• The Churn Benefice

    We're seven village churches seeking to love God and neighbour. We welcome you!
     
     
     

    All through the pandemic the Church continues to be alive and active.

     

    You can contact:
    Revds Jason & Louise by telephone and email
    and Elaine on the office email and/or mobile number.

    We are distributing The Churn, this week's readings, and notices by email.
    Please ask family, friends & neighbours to contact Elaine at office@churnchurches.co.uk if they would like to receive them.

    Take a look at ...

    • our calendar to see what's on this month

    • the notices and events page to find out about our ongoing online events

    • the services page to find out about forthcoming services

    • our resources page to download service materials, reflections, and materials for children and families. The Benefice review update for May 2021 as well as the Summary of Responses are also available under the Resources tab

    • our community page to find links to information about what's happening locally, and how our communities are supporting people affected by the Coronavirus  

     

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  • Daily Message

    Rector’s Daily Reflections Thursday 16th September 2021

    Thought for Today

    This week we’re looking at some thoughts about God , which are prompted by a reading of Psalm 68. Yesterday we looked at the idea that God is a God of compassion : a God who cares for human beings, especially those who are most vulnerable. This idea is related to another idea about God, which I will look at today.

    In common with many other Old Testament writers, the author of Psalm 68 was convinced that God acts in human history in order to bring about his purposes. An important section of psalm 68 refers to various events in the history of the Jewish people, when God “ went out before [his] people”, when he “restored [his] heritage when it languished “, and when he “scattered kings”. Later in the psalm, the author looks to the future, asking God once again to “show [his] strength… as [he] has done for us before”.

    I wonder what you think about the idea of God acting in human history? Some people find this idea quite logical : if God cares for human beings, it is entirely logical to expect that he will act in human history in order to bring blessing to our world. If God is not prepared or is unable to enter into human time, this limits his love and care for us to a realm outside time altogether- a realm we might call Heaven. But what’s the good of a God who limits his blessing to a future blessing to be enjoyed after we die? Why would a loving God do this?

    Other people would say that Historical Science has come of age, and serious historians nowadays simply would n’t dream of trying to explain the pattern of historical events by reference to an unprovable being (God) who , if he exists, exists quite outside the limits of space and time. Furthermore, if you propose that God caused such and such an event, how can you possibly prove such a proposition? An answer to this would be to say that would try to prove it in just the same way as you would try to prove any other hypothesis; and furthermore, it is quite conceivable that when God acts in history , he does so through the thoughts and actions of ordinary human beings.

    I wonder what you think? Might God act in history, or have we outgrown this idea?

    Prayer for Today

    Lord, help us to see where you might be at work, in our lives and our world.

    View the 'Daily Message' for this month

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  • Latest Audio

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    Download Night Prayer

    Listen whenever you want to our service of night prayer.


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  • Safeguarding in the Churn Benefice
    The Churn Benefice is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of the children and people of all ages in our church communities.
    In the first instance questions relating to Safeguarding concerns and support should be addressed to the Rector : The Revd Jason St. John Nicolle, The Benefice Centre, Church End, Blewbury, OX11 9QH, 01235 850267, office@churnchurches.co.uk
    Click here for link to the Safeguarding Policy

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