We will be serving our usual coffee,
croissants, and fruit in the Church Centre after the 8 o’clock service on
Sunday 5 December – do join us for the service, and at the Church Centre afterwards
before making your way home. It’s always so nice to welcome both new and
familiar faces! No charge for the rolls and coffee, but any donations go to the
Church Reordering Fund.
Elizabeth Knowles
The latest issue of our diocesan paper will be in St Mary’s
this Sunday (28th). As usual, it’s packed with good things: a
fascinating and challenging centre spread on welcoming the disabled (‘Churches:
accessible to all?’), how a Saxon church is going solar (and directions
for a prayer walk round it), an account of a new scheme for helping people
released from short-term prison sentences, and Canon David Winter’s
reflections on Advent. Not to mention a report on the 2011 budget agreed by
diocesan synod, and Bishop John’s thoughts on a year of Living Faith. Do
take a copy, and enjoy some varied reading.
Elizabeth Knowles
The latest issue of The
Door will be available in St Mary’s this Sunday. Coverage
ranges from ‘real’ Easter eggs for Church schools (find out why
Bishop John wants us to order in good time) to the story of a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
There’s coverage of the launch of the Cotswold Churches
festival scheduled for next May, suggestions for Advent reading, and lots more.
Do take a copy and enjoy!
Elizabeth Knowles
Andrew has asked us to let you know about Revive London that is happening
at the moment,
The WEB link is http: //www.revivelondon.co.uk/live/
for further information link to this site.
Elaine & Mo
Cogges Parish Office
Another month, and another range of fascinating reading.
This month’s Door includes
articles ranging from ideas for Harvest Festivals in today’s world (read
about Iver Heath’s Harvest of Scrap Metal) and a Faringdon Youth Group’s
visit to Botswana, to David Winter on William Tyndale, and the discovery of a
Saxon window in St Andrew’s, Boxford. There’s a feature on the
Guiding Movement as it reaches the culmination of its centenary year, and a
prayer walk along the river in the Kennet
Valley. Plus news, and
thoughts, from across the diocese. Pick up a copy and enjoy!
Elizabeth Knowles
David Eaton’s para in the latest Update (not to
mention Andrew Pritchard’s!) have highlighted the Ride and Stride in St
Mary’s. Their efforts certainly deserve the sponsorship they’ve
already had, and still hope to get (do think about it if you haven’t done
so!), but I’d like also to put in a word for the event as more than a
money-maker.
If you spend some time as a Ride and Stride ‘sitter’
in St Mary’s or St James’s, you’ll have the happy experience
of welcoming interested visitors from across the diocese. Or why not try a walk
round Oxford
(many fascinating churches, such as St Barnabas, will be open for the day), or think
about a more rural route? Take the bus over to the toll-bridge, and you can
walk the Thames Path into Oxford
– with the option of visiting Wytham and Binsey on the way. There’s
nothing nicer than walking peacefully along watching a gliding swan, or red
berries reflected in the water, with the traffic on the A40 a dull roar in the
distance. And it’s fascinating to be welcomed (always warmly) into other
churches, and see the different ways in which things can be done.
‘Ride and Stride’ is a great event, and it’s
about much more than money. (Though of course, it’s a great cause to
support, and one to which St Mary’s is particularly grateful.)
Elizabeth Knowles
Sunday 5 September is a chance to
celebrate a very special anniversary – Pat Whelan’s 50 years in
ministry. We hope to welcome as many friends as possible to the 8 a.m.
Communion Service, and afterwards to ‘coffee and croissants’ in the
Church Centre.
Elizabeth Knowles
