced after it died – a beautiful sunflower! Thanks for the photo, Anne

We’re looking forward to welcoming children, staff and families of Year 6 as they prepare to leave Castle Primary and move on to the next adventure. See you at 11am.

We’ll be talking about growing up, moving on, and journeys. We might even find out what shells have to do with any of that!

Come to the Rectory Garden from 1pm on Saturday 11th July.
Get lunch from the barbecue, play the Human Fruit Machine and other games, stock up on plants, acquire some excellent cake for your tea later, have a refreshing cuppa with us after all that work, and don’t forget to buy some raffle tickets. There are plenty of children’s games as well.  Bring your friends, and enjoy the afternoon.

All proceeds will be used for the work of the church, in Ludgershall, Faberstown and beyond.

Bishop’s Pilgrimage to celebrate 800 years since the signing of Magna Carta is happening on 14th June 2015, starting with a picnic from 1230 at Old Sarum, followed by a 2 mile walk starting at 2pm from Old Sarum to Salisbury Cathedral. If you would like to join in, please let the Rector know – it should be fun!

Don’t forget that the service starts at 10am outside the Queen’s Head by the Market Cross next Sunday. We’ll be processing to St James’ Church from there. If you can’t walk very well, don’t worry, wait for us in church and we’ll be along – you may even hear us approaching.