From Pew to Pulpit, I’m Back!- Revd Jenny Bland
I am so delighted to write again for this month’s newsletter and to be back to being in post as your vicar again! It’s quite incredible that a whole year has passed so quickly—so much has happened and I am looking forward to catching up with each and every one of you - so get the kettles on! Becoming mum to Joseph has been the greatest treasure and I have had a really wonderful year on maternity leave getting to know him and being able to be fully present and wholly dedicated to him. Thank you for the gift of this time and for all the support, love and care you’ve given to me, Chris and Joseph while we’ve been ‘off duty’. I am so grateful and you have all really really blessed us.
I must admit, I have also found it refreshing and quite fun to be a congregation member! As a family we’ve come to All Saints at least once a month on Sunday or Wednesday for Communion, but it’s been lovely to be incognito (to the congregations at least) when visiting churches in our deanery and seeing how they conduct their worship. Don’t be thinking there’s anywhere else you should be on a Sunday morning of course—but while I’ve been away, I have been thinking about what works well and what can be adapted to make church even more welcoming, accessible and a place that sings of the living God.
So yes, it’s been wonderful to be with Joseph and fun to be in the pews, but I have missed being your vicar. I’ve missed the conversations, the celebrations and ‘being there’ in the difficult moments. I’ve missed the weddings, funerals and baptisms that I couldn’t be a part of, the coffees after our services, the calling to be spiritually attuned to this parish and all the other big and little things that make ministry and church leadership what it is. So I’m really looking forward to being part of those things again, but I am nervous too—because I know how I was ministering before Joseph is not how I will be able to minister going forward, and my time, priorities and energy will need to be more carefully chosen and boundaried.
One of the ways I’m hoping to learn what this will look like is by returning to ministry part-time. I’ve been lucky enough to accrue holiday whilst being on maternity leave, and so I’m phasing my return to work until February 2027. This does mean that, particularly over these first few months, I won’t always be present, working or available when you might expect me to be. Don’t let this stop you reaching out, but please be patient if I’m delayed in replying to you or can’t make certain events. Please continue to be in touch with Elly for church bookings or administrative items and with Helen for warden items and know we are working together closely to ensure everything is covered while I come back gradually. Thank you in advance for your grace and understanding with this.
Something else that I want to let you know is that I have laid down the additional roles that I have taken on over the last few years (being Rural Dean, being an ADDO and being on Diocesan Synod) in order to focus my working hours on our church and parish. It has been such a privilege to serve the Deanery and Diocese in these ways, but for now I feel it is right to pour my ministerial time into All Saints and Earls Barton and all other time into family life. So as I come back to you, you can expect to see me on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, with the hope I will to return to full time ministry from February 2027. I will keep Friday as my day off. It may interest you to know that I am the first vicar to go on maternity leave in Peterborough Diocese, so its been good to work out what returning ‘well’ looks like with our Dean for Womens Ministry and Bishop, not just for me, but for vicars with young families going forward.
I want to conclude by saying how impressed and moved I have been at all the good that has happened over the last year and how you as a church have bloomed and blossomed away in prayer, service and growth. I will of course be thanking Revd John, Revd Tony, Revd Katrina and Revd Doug who have been with you monthly on Sundays and for occasional offices and Wednesday Communions (and have been brilliant!), but I know how it is you ‘in house’ who have been active, generous and committed while I’ve been away. I don’t have the word count to name the people and kind acts I have been told about, but I trust that stories and memories of happenings over the last year will continue to reach me (so please be thinking of them to tell me when we meet). I should just mention how many of you have said how pivotal Helen has been this last year and how much she has done to keep things going smoothly, so on behalf of us all, Helen thank you and very well done! I hear too how Simon and Grace have led our church spiritually and literally kept our church family ‘fed’ with Christ—so again, our grateful thanks and I am so looking forward to us all working together again.
I know there are many more of you who have and are doing things visible and behind the scenes to bless our church, hall, groups, fair-trade shop and mission in EB and beyond. Please keep going and please do come and tell me what your last year has been like and what your hopes are for the future as we start towards 2027… how exciting. So thank you for the gift of the last year in letting me go and for your kindness in welcoming me back. May I ask for your prayers for Chris and I as we learn a new rhythm of family/working life and for Joseph as he settles into nursery? Know that I have been praying for you (often in the stillness of the small hours), and that I am so deeply looking forward to being back with you. God’s every blessing to you and yours — and I will see you soon! Revd Jenny
Our Services this Month
Every Day We are open every day 10am - 4pm* for everyone in our parish to make use of their parish church. So pop in, have a look around, make time to pray, read from the Bible or enjoy a pit stop with your little ones as they play with the toys. We’re open for you. *Subject to occasional offices (weddings, funerals, baptisms) and special events/circumstances.
Midweek Worship
Every Wednesday there is Holy Communion at 9:30am.
On the first Wednesday of the month (4th November 2026) there is a short service of Holy Communion in the Church Hall at 3pm followed by refreshments everyone is welcome, we often have new people joining us. Everyone is welcome to join us for our services and we warmly encourage children. We have an area with books and toys for families and a toilet a short walk away in our Church Hall. Refreshments are served and friendship and fellowship encouraged after every Sunday 10am service in the Church Hall.
November Sunday Services
1st November: All Together Intergenerational Service 4:00pm-5:00pm All Souls: Remembering with Thanksgiving Service 6:00pm Evensong
8th November: 10:00am Remembrance Sunday Service (Holy Communion will be shortened) 10:50am Remembrance Service at the War Memorial
15th November: 10:00am Taize Service with Holy Communion
Messy Church is on the 15th November from 2.30pm till 4pm at the Methodist Church. Everyone is Welcome
22nd November 10:00am Sunday Service with Holy Communion
29th November 10:00am Sunday Service with Holy Communion
A message from Helen , Our Church Warden & Derek, Our Treasurer
Volunteer fundraiser
Dear church family, All Saints is heading for an exciting time over the next few years with plans to carry out some much-needed renovations for our Church Hall and major plans to re-order the church building to make it more flexible, welcoming and available to our village community. But all this needs funding - lots of it! There are many opportunities to raise money outside of generous church family - granting organisations, sponsors, community donations, for example. At the moment, much of this work is being undertaken by our very busy Churchwarden, Helen and our Treasurer, Derek. It would wonderful if someone in our church family felt inspired, enthusiastic and capable of supporting this important work. A willingness to coordinate with the PCC and other external people with an ability to engage with online systems would be good along with some time to dig in and get things done. Please talk to Helen or Derek for more information.
Christmas Tree Festival: Can You Help?
Christmas Tree Festival: Can You Help? Preparations are underway for this year’s Christmas Tree Festival at All Saints, and we are looking for volunteers to help bring the event to life. Whether you can help welcome guests at the door, serve refreshments, or assist with setup and takedown, your time and support would mean so much to our community. If you're interested in getting involved, please reach out directly to Amanda Mayne on amandamayne21@gmail.com . Thank you in advance for helping make this festive tradition special for everyone!
Christmas Choir
Come and join regular choir members to lead our service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday 20th December. This is a very popular service, marking the beginning of Christmas for many in the village. We will be starting rehearsals on Friday 30th October from 5 – 6pm in the church. We will be singing many well-known carols plus some special choir items, all easy to learn. ALL are welcome….no experience necessary! For further information please speak to Catherine Johnson (musical director/organist) 07986 962068 or any member of the choir
EARLS BARTON CHURCH HALL REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS UPDATE
You may, or may not be aware, that the Council of All Saints Church is trying to raise money to carry out urgent repairs to the exterior of the church hall. Following these repairs we hope to renovate and upgrade the interior of the hall to vastly improve the facilities used by many village and community groups. The hall hosts in the region of 500 attendees each week, the groups we host include:
Saxon Preschool who occupy the building 4 days a week.
Guide and Scout groups who meet on most weekday evenings
Under the Tower Drama Group who have use of the stage and generous storage for their production props and equipment.
Lunch Clubs and Friendship Groups for the elderly, helping to combat loneliness and isolation in our village.
Our Fairtrade Shop which as well as selling FT products donates approx. £3000 p.a. to Tradecraft Exchange who work with small producers abroad.
SINCE THE SPRING WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING GRANTS AND PLEDGES FROM THE NATIONAL LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND, BERNARD SUNLEY FOUNDATION AND THE BENEFACT TRUST, BUT THE FUNDRAISING CONTINUES IF YOU FEEL ABLE TO DONATE ANY AMOUNT NO MATTER HOW SMALL, PLEASE DO SO BY:
Paying by BACS, with reference “Church Hall and your name” to: Account: Earls Barton Parish Church Hall Sort code: 20 45 45 Account: 10398675
If you would like a receipt/ confirmation of your payment please email our treasurer: David Hylden : david_hylden@yahoo.co.uk
Of course we remain eternally grateful to all those who have already donated to this project, but if you want to discuss our plans further, or receive any more information please contact our warden, Helen Winrow on email :warden.earlsbarton@outlook.com
Please support us in achieving our goal to provide the village of Earls Barton with a community hall fit for the 21st century
This Month’s Events
FAIRTRADE 2026 CAFÉ & MEND & REPAIR CAFÉ on SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 10am till 1pm
Our next FAIRTRADE CAFÉ on 10th OCTOBER 10-1pm will also be a Repair & Mend Café so October (instead of November!) We’re also joined by NORTHAMPTON WILDLIFE TRUST with info about local to EB initiatives. Look forward to seeing you there for delicious cake, fresh coffee & chat Nicola 07812686944 nicky_smithseb@yahoo.co.uk
Our next FAIRTRADE CAFÉ is on 14th November 10-1pm in All Saints Church Hall. This month we’re delighted to have the WI with us who will have lots of lovely crafts & homemade items. Always a busy morning as we will also have lots of our own lovely Christmas gifts, cards & delicious fairtrade foods. Look forward to seeing you there for delicious cake, fresh coffee & chat
Fairtrade Help
Also, we're looking for some kind volunteers who could just help us occasionally with fairtrade stalls, events or in the shop as we're doing more community events, especially since EB becoming a 'fairtrade community'. This would mean being on a 'reserve list" and just being asked if you'd be available to help from time to time, rather than a regular commitment. Please let me know if you'd like consider this possibility.
NEXT REPAIR CAFE DATE: Due to shortage of space & availability of repairers, our next repair & mend will on January 9th when we re-open the shop after the holiday.
All Saints Tearfund Big Quiz Night is back :
Saturday 7th November 7.30pm at All Saints Church Hall We welcome teams of up to 6 people & ask for a suggested donation of £5 minimum per person - we’re raising funds for Tearfund’s fantastic development work with some of the world’s most disadvantaged people. Please book in even if you don’t have a team, as we will work that out on the night, we’d love to have you come along! Contact us soon to book your place: 07812 686944 or email nicky_smithseb@yahoo.co.uk & we’ll send the link to our Tearfund JustGiving page for your payment Please bring your own drinks and we supply glasses, nibbles and all you need for the quiz……you just supply some answers! So now book the date and you can be a part of the biggest national quiz night yet: hundreds of communities across the UK took part last year, thousands of people got involved. Don’t miss out!
A message from Catherine Johnson
Christmas Music
On Sunday 29th November at 6pm we will be holding our annual Advent carol service. This year the theme is of "Looking for the light," and will be led by Jenny and Catherine, supported by our choir with Richard Tapp on the organ. The hymns and readings will focus on the expectation of the coming of Christ as the light of the world. ALL are welcome - please join us as we focus on the joyful anticipation of Christ's birth.
Looking ahead, our traditional service of Lessons and Carols will be held at 6pm on Sunday 20th December. The choir will lead us in both traditional and more modern carols, interspersed with readings that tell the Christmas story. For many people, this marks the beginning of the Christmas season and is always a much loved part of the lead up to Christmas. Refreshments will be served in church after the service and everyone is very welcome.
