Next Sunday & the following Sunday we celebrate two significant moments of Remembrance in the Village; Sun 4th Nov the 100th  Anniversary  of the end of WW1, with a Service at St Hilda’s at 11am. On Sun 11th Nov our Remembrance Day Service again at St Hilda’s at 10.50am.  Much as each Service follows on immediately after our 10am Sunday Mass, I would encourage as many of you as possible to come to pray as one body at these sacred moments.   
 
At our next Parish Forum on Sun 18th Nov at 11.15am, our Vision Group will again help us to offer further wise advice in our journey towards a Vision Statement for the Parish. It will be an opportunity to review & consider the implications of all our individual contributions so far, to take in, & to begin to identify the significance / implications of what’s there for our future. The Group would appeal to anyone who hasn’t yet provided their input (or who would like to provide more) to do that in readiness for the Forum, either by placing a card on the wall in the Hall, or by completing & returning a questionnaire please keep the Group & all our Parish in your prayers at this liminal moment for our future.
 
Could I bring to your attention an event in Newcastle on Mon 12th Nov at 6pm at the Life Centre, close to the Central Station? It is a Q & A event “Can we Brexit proof the North East?..... the role churches play in supporting neighbourhood resilience & helping communities to change in the face of uncertainty & unpredictability.” Easy access by train from Thirsk. An opportunity to measure the potential damage to the Common Good of the Gospels by Brexit. Please try to go.
 
Earlier this month a Parish Risk Management Action Plan (RiskMAP) was compiled by our Insurers following a comprehensive inspection of the Church & Parish property. We achieved a Risk Rating of 82%, with some key improvement areas to focus on. Considering we are currently without a Health & Safety representative, this is a remarkable achievement, which hopefully gives peace of mind that we are all being well cared for in our buildings & grounds. Please could I ask again if someone would be prepared to take on this responsibility on my behalf? Everything is in good order & the task is gentle & straightforward.
 
In recent years Jenifer Smith has done a tremendous job laundering our Altar linen, an important & particular ministry of service. Understandably with her increased home commitments, she would like to stand down. Please could I ask for one of you to take on this responsibility? It gives me the opportunity, on your behalf, to thank Jenifer for her unstinting & cheerful service. We are blessed to have a number of dedicated parishioners who work with love & diligence, often below the radar, for our liturgies & our ministries of outreach. In the month of November, it is appropriate to remember with prayer & gratitude those who have served us down the years, who will now be hopefully enjoying their eternal reward.
 
As we approach the colder weather & the end of the growing season, could I thank John Dawson & Gerard Thompson for their steady work in our Graveyard through the year, & also acknowledge with appreciation the work done in recent weeks by Peter Tuke. In spite of ill health, he continues to contribute to the efforts to keep the grounds in such good order, a point often mentioned by visiting relatives & friends.     
 
Our Diocese & Polaris Teaching School Alliance are offering Primary & Secondary teaching posts for Sept 2019. Professional tutoring from Leeds Trinity University in local hub in Malton. Details on noticeboard at back of Church.                              
                                                                                                                                                                      With love & prayers, Fr Bede.