ST ANDREW’S CHURCH FETE

SATURDAY 13th JUNE

This year’s theme is MUSICALS

This is our major fund raising event and we hope that local organisations will join us too. It’s an excellent opportunity to promote your group.

If you would like to be involved with the planning and can bring new ideas, we’d be really pleased to hear from you, so please get in touch.

St. Andrew's Christmas cards

On sale in aid of the Organ Restoration Fund.
The cards have been specially created by Linda Benton and cost £2. for 5 or 50p each.
Available from Alison Laing (tel: 813147)

Rectors Consultation Document

As you may well be aware Fr Jason wants us to think about our future plans for the Benefice. He has prepared a list of questions which you might find helpful to think and pray about – copies are available for anyone interested from the Benefice Office. If you have any ideas/thoughts please either e-mail them to the office – office@churnchurches.co.uk – or deliver a hard copy to the Benefice Centre. Please feel free to speak to Fr Jason at any time.

Confirmation

There will be a Deanery Confirmation
Service held in the Churn Benefice on Sunday 8th March 2009.
If you are interested in being confirmed please contact the
Office by 19th October 2008. Arrangements will then be
made with those interested.

Canon Sam comes to Hagbourne

The parishioners of St. Andrew’s Church in Hagbourne were delighted to welcome Canon Dr. Sam Ndimbo on Sunday 8th June 2008. He gave news of Liuli and was delighted to tell us of the improvements in the lives of the people there.

The news of St. Anne’s Hospital is good; they no longer have hole in the roof and they have electricity from a solar powered installation enabling much more to be done. They have more beds and equipment enabling the staff to look after and treat more people.

He also gave news of the school, thanking people for the generous gifts that enabled them to furnish the school with the necessities for learning. He reported that all the children in Liuli now attend school, and some are hoping to go to university to train as teachers and doctors.

He gave the good wishes of all the people of Liuli, and gave thanks for the work of those who fund raise and work so hard to help improve the lives of the people of Liuli in Tanzania.

There is still much to do. The hospital is without a doctor and is coping with less than half the number of nurses and technicians that it needs.

Canon Sam is inspirational in his work and devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. Please keep Liuli and its people in your prayers, giving generously when you can, to help St. Anne’s Hospital to save lives and help those who need medical assistance.

Welcome to Jason and Maranda

It is lovely to have Jason and Maranda here in the benefice. Here are some pictures supplied by Ian Parsons - thanks Ian

Visit by the Bishop of Oxford

On 16th January John, Bishop of Oxford, and his Chaplain, the Reverend Amanda Bloor, visited the Wallingford Deanery. The day included some time in each of the parishes / benefices, which for the Churn Benefice was marked by a visit to Churn Knob. The day was blessed with the finest weather of the week, no wind, good visibility and underfoot the Downs were fairly dry. The party was able to enjoy the view over the Deanery and beyond, albeit late in the afternoon as the light began to fade.

The Bishop was accompanied by the Reverend Louise Butler and Graham Goy who identified some of the landmarks and provided background information on their history. From this vantage point the group was also able to see the Harwell Business Centre, the areas of Didcot and Hagbourne earmarked for development and across to Wallingford. The Bishop had earlier visited the South Oxfordshire District Council offices in Crowmarsh where the development plans had been described to him.

Approaching the ancient monument of Churn Knob itself, the Bishop heard about St. Birinus and the annual pilgrimage to Dorchester from Churn Knob. He saw that the cross originally erected by Fr. Edwin was now lying beside the mound and he expressed an interest in having it re-erected. He was also told that Blewbury Primary School have an annual service here.

The visit concluded with a walk / slither down the chalk pit path. The grassy area around the chalk pit itself provided a pleasant detour and a chance for Louise to describe the annual Easter Egg Rolling event enjoyed by the village community and their dogs. A car was waiting at Ticker’s Folly car park to take the Bishop back to Graham’s house for a well earned rest and meal before an evening service at St. Peter’s, Didcot.

The Church expresses its thanks to Churn Estates for permission to access the Downs by car.