Issue #22 of Wheatley Area Newsletter

                 Horton cum Studley             Oakley
                                   +---+
    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 kevin@kbetts.com 
    Please forward to those who may be interested, or print off
    for them if they have no email. You can find past issues at:
    http://www.wheatleyareachurches.org/newsletter/

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    |                     ><> GOOD NEWS <><                     |
    |                Building the Kingdom Locally               |
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    ><> Advent Pageant by Gordon Ewbank
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    Procession (with real donkey!) starts from primary school at
    1.45(ish) and will return by 2.30, having called in at the
    Manor House, The King & Queen, The Granary (Herod’s palace –
    use your imagination!!) and the Sun, before returning to the
    stable scene in the school hall!

    Carols around the village Christmas tree and switching on of
    lights follows from 3.50-4.10pm latest.

    Advent Pageant Aims:
    - Helping children learn about the Christmas Season, how it
      is celebrated in today's culture and what it is celebrating
    - Bringing the children in to the heart of their community to
      help that community reflect on the meaning of the Season.
    - Creating a platform for children to be celebrated, building
      stronger links between schools and their local community.

    Give thanks for:
    - Widespread enthusiasm and support for this event from the
      school, shops, pubs, parish council and the local community
      (plus, of course, the children!)
    - A good core volunteer team to help supervise the children
      on the procession
    - The opportunity to have time with the whole school for the
      final stage of the Pageant in the school hall

    Please pray for:
    - Safety for all involved as we travel around the village
    - Good enough weather on the day
    - More volunteers to join the support team from 1.30-3pm on
      the day (briefing night on Mon 30th Nov at 8pm at the
      Granary – please do join us)
    - More sponsorship to help cover the costs of the event
    - Final planning and preparation, particularly scripts,
      costumes, music etc, that we might communicate the real
      meaning of Christmas in a fun and accessible way
    - That the Christmas tree may be delivered in plenty of time
      on the morning of the 3rd, for decoration etc ahead of the
      pageant start
    - That the tree might stay safely in place over Christmas as
      a reminder to all who pass of the wonder of Christ’s birth

    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    ><> Lemon Tree Film, 13th December by Andy Walkey
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    Oxford Friends Of Neve Shalom- Wahat al Salam (NS-WaS), now
    known as “Oasis of Peace”, have their next fundraising event
    on Sunday 13th December when The Lemon Tree, another
    compelling, challenging film, tinged with humour, directed by
    Eran Riklis (The Syrian Bride) will be shown in the sanctuary
    at Wheatley URC at 4.30pm. Tickets are £10, concessions: £8.
    Doors open 4.00pm. All proceeds will be donated to Israel’s
    Oasis of Peace, to be used to fund their Youth Encounters
    Program, which brings teenaged children together, from all
    sides of this divided land.

    A compelling film based on the true story of a Palestinian
    woman. Salma's 50 year old lemon grove, planted by her
    deceased father and his surviving agricultural labourer, is
    her only source of income. When the Israeli Defence Minister
    and his beautiful wife Mira move into a new house in the
    Jewish settlement overlooking the land, security issues
    threaten the survival of the lemon grove and the widow's
    future is in jeopardy. Isolated by, "security," restrictions,
    Salma and Mira grow increasingly lonely and in despair.

    At this time of giving, please support this community, where
    Jews and Arabs have chosen to live together, showing that
    Peace is Possible.
    Further detail can be obtained from Andy Walkey; 01865 872840

    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    ><> Young Men’s & Women’s Groups
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    The next women’s group meeting will be a Christmas craft
    making evening on Friday 4th December from 8pm, led by
    Frances who did much of the craft for Jungle Jamboree. If you
    are interested, please contact Lucy at Lucy@kbetts.com 

    A group of family men are meeting for drinks on the last
    Thursday of every month at The Sun from 8pm onwards.
    The group are going for a Thai curry at Forest Hill on
    Friday 11th December – 7:30 for 8pm. Contact Michael
    Clements on mac.clements@btopenworld.com to book a spot.

    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    ><> Christmas Cheer at The Merry Bells, 19th December, 10am
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    Come and join in the carol singing outside the Merry Bells.
    There will be plenty of Christmas cheer with mince pies and
    refreshments served inside the hall.
 
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    ><> Continue the conversation online
    +-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
    ><> Wheatley URC have a new site: http://wheatleyurc.org.uk/

    ><> There is a Facebook Page for this newsletter at:
        http://tinyurl.com/ydrbecu 

    ><> Training Opportunities at Ripon College, Cuddesdon:
        http://tinyurl.com/yjq97yt
        http://tinyurl.com/yju8hxh