September 25 Newsletter
All Saints Church, Earls Barton
A September Reset
By Rev Jenny Bland
I’ve always liked September - it could be because it’s my birthday month
(hurrah for cake!), but it also feels like a kind of second ‘New Year’, a chance to reset or bring to life again habits for ending the year well. I like the physical changes that come with this season too, the temperature, the colours in the sky, seeing the leaves turn and start to fall. It all feels rather beautiful.
In the church calendar, September and October are months of gratitude where Harvest and themes of thankfulness and God’s provision are highlighted and celebrated. This got me thinking about some of the ways that having ‘an attitude of gratitude’ can be restorative and something which helps accompany this month of new starts. If you’re feeling drawn to reset or refresh this month, then here are a few ideas for expressing gratitude that might aid a gentle September reset — nothing too heavy, just some short mindful practices to get us September and gratitude ready…
Begin With Gratitude: Before the day gets busy, take a moment
(maybe with your morning hot drink of choice) to say thank you to God for the day, perhaps asking for help to live it well or picturing what that might look like.
Keeping Gratitude Lists: Each Sunday evening, write down 3 things from the week that's passed that made you smile, felt special or stuck out for a positive reason. Come back to your list when you need a boost.
Thankfulness at Mealtimes: Here’s one I’ve mentioned before that's such an easy way to say thank you. You could offer a short prayer ‘thank you God for my/our food, amen!’, or you could ask those around the table to each share one thing they’re thankful for that day or week. Children are really good at this mealtime ‘game’.
Grateful and moving: Get out in the golden evening light and take a photo of something that you want to give thanks for. Another option, put on your favourite music to dance to and give thanks for the gift of your body and the skill of the musicians.
Maybe there is another way for you to express thankfulness, or a habit thats working well for you? The heart of the reset, I suppose, is to set the intention or attitude to notice or cultivate a life of gratitude. There is so much to be thankful for when we notice and practice noticing, otherwise life can slip by easily and we might miss the gifts of the day (or week).
Whether you’re starting something new, returning to something familiar or finding your feet again after a summer holiday, I hope September brings you much to thank God for. I am getting ready to start something new in preparing to welcome a baby in November. I’ll share a little more on that next month, and then from November onwards you’ll be hearing from more voices in our church family for the next year - what a treat!
A prayer you might like to pray… God of creation, help me this month to notice where you are at work, that I may notice, pause and give thanks for all that you have given me. May I be quick to pray for those who are in seasons of pain or suffering, make me a channel of your peace. Amen.
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 - 9:30am Holy Communion.
On the first Wednesday of the month 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.
Monday to Wednesday : 8:35am Morning Prayer
September Sunday Services
7th - 9am Holy Communion, 10am All Together, 6pm Evensong
14th - 10am Short Holy Communion
21st - 10am Holy Communion, 12:00 Private Baptism, 2:30 Messy Church at Methodist Church
28th - 10am Holy Communion
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. Light refreshments are served and friendship and fellowship encouraged after every Sunday 10am service in the Church Hall.
This Month’s Events
1. ALL SAINTS CHURCH FAMILY SOCIAL
HOG ROAST & VEGGIE BURGERS
The Vicarage and Garden Sunday 7th September 1 - 4:30pm Tickets £10. E. Lee & Sons Catering
BYO drinks and salads / desserts to share if you would like to.
RSVP allsaints.earlsbarton@outlook.com
2. FAIRTRADE CAFÉ & SECONDHAND BOOKSALE
on SATURDAY 13th September alongside ‘Barton Belles’ art exhibition. Enjoy chatting, browsing our products & secondhand books, & fresh coffee & yummy homemade cakes… Everyone welcome!
Email: nicky_smithseb@yahoo.c o.uk 07812 686944
3. SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER - AMICORUM
perform Fauré’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Gloria in the church starting at 7.30pm. Tickets £10 (£8 conc and under 12s free) from amicorumsingers@outlook.com or on the door.
4. FAIRTRADE NEWS
FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT is from 22nd September & this year we’re especially excited to be celebrating the launch of our FAIRTRADE COMMUNITY STATUS which, as mentioned last month, has been supported by our EB Parish Council.
Our Fairtrade initiative in Earls Barton, encourages awareness of the principles of using food, crafts and other items from reliably sourced providers, where local communities are fairly rewarded. So you’re invited to one or both of our Fairtrade Community Launch Events on Wednesday 24th September from 3.30pm for a family-friendly event or 7.30pm evening event where we’ll be joined by members of the Parish Council and representatives from the Co-op & other organisations & businesses in Earls Barton. (Please see posters on Events page for more information).
Helping us Promote Fairtrade - We'd love to have some more helpers for our shop and various events coming up so do please get in touch if you'd like to know more about offering occasional or perhaps regular monthly/bimonthly help. We'd love to hear from you!
Barton Belles at our September café-we’ll be surrounded by beautiful art! We’re providing our usual tasty refreshments alongside the ‘Barton Belles’ pop-up art exhibition. The art & refreshments continue into the afternoon and on Sunday too & we plan to have the shop open for those extra hours too so hope you can join us.
A message from Derek, Our Treasurer
"Every little helps"
If you like shopping online - from Amazon, Argos, M&S, Tesco, John Lewis and any, many more (over 8,000 outlets)-you can help support All Saints for free! Use the link to become a supporter of All Saints and every time you order online through Easyfundraising the retailer will make a donation to the church.
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/all-saints-earls-barton
A message from Martin Pratt.
Friends of All Saints Church Earls Barton Re-Launch and Annual General Meeting 8th September 2025
7pm in Church
All Saints Church Earls Barton is a unique and precious building. Dating back over 1000 years the church, with its world renowned Saxon Tower, is an historical and architectural gem. Indeed, it is said to be the best preserved working Saxon Tower in Europe!
Are you interested in hearing more about playing a part in preserving, sustaining and celebrating this historic church at the heart of our community?
We are having our re-launch AGM at 7pm on Monday 8th September 2025 in Church and everyone is welcome!
Friends of All Saints is a charity that exists to raise funds to help look after the fabric of the building, which is run entirely by volunteers.
We know many people beyond the church community, as well as those with family ties to Earls Barton, care deeply about this iconic centrepiece of our village.
To find out more visit: www.friendsofallsaints.org
Friends of All Saints Church Earls Barton is a Registered Charity Number 1118769
A message from Helen , Our Church Warden
On the weekend of 13th and 14th September we are hosting "Art on the Square" in the church hall, plus the Soap Box Derby takes place on Sunday 14th.
HELP NEEDED
We would like to offer refreshments for both events so will need cakes/ savouries or sandwiches for both days in the hall, and Sunday lunch at the church.
We will also need people to serve these refreshments at the hall from 1pm - 4pm Saturday and Sunday (suggesting 1 1/2 hour slots) and at the church over Sunday lunch time (times TBC but probably 2 hours)
If you would be able to start baking and freezing cakes now, when you are able it might spread things out a bit.
Please let Noelle Weiss know if you are able to provide refreshments - she can then keep a tally and we will be able to assess if we need to buy anything nearer the time. - noelleweiss@hotmail.com
If you can go onto a rota, please contact Helen Winrow - warden.earlsbarton@outlook.com
Many thanks in advance, these two events are a great opportunity to boost church funds, but more importantly to reach out into the community and fulfil our mission.
SAVE THE DATE
Harvest Supper ; Saturday 4th October 6.30 for 7pm in the Church Hall
Tickets will be £20 per head for a two course meal including a drink of wine/ beer or soft drink.
Noelle and Chad will be cooking up a Middle - Eastern style menu, with vegetarian/ vegan options.
Tickets will be limited to 60, so please contact Noelle Weiss to book: noelleweiss@hotmail.com
We would also like a couple of volunteers to set up the tables and chairs in the afternoon, and help to serve and wash up during the evening. Volunteers will be able to eat free, or if some youngsters would prefer to be paid, that could be discussed. Please contact Noelle.
AUCTION OF PROMISES
Promise Auction: Saturday 8th November:
Light supper followed by auction of promises - details to follow - but first we need to compile a list of promises to auction!
Promises for example can be small(ish) : ironing, baking a cake, cutting a lawn, tech support, baby sitting.
or medium size : concert tickets, dog grooming, taxi service, longer garden session, painting a picture, photography session.
or bigger : loan of a holiday home, year's supply of chocolate!! etc etc
So if you, or anyone you know -they don't have to be part of the church family, would like to offer a promise, could you please contact Helen Winrow - warden.earlsbarton@outlook.com
Please provide as much detail as you can plus a "reserve price" -the minimum price you would like the promise to sell for, as a guide eg.: rather than just "bake a cake" - say "Bake a 10 inch Christmas cake, fully iced and decorated approx. value £20 "
rather than just "ironing" -say "iron 10 shirts or equivalent" approx value £10 If you have any questions or queries please contact Helen 🙂
THE BIG QUIZ NIGHT
You’re invited to the 2025 Tearfund Big Quiz! Saturday 22nd November at 7.30pm All Saints Church Hall. For info: contact Martin, Sandra or Nicola 07812 686944.