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United Reformed Church
Issue #20 of Wheatley Area Newsletter
Horton cum Studley Oakley
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Beckley CHRISTIANS | | IN
| |
Stanton St John +----+ +----+ Worminghall
| |
Forest Hill +----+ +----+ Ickford
| | Waterperry
Holton THE | | COMMUNITY
Wheatley | | Waterstock
Littleworth | | Tiddington
Horspath +---+ Milton Common
Cuddesdon Great Milton
Garsington Denton Great Haseley
Little Milton
An adhoc newsletter for Christians in the Wheatley Area.
To join or to send news: email cinc@kbetts.com
Please forward to those who may be interested, or print off
for them if they have no email.
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HEADLINES: St George's Day Funday Festival, Lent Lunches
World Women's Day of Prayer, Fairtrade Fortnight
Good Friday Procession
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| ><> GOOD NEWS <>< |
| Building the Kingdom Locally |
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><> St George's Day Funday Festival - 21st April
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Fusion and volunteers in Wheatley will be running another
festival on April 21st on the theme of St George's Day at the
Church Road recreation ground.
The festivals are a way for churches and christians to get
together and create an opportunity to meet with non-Christian
friends and neighbours and in a warm and friendly way,
participating in a range of family based activities. The
intention is not to preach directly, but to offer a picture
of God's love to those who may have negative images of
church, or who may not have even thought about it, and in
contrast to the isolation from community that busy modern
life can bring. The festivals are offered for free, welcoming
to all, and in celebration of our lives together, seen to be
supported and served by the local churches. You may have seen
this for yourself if you have been to any of the previous
festivals.
Would you like to meet new people, enjoy being part of a
team, make people smile, do something for God?
Would you like to be a part of the festival?
Roles can be as large or as small as fit you. Well described
job roles exist so that you can pick them up and know exactly
what to do in preparation for the day, or just turn up on the
day and help serve teas, lead a craft, or just support the
event - financially, by spreading the word, or in prayer -
many roles exist as we are all have different things to
offer. The festival will be supported by Fusion, with all
their equipment, resources and experience, and a training
evening will also be provided on 18th April (venue to be
confirmed) so that everyone can feel part of the team and
confident in their role.
If you are interested in getting involved with the festival,
please speak to Dan Evenhuis, Gordon Ewbank, Cyril Newton or
Kevin & Lucy Betts (on kevin@kbetts.com or 875436)
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| ><> EVENTS <>< |
| Signs and Wonders |
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><> 12-1:30 @ URC Hall, Wheatley Area Churches Lent Lunches
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Each Saturday in Lent a different church will organise the
lunch at the URC Hall. Come and enjoy a soup and a roll and
meet people from all churches.
NB: 3rd March event is held in Merry Bells
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><> Women's World Day of Prayer - Friday 2nd March @ 2pm URC
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"United Under God's Tent"
All welcome to the interdenominational service prepared by
Christian women of Paraguay.
Childcare available, with refreshments.
Contact Nona Baker (874999) for further details or if you
have items of interest from Paraguay.
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><> Fair Trade Fortnight by Ann Stephenson
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Wheatley's contribution to Fairtrade Fortnight will be on
Saturday 3rd March at the Merry Bells, from 10.30 to 2 pm.
Our emphasis will be not only on justice in international
trade, but also on the importance of the local: local
producers and local retailers.
There will be a coffee and tasting session, a talk by
Tiddington's organic farmer Charles Bennett, and finally a
simple lunch as part of the season of Lent Lunches.
Do come for the whole session, or if you prefer please drop
in for part of the time.
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><> Swap Shop - Saturday 10th March, 9:30-12 @ Merry Bells
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><> What is a Swap Shop?
A chance to get rid of things you don't want and pick up
something you do. No money will change hands - this is simply
a way of stopping goods ending up in landfill sites.
><> What to bring?
Clothes, toys, CDs, books, plants, ornaments, kitchenware,
pictures, small furniture, linen etc. Good condition only.
Please bring stuff early in the morning if possible.
No large furniture or electrical items. There is a notice
board for larger items - bring a photo / description and
contact details.
For more information contact Paul Bailey (01865 874588)
You can bring without taking. You can take without bringing.
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><> Good Friday Procession of the Cross by Tony Barry
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Please join us on Good Friday for this annual ecumenical act
of witness around the village. Share the experience, as we
process, by carrying the Cross for part of the journey with
friends from other village churches.
It is hoped that the procession will continue to Waterperry
and back again this year, as usual, if sufficient carriers
make themselves know, in advance, to the organisers.
The village procession (which you may join at any point) will
follow the usual route and pattern:
09:30am - Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, Crown Road - Short
Service of Reflection
10:00am - The Procession will leave Crown Square
10:30am - Hot Cross Buns at the URC Church, Crown Square
11:15am - Cross party to leave on foot for Waterperry
(transport from Fire Station to Waterperry)
12noon - Waterperry Church - 1hr Service
13:00pm - Depart on foot (transport to Holton) then on foot
to Wheatley
14:00pm - St Mary's Church, Wheatley - 1hr Service
17:30pm - Collection of Cross to The Granary Church
18:00pm - The Granary Church - Service of Worship & Praise
20:00pm - Cross returned to URC for Easter Saturday
Contact Sue Prest (872583) or Tony Barry (872293)
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><> The Marriage Course by John & Nona Baker
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Invitation to a party...
introducing The Marriage Course:
"How to build a healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime"
Saturday 24th March 8:00pm to 9:45pm
The Merry Bells
Drinks and desserts, music & DVD
£5 per married couple
RSVP/Details: John & Nona Baker 01865 874999
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| ><> REQUESTS <>< |
| Ask and you will receive |
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><> Holiday Flat in Eastbourne by Nona Baker
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Who do you know that would benefit from a stay in our holiday
flat in Eastbourne?
Situated less than a mile from the seafront and within
walking distance of shops and station (mainline to London
Victoria) our one bedroom third floor flat (reached by stairs
or lift) has its own balcony with glimpses of the sea and
South Downs. Adequately equipped, this non-smoking
accommodation sleeps five (twin beds & 'z' bed plus double
sofa bed in lounge) with a cot available on request. Quilts
and pillows provided. This flat is not serviced (guests need
to leave it clean and tidy) so this is reflected in the cost
of only £25 per night to cover bills. Special rates for
longer periods.
Please give special thought for those unable to afford a
holiday or anyone who needs a safe place to rest from a
stressful situation.
Contact John & Nona Baker on 01865 874999
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><> Holiday Accommodation, Aveton Gifford, South Devon
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Friends of ours have a cottage available for holiday lets
- sleeps 6 (2 x double, 1 x twin). £275 - £475 per week
depending on time of year, also available for long weekends
out of season. If you would like more info contact either
iangail@maybe.org.uk, or us Gordon & Jill Ewbank
jill.ewbank@gmail.com / 873326.
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><> Making a difference
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The Besom (http://www.besom.org/) is a christian organisation
that helps people make a difference & provides a bridge
between people who want to give time, money, things or skills
and those who are in need. It ensures what is given is used
effectively and the service it provides is free.
There is an Oxford group - so if you are interested, take a
look at the website.
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| ><> LOCAL LINKS <>< |
| wwjd.com |
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><> R U ready to go Live@6 in Wheatley?
http://www.oxford.anglican.org/page/3958/
><> "The Most Difficult Village"
http://www.oxford.anglican.org/page/3956/
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| ><> REVELATIONS <>< |
| And finally... |
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Shotover Forest was a dark and desolate place by night, and
saw many a dastardly deed... with wealthy travellers passing
through on the Oxford to London road (now the Plain), tales
abound of highwaymen ambushing stagecoaches and making off
into the night with the rewards of their robberies.
One notable victim was the Reverend Charles Wesley who was
travelling on horseback from Oxford to London on a dark
October night in 1739, when his horse suddenly went lame. He
started to pray for Divine protection, singing the 91st
Psalm, talking of the Almighty delivering him from 'the snare
of the hunter' and the 'terror of the night'.
As he reached the hut on Shotover Hill (presumed to be Titup
Hall, near to where the Crown and Thistle now stands) he was
ambushed by a highwayman who demanded he hand over his money.
Wesley gave up his purse with its thirty shillings, but the
robber demanded more. Having handed over some halfpennies
from his pocket, the robber asked him a third time. Wesley
could not bring himself to lie, and so told the ambusher to
search for himself. The robber, assuming this to mean there
was no more to be had, turned and vanished into the night.
Luckily the Reverend was spared the loss of the thirty
guineas he had in another pocket.
Reproduced from the Shotover Wildlife series of leaflets,
available free at Wheatley Library. For more information,
visit http://www.shotover-wildlife.org.uk/
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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.
Past issues can be found here:
http://www.wheatleyareachurches.org/newsletter/
(Un)subscribe or News to Email: cinc@kbetts.com
Phone: 01865 875436
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