All Saints 2017 Christmas Coffee Morning took place on Wednesday 29th November at Rookery Farm, courtesy of Janet and Steve, who had moved there in the last couple of years and were in the process of putting their stamp on the old house.
It was a cold day, with lots of sleet just as people were arriving. Our lovely host Steve, popped down the Village Hall car park where people were leaving their cars and ferried people up to the house. What a gentleman! Inside the house, it was warm and cosy, and fully decorated for Christmas by our equally lovely hostess, Janet. What a wonderful start to the festive season! Gifts and goodies, decorations, all manner of cakes, raffles, a quiz, fantastic refreshments all contributed to a very successful morning. Christine Lambert was on hand to demonstrate three amazing displays – one as the first prize in the raffle, one as a gift for our hostess and one more that was auctioned. Christine was delighted to be the winner of the Christmas Cake beautifully made by Maggie Beveridge. To win, you had to correctly guess the number of raisins in the cake and the winning answer was 397. 

The amount raised for All Saints Church will be over £1,000 once the quiz has finished. Fantastic result, with our grateful thanks to everyone who contributed in any way.

Check out the photos.

Me, You and Breakfast 2 in November was all about the story of Jesus walking on water. Jesus was able to walk on water (after all, he is a miracle worker!) and invited Peter to join him. All was well until Peter noticed the wind and the waves and took his attention off Jesus. The message was simple – keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and he will keep you safe. Now, what activities could we do to match that? We wrote prayers asking for Jesus’  help to do just that. We made a collage which enabled Jesus to be moved so he ‘walked’ on water, which went down well. Then we did actually try to ‘walk on water’. Well, it was a thick cornflour mixture which moved and felt liquid when you put your hands in it, but when you stamped on it, it went solid and supported you! Great fun, if a bit messy…. It was also Bonfire Night so as a nod to that, we made bonfire cakes.

No words necessary – just look at the beauty of God’s provision in these photos of the fruit, flowers and vegetables at All Saints this year. Click here.

This year 64 people sat down to Harvest Supper, using the traditional long table layout. We keep to this tradition because it encourages conversation and sharing with people you might not normally sit with, and is hopefully as inclusive as the Christian way should be.

The welcome drink of a Harvest Cup with local fruits in it (Sangria by any other name!) went down well, as did the food by all accounts. Someone wanted to ‘bag’ seconds of the meringue dessert before they had even finished the first! There was a real ‘buzz’ in the room that evening. 

This an annual event is arranged by All Saints Church but is not just for churchgoers and as ever, it was a healthy mix of church and community, young and old, newcomers to the village and parishioners of many years standing. 

We could not put on a Harvest Supper involving cold meat, poached salmon, vegetarian turnovers, warm new potatoes, five different quiches, four different salads, choice of four puddings, plus cheese and biscuits, coffee/tea and mints, without the support and input of many people who organised, shopped, baked, helped on the night, donated, created flower displays, paid money to attend and bought raffle tickets. And our grateful thanks are extended to them all. Speaking of the raffle, we tried to make it food/drink related with the emphasis on Harvest – and didn’t you all turn up trumps! We were overwhelmed by the generosity of people in the produce and other food and drink items donated. Just take a look at the photos!

This wonderful evening also raised £715 for the work of All Saints Church. 

Frankie Relf was baptised on this day in the service at All Saints, surrounded by family and friends, and well wishers from both churches in the Benefice. Frankie, and his older brother Archie were so good all the way through! Perhaps looking forward to the cakes…. Wonderful day, and lovely to welcome Frankie into God’s family. Few photos here.

Saturday 8th July 2017

A Summer concert

Despite a smaller audience than usual with so many on holiday, the varied performances were enjoyed by those who came.

Check out the photos here.

Saturday 17th June

Fabulous weather, huge numbers of visitors, delicious refreshments, an amazing plant stall and 17 wonderful gardens to visit. What a recipe—and it made for a great day. Grateful thanks to every garden owner for all that weeding, hoeing, dead heading and patio washing, and to the huge team of helpers without whom we simply could not function. We believe we are looking at around £1,400 for the work of All Saints. Click here for the photos and descriptions.

Me, You and Breakfast 2 on June 4th saw the christening of two of our lovely girls, Abby and Caroline, and a blessing for Caroline’s older sister, Lorelai, who didn’t remember her christening! We sang songs, decorated doves to remind us that the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove when Jesus was baptised, and all the children wrote a prayer for each of Abby and Caroline to go in their own special box. There were also three birthdays to celebrate which called for a lot of singing and plenty of cake. It was a very joyful, special and most of all, meaningful occasion. With grateful thanks to Ruth for producing such a wonderful service, to all those who came to support the girls on their special day, served breakfast, helped with the activities, clear up, eat cakes and celebrate everything that is good about Me, You and Breakfast 2. Check out the photos

Full report following. Here’s the photos.

Rev’d Ruth came to Woolpit and Drinkstone Benefice in 2006. She was made Rector in January 2007. And she celebrated her 50^th birthday party in a marquee in the garden of the Dean family in Woolpit. Since then, she has got to know many more people in both villages and is well known to many in Drinkstone through her membership of the Reading Circle, through the monthly Village Lunches, Film Night and Tuesday Club to name but a few. She attends as many of our Village Events as she possibly can; provides support for anyone who requests it and is a much loved and appreciated presence in the community.

It is hard to believe ten years have gone by since that 50^th birthday party, but our Village Hall provided the perfect venue for Ruth to host afternoon tea on the occasion of her 60^th birthday on Friday 12^th May, to which she extended an open invitation to anyone from either village. There were superb cakes and savouries provided by Crossways Farm caterers, wonderful floral decorations provided by All Saints Flower team  and a surprise birthday cake, made by Pat Cilvert, complete with candles to be blown out, accompanied by a hearty rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to you’.

It was a very happy, busy and sociable afternoon, much enjoyed by everyone. Ruth had insisted there should be no presents and suggested that donations be made to the Kagera appeal in lieu of gifts. She admitted to being overwhelmed at the number of cards and good wishes she had received, and the number of people who turned up to help her celebrate. But no less than she deserves – congratulations, Ruth! One or two photos were taken, Look here.