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Issue #5 of Wheatley Area Newsletter
Horton cum Studley Oakley
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Beckley CHRISTIANS | | IN
| |
Stanton St John +----+ +----+
| | Worminghall
Forest Hill +----+ +----+
| | Ickford
Holton THE | | COMMUNITY
Wheatley | |
Horspath | | Tiddington
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Cuddesdon Great Milton
Garsington Great Haseley
Little Milton
A monthly newsletter for Christians in the Wheatley Area.
To join or to send news: email Kevin1.Betts@ntlworld.com
Please forward to those who may be interested, or print off
for them if they have no email.
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HEADLINES: Children's Christmas Party, Operation Christmas
Child, Vision & Prayer Night
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"So you see, just as death came into the world through a man,
Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through
another man, Christ. Everyone dies because all of us are
related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to
Christ, the other man, will be given new life. But there is
an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then
when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised."
1 Corinthians 15:21-23
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| ><> EPISTLE <>< |
| to the Wheatley Area |
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Computer problems for your editor has delayed the Newsletter
this month. The PC was dead for quite a while, but has now
been resurrected! Jesus is the first and only man yet to be
given new life, but it is promised to all who believe in him.
Until then, your editor will try to rely less on those
earthly things that break and decay!
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| ><> GOOD NEWS <>< |
| Building the Kingdom Locally |
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><> Children's Christmas Party by Jenny Woods
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On Saturday 13th December, the first Wheatley Children’s
Christmas Party was held at Wheatley Primary School. For
once, the children couldn’t wait to get to school! There was
a turn out of over 150 children and parents despite it being
such a busy time of year. The activities ranged from
Christmas card making to ‘stained’ glass windows to Kid’s
Carpentry. Children kept very busy enjoying whichever
activities interested them, while parents were able to enjoy
refreshments to the sound of Andrew Holman on piano. Kath
McNee & Sarah Turner did a wonderful job with organisation
of the two hour event.
A script about the bright star in the sky, written by Bec
Matthews, and performed by a group of unsuspecting adults,
gave everyone much to think about. Kath concluded with a
brief but dynamic children’s talk about God’s gift to us at
Christmas. A giant Christmas cracker kept everyone
spellbound. Some people had such a good time they wanted to
give money for it! Many had been to previous Festivals. It
was a wonderful opportunity to hand out Church Christmas
Service cards and mention other forthcoming events like the
Pilots children’s club. A big thank you goes to the 30
volunteers who helped to make the afternoon a great success.
Christmas can be a stressful time, but on this afternoon we
all had such fun, we intend to run it again this year.
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><> Operation Christmas Child by Lucy Betts
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10,420 children in Romania benefited from shoeboxes full of
Christmas gifts donated at the Watlington warehouse in
November & December. A big thank you for all those in the
Wheatley Area who donated shoeboxes and other goods. Thank
you also to those who helped at the warehouse collecting,
checking and putting boxes in cartons ready for transport.
The warehouse in Watlington was a hive of activity and really
looked like Santa's grotto with stacks of brightly coloured
shoeboxes and extra toys and gifts. I was able to spend a few
hours at the warehouse and enjoyed being part of the team
there. Although at the start it seemed as if there would be
plenty of soft toys, hats, gloves and scarves etc for the
boxes, the stores quickly disappeared. It would be great if
we could make sure there are enough for this year. Do you or
do you know of anyone who would be able to knit hats, gloves
and scarves for children aged from toddlers to teenagers
which could be used in the campaign this year (2004). If
storage is a problem I would be happy to collect any. Would
you be interested in becoming involved in this worthwhile
project? Help is needed in a range of areas mentioned above.
If you would be interested in any of these areas please
contact Lucy Betts on 01865 875436.
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| ><> EVENTS <>< |
| Signs and Wonders |
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Jan 31 (Saturday)
><> 11am-1pm - Charity Soup Lunch in aid of Iran Earthquake
victims - URC, Wheatley
Feb 15 (Sunday)
><> 6pm - Wheatley Area Churches Service
- Our Lady of Lourdes, Wheatley
Feb 21 (Saturday)
><> 6-9pm - Wheatley Area Churches - Games Party
- Merry Bells - BYO Food - Ann Hardiman 01865 873485
or Ellen Webster 01844 339384
Feb 23 (Monday)
><> 7 for 7:30pm - 1 Won 4 God - Elaine Storkey - The Theatre
at Headington - Helen Michell - 01865 513495
Feb 25 (Wednesday)
><> Ash Wednesday Service - St Mary's, Wheatley
Feb 29 (Sunday)
><> 10am - Shared Service - URC, Wheatley - The congregation
of St Mary's will join with members of the URC for a
joint service of worship. This will be followed by a
bring-and-share lunch at the Merry Bells village hall,
and a presentation by the organisation Fusion in Wheatley
Mar 3 (Wednesday)
><> 7:30-9:45pm - Vision & Prayer Night - Wheatley Primary
School - Marty Woods - 01865 876596
Mar 13 (Saturday)
><> 7-9:30pm Family Quiz - Merry Bells - £4 entry + supper
Tony Wigley - 01865 872116 or Lucy Betts - 01865 875436
Mar 27 (Saturday)
><> 10am-12pm - St Mary's Spring Fayre - Merry Bells
><> 2-4:30pm - Easter Family Festival
- Wheatley Primary School - Lucy Betts - 01865 875436
May 24 - 29
><> Cuddesdon College Festival
http://www.oxford.anglican.org/rcc/
May 28 (Friday)
><> 11:30am-1pm - Ripon College - Special eucharist to
commemorate 150 years of theological education in
Cuddesdon. Preacher: Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will be in attendance and
lecturing in the College in the afternoon.
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| ><> REQUESTS <>< |
| Ask and you will receive |
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><> Accommodation for Youth Workers Coming to Wheatley
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Fusion Youth & Community UK has a new couple coming to join
Marty & Jenny Woods in the work here. Dan & Danni Evenhaus,
both teachers/youth workers, are also from Australia and will
arrive in February. They are looking for accommodation in
Wheatley. If you know of something that might be suitable,
please phone Jenny Woods on 01865 876596.
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><> Help Needed for Easter Family Festival
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There is going to be an Easter Family Festival at Wheatley
Primary School on Saturday 27th March from 2-4:30pm.
It is going to be a great opportunity to share a fun
afternoon with our neighbours. We can show how Christians
enjoy themselves!
We are looking for helpers for the afternoon and this could
involve any activity you like from helping with the teas,
to overseeing a craft table, to watching the Bouncy Castle!
Personally we found it really rewarding in past events and
would recommend it! Do invite your friends and neighbours. If
you would like to get involved please ring Kevin or Lucy
Betts on 01865 875436.
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| ><> LET US PRAY <>< |
| He is listening... |
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><> Vision & Prayer Night - Marty Woods
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An invitation to all Christians in the Wheatley area
When: Wednesday 3rd March
Where: Wheatley Primary School, Littleworth Rd, Wheatley
Time: 7.30 for 7.45pm (refreshments served) Finish 9.45
Come & hear the unfolding vision of Christians working
together to transform their local area.
Come & pray together with other local Christians.
Reports will include:
• Youth work beginning in the local high school
• A gigantic Easter Festival on March 27th and other
community celebrations
• Developing children’s work
• Other strategies to impact the local community
Meet the two new youth workers from Fusion who will have
just arrived from Australia to be part of the local outreach
Find your role in reaching the Wheatley area.
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| ><> LOCAL LINKS <>< |
| wwjd.com |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
Stanton House Retreat
http://www.stantonhouse.org.uk/
Sage - Oxford's Christian Environmental Group:
http://www.sageoxford.org.uk/
The Unauthorised Version:
http://www.unauthorisedversion.co.uk/
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| ><> REVELATIONS <>< |
| And finally... |
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Richard & Meg Brown leave the Granary in February for a new
mission field in France. May God bless them and go with them
in their new venture, and we thank them for all they have
done for the Granary and the village; they will be sadly
missed.
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| ><> SMALL PRINT <>< |
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Christians in the Community is a digest of Christian
happenings in the Wheatley area and beyond. It is compiled by
Kevin Betts from information he gets sent. Submissions
deadline for next issue is 27th February.
(Un)subscribe or News to Email: Kevin1.Betts@ntlworld.com
Phone: 01865 875436
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