Thursday 11th July 2024

Friends of the Diocese Summer Newsletter

News article

Friends of the Diocese

Summer 2024

Dear Friends

Two problems have dominated my thinking since I last wrote you. The first is that of the number of lapsed donations, which have increased of late. However, I am pleased to say that there has been a fair response to the letters I sent to members of the Friends on my lapsed donation list and quite a few puzzles were successfully resolved. But, sadly, fifty per cent of the responses remain outstanding. So if you received a letter from me and it is still sculling around in your paperwork pile waiting for your attention please do respond as it would be good to hear from you. Your membership is valued as is your annual donation. To save you the cost of a postage stamp, perhaps just send me an email message: jeanne.french@churchofengland.org

As frustrating as the first problem was the second one: the demise of the Purple Sage in my garden for the third year running (total of nineteen plants over three seasons). I have now given up and, although I may live to regret my decision, I have replaced it with Borage that well-known super spreader. The flowers are blue so fit in with the colour scheme and the bees, I am told, are attracted to its flowers. At least, one problem solved for the time being.

The Friends’ Committee meet twice a year and the recent news is that a language tuition grant was approved for a new chaplain, who was both delighted and grateful to receive it. Very recently, a newly licensed Reader expressed gratitude for your gift of his scarf of office. If you are interested in what was on the Agenda of the Diocesan Synod this year, there is a link to a report on the home page of the diocesan website www.europe.anglican.org. There is also a report from across the diocese on Refugee Week, which as a topic is always in the national news so worthwhile reading.

Enjoy the summer months,