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Parish Diary and Notices, April 2009

Diary

Wednesday, April 1
  • 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 2.15pm Under 5s at St John's
  • 7.00pm Evening Prayer at St John's
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4
  • 10.00am Parish Quiet Day, Begbroke
Palm Sunday, April 5
  • 8.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 9.30am Parish Communion at St John's
  • 10.00am Parish Communion at St Mary's K
  • 10.00am Parish Communion at St Mary's HP
  • 3.00pm Organ Recital, St Mary's K
  • 6.30pm Said Evensong at St John's
  • 7.00pm NO TIG (holidays)
  • 8.00pm Healing Service at St Mary's K
  • 9.00pm Compline at St Mary's K
Monday, April 6
  • 2.00pm Funeral, St Mary's K
  • 7.30pm Evening Prayer and Litany, St John's
  • 9.00pm Compline, St Mary's K
Tuesday, April 7
  • 12noon Food for Thought at St John's (see notices)
  • 7.30pm Holy Communion at St John's
  • 7.30pm Tuesday night Group
  • 9.00pm Compline, St Mary's K
Wednesday, April 8
  • 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 12.45pm Funeral, St Mary's K
  • 2.15pm NO Under 5s at St John's
  • 7.30pm Stations of the Cross, St John's
    A 1 hour reflection, using art by Nicholas Mynheer
  • 9.00pm Compline, St Mary's K
Maundy Thursday, April 9
  • ------ Gatehouse collection day
  • 8.00pm Maundy Thursday Communion, St Mary's K
  • 8.00pm Maundy Thursday Communion, St John's
Good Friday, April 10
  • 9.45am Good Friday March of Witness leaving from St John's
  • 12noon-3.00pm Good Friday Devotions, St Mary's K (come for peaceful reflection for as long or as short a time as you want)
  • 2.00pm Good Friday Reflections, St John's followed by
  • 4.00pm Children's service, St John's telling the story of Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter
  • 6.00pm Music and Readings for Good Friday, St Mary's K
Saturday, April 11
  • 7.30pm TIG at St Mary's Refectory (see notices)
Easter Day, April 12
  • 8.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 8.00am Holy Communion at St John's
  • 9.30am Easter Day Communion at St John's
  • 10.00am Easter Day Communion at St Mary's K
  • 10.00am Easter Day Communion at St Mary's Hampton Poyle
  • 6.30pm Evening Prayer at St John's
Monday, April 13
Tuesday, April 14
  • 7.30pm Holy Communion at St John's
Wednesday, April 15
  • 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 2.15pm NO Under 5s at St John's
  • 7.00pm Evening Prayer at St John's
Thursday, April 16
  • 2.30pm Visiting bellringers, St Mary's K
Friday, April 17
Saturday, April 18
  • Julian Meeting, 12 Barn Close
Low Sunday, April 19
  • 8.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 9.30am Parish Communion at St John's
  • 10.00am Parish Communion at St Mary's K
  • 10.00am Parish Communion at St Mary's HP
  • 12noon Holy Baptism, St Mary's K
  • 7.00pm NO TIG at St John's
Monday, April 20
Tuesday, April 21
  • 2.30pm Funeral, St Mary's K
  • 7.30pm Holy Communion at St John's
  • 7.30pm Tuesday Night Group (see notices)
  • 8.00pm St John's Committee
Wednesday, April 22
  • 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 2.15pm Under 5s at St John's
  • 7.00pm Evening Prayer at St John's
Thursday, April 23
  • 8.00pm Parish Traidcraft meeting, 57 Church St
Friday, April 24
  • 7.30pm Fashion Show, Edward Feild Sch (see notices)
Saturday, April 25
  • 10.00am Christian Aid Jumble & Plant sale, Methodist Ch
  • 10.30am Art workshop, Refectory
Sunday, April 26
  • 8.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 9.30am Parish Communion at St John's
  • 10.00am Parish Communion at St Mary's K
  • 12noon Holy Baptism, St Mary's K
  • 6.30pm Celtic worship at St John's
  • 7.00pm TIG at St John's
Monday, April 27
  • 11.00am Funeral, St Mary's K
  • 7.30pm St John's Event Planning Group
Tuesday, April 28
  • 5.00pm Regents Park College Lecture (see notices)
  • 7.30pm Holy Communion at St John's
Wednesday, April 29
  • 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's K
  • 2.15pm Under 5s at St John's
  • 7.00pm NO Evening Prayer at St John's
  • 8.00pm Annual Parish Meeting, St Mary's
Thursday, April 30
  • 2.30pm Funeral, St Mary's K

Notices

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General Notices

MESSAGE FROM MERVYN
Mervyn thanks everyone for their well wishes and concern but will not be taking any calls for a while as he has been instructed to rest. And he says ... "Having had all the usual tests, I have an upper respiratory infection which needs to be treated with strong antibiotics ... I hope I will be back on track before long, but at the moment I need to take it easy for at least six or eight weeks." Mervyn.
GOOD FRIDAY TEA
David and Joan would like to thank everyone for their support. £130 was raised for Douglas and Helen House this year. They also thank you all for your continued support over the last 20 years --- they have both decided to call it a day.
FINAL SURGE IN FUNDRAISING FOR CHINA
Thank you all for your support so far in helping me raise money for my trip to China. I have a final £400 to raise and so have decided to do another sponsored run. I was very grateful for your generous sponsorship last time and don't expect it this time but if anyone would like to contribute then a sponsorship form is in the refectory. Thank you, Olivia.
OPEN CHURCHES TRUST
St Mary's will again be open to visitors this summer on Wednesday afternoons from 2.30pm to 5.00pm and Sunday afternoons from 12.30pm to 5.00pm. If you can help by being in church on any of these afternoons, please enter your name on the rota. In addition to welcoming visitors, time spent in the quietness of St Mary's is a wonderful antidote to the stresses and strains of our busy lives. As St Mary's is included in Simon Jenkins' book, England's Thousand Best Churches, we can expect to receive some visitors wishing to view our fine medieval church. Andrew Lloyd Webber set up the Open Churches Trust so that people can visit some of the finest of the country's churches and 'enjoy not only the beauty but also the unique history each can extol'. On Wednesdays we would encourage two stewards to be present. There is a set of notes about the history and architecture of St Mary's on the table near the church door. I am very willing to arrange a church tour if it will help. John Amor.
RECEIVING COMMUNION AT HOME
Particularly as Easter approaches, please let the clergy know of anyone who is unable to come to church and would like to receive communion in their home.
A BIG THANK YOU!
to everyone who supported my organ recital last Sunday; for attending, for donating and for supplying cakes. I am very grateful to everyone and am delighted that we raised £389.16 for my marathon fundraising fund in aid of MIND. David. (And a big thank you back to David for an outstanding recital!)
BIBLE READING FELLOWSHIP NOTES
The new issue of the BRF notes is now available. These booklets give a short Bible passage for each day, with notes and comments, which many people find a helpful way of exploring the Bible further. The cost for a year, which gives you 3 issues starting in May, is £11.10. There are two editions – New Daylight which gives a short daily passage and notes; and Guidelines, which gives weekly units suitable for more in-depth study. If you would like to know more, or wish to order, please contact Janice Venables (376535).
NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA from the Dennetts
Hello Everyone. Well, after about two years of problems, with selling the house and Tony's illness, we eventually arrived in Australia on the 6th November 2008. This was also our granddaughter's, Leah's, 14th birthday, so we had much to celebrate. Also it was a beautiful sunny warm day as it was the middle of spring here. After we had settled in at our daughter's house, we decided to buy a car and have a look round the Gold Coast to decide where we wanted to live, and finally settled on Hollywell, which is a small community on the coast by Paradise Point. It is lovely here and is known locally as "Sleepy Hollywell". We are right by the sea. Buying a house here is nothing like the UK. You sign the contract on the day you decide that you want the house and then YOU decide when you want to move in. We moved in on 9th December 2008. It was wonderful. No problems at all. The solicitors completed the work in such a short time. All our furniture had arrived in Brisbane before we landed, so the furniture was delivered that day. We soon settled in and have had a wonderful Christmas with all our family round us, and in our own home here. We spent New Year's Eve on the beach, had a lovely firework display, and a barbecue, once again with all the family. We love our house. It has a beautiful tropical garden with a swimming pool and a Bali hut. Our children keep saying to us each week, what have you done this week, have you been anywhere? But at the moment we are still enjoying being in our own home and garden. We are into autumn now and it is cooling down a little - to about 76C! So when the weather cools down a little more, we will go out and about to see more of Queensland. We will let you know some more of our adventures here later on.
We wish you all a Very Happy and Peaceful Easter. With our love from Glenys & Tony Dennett
THANK YOU
to all who arranged and supported the concert given by the Giffords last week. A wonderful profit of £825 was made for Parish Funds.
CONGRATULATIONS
to Amey and Tom Tunney on the birth of their daughter Layla Joy on the 29th March.
LINDISFARNE TRIP
The cost for the trip to Lindisfarne will be £190 per person sharing a room and £235 for a single room (less the £50 deposit) Please could all outstanding balances be paid this week. Cheques payable to Kidlington PCC.
PLANNED GIVING
I will soon be organising distribution of the new Planned Giving envelopes for 2009/2010. A few people have recently changed their giving from regular envelopes to standing orders, and if you are thinking of doing this then please let me know, so I can give you the necessary paperwork instead of new envelopes. If you are not part of the Planned Giving scheme at all then please consider this - it makes it easier for you to support the work of the church regularly and it helps the parish budget better. For more information, forms, envelopes etc, then please contact me or ask one of the Churchwardens. Margaret Day (tel: 375916).
CTK EASTER CARDS
This year, and for the first time, CTK is sending out Easter cards like the Christmas cards with details of all Easter and Holy Week services in the Kidlington churches. They need delivering in the same way as the Christmas cards and should be in the churches this Sunday and next, sorted into streets for collection and delivery. Please collect the cards for a street near you and deliver them as soon as possible. Sue Mills, Tel. 376546 or email sue.mills@ntlworld.com for further information.
Dated Notices

MOTHERS' UNION 3rd April
Primrose Gallimore, our Diocesan President, will be coming to talk to us at our next meeting on Friday, April 3rd in the Refectory at 9.45 (coffee) for 10.00am. She will be speaking about her visit to the DPs conference in Australia. (This was the talk she was to have given at the February meeting which was cancelled). Visitors are always welcome at our meetings.
PARISH LENT QUIET DAY 4th April
Our next Quiet Day will be held at Begbroke Priory on Saturday 4th April - the perfect preparation for Holy Week and Easter. The day will start with coffee at 10.00a.m. and finish about 4.00p.m. Tea, coffee and afternoon cakes will be provided, but please bring your own packed lunch. The cost is £10. Please sign up on the lists in the churches - including whether you need or can offer a lift.
ORGAN RECITAL in aid of MIND 5th April
At 3.00pm on Palm Sunday David Hewett will give a recital on St Mary's organ. Admission free of charge with a retiring collection towards David's London Marathon fundraising appeal in aid of Mind. Tea and cake served afterwards in the refectory. Offers of cake gratefully received - please see David or Meghann Hewett (847764). See the 26th April notice about sponsoring DH.
HOLY WEEK SERVICES 5th-12th April
The complete list is here.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 7th April
The lunchtime bible discussion group will be meeting again on Tuesday 7th April beginning at 12 noon until 2pm, at St John's Vicarage. In the midst of the intense journey through Holy Week, we will be looking at Jesus' last meal with his close companions, as we read in John chapters 13 to 17 (which includes Jesus' prayers for his disciples); Matthew 26 verses 17 to 29 Mark 14 verses 1 to 25; Luke 22 verses 1 to 38. Come and join us.
GOOD FRIDAY TEA 10th April
All are welcome at the Townsends at 27 Almond Avenue, 3.30pm. All proceeds to Helen and Douglas House.
TIG EASTER VIGIL 11th April
The parish youth group TIG will be holding an Easter vigil event in St Mary's on Saturday 11th April, with a variety of events and activities reflecting on the Easter story, and a time of celebration at dawn on Easter Day in the fields across from St Mary's, at White Bridge.You would be welcome to join the group for this short time of worship and are invited to come to St Mary's at 5.30am in preparation for the short walk across the fields. Breakfast will be in the Refectory at about 6.45am/7am. If you would like to join us, it would help with catering if you would let me know. Volunteers to help with preparation of breakfast on Easter morning would be very welcome. Thank you, Hilary, tel 375611.
OXFORD PARENT INFANT PROJECT 18th April
The Friends of Castel di Fiori accompanied by the Exuberant Players present La Cenerentola (Cinderella) by Gioachino Rossini on 18th April at 7 pm in the Amey Hall, Abingdon School. Tickets £15 (£12 concessions) at the door or from Anne Watson 01865 862995. Proceeds to Oxford Parent Infant Project.
CCOW UPDATE April 20th
7:30 pm at the High Street Methodist Church, Witney: "What Does Fair Trade Do?" Witney Area Fair Trade Action Group (WAFTAG) and CCOW have invited three panellists who have wide experience in working on Fair Trade to share their perspectives in this area. Alex Nicholls, lecturer in Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University, is co-author of Fair Trade: Market-Driven Ethical Consumption. David Bowman is a non-executive director of Traidcraft. Wendy Foster has worked on trade with communities in Kenya and Ethiopia. Each of the panellists will give a brief presentation on their experience of what Fair Trade does. Then there will be about 40 minutes for questions from the floor.
TUESDAY NIGHT GROUP 21st April ++
The Tuesday night Bible study and fellowship group for 20's and 30's will be meeting on the following dates this term, at 7.30pm: 21st April and 5th, 19th May and 2nd, 16th, 30th June and 14th July (summer social) Please call Amey Tunney on 371698 for details of where we will be meeting. New members very welcome - we meet to study, pray and eat cake in an informal setting.
FASHION SHOW PROMOTED BY M&CO 24th April
As part of our ongoing series of fund raising events there will bea show of ladies' and children's fashions on Friday 24th April in Edward Feild School Hall at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 from Margaret Lang 376587, Joyce Morris 375922, M&Co and Alison's Animals. The proceeds are for parish funds and Cancer Research.
FIRST 2009 EVENT FOR CHRISTIAN AID! 25th April
Jumble and plant sale at the Methodist Church Saturday 25th April, 10am – 12noon. The church hall will be open on Friday evening 6.30pm to 7.30pm to receive jumble and plants. Helpers needed for the Friday evening and Saturday morning. If you can help in any way or need more details contact Gail on 378329.
MARATHON MAN April 26th
On 26th April David Hewett will be running the London Marathon with his brother-in-law Matt, and is hoping you might consider sponsoring him. David writes We're running in memory of Peter Brook (my father-in-law), who, as you may have heard, died tragically last year after a period of severe depressive illness. Peter had never suffered from depression before, and it was a shock to all of us that such a devastating illness could affect someone so strong and capable. That's why we've chosen to run in aid of Mind, a leading mental health charity that offers support to sufferers as well as working to raise awareness of mental health issues. Our aim is to raise a whopping £4000 for Mind, so anything you can give towards that total would be much appreciated!

You can sponsor David online here.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING. 29th April
St Mary's Refectory 8pm. This is the meeting where we review the past year and look towards the future. The church wardens and the PCC areelected and membership of the church committees, sides people, readers and intercessors are formally approved. Nomination lists are in the churches. All members of the Electoral Roll are entitled to vote. The PCC is the body which makes the formal decisions about how our worship and witness as a Christian body develops. Please think about whether you could serve the church by being a member of the PCC.
OXFORD HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST 30th April and beyond
Visits, tours and happenings. If anyone is interested in any of these events please contact the appropriate person named alongside the event, as soon as possible to avoid disappointment, as these events have limited spaces! If you do manage to get a place, please contact the parish office for a slip of details to send with your payment to confirm your booking.
  • Thu 30th April Cathedral Tour Coventry, Warwick, Stratford Contact: Chris Walton 01865 735179
  • Thu 14th May Church Tour Stanton St.John, Woodeaton Contact: Simon Haviland 01993 891614
  • Wed 20th May Abingdon Area Tour Contact: Christopher Owen 01235 848410
  • Tue 2nd June Chalgrove Visit St. Mary’s and Manor House Contact: Charles Baker 01865 400402
  • Wed 10th June Church and Garden visit Aldworth and Farnborough Contact: Sue Tyser 01235 868203
  • Wed 1 July Wolfson Midsummer Lecture Cathedral Forum Contact: John Yaxley 01993 831385
  • Thu 16th July Oxford Tour Campion Hall, Rhodes & Pusey House Contact: Gillian Argyle 01865 558645
Looking Ahead

FOOD FOR THOUGHT 5th May
Will be meeting again on Tuesday 5th May beginning at 12 noon until 2pm, at St John's Vicarage (come to side door of vicarage next to church). We are beginning an exploration of the book of Hebrews, a letter with a difference, written by an unknown author (possibly a contemporary of the apostle Paul). We begin with chapters 1 to 7. "At many moments in the past and by many means, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our time, the final days, he has spoken to us in the person of his Son.." Come and join us. Bring sandwiches with you, drinks provided.
KAOS SPRING CONCERT 8th and 9th May
A concert of English choral music will take place on 8th & 9th May in St. Mary's at 7.30pm. Tickets can be obtained from KAOS members in the congregation.
CHRISTIAN AID EVENT 9th May
Soup Lunch at the Methodist Church, Saturday 9th May, 12.30pm to 2pm.
COFFEE MORNING 16th May
At 8 Gosford Close by invitation of Malcolm and Jenny Austen. 10.30am to 12.30. Stalls include cakes and preserves, bring and buy, books, plants and raffle. Proceeds to St John's 50th Anniversary Improvement Fund.
ST JOHN'S ... there is life after 50!
We are planning a number of events this year as social occasions, looking out into the community, supporting our plans to develop the building as a more effective community resource, and in particular for this year looking towards the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the chancel.
  • Sat 16th May, 10 am to 12 noon a coffee morning at the home of Malcolm and Jenny Austen, 8 Gosford Close.
  • Fri 19th June, 7.30pm to 10.30pm a Barn Dance with Tinkers Ditch
  • Sun 28th June, 9.30am Parish Communion celebrating our Patronal Festival, followed by a bring-and-share lunch.
  • Sat 11th July approx 10 am to 3pm, Family Fun Day and BBQ A day of family games and activities.
  • Sat 24th October -- Musical Evening with Brize Norton Singers and local musicians.
  • Sun 25th October, 9.30am -- Parish Communion to celebrate 50th anniversary of dedication of chancel, with visiting preacher.
    CECILY'S FUND 6th June
    CECILY'S FUND (Educating Zambian children orphaned by Aids) presents:- A sparkling evening of music, food and wine. Diva Opera performs Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte followed by a gala dinner or picnic set in the grounds of Wotton House, Buckinghamshire. Date: Saturday 6th June at 3pm. Tickets £85 Opera and bring-your-own-picnic or £150 Opera and Dinner. Contact the Parish Office for more information or email Alison Eastwood at stableyardalison@aol.com
    SUMMER FAMILY FUN EVENING AND BARBECUE 4th July
    Following the success of last year's event, a similar evening has been planned for Saturday 4th July (NOT 27th June as previously written) kindly hosted by the Marslands at 104 Church Street. An initial planning meeting has been held and we are looking for people to volunteer to oversee the following areas of activity: barbecue, bar, puddings, tombola, games, quizzes, raffle, setting up and dismantling, cleaning the barbecues the following morning. If you could volunteer to oversee any of these things please see Tilly Evershed (460038) JanetWarren (376266) or Margaret Day( 375916).
    Regular Lecture Series

    REGENTS PARK COLLEGE, Oxford Centre for Christianity and Culture
    On the theme Alternative Worlds,
    Tuesdays at 5.00pm, Regent's Park College, Pusey St, OX1 2LB
    • 28 April Ways into Other Worlds: from Gulliver to His Dark Materials Prof. Peter Hunt, Emeritus, University of Wales, Cardiff
    • 5 May Into the woods with Will: Shakespeare and "A Midsummmer Night's Dream" Prof Laurie Maguire, Magdalen College, University of Oxford
    ST. GILES OXFORD LUNCHTIME TALKS
    Thursdays at 12.30pm On the theme Life changing Events
    • 30 April Medicine and Sport Sir Roger Bannister
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