Dear Friends,

We have been celebrating the season of creation over the last few weeks in our church life. Creation season is a time dedicated to God as creator and sustainer of all life. It is a time when we are called to pay special attention to our own responsibility for the earth and for all that lives on it. It is an especially good time for us to give thanks to God for our beautiful world, and to renew our commitment to caring for our planet. Here in Hardwick we are committed to maintaining our beautiful, rural churchyard sensitively and more sustainably, and we are grateful to all who help us look after it and especially to the LOTS team. Many of us already make a wide range of lifestyle choices, reflecting our own personal commitment to environmental care and conservation.  What small, good things can we do as church communities and as individuals to make a big difference? Caring for our world involves us giving something up or prioritising other things which sometimes calls for sacrifices in order to build a better future.

Like caring for the environment, following Jesus, is not the easiest choice but the right choice.  “Take up your cross and follow me” are some of Jesus’s most famous words. By choosing to follow Jesus, we are choosing a new way of living. As CS Lewis put it (in Mere Christianity): “the more we get ‘ourselves’ out of the way and let Jesus take us over, the more truly ourselves we become.” Jesus gives us the strength and courage to become truly ourselves and he guides us to become more like him. By embracing a simpler life we can rediscover a happier simpler and higher quality existence. A bit like reconnecting with nature, whether out walking in the countryside or pottering in the garden, we can feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally. For me, following Jesus has the same effect because it enriches my life and gives me strength and great joy. Following Jesus is not always easy but in doing so, we can gain the ability to live in the present and have inner peace.

God Bless,

Clare

Rev’d Clare Coates
Lead Minister for Hardwick, Dry Drayton and Caldecote with Childerley
clarecoates@lordsbridge.org
07818618795

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Services in October

Sunday 6 October
9:30am Holy Communion and Sunday Club, with Revd Clare and Revd Lucinda Howard preaching

Sunday 13 October
9:30am Harvest Festival Holy Communion, with Revd Lucinda and Revd Clare preaching

We shall be celebrating Harvest Festival at our 9:30am service, and collecting donations of food and toiletries for our local Foodbank, or donations for Jimmy’s Night Shelter, our Sunday Club Charity of the year. Sunday Club are running a sponsored relay around the church during our service, raising money for Jimmy’s Night Shelter. Donations and sponsorship are greatly appreciated.

3:00-4:00pm Wild Church at the Cabin. A family friendly service, exploring nature and God in the grounds of the Cabin. All welcome.

Sunday 20 October
9:30am Holy Communion and Sunday Club, with Revd Clare and a speaker from A Rocha UK, tbc

Sunday 27 October
9:30am Morning Worship for all ages with Ali Marcus and Peter Cornwell

5:00pm All Souls service with Revd Clare and Revd Lucinda

Zoom Services
Worship at Home – All Lordsbridge Zoom Service
Every Sunday, 11.00am. Join any time from 10.50am: https://zoom.us/j/82311473640

Weekday Services
Wednesdays
1st Wednesday of the month, 9:00am at the Cabin
And in the following weeks, on zoom. All welcome.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89886404258?pwd=TUowNlY3bVBSUThEa0pRTmZoT0liUT09

Friday night prayers at 7:30pm, on Zoom
All most welcome to join us on Fridays for night prayers starting at 7.30 pm with chat and prayer actually beginning at 7.45 pm. 
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74928194654?pwd=ModszJXGbkzYudWzjxmZ6F8uWyu5bL.1
Meeting ID: 749 2819 4654
Passcode: 3v4ZAQ
For more information, please email Michaela McNeill on mjvmcn@gmail.com.

Curate on Placement:
During October, we are being joined by the Curate of St Andrew’s Stapleford, Revd Lucinda Howard.  In addition to reflecting on her experiences and conversations with me, she may be asked to submit written theological reflections as part of her Curacy. In these, names of people, contexts, and identifying details will be changed and made anonymous so as to preserve confidentiality. Please do email Revd Clare if you wish to opt out.


What’s On

Tuesday Toddlers in the Cabin
All welcome to join us for free play, craft, story and fun!


Tuesdays
Alternate weeks either:
12:15pm Meditation with Howard Bigg in the Cabin
or 2:00-4:00pm The Colour Wheel – Hardwick Mindful Colouring Group
£4 donation which includes refreshments and materials. For more information contact Nicky.

Thursdays
10:30am-12noon Bumps and Babies with Ali

Saturdays
1st Saturday of every month: 10.00am-12noon, Pippins, in Hardwick School Hall.
Drop in for a cuppa, cake and a chat!


Saturday 12 October, 10-12noon, Nature Walk at RSPB Fen Drayton
All are most welcome to join us for a morning’s guided nature walk, led by John Harding. We will be meeting in the Car Park at RSPB in Fen Drayton. There is a charge for parking; RSPB members can park for free. Please bring your binoculars! Please let Revd Clare know if you are planning to come or if you need a lift.



Useful Contacts

Revd Claire Robertson, Lead Minister for Coton, Barton, Harlton and Haslingfield: 01223 874194; clairerobertson@lordsbridge.org

Revd Charles Fraser, Lead Minister for Little and Great Eversden: charlesfraser@lordsbridge.org; 01223 264974

Team Administrator: Becca Herrick; rebeccaherrick@lordsbridge.org