United Parish Magazine 2018

Transcription

1 THE UNITED PARISH OF CHINNOR, SYDENHAM, ASTON ROWANT and CROWELL United Parish Magazine

2 Parish Contacts Rector to the United Parish - The Rev d Maggie Thorne maggie53thorne@gmail.com Curate to the United Parish The Rev d Dr. Jacky Barr barrjacqueline@aol.com CHINNOR ASTON ROWANT The Rev d Maggie Thorne The Rev d Des Foote The Rev d Dr. Jacky Barr The Rev d Dr. Brian Griffiths Margaret Poole CROWELL SYDENHAM The Rev d Maggie Thorne The Rev d Joan DeVal PARISH OFFICE CHURCH HALL for St. Andrew s Louise Heathcote Val Welford csarc@btinternet.com vrwelford@gmail.com Parish Child Protection Officer Sue Coombs or

3 1 st Sunday 6 th May 6 th Sun of Easter 2 nd Sunday 13 th May 7 th Sun of Easter 3 rd Sunday 20 th May Pentecost 4 th Sunday 27 th May Trinity Sunday 5 th Sunday NONE Saturday Chinnor 8.00am Eucharist (Said,CW) (Rector & Jacky) 10.00am Eucharist (Sung,CW) (Rector & Jacky) 8.00am Eucharist (Said,CW) (Rector & Jacky) No 10am Service. United Christian Aid Service at CCC, 10.45am 6.00pm Confirmation & Eucharist with Bishop of Dorchester 8.00am Eucharist (Said,CW) (Rector & Jacky) 10.00am Eucharist (Sung,CW) (Rector & Jacky) 8.00am Eucharist (Said,CW) (Joan) 10.00am Tea n Toast, Bread n Wine (Joan) 6.00pm Evensong no Sermon (Jacky) am Morning Prayer Aston Rowant 10.00am Family Service (Brian) 10.00am Holy Communion (CW, with Hymns (Des) 10.00am Communion (CW with Hymns) (Des) 10.00am Holy Communion (CW, with Hymns (Brian) - Sydenham 10.00am Communion (BCP) (Joan) pm Evensong (Rector & Jacky) 10.00am Songs of praise (Wardens). - Crowell 6.00pm Evening Prayer (Jacky) No Service May 16 June 21July 5.30pm Soul Space 2

4 Pastoral Letter Dear Friends Getting used to the intensity and pace of life as an ordained minister does take some getting used to. It s like nothing I ve ever experienced before, not in a negative way, just in a very different way. It turns out that I m required to make an annual retreat, this is something that the Church mandates and, as I m getting ready to leave for my retreat, I m aware of the wisdom of this. I m aware that I need to pause, to catch my breath and reflect on the first nine months of my ordained ministry. There is joy and excitement to being in a parish as busy as ours, but it is very easy to get caught in the whirl of busy-ness, in the permanent need for immediacy. So, here I am packing to head to North Wales to a retreat house called St Beuno s for a five-day silent retreat. I m really looking forward to sinking into that silence. The outward silence of a retreat like this is all about trying to foster an inner silence, to allow our minds to be quietened. Our minds are so very busy, and this is exactly what the mind is designed to do. God has given us our minds to run our lives, to make sure the outward stuff of life keeps going. The thing is, though, our minds are so good at doing this job that it can become permanently engaged in trying to solve everything, trying to second guess what s going on, trying to make sure we ve got everything covered. The danger of an overactive mind is that it can distract us from what is going on in our hearts and obscure what it is our soul is asking of us. It s also just plain tiring to always be thinking hard did you know that the brain is the organ that uses the most energy? I know that I m extraordinarily blessed to have the kind of job that mandates an annual retreat. But really this quietening of the mind shouldn t be a once a year event. It s something that we all should try and practice daily. Recognition of this is why Mindfulness courses and yoga classes are popular. A simple but incredibly effective way of quietening your mind is focus on your breath. Try it now: just take three long slow deep breaths, giving all your attention and focus to breathing those three breaths. These three breaths can be extended to three minutes or however much time as you have. I actually find counting my breath very helpful and it gives my always-wants-to-busy mind just enough to do. I count silently to five as I breathe in, and five as I breathe out. Experiment and find what works for you to create a daily mini retreat. Wishing you all inner quiet and peace, Jacky Curate to the United Parish of Chinnor, Sydenham, Aston Rowant and Crowell. 3

5 Readings Sunday 6 th May Sunday 13 th May 6 th Sun of Easter 7 th Sun of Easter Acts end Acts ,21-end 1 John John John John Sunday 20 th May Sunday 27 th May Pentecost Trinity Sunday Acts Isaiah Romans Romans John John

6 Prayers 'Prayer is God listening to the whispers of the world'. This quote came from a child at St. Andrew's School. Please pray for: Brian Hutton Miriam Wilcock Mike Jacobs Chris Loosely Rod & Jenny Bankier Jeff Platt David Carey Joan Kingdon For those who mourn: Kathleen Claydon Village Prayers Village prayers in May will be in Wheelers End and Orchard Way Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love for us revealed in your Son, Jesus Christ. You call us to make your love known to others in this parish and neighbourhood. Help each of us to respond to this challenge and as visits are made, go before us, show us how to best use our opportunities, help us to speak a word in season, and in all we say and do, may we commend our Lord and further his kingdom, to the glory of your name. Amen. Would anyone like to join the team? Please contact Maggie,

7 Weekday services and church group meetings MONDAY Morning Prayer at St. Andrew s Mothers Union Intercessions 8.00am, Chinnor 10.00am, Chinnor. TUESDAY Morning Prayer, 8.00am 1 st May = Aston R., 8 th May = Crowell, 15 th May = Sydenham, 22 nd May = Chinnor, 29 th May = Chinnor Choir Practice 7.00pm, Sydenham Bell ringing Practice, 7.30pm, Aston Rowant WEDNESDAY Morning Prayer 8.00am, Chinnor Holy Communion 11.00am every Wednesday, Chinnor MU Holy Communion, Weds 9 th May 11.00am, Chinnor,(Rector) (2pm IN Church Hall) Healing Service 16 th May & 3 nd Wednesday of each month. Chinnor Luncheon Club, Every Fortnight 12.30pm, Church Hall THURSDAY Morning Prayer 8.00am, Chinnor *STARBoddlers* 11.00am Baby & Toddler activity group, Thursday s during school termtime. FRIDAY Treble Choir practice, 6.00pm, Chinnor Choir Practice, 6.45pm, Chinnor Bell ringing Practice, 7.30pm, Chinnor Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey The Pilgrim Course will run on Sunday afternoons at 4pm. It comprises 8 different aspects of our faith which each divide into 6 sessions. This is intended for any who wish to be confirmed, those who would like to do some gentle Bible study and for any who want to explore their faith a little more. Each session lasts for approximately 1.5 hours and will include refreshments. The forthcoming. dates are 6 th & 20 th May For further details, please contact Maggie

8 Dates for your diary in May 30 3 rd Rector & Curate away at Clergy conference. 7 Rogation Service at Manor Farm, 10.30am. Refreshments at the Farm. See pg13 for more details 7 Chinnor Churches Go Wild meeting, Chinnor Rectory, 12pm 7 Maggie & Richard at Home- Drinks & Nibbles onwards. 10 Ascension Day Service, St Andrew s, Chinnor.7pm 13 Confirmation Service, St. Andrew s with the Bishop of Dorchester, 6.00pm 21 Hope Runs Deep Presentation, St Andrew s,7.30pm See pg:16 Luncheon CLUB Fortnightly at the Village Centre 12.30pm URGENT HELP IS NEEDED to be able to continue with this important aspect of church life. please contact Maggie if you can help!! Baptisms &Weddings (Please note these were correct at time of print but are subject to additions/change throughout the month) 5 May Wedding noon Donna Byrne/Nicolas Scarlett Chinnor 6 May Baptism noon Sophie Grace Simpson Chinnor 12 May Wedding noon Lisa Higgott/Christopher Allam Chinnor 13 May Baptism noon Joshua James Phillips Chinnor 7

9 Family friendly Everyone, of every age, is warmly welcome to attend all parish services. FAMILY FRIENDLY SERVICES Sunday 8 th May (and the 1 st Sunday of each month) 10.00am, Family Service at St Peter & Paul Church, Aston Rowant Sunday 13 th May (and the 2 nd Sunday of each month) 10.00am, Family Service at St Andrew s Church, Chinnor. CHILDREN S SUNDAY CLUB Sunday 20 th May(and the 3 rd Sunday each month) 10.00am (always the 1 st & 3 rd Sundays of each month) at St. Andrew s Church Hall, Chinnor (Behind the Village Centre) *STARboddlers* New FREE baby & Toddler Group. Every Thursday, 11am, during Term Time. St. Andrew s Church. All warmly Welcome :) SYDENHAM COFFEE MORNINGS Thursday 10 th May Coffee Morning 10.00am 12noon, at Sydenham Old School Room. All welcome 8

10 Parish News All dressed up and definitely with somewhere to go! On Maundy Thursday, Christ Church Cathedral hosted the annual Chrism Eucharist. This is a special service at which the oils that we use in church are blessed by Bishop Steven. Ministers from across the whole Diocese gather to renew both their stocks of oils and their ministerial vows. And I had the great honour and privilege to represent Dorchester Archdeaconry by being one of three deacons to present one of the oils to Bishop Steven to bless. It was great fun to dress up in this splendid purple dalmatic (i.e. a giant bib!) and to process through the cathedral carrying the oil. As I enthusiastically lifted the carafe of oil high above my head, I didn't realise quite how long the Bishop's prayer of blessing was going to be so there was a moment of stress as my arms began to shake before he got to the final Amen! But all was well and I safely delivered the oil to the waiting verger. 9

11 Parish News A big thank you to all who sponsored me on my 6 mile walk a grand total of this has been gift aided. We were blessed with lovely sunshine on Saturday 13 April and walked from Towersey into Thame stopping at Lord Williams s lower school, Barley Hill Primary school, St Joseph s Catholic Primary School and John Hampden Primary School and back into Towersey, stopping at these four schools to pray for Prayer Spaces. Prayer Spaces is very much alive and enjoyed at St Andrew s COE Primary School in Chinnor Monday 18 June Thursday 21 June - as well as at Aston Rowant CoE Primary School - date to be confirmed. Prayer spaces offers children the ability to reflect and relate to everyday experiences. If you would like to be involved in Prayer Spaces please contact Rev d Maggie Thorne. Over 120 schools in Oxfordshire have had prayer spaces in the last 7 years. Over 80,000 students have had the opportunity to connect with God. There are 356 schools in the county. Can you help us see every school have space for young people to connnect with God? To raise money for BeSpace to see the vision become a reality BeSpace walked 356 miles across Oxfordshire representing every school. Each team prayed for at least 25 schools so every school is prayed for. In the week of April 14th, 14 teams, led by a member of the BeSpace team, a BeSpace networker, trustee or volunteer did a 6 mile walk adding up to 356 miles cumulatively. Teams were walking in Wantage, Wallingford, Didcot, Farringdon, Abingdon, Henley, Witney, Woodstock, Chipping Norton, Banbury, Bicester, Thame and the city of Oxford. Visit or find us on facebook at BeSpace for more information. Lauretta (St Andrew s CoE Primary School, Chinor), Willa (Crowmarsh Gifford CE Primary School) and Elizabeth (Long Wittenham CoE Primary School) Thank you! Lauretta Milligan Foundation Governor : St Andrew s CoE Primary School, Chinnor 10

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13 Parish News ST ANDREW S CHURCH FLOWER AND CRAFT FESTIVAL WITH AFTERNOON CREAM TEAS WHAT S ON TV? SATURDAY 2 JUNE SUNDAY 3 JUNE 2018 The St Andrew s Church Flower Guild is hosting a flower festival with the theme of What s on TV? on Saturday 2 June and Sunday 3 June This is being held in conjunction with the Chinnor Open Gardens. The event will again be expanded by showcasing displays of local art and crafts alongside the gardens. The church will be decorated with flowers depicting a very varied selection of television programmes from current to old time favourites, including children s programmes. In addition the church will be supporting the Chinnor Open Gardens initiative and inviting several artists and crafters to share their skills during the flower festival in the church. If you are interested in participating in this festival as a flower arranger or an artist and crafter please contact Lauretta Milligan ( post@milligan.me.uk). There will also be a produce stall selling jams, crafts, etc and a plant stall any donations towards the produce stall will be gratefully received closer to the date of the festival. Cream teas will be sold on both afternoons of the festival. A new feature for this year s festival are tours of the bell tower on both days from 2pm-4pm. For a small donation visitors can have a go at ringing the bells and have a look into the ringing chamber plus a talk about the history of the bells and how the bells are rung. Meditative Prayer Walk Sunday 3 rd June 2.30pm Donations at the door will be gratefully received. The funds raised during this Flower and Crafts Festival will go towards the maintenance of St Andrew s Church, in particular the urgent repair of the stonework on the outside of the church building. St Andrew s Church is in the heart of Chinnor and beloved by locals and visitors alike. The building is used by the community, for the community. Opening times : Saturday 2 June and Sunday 3 June : 1pm- 6pm 12

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15 Parish News You are invited..to a Coffee Morning in aid of Kidney Research UK. Saturday May 12th, 10.30am at 14 Lower Road, Chinnor Please come and support us. Raffle ~ Sales table ~ Cakes. All donations welcome. Shirley and Ken Munday With thanks:.to Chinnor Open Gardens & Fliss Akehurst for their kind donations. St. Andrew s churchyard now has 11 bird boxes of varying sizes and shapes to suit many different species of bird. With special thanks also to Nick Mariner of Chiltern Conservation Board who advised on the best places to hang the boxes. 14

16 Parish News CHRISTIAN AID WEEK CHINNOR 13th - 19th May 2018 Sunday 13th May Christian Aid Church Service a.m. Chinnor Community Church Tuesday 15th May Coffee Morning with music, raffle, new/nearly new clothes, Fair Trade goods, preserves and cake stall - Church Hall House-to-house collection taking place throughout the week Vilia and her family lived in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit in Vilia was on her way home when she heard people running and shouting. She saw wires fall and houses crumble. She couldn t recognise her home or neighbourhood. Bereaved and homeless, Vilia went back to her hometown with her husband and children, but life was a struggle and she had nowhere safe to stay. Christian Aid s partner KORAL saw how dire Vilia s situation was and reached out to help her. They built her a new home, safe and strong enough to stand up to natural disasters. In 2016 Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti. Vilia s neighbours quickly realised that her house was the only one in the area sturdy enough to cope with the hurricane. One by one, they fled to her house and she welcomed them in. As the storm raged on, she shared food and a safe shelter for several days. 54 people sheltered safely from the hurricane in Vilia s house. Despite the ferocity of the hurricane, her house lost only one roof panel and wasn t damaged in any other way. Many other homes in the area were totally destroyed. Christian Aid brings tens of thousands of Christians together to achieve incredible things with some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. Please support us in Christian Aid week to enable this valuable work to continue. If you can deliver and collect Christian Aid envelopes or wish to be involved in any other way, please contact: Mavis Shortman on , tony-mavis@shortman.eclipse.co.uk or Fliss Akehurst on , flissofchinnor@gmail.com 15

17 Most will have heard of the miraculous escape from the Chilean mine on 5th October They had been down there since 5th August! It was a study in survival. First it was spiritual: José Henriquez the pastor, an evangelical preacher, was the only committed Christian down there. On the first night, once they realised there was no way out, they asked him to teach them to pray. He did, organising what in effect turned out to be an underground church, meeting twice a day, singing hymns listening to sermons he preached from memory As the days progressed they became aware of the presence of the 34th Miner with them. Some even saw visions of a dove that would fly around among the 22 kilometres of tunnel where they were. They were totally incommunicado for 16 days when their food ran out, their ration had consisted in half a tea spoon of tuna fish per man per day. Then the miracle occurred But to find out about that they will have to come and hear the story! Anglican Bishop Alfred Cooper, an Anglo Chilean himself born in Chile will relate the story He will give a first hand account together with some visual testimony from the BBC recordings of the moment, and answer questions. How Pentecost occurred underground at 700 metres in the pitch dark, at 38 degrees Celsius, with hardly any food and only contaminated water to hand. It truly is a story of survival through miracle! 16

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20 Parish Office For all enquiries concerning baptism, confirmation and matrimony please contact Maggie Thorne at The Rectory. Rector The Rev d Maggie Thorne, The Rectory, Chinnor, OX39 4DH maggie53thorne@gmail.com Parish Office: Louise Heathcote St Andrew s Church, Chinnor, OX39 4PG csarc@btinternet.com Opening hours: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Closed The opening times sometimes vary, especially during school holidays so do call or to check if you need to be certain. The best way of contacting the parish office is by ing: csarc@btinternet.com Parish Magazine: Editor: Louise Heathcote. Submissions should be ed to the parish office, see above. DEADLINE for June magazine will be Monday 21 st May. The churchwarden s contact details. St Andrew s, Chinnor St. Peter & Paul, Aston Rowant Pat Haywood Jeremy Wilcock Chris McGuire Richard Boarder St Mary s, Sydenham Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, Crowell Siobhan McKee Andy Warman Roy Harrison Maggie Warman